Tennessee basketball’s home and away conference opponents for the 2024-2025 season were revealed on Monday afternoon, with one particularly interesting note.
The Vols are set to host the Arkansas Razorbacks at some point in the season, though the date for that game is not known at this time.
While Tennessee hosting Arkansas any other year is typically just a good conference game, the 2024-2025 matchup will present some extra intrigue for Vol fans.
After Eric Musselman left for the Southern Cal job during the offseason, Arkansas brought in Kentucky’s John Calipari as their next head coach, sending shockwaves around the college basketball world. Calipari ended his Kentucky tenure with a 10-11 record against Rick Barnes’ Tennessee teams but will have a chance to write a new record during his time with the Razorbacks.
Among Calipari’s first tasks at Arkansas was to assemble a team from scratch and he did so by hauling in the nation’s top-ranked portal class according to 247 Sports. One of the key pieces and the second-ranked player in Arkansas’ portal class is former Tennessee big man Jonas Aidoo.
Aidoo spent his first three seasons at Tennessee and earned Second Team All-SEC honors in his junior season but decided to hit the portal after the Vols’ Elite Eight exit. Aidoo signed with the Razorbacks’ program on April 29.
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In 18 games at the Food City Center this past season, Aidoo averaged 12.4 points per game on 51.9 percent shooting from the floor to go along with 7.5 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. Some of Aidoo’s statistics were better in 14 road games, though, averaging 11.3 points on 54.9 percent shooting with 8.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game.
Tennessee’s social media team posted the scheduling note to Instagram on Monday afternoon, showing Arkansas as one of the teams Tennessee will host next year. Former Tennessee forward Josiah-Jordan James tagged Aidoo in the comment section with the popcorn emoji. Aidoo responded to James’ comment with the “Smiling Face With Tear” emoji.
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To look at Tennessee’s full slate of home and away opponents for the 2024-2025 basketball season, click here.
Stay tuned with Rocky Top Insider throughout the off-season for more scheduling notes for the Tennessee basketball season.
