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Memphis, Oklahoma State set for two year home-and-home series

Memphis Tigers Head Coach Pastner with Goodwin, Black, Thomas and Crawford during the second half of their third round NCAA tournament basketball game in Auburn Hills

Memphis Tigers Head Coach Josh Pastner with Shaq Goodwin (L), Tarik Black (2nd L), Adonis Thomas (C) and Chris Crawford during the second half of their third round NCAA tournament basketball game in Auburn Hills, Michigan March 23, 2013. REUTERS/Jeff Kowalsky (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

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With Marcus Smart making the decision to come back for his sophomore season, paired with other key players and a solid recruiting class, Oklahoma State is threatening to be one of the favorites for a Final Four berth next season.

Memphis loses studs like Tarik Black and Adonis Thomas, but return Joe Jackson and bring in a top-flight 2013 haul themselves.

That doesn’t necessarily mean either team will need a tough non-conference schedule. But nonetheless, Oklahoma State and Memphis have signed on to play a two-year home-and-home series, beginning this November.

The first game will be Nov. 19 in Stillwater, with the return game in 2014-15 in Memphis.

Both teams already plays in the Old Spice Classic this season, where they could possibly meet again. Memphis plays the likes of Florida as well.

I’m all for top teams playing one another and not fearing what a loss might do to their tournament resume. Both of these teams have enough firepower to not have to worry about much when it comes to making the NCAA Tournament. It’s one in a long line of great non-conference games we’ll see in the 2013-14 season.

Follow David Harten on Twitter at @David_Harten