Tennessee basketball’s roster for the 2023-24 season is starting to come into view after the Vols added thee players in the transfer portal last week. The Vols’ non conference schedule is starting to come into view too after Tennessee announced a return trip to Wisconsin to face the Badgers in November.
That gives Tennessee six scheduled games against strong competition. The Vols play at Wisconsin, play three games in a loaded Maui Invitational field, host Illinois at Thompson-Boling Arena and will face an ACC team in December as part of the first ACC/SEC Challenge.
But the Vols are still looking for more quality competition to add to their schedule.
“We are still looking to get one more (game),” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said. “We are looking at all the ways that all the metrics and everything plays out for our team right now. I think we will probably add one more game and maybe a couple buy games. We are just working through putting together the best schedule that gives us a chance to be where we want to be at the end of the year.”
Tennessee has consistently played strong non conference schedules under Barnes, playing seven quality non conference opponents and six buy games in each of the last two seasons.
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However, the conclusion of the Big 12/SEC Challenge and the beginning of the ACC/SEC Challenge changes the dynamic of the schedule as one of the top non conference matchups is now in December instead of late January.
The Vols’ 2023-24 non conference schedule is also slightly different because it has more on campus marquee games. Tennessee hosts Illinois and travels to Wisconsin and its ACC/SEC Challenge game will be on a college campus.
With Tennessee looking to add one more quality non conference opponent it seems likely the Vols will choose a neutral site game that would be a one-year deal. Tennessee has consistently played games in New York under Barnes and the Vols currently have three players from the Empire State on their roster.
The Vols’ consistent strong non conference scheduling has boded well for the program and helped them earn top five seeds in the last five NCAA Tournaments.
