Tigers proud in pink

During Saturday's basketball double-header at FedExForum, The University of Memphis men's and women's teams will don a color that isn't blue or gray.

Both Tiger squads will be wearing pink to support Play 4Kay, a breast cancer awareness program named for Kay Yow, who coached at North Carolina State for 34 seasons before losing a 22-year battle with breast cancer in 2009.

The women's team will take on Central Florida at 4 p.m. for their annual Breast Cancer Awareness game. Fans that wear pink will receive free admission to the game, and the first 700 entrants will get a free pink beanie. The game will be televised on Fox Sports Network.

Elaine Hare, executive director for the Memphis-MidSouth Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, said sports teams wearing pink helps remind a large audience of the importance of early detection of cancer.

"In the state of Tennessee, 900 women died from breast cancer last year and 5,000 were diagnosed." Hare said. "It's a reminder for those of us that have the insurance to get screened, and a reminder for those of us who can to fundraise."

The men's team will play their final non-conference game of the season against Xavier at noon. They will show their support by wearing pink T-shirts and warm-ups. Head coach Josh Pastner and the rest of the coaching staff will be wearing pink Polo shirts.

Pastner has been an advocate for Breast Cancer Awareness locally since accepting the head coach position. He served as the 2011 honorary chair for the Susan G. Komen Memphis-MidSouth Race for the Cure.

The Breast Cancer Awareness game is an annual tradition for the Memphis women's team and for women's basketball programs across the country. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association started the initiative, originally called Pink Zone, in 2007 to raise awareness during games played in February.

The WBCA renamed the program Play 4Kay this season in honor of the late coach and in support of the Kay Yow Cancer Fund.

Saturday will not be the first time this school year a University of Memphis team has supported the fight against breast cancer. During the 2011 football season, the football team wore pink socks, wristbands and athletic tape for their Oct. 15 matchup with East Carolina.

The Tigers have been undefeated in home Pink Zone games since their first in 2008 against Tulsa. In last season's Breast Cancer Awareness game, Memphis beat Southern Miss in a decisive fashion, 78-58.

The game against UCF will be the first time the two women's teams have met this season. The last time the Tigers faced the Knights was in the semifinals of last years Conference USA tournament in which Memphis lost 81-63.