KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee men's basketball and the Southeastern Conference have announced the full SEC and non-conference schedule for the 2024-2025 season.
The Vols will start the season off with a couple of special competitions against Baylor, St. John's and Virginia in the Bahamas during the Bahamas Hoops Championship on Nov. 21 and 22, and a few weeks later they will head to New York for the Jimmy V Classic against Miami. Also of note, the Vols will take on Illinois on Dec. 14, which should prove to be an interesting rematch between two of the NCAA's top teams. Tennessee is 3-1 all-time against the Fighting Illini and beat them last season 86-79 in a top-20 showdown.
The SEC schedule includes some flex dates but many key notable matchups.
On Jan. 4 the Vols open up SEC play at home against Arkansas. Former forward for the Vols Jonas Aidoo will return to the Food City Center and former Kentucky head coach John Calipari will lead the Razorbacks in his new job.
UT's next two conference games are on the road against Florida on Jan. 7 or 8 and then at new SEC member Texas on Jan. 11 where UT head coach Rick Barnes will return to his old school he coached at once again. Tennessee also beat Texas last year in the NCAA Tournament in the Round of 32, which they won.
Tennessee will face off against former Vols head coach Bruce Pearl and Auburn on the road on Jan. 25. Their next home game will be at home against rival Kentucky on Jan. 28. They play on the road against the Wildcats on either Feb. 11 or 12.
Other key dates are listed below in the full schedule of SEC games. The flex dates are still being sorted out by the SEC and TV partners.
Non-Conference Schedule
- Nov. 4 - Gardner-Webb
- Nov. 9 - at Louisville
- Nov. 13 - Montana
- Nov. 17 - Austin Peay
- Nov. 21/22 - vs. Baylor/St. John's/Virginia at Baha Mar Bahamas Hoops Championship
- Nov. 27 - UT Martin
- Dec. 3 - Syracuse
- Dec. 10 - vs. Miami at Jimmy V Classic in New York
- Dec. 14 - at Illinois
- Dec. 17 - Western Carolina
- Dec. 23 - Middle Tennessee State
- Dec. 31 - Norfolk State
SEC Schedule
- Jan. 4 – Arkansas
- Jan. 7/8 – at Florida
- Jan. 11 – at Texas
- Jan. 14/15 – Georgia
- Jan. 18 – at Vanderbilt
- Jan. 21 – Mississippi State
- Jan. 25 – at Auburn
- Jan. 28 – Kentucky
- Feb. 1 – Florida
- Feb. 4/5 – Missouri
- Feb. 8 – at Oklahoma
- Feb. 11/12 – at Kentucky
- Feb. 15 – Vanderbilt
- Feb. 22 – at Texas A&M
- Feb. 25/26 – at LSU
- March 1 – Alabama
- March 4/5 – at Ole Miss
- March 8 – South Carolina
The Vols are coming off their best season ever, going to the Elite 8 for the first time since 2010. They lost to Purdue, who ended up being eventual national runner-ups. Tennessee returns key players like Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack and Jordan Gainey. Cameron Carr, J.P. Estrella and Cade Phillips return as well.
UT has added key transfers like Chaz Lanier and Darlinstone Dubar into the mix, too.
