University of Tennessee Athletics
Basketball Schedule Features Numerous Storylines
August 20, 2009 | Men's Basketball
Aug. 20, 2009
Tennessee's 2009-10 men's basketball schedule features numerous noteworthy storylines. Here are just a few:
Monday, Nov. 23 (potentially)
Boston College at the Paradise Jam - While early-tournament scenarios would have to play out in a certain way to set the stage for this match-up, its possibility on the tournament's final day is certainly intriguing. The Volunteers and Eagles will compete in different brackets, but a potential meeting would pit fifth-year UT head coach Bruce Pearl against his alma mater.
A Boston, Mass., native, Pearl worked as a student assistant at Boston College from 1978 to 1982 (he once filled in as the school's eagle mascot for an NCAA Tournament game in 1981) and graduated with a degree in Business administration. Pearl has faced Boston College just once previously as a head coach, leading UW-Milwaukee to an 83-75 NCAA Tournament win in 2005 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Friday, Nov. 27
College of Charleston - Knoxville, Tenn., native Tony White Jr., a senior guard for the Cougars, leads his squad against his father's alma mater at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tony White Sr. lettered for the Vols from 1984-87 and is Tennessee's third-leading all-time scorer with 2,219 career points. He also was a two-time first-team All-SEC performer and third-team All-America selection in 1987. Tony White Jr. graduated from Knoxville's Bearden High School and has played against many current Vols during summer action in Knoxville's Pilot Rocky Top League.
The game also will mark a homecoming of sorts for Cougars junior forward Antwaine Wiggins, who starred as a prep player at Greeneville High School in East Tennessee before signing with College of Charleston.
Tuesday, Dec. 15
Wyoming - Tennessee welcomes the Cowboys to Rocky Top for the first meeting between the programs since 1958. The Vols posted a one-point win (72-71) in Knoxville on Dec. 2, 1958. Four days later, UT defeated Wyoming 90-69 in the Midwestern Invitational in Kent, Ohio. Those are the only two previous meetings in the series.
Saturday, Dec. 19
at Southern California - This game will be a homecoming for UT sophomore Renaldo Woolridge, who grew up in Sherman Oaks, Calif., and graduated from Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood. Woolridge's father, Orlando Woolridge, played two of his 13 NBA seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. As a prep standout, Renaldo Woolridge frequently competed with and against USC players Percy Miller (son of hip-hop artist Master P), Alex Stepheson and Leonard Washington.
This game also took on some added intrigue on June 20, when USC athletic director Mike Garrett named Kevin O'Neill head coach of the Trojans basketball program. O'Neill was the head coach at Tennessee from 1994-97, compiling a 36-47 (.434) record and leading UT to an NIT appearance in 1996. This year's clash marks the first time that Tennessee will face a team led by one of its former head coaches since Feb. 17, 1990, when the Vols beat Don DeVoe's Florida squad 75-57 in Knoxville.
Thursday, Dec. 31
at Memphis - The last time the Tigers and Vols met in Memphis, they were ranked Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, in the national polls. In what was the most-watched college basketball game in ESPN history (5.28 million viewers), Tennessee toppled Memphis 66-62 to earn the program's first-ever No. 1 ranking. The Tigers avenged that 2008 loss by posting a 54-52 win last season in Knoxville.
This year's clash on New Year's Eve in Memphis marks the fourth and final time UT seniors and West Tennessee natives Wayne Chism (Jackson) and J.P. Prince (Memphis) will face the Tigers in regular-season action. It will be the first meeting, however, between Pearl and first-year Memphis coach Josh Pastner.
Sunday, Jan. 10
Kansas - Tennessee and Kansas met for the first time ever on the hardwood (men's or women's) last season, with the defending national champion Jayhawks holding off the Vols 92-85 at Allen Fieldhouse. Kansas visits Thompson-Boling Arena this season--the KU program's first-ever trip to Knoxville. As a junior last season, UT big man Wayne Chism tied a school record with six blocks against the Jayhawks.
Saturday, Feb. 20
at South Carolina - Tennessee's game at South Carolina could mark the 131st career game for Chism (if he were to not miss any games up to that point). That would break Rob Jones' (1982-86) school record of 130 career games played.
