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Tennessee basketball: Vols 2019-20 schedule adding up to be tough

By Billy Williford

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 17: Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers gives celebrates after 84-64 win over the Tennessee Volunteers during the final of the SEC Basketball Championships at Bridgestone Arena on March 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - MARCH 17: Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers gives celebrates after 84-64 win over the Tennessee Volunteers during the final of the SEC Basketball Championships at Bridgestone Arena on March 17, 2019 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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Since Rick Barnes has been the head man on Rocky Top, the Tennessee basketball team has played a tough schedule. Same applies for the 2019-20 season.

The Tennessee basketball program could look much different next season. Admiral Schofield and Kyle Alexander are out of eligibility. Jordan Bone and Grant Williams have declared for the 2019 NBA Draft. The four players scored nearly 60 points per game and have been the focal point of putting Tennessee back on the map.

If potentially losing four players from a 31-win team wasn’t enough, the loss of associate head coach Rob Lanier is going to hurt. Lanier recently accepted the head coaching vacancy at Georgia State.

One thing that will stay consistent for next season is Tennessee playing a tough schedule. Since Rick Barnes got to Rocky Top, the Vols have played one of the hardest schedules in the country. The entire 2019-20 schedule hasn’t been released yet, but there are a few games that should excite fans.

Tennessee finds itself in another November tournament. The Vols will participate in the Emerald Coast Classic on November 28-29 in Destin, Florida. Tennessee will play potentially two games against Purdue, Florida State, and VCU.

A rematch against Purdue would be an intriguing game especially the way the NCAA Tournament game ended. Another potential matchup in the tournament would be against the Florida State Seminoles, Sweet 16 from last season. And, then there is VCU, a mid-major that you never want to play.

On December 14 the Memphis Tigers come to Knoxville. Last season, the Vols won 102-92 thanks to a huge game from Admiral Schofield. In the following weeks, head coach Penny Hardaway created drama to continue bad blood in the series. Truthfully, it only made him look silly. This in-state rivalry game should be one fans get excited to watch and maybe one of the biggest games on the schedule.

Other games apart of the nonconference slate are Cincinnati (December 18), Wisconsin (December 28), and the SEC/Big 12 Challenge if Tennessee is a part of the annual event. There is also another potential game with the Washington Huskies that could be played in Toronto, Canada.

Next. 5 best wins of the 2018-19 season. dark

Volnation could be in for a long season of rebuilding, but one thing is for sure, they will be battle tested for the NCAA Tournament.

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