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Vols look to go 2-0 against West Virginia next season

By Billy Williford

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Smokey, the mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, performs during a time out in the second half against the Wright State Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Smokey, the mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, performs during a time out in the second half against the Wright State Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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Tennessee finds their way back into the Big 12/SEC Challenge. This upcoming season West Virginia will travel to Knoxville to take on the Vols.

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A couple of months after the Tennessee football teams takes on West Virginia to open the college football season; the Tennessee basketball team will take on the Mountaineers in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.

The annual Big 12/SEC Challenge on January 26th and the Vols will have the pleasure of hosting the Mountaineers.

And, sure why not, right? Scheduling tough games has to be bittersweet for fans. On the one hand, it is fun to watch two great teams play. As well as playing a tough schedule will get the Vols ready for tournament play.

However, Tennessee’s schedule is brutal…again. Along with West Virginia, the Vols will play Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Memphis. They will also be apart of a stacked field in the NIT Season Tip-off at the Barclays Center that includes Kansas, Louisville, and Marquette.

The Vols are receiving some major love in early preseason polls, and with West Virginia being as good as they have been under Bob Huggins, this should be the matchup of the challenge.

Other games include Alabama at Baylor, Arkansas at Texas Tech, Georgia at Texas, Florida at TCU, Kansas at Kentucky, Iowa State at Ole Miss, Kansas State at Texas A&M, South Carolina at Oklahoma State, and Vanderbilt at Oklahoma.

Last season was the first season the SEC won the challenge. Which, Tennessee played a massive part in the SEC’s success. You may remember, the Vols play at Iowa State and the game was not even close.

Tennessee held the Cyclones to a season-low 45 points. They also held Iowa State to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field and 23.5 percent from the three-point line.

Moving forward Tennessee should have a great defense next season, and West Virginia always seems to be stout defensively as well.

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There is no telling how the Tennessee vs. West Virginia football game will turn out. However, the basketball Vols will have an excellent opportunity to show out again in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. You never know, the Vols could sweep the Mountaineers next season.

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