Memphis Coach Has 'No Desire' To Play Tennessee - NewsChannel5.com | Nashville News, Weather & Sports

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – Memphis coach Josh Pastner has told a Knoxville radio station that he has "no desire" to play Tennessee.

Pastner appeared on WNML-AM on Monday. The teams have played every season since 2005-06. Tennessee visits Memphis this season.

Asked about playing Tennessee, Pastner said: "I have no desire to play Tennessee ... I don't think it does us any good. I'm just being honest with you. For us, it's a game that, I don't know why we play it, but we play it because the athletic director wants me to play it and he's my boss and what he says goes."

Reached afterward, Pastner said he doesn't consider Knoxville a fertile recruiting ground, so why give Tennessee exposure in Memphis, a place where the Volunteers recruit players, The Commercial Appeal reported.

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