University of Tennessee Athletics
Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
Vols Set 2024-25 Non-Conference Slate
August 23, 2024 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men's basketball coach Rick Barnes released Friday the team's non-conference schedule for the upcoming 2024-25 campaign.
Following perhaps the finest season in program history, the Volunteers will play 13 non-conference contests from Nov. 4 to Dec. 31. The slate includes six outings versus Power Five foes, with five of them away from home, and eight contests at Food City Center. Fewer than 100 season tickets remain and can be purchased HERE.
"We have once again put together a strong non-conference schedule that includes opportunities for our players to compete against outstanding programs and in exciting venues," Barnes said. "With eight home games before the new year, our team will also assuredly feel the consistent support from the best fan base in the country right here in Knoxville."
To start the season, Tennessee hosts Gardner-Webb for a Nov. 4 contest in Knoxville. The Volunteers, who own a 2-0 record in the all-time series, last played the Runnin' Bulldogs in Rick Barnes' fourth game at the helm, an 89-64 home victory on Nov. 22, 2015.
Tennessee's road opener is the first leg of a home-and-home series with Louisville, slated for Nov. 9 in Louisville, Ky. The Volunteers are 8-12 all-time against the Cardinals, but earned a 92-81 win on Nov. 21, 2018, in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the most recent matchup.
Up next for Tennessee is its first meeting with Montana, set for Nov. 13 at Food City Center. It then hosts the first of three in-state non-conference foes Nov. 17 when it takes on Austin Peay. The all-time series is 9-1 in favor of the Volunteers, who claimed an 86-44 home win on Dec. 21, 2022, in the last contest.
Barnes' team then heads to Nassau, Bahamas, for the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship. Tennessee will play two games, the first Nov. 21 and the second Nov. 22, in a country where it is 7-2 all-time, all in the Battle 4 Atlantis. The other teams in the field are Baylor, St. John's and Virginia, with matchups set to be announced at a later date. Tennessee has never faced the Bears, owns a 3-5 mark versus the Red Storm and is 5-8 against the Cavaliers.
The Volunteers return home for a Nov. 27 game versus UT Martin, against which they are 5-0 all-time. In the most recent tilt between the two, Tennessee recorded a 90-62 triumph on Nov. 9. 2021, in Knoxville.
To begin the last month of 2024, the Volunteers take the court Dec. 3 versus Syracuse in the first SEC/ACC Challenge at Food City Center. Tennessee is 4-3 all-time versus the Orange and has won three straight clashes, including a 73-56 last season on Nov. 20, 2023, in Honolulu.
The third and final neutral-site game for Tennessee is Dec. 10 against Miami in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Volunteers are 0-2 in the event, including 0-1 at the World's Most Famous Arena, but own a 3-1 record all-time mark against Miami. The sides have not met since Dec. 22, 1996, when Tennessee registered a 78-65 home victory.
The Volunteers next travel to Champaign, Ill., for a Dec. 14 outing against Illinois in the second leg of a home-and-home series. It will be the fifth outing in a six-game stretch, including the third in a row, versus a Power Five foe. Tennessee is 3-1 all-time against the Fighting Illini and logged an 86-79 triumph in a top-20 showdown last season on Dec. 9, 2023.
Tennessee next plays Dec. 17 when it hosts Western Carolina at Food City Center. The Volunteers are 7-1 in the all-time series, but have not squared off since a 66-52 home triumph on Dec. 21, 2012.
The last in-state non-conference meeting comes Dec. 23 with a home outing against Middle Tennessee State. The Volunteers are 9-2 all-time versus the Blue Raiders, but have not played them since a 71-64 NIT home loss on March 19, 2012.
To cap both the non-conference slate and the calendar year, Tennessee plays Dec. 31 against Norfolk State at Food City Center. Last season was the first time the two programs squared off, with Barnes' team notching an 87-50 home win on Jan. 2, 2024, also in the non-conference finale.
Tennessee opens the SEC schedule, announced three days ago, Jan. 4 against Arkansas in Knoxville. The entire league slate can be found HERE.
The Volunteers are coming off a 27-9 (14-4 SEC) campaign that included a conference regular season title, an Elite Eight appearance and fifth-place finish in the national rankings.
Barnes welcomes back six scholarship players, including senior guards Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler, the latter of whom was a First Team All-SEC designee and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Tennessee also returns sophomore guard Cameron Carr, sophomore forward J.P. Estrella and sophomore forward Cade Phillips. The talented five-man newcomer group features freshman guard Bishop Boswell, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier, senior forward Igor Milicic Jr., and junior forward Felix Okpara.
FULL 2024-25 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Nov. 4 – GARDNER-WEBB
Nov. 9 – at Louisville
Nov. 13 – MONTANA
Nov. 17 – AUSTIN PEAY
Nov. 21 – vs. Baylor/St. John's/Virginia (Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship – Nassau, Bahamas)
Nov. 22 – vs. Baylor/St. John's/Virginia (Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship – Nassau, Bahamas)
Nov. 27 – UT MARTIN
Dec. 3 – SYRACUSE (SEC/ACC Challenge)
Dec. 10 – vs. Miami (Jimmy V Classic – New York, N.Y.)
Dec. 14 – at Illinois
Dec. 17 – WESTERN CAROLINA
Dec. 23 – MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Dec. 31 – NORFOLK STATE
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Following perhaps the finest season in program history, the Volunteers will play 13 non-conference contests from Nov. 4 to Dec. 31. The slate includes six outings versus Power Five foes, with five of them away from home, and eight contests at Food City Center. Fewer than 100 season tickets remain and can be purchased HERE.
"We have once again put together a strong non-conference schedule that includes opportunities for our players to compete against outstanding programs and in exciting venues," Barnes said. "With eight home games before the new year, our team will also assuredly feel the consistent support from the best fan base in the country right here in Knoxville."
To start the season, Tennessee hosts Gardner-Webb for a Nov. 4 contest in Knoxville. The Volunteers, who own a 2-0 record in the all-time series, last played the Runnin' Bulldogs in Rick Barnes' fourth game at the helm, an 89-64 home victory on Nov. 22, 2015.
Tennessee's road opener is the first leg of a home-and-home series with Louisville, slated for Nov. 9 in Louisville, Ky. The Volunteers are 8-12 all-time against the Cardinals, but earned a 92-81 win on Nov. 21, 2018, in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the most recent matchup.
Up next for Tennessee is its first meeting with Montana, set for Nov. 13 at Food City Center. It then hosts the first of three in-state non-conference foes Nov. 17 when it takes on Austin Peay. The all-time series is 9-1 in favor of the Volunteers, who claimed an 86-44 home win on Dec. 21, 2022, in the last contest.
Barnes' team then heads to Nassau, Bahamas, for the Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship. Tennessee will play two games, the first Nov. 21 and the second Nov. 22, in a country where it is 7-2 all-time, all in the Battle 4 Atlantis. The other teams in the field are Baylor, St. John's and Virginia, with matchups set to be announced at a later date. Tennessee has never faced the Bears, owns a 3-5 mark versus the Red Storm and is 5-8 against the Cavaliers.
The Volunteers return home for a Nov. 27 game versus UT Martin, against which they are 5-0 all-time. In the most recent tilt between the two, Tennessee recorded a 90-62 triumph on Nov. 9. 2021, in Knoxville.
To begin the last month of 2024, the Volunteers take the court Dec. 3 versus Syracuse in the first SEC/ACC Challenge at Food City Center. Tennessee is 4-3 all-time versus the Orange and has won three straight clashes, including a 73-56 last season on Nov. 20, 2023, in Honolulu.
The third and final neutral-site game for Tennessee is Dec. 10 against Miami in the Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden in New York. The Volunteers are 0-2 in the event, including 0-1 at the World's Most Famous Arena, but own a 3-1 record all-time mark against Miami. The sides have not met since Dec. 22, 1996, when Tennessee registered a 78-65 home victory.
The Volunteers next travel to Champaign, Ill., for a Dec. 14 outing against Illinois in the second leg of a home-and-home series. It will be the fifth outing in a six-game stretch, including the third in a row, versus a Power Five foe. Tennessee is 3-1 all-time against the Fighting Illini and logged an 86-79 triumph in a top-20 showdown last season on Dec. 9, 2023.
Tennessee next plays Dec. 17 when it hosts Western Carolina at Food City Center. The Volunteers are 7-1 in the all-time series, but have not squared off since a 66-52 home triumph on Dec. 21, 2012.
The last in-state non-conference meeting comes Dec. 23 with a home outing against Middle Tennessee State. The Volunteers are 9-2 all-time versus the Blue Raiders, but have not played them since a 71-64 NIT home loss on March 19, 2012.
To cap both the non-conference slate and the calendar year, Tennessee plays Dec. 31 against Norfolk State at Food City Center. Last season was the first time the two programs squared off, with Barnes' team notching an 87-50 home win on Jan. 2, 2024, also in the non-conference finale.
Tennessee opens the SEC schedule, announced three days ago, Jan. 4 against Arkansas in Knoxville. The entire league slate can be found HERE.
The Volunteers are coming off a 27-9 (14-4 SEC) campaign that included a conference regular season title, an Elite Eight appearance and fifth-place finish in the national rankings.
Barnes welcomes back six scholarship players, including senior guards Jordan Gainey, Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler, the latter of whom was a First Team All-SEC designee and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year.
Tennessee also returns sophomore guard Cameron Carr, sophomore forward J.P. Estrella and sophomore forward Cade Phillips. The talented five-man newcomer group features freshman guard Bishop Boswell, fifth-year guard Darlinstone Dubar, fifth-year guard Chaz Lanier, senior forward Igor Milicic Jr., and junior forward Felix Okpara.
FULL 2024-25 NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Nov. 4 – GARDNER-WEBB
Nov. 9 – at Louisville
Nov. 13 – MONTANA
Nov. 17 – AUSTIN PEAY
Nov. 21 – vs. Baylor/St. John's/Virginia (Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship – Nassau, Bahamas)
Nov. 22 – vs. Baylor/St. John's/Virginia (Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship – Nassau, Bahamas)
Nov. 27 – UT MARTIN
Dec. 3 – SYRACUSE (SEC/ACC Challenge)
Dec. 10 – vs. Miami (Jimmy V Classic – New York, N.Y.)
Dec. 14 – at Illinois
Dec. 17 – WESTERN CAROLINA
Dec. 23 – MIDDLE TENNESSEE STATE
Dec. 31 – NORFOLK STATE
To keep up with the University of Tennessee men's basketball team on social media, follow @Vol_Hoops on Instagram and X/Twitter, as well as /tennesseebasketball on Facebook.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballMBB | Nate Ament Media Availability (8.20.25)
Wednesday, August 20
MBB | Clarence Massamba Media Availability (8.20.25)
Wednesday, August 20
MBB | Justin Gainey Media Availability (8.20.25)
Wednesday, August 20
MBB | DeWayne Brown II Media Availability (7.31.25)
Thursday, July 31
