ESPN has announced that the Lady Vols’ home matchup against Ohio State will be a part of the 2023 Jimmy V Women’s Classic, per Tennessee Athletics’ press release on Tuesday.
The game will be part of a Sunday triple-header on December 3. Game one will see No. 8 South Carolina and Duke square off before No. 2 UConn battles No. 20 Texas followed by No. 12 Tennessee vs. No. 6 Ohio State in the nightcap.
*Rankings based off of way-too-early preseason poll*
The first two games will be broadcast on ABC while Tennessee’s matchup against the Buckeyes will be on ESPN at 5 p.m. ET.
This will be Tennessee’s second straight appearance in the Jimmy V Women’s Classic and fourth overall. Last year, Tennessee lost to Virginia Tech in their Jimmy V Women’s Classic game.
Ohio State will be Tennessee’s fifth non-conference game against a P5 opponent through the first month of the season. The Lady Vols will also face No. 7 Indiana, No. 10 Notre Dame, No. 15 Florida State, and Oklahoma in November.
The Lady Vols’ matchup with Ohio State will serve as a rematch from last year’s loss. Tennessee fell to the Buckeyes 87-75 in last year’s season opener in Columbus, Ohio.
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The loss marked the first of six for Tennessee in non-conference play as the Lady Vols underwhelmed against a highly difficult non-conference schedule.
In SEC play, though, Tennessee turned their season around, going 13-3 against conference opponents and ultimately beating LSU to reach the SEC Championship game.
Tennessee would go on to reach their second consecutive Sweet Sixteen under head coach Kellie Harper, where they lost a nine-point game to 1-seed Virginia Tech.
At No. 12 in the way-too-early preseason poll, Tennessee is once again be top-three SEC team with the talent to be a top-five team nationally.
The Lady Vols received big news this offseason when forward Rickea Jackson and center Tamari Key announced they would be returning to Rocky Top. Additionally, Harper landed star Wake Forest transfer Jewel Spear who figures to contribute immediately.
Tennessee begins their 2023-2024 season on November 7 when they host Florida A&M in Thompson-Boling Arena.
