Basketball Vols release nonconference schedule
KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee men’s basketball program released Monday its nonconference schedule for the 2019-20 season, with nine home dates listed.
The Southeastern Conference hasn’t yet released its composite schedule, which will add nine more home dates to the Volunteers’ calendar.
After an exhibition on Oct. 30 against Eastern New Mexico, the regular season begins on Nov. 5 with a home date against UNC-Asheville. The Vols also will host Murray State (Nov. 12), Alabama State (Nov. 20), the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (Nov. 25), Florida A&M (Dec. 4), Memphis (Dec. 14), Jacksonville State (Dec. 21) and Wisconsin (Dec. 28).
The matchups against Alabama State and UTC are part of the Emerald Coast Classic, which shifts on Nov. 29 to Niceville, Florida. The Vols start there with Florida State before facing either Purdue or Virginia Commonwealth a day later.
Tennessee also travels to Toronto to face Washington on Nov. 16 in the Naismith Classic at ScotiaBank Arena. The Vols also have nonconference dates at Cincinnati on Dec. 18 and Kansas on Jan. 25, the latter as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge.
The Vols were 31-6 last season, which ended in the NCAA tournament Sweet 16. They lost four starters off that team but return senior guards Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden. The Vols also brought in highly touted guard Josiah James as part of a four-man recruiting class.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress. com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.