Tennessee basketball will reportedly be playing a few familiar foes in the 2021 Hall Of Fame tip-off at the Mohegan Sun. The Vols have been a part of some loaded four team classics in the past, but this one is shaping up to be a great one.
Appearing with Andy Katz this past week, newly hired North Carolina coach Hubert Davis said that his team will be participating in the event, along with Tennessee, Villanova and Purdue. The Rick Barnes led Vols have played all three of these teams in the past.
Jon Rothstein reported the news in 2019 and Mike Wilson of the Knoxville News Sentinel reported it this week.
Tennessee took part in the “Battle 4 Atlantis” in 2017, where they defeated Purdue, but lost to Villanova. Who can forget the classic battle in the Sweet 16 between Purdue and Tennessee, where the Boilermakers eventually won 99-94.
The Vols have also played the Tar Heels in a home-and-home series, almost defeating them in 2016 in Chapel Hill and then losing another close one in 2017 at home. Both matchups came down to the final possessions and set the stage for future games.
Rick Barnes seems to love these type of 4-team scrambles, as they’ve played in numerous tournaments in the month of November and December.
Tennessee is also scheduled to play Colorado next season in Boulder, as part of the deal to play in Knoxville this past season. The Vols are also scheduled to play Memphis at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville next season, which could be the final game in this series.
As they Vols hit the court this upcoming season, they’ll have the eyes of the college basketball world after the 2021 signing class and return of key players from last season’s squad.
