Busting Brackets
Fansided

Tennessee Basketball: 2017-18 season preview for the Volunteers

By Richard Gnann

NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the game against the LSU Tigers during the quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - MARCH 11: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers gives instructions to his team during the game against the LSU Tigers during the quarterfinals of the SEC Basketball Tournament at Bridgestone Arena on March 11, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 09: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers talks with Robert Hubbs III
NASHVILLE, TN – MARCH 09: Rick Barnes the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers talks with Robert Hubbs III /

Schedule

The 2018 Tennessee basketball team faces an ACC-heavy non-conference schedule that includes Georgia Tech and Wake Forest on the road as well as North Carolina at home. The Vols will play Purdue and perhaps Villanova in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Paradise Island in the Bahamas as well. In the mid-season SEC/Big 12 Challenge, the Volunteers will travel to play Iowa State on the road. Lower conference teams such as Mercer, Furman, Lipscomb, Presbyterian, and High Point round out the home non-conference schedule.

The non-conference schedule is aggressive when considered next to the expectations for the Tennessee team. If Tennessee can reach the 18-win mark, it will be rewarded by post-season selection committees.

In conference, Tennessee draws Kentucky twice, and objective observers will pencil in two losses for the Volunteers. On the other hand, Tennessee sweeps are possible against home and home opponents Georgia, South Carolina, and Ole Miss.

Tennessee gets a single conference matchup at home against Florida and Texas A&M, and the Volunteers will have trouble holding serve against those two clubs in Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee will hope to turn the tables and get a road win against Ole Miss.

Home/SEC