And just like that, Tennessee basketball is back!
The Volunteers will open their non-conference schedule tonight, welcoming in Tennessee Tech to Food City Center. Tennessee starts the year as a top ten team in the preseason AP poll, projected to win the SEC regular season by the media.
Tennessee was undefeated in the preseason, winning scrimmages over Michigan State and Lenoir-Rhyne. Now, the games start for real.
Rick Barnes has pieced together a potentially special roster, filled with big-time experience at key spots. Zakai Zeigler, Santiago Vescovi, Josiah-Jordan James, Jonas Aidoo, Tobe Awaka and Jahmai Mashack are all back in the fold, while sharpshooters Dalton Knecht and Jordan Gainey have the potential to take this team to the next level.