MEMPHIS, Tenn. _ The University of Central Arkansas Bears will open the 2020-21 season against the Memphis Tigers on Friday night at the FedExForum.

UCA head coach Anthony Boone and his Bears are just happy to finally be playing a game.

The Bears lost their first four scheduled games of the season to covid-19 issues at various schools, pushing back the start of their season nine days and shifting their opening opponent from the Ole Miss Rebels to the Memphis Tigers.UCA was set to open Nov. 25-27 in a four-team tournament hosted by Ole Miss in Oxford, Miss., also facing Arkansas State and Jackson State. 

Next up for the Bears was a matchup with Missouri State on Tuesday, Dec. 1 in Springfield, Mo., but that, too, was postponed.

In stepped the Tigers as a late addition, and a formidable one at that.

"We're a little bit relieved that we're finally going to get to play, but more than that, we're just really excited,' said Boone, who would have coached his first game as UCA's full-time head coach against his alma mater Ole Miss. "It's great to play great competition in Memphis. And it will finally be good to go against someone besides ourselves every day in practice. We can see a little bit better where we are and what we need to work on.'

Every coach uses that same line to start the season, but with an unexpected extended preseason, Boone said it carries more weight this year. He is anxious to see the Bears take on a talented Memphis team on its home floor, albeit it, in front of a reduced crowd.

:"I want to see what we've been working on, what our foundation is,' said Boone, who took over as interim head coach midway through the 2019-20 season. "That  is, we want to work hard, we want to play fast, we want to focus on playing solid defense and doing all we can to rebound well. I like how we have played defensively (in practice), and I expect that to go well tomorrow night. 

"And I also understand that we're going to be matched up with some guys who are super athletic and we'll have to do a good job containing the ball. But our team defense is what I think overall will be good. Now, what will that turn into, I don't know. Memphis is very athletic, their guys are really good at doing what they do.'

The Tigers, coached by former NBA and then-Memphis State All-American Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, will be playing their fifth game of the season Friday night after beating Saint Mary's and Arkansaas State and dropping games to Western Kentucky and Virginia Commonwealth. Their most recent was an 83-54 victory over ASU on Wednesday night.

"Coach Hardaway really utilizes their athleticism,' said Boone. "The first 8-10 minutes of the game, they are going to do all they can to disrupt whatever it is we're trying to do. They're going to pressure, as much or more than any team we'll see all season long. And it will be key for us to stay poised and to not give them easy opportunities because of that by being careless with the ball.'

If poise comes with experience, the Bears should have a head start in that department. UCA returns five of its top six scorers from last season, including the top three in senior guard Rylan Bergersen (15.8 points per game), senior guard DeAndre Jones (12.9) and junior forward Eddy Kayouloud (12.2). The Bears return a group of players who had a combined 123 starts a year ago, led by Bergersen's 31. Jones has 71 a team-high 71 career starts but missed eight games last year with injury.

Jones became the Bears' all-time leader in assists last season, with the record now standing at 452. He finished the season a year ago with 72 assists over the final nine games, including four games with double-figure assists. Jones is also just 93 points away from 1,000 for his career and has made 127 career three-pointers.   

Kayouloud and sophomore guard/forward Jaxson Baker are the other two returning starters for the Bears, along with senior forward Jared Chatham, who had 11 starts  last year over 81 career games. Kayuloud averaged 12.2, while Baker and Chatham each scored 7.1 per game.

"That (experience) is going to be big for us in having confidence going to those guys, having confidence in them taking shots will be big,' Boone said. "But also hopefully in our maturity and our poise. Hopefully that will come through tomorrow. 

"I think the camaraderie we have and the way the guys want to work together to play good defense, we're hopeful we'll get to see some of that, at least in some spots.'

Boone said his players will be relieved as much as anything to play a basketball game, whether it be Nov. 25 or Dec. 4.

"Just like most people in the country, we're covid fatigued,' he said. "We're going to continue to do everything we need to do to stay safe and healthy because we want a season. We'll do everything we need to do, and hopefully everyone else will, too. Just like everyone else, it's worn on our guys. They are ready to play. 

"And I think that will make everything feel like it was worth it to get to this point.'

The belated season begins at 7 p.m. Friday night. Coverage of the game will be on The Bear 91.3 with Justin Acri and on ESPN+.