Arena #137: FedEx Forum - Memphis vs. Connecticut

For the final game of the weekend, it was back to Tennessee for an American Athletic Conference matchup between the Memphis Tigers and the Connecticut Huskies.  As a UConn fan, I’ve been waiting to go to this game ever since UConn was left in the AAC after the dissolution of the old Big East through realignment, but it seemed like the conference always scheduled this game on a weeknight in mid-January that would make it impossible for me to attend.  It would figure that finally when the game falls on a weekend, it’s when UConn has been pretty bad for the last few years and Memphis is a bit down on its luck as well.  However, with the hirings of Dan Hurley at UConn and Memphis St. alum, Penny Hardaway, at Memphis, this game is likely to be good in a couple years (summer update: will be interesting to see if these matchups continue with UConn having announced its return to the Big East in 2020).  Since Memphis is playing its games in the FedEx Forum it shares with the NBA’s Grizzlies, I expected a nice and modern facility and for the most part the venue didn’t disappoint.  The arena has a prime location along Memphis’s world-famous Beale St. allowing for a multitude of pregame activities to be available within walking distance of the arena.  The seating bowl itself doesn’t feel as spread out as a typical professional sports facility either, which is likely helped by the main tenants of the arena both being basketball programs versus when an arena has to be designed with hockey in mind as well.  We had some pretty good lower level corner seats for the game, which provided decent sightlines while also not being buried too far in the corner.  The product on the court turned out to be about what I expected from both teams as UConn had too many stretches throughout the contest where they struggled to put the ball in the basket, which allowed Memphis to build a 7-10 point lead on a regular basis that they would never relinquish in defending their homecourt on this Sunday afternoon.

The FedEx Forum - prime location right on famous Beale St. in Memphis

Yeah we were there a bit early for tip...

Hey what happened to 2008?? ;)

Memphis with the hook shot in the lane over UConn's Tyler Polley

Sidney Wilson of UConn attempting a runner in the second half