All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee Basketball: Vols could play in a 2018-19 headliner

By Billy Williford

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts in the second half against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 17: Admiral Schofield #5 of the Tennessee Volunteers reacts in the second half against the Loyola Ramblers during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament at the American Airlines Center on March 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Rick Barnes and the Tennessee basketball team will have tough games next season. None as tough as a potential early season matchup against Kansas.

Yes, it’s only June, and yes, most fans are focused on the upcoming football season. After all, we are in Knoxville, Tennessee. Knoxville is a football town, always has been and always will be.

Despite how well the Tennessee basketball program is doing, it will never be able to trump the Tennessee football program. To be fair, when Bruce Pearl was in Knoxville, the Vols were ranked the as the number one program in college basketball for the first time in program history.

There were also multiple 20 win seasons with an Elite Eight appearance. It was an appearance that displayed a Vols team that was only a couple plays away from a Final Four.

More from All for Tennessee

After a Co-Regular Season SEC Championship, there was a lot of buzz around the young team that an Elite Eight run was completely realistic. That didn’t happen thanks to Sister Jean and the Ramblers. However, it was one of the most productive seasons in recent years.

With all the success last season, and almost every player coming back, the Vols should be a top ten team all season.

Admiral Schofield and SEC Player of The Year, Grant Williams should be the best one-two punch in the SEC, and maybe in the Nation. Don’t laugh; they will prove it once more.

That leads us to the point of the article. Tennessee basketball should have a fantastic year next season. However, they are going to have to prove it by playing one of the toughest schedules in college basketball.

A schedule that includes Memphis, Gonzaga, Kentucky, West Virginia, and more. That doesn’t even include the Kansas game which is the reason for this post.

Tennessee and Kansas could meet in the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament which would be great for college basketball. There is a realistic possibility that if the two teams meet they could be ranked first and second in the rankings. At the worst, both teams should be inside the top ten.

The Vols and Jayhawks have met three times in program history, and all played within the past decade. Tennessee is 1-2 overall against Kansas with the win coming in the 2010 season when former guard Skylar McBee hit a huge three to win the game.

If fans are fortunate to get this matchup, it could end up being the headliner of the entire season. It is hard to compare the game to the Memphis-Tennessee game for the number one spot in the nation, but it is a close second.

Next: Top 10 Vols players this century

Look for Tennessee to get a lot of love from the national media all season. Don’t be surprised if the Vols become a regular on the big stage. If you’re a Vol fan, you should be quite alright with the upcoming spotlight.

Home/Vols Basketball