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Memphis-Louisville to reignite rivalry in NYC

Texas Tech v Texas

KANSAS CITY, MO - MARCH 11: Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Tubby Smith watches his team against the Texas Longhorns during the first round of the Big 12 basketball tournament at Sprint Center on March 11, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)

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Memphis and Louisville are scheduled to reignite a rivalry that has been dormant for too long.

The former conference rivals are on the books to square off at Madison Square Garden during the 2017-18 season. The news was first reported by CBS Sports. According to the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, the two programs were scheduled to play a non-conference home-and-home series in 2015-16 and 2016-17, but that was pushed back once it became clear that the Cardinals were making the move to the ACC.

What isn’t clear, however, is whether or not this neutral site game will replace the home-and-home series.

Either way, this is a series that will hopefully continue in the future. Memphis and Louisville have been league rivals in the Missouri Valley, the Metro Conference, Conference USA and, for a year, the American. The rivalry was at its peak when future Kentucky head coach John Calipari was leading Memphis while former Kentucky coach Rick Pitino headed up Louisville. The most memorable moment? When Darius Washington missed those two free throws and collapsed in a heap during the CUSA title game back in 2005.