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Old friends meet as Memphis battles Xavier for title in Puerto Rico

Nov 23, 2008 - 7:40 AM Xavier (4-0) at (12) Memphis (4-0) 7:30 pm. EST

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (Ticker) -- Two old friends will face off on Sunday as John Calipari and No. 12 Memphis battle Sean Miller and Xavier in the championship game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic.

Calipari and Miller have been close friends since he recruited the fifth-year Xavier coach to play point guard at Pittsburgh as an assistant under former Panthers coach Paul Evans from 1985-88.

It is the first time that two will be on opposing sidelines. Xavier leads the all-time series, 5-1, but the schools have not met since the 1966-67 season.

Both Calipari and Miller's teams are going through transition following deep postseason runs. Memphis reached the national championship game, but lost three starters to the NBA - including star freshman Derrick Rose.

The Tigers (4-0) have turned to another fantastic freshman, Tyreke Evans, who is averaging a team-best 15.3 points. Evans scored 12 points and Doneal Mack added 16 as Memphis coasted to an 84-70 victory over Seton Hall on Friday.

Meanwhile, Miller has had to replace three of his top six scorers from a team that came within one win of the Final Four last season. Derrick Brown has been leading the way for the Musketeers (4-0), who have never won their first five games under Miller.

Brown is averaging 16.0 points and 6.5 rebounds.

Xavier advanced in dramatic fashion as Dante Jackson hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to lift the Musketeers to a 63-62 overtime win over Virginia Tech on Friday.