Tennessee Basketball: Which teams have the Volunteers never beaten?

George Mason

• Overall series record: 0-1
• First matchup: March 17, 2004
• Last matchup: March 17, 2004
• Last score: George Mason 58, Tennessee 55

Tennessee’s only matchup against George Mason was in the postseason, though it wasn’t exactly the tournament that either of them wanted to be in.

The two programs met up in March 2004 in the first round of the NIT, with the Volunteers still licking their wounds from a butt-whooping a week earlier in the SEC Tournament. The game was at George Mason and the Patriots prevailed at home, ending Tennessee’s season with a 58-55 win.

Rhode Island

• Overall series record: 0-1
• First matchup: March 17, 1945
• Last matchup: March 17, 1945
• Last score: Rhode Island 51, Tennessee 44

Much like their conference rivals, Rhode Island has only seen the Volunteers once and it also came in the NIT, though this matchup was significantly further back in history.

In a season where Tennessee would finish 18-5 and win the SEC regular season title, they’d settle for the NIT and lose their opening game 51-44 to the Rams at Madison Square Garden in New York. It certainly wasn’t the end to the season that they were expecting.

Saint Louis

• Overall series record: 0-1
• First matchup: December 27, 1965
• Last matchup: December 27, 1965
• Last score: Saint Louis 59, Tennessee 57

Saint Louis’ lone appearance on Tennessee’s schedule came way back in 1965 in the Rainbow Classic in Honolulu, and the teams have never met again in the nearly 60 years since.

The Volunteers would finish third in the SEC that season, but their season got off to a tough start, dropping a 59-57 decision to the Billikens that would leave them at 1-3 to start the year.