All for Tennessee
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Tennessee basketball a proven draw based on SEC/Big 12 2022 time times

By Caleb Calhoun

Jan 21, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2020; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes reacts during the first half against the Mississippi Rebels at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /
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When the Kentucky Wildcats are facing the Kansas Jayhawks, that would always seem to be a primetime game in men’s college basketball. However, Tennessee basketball just drew a later primetime slot against another so-called football school.

Tipoff times for this year’s SEC-Big 12 Challenge were revealed Wednesday, and the Vols’ trip to the Texas Longhorns is the last game of the day. Scheduled for Jan. 29, 2022, the two UT schools will face each other at 8 p.m. ET that night on ESPN.

Their game comes right after Kansas and Kentucky, which is set for 6 p.m. ET on the same network. It’s also the only game outside of the LSU Tigers at TCU Horned Frogs noon matchup that doesn’t have to share time with another SEC/Big 12 game on another ESPN channel.

Another marquee game that could’ve stolen the show is the defending national champion and Big 12  Baylor Bears at the defending SEC regular season and tournament champion Alabama Crimson Tide.  Both teams are expected to be better than the Vols this year. However, that game was put in the 4 p.m. ET slot with three other games.

Simply put, Tennessee basketball is the primetime draw over two blue bloods and last year’s national champion. That’s a huge story, and the person responsible for making it happen is the person who has coach both schools who will face off in that primetime slot on that day.

A major storyline, one that is likely playing a huge role in this being the last game, is that Rick Barnes is facing Texas for the first time since the school fired him in 2015. He spent 17 years there and took them to their first Final Four in over 50 years back in 2003.

Barnes heading home is definitely a reason for this draw. However, it’s also a testament to how he’s made Tennessee basketball relevant on a national stage. After all, he did lead the Vols to their longest ever period at No. 1 in 2019, and they’ve made three NCAA Tournaments in six years under him, all three coming within the last four years.

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In general, this matchup is a testament to two programs that Barnes has helped remain relevant. He deserves a ton of credit for that, and with Texas set to join the SEC in the near future, the game could become even more explosive on the court.

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