All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee Basketball: Which teams have the Volunteers never beaten?

By Joey Loose

Mar 23, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) controls the ball against Florida Atlantic Owls guard Johnell Davis (1) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2023; New York, NY, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward Olivier Nkamhoua (13) controls the ball against Florida Atlantic Owls guard Johnell Davis (1) during the second half at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
12 of 13
Next
Mar 1, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Former Tennessee Volunteers basketball player Dale Ellis (left) and former Tennessee head coach Don Devoe during his jersey retirement ceremony before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 1, 2014; Knoxville, TN, USA; Former Tennessee Volunteers basketball player Dale Ellis (left) and former Tennessee head coach Don Devoe during his jersey retirement ceremony before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Thompson-Boling Arena. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit

  • Overall series record: 0-1
  • First matchup: February 4, 1931
  • Last matchup: February 4, 1931
  • Last score: Detroit 31, Tennessee 30

There are a few more random matchups against mid-majors that Tennessee faltered against, and Detroit is the initial example. These two matched up in a game that was played in Knoxville nearly a century ago.

Meeting up in February 1931, the Titans came away with a 31-30 victory, handing the Volunteers a third straight loss during a very mediocre season for the program.

New Mexico State

  • Overall series record: 0-1
  • First matchup: December 30, 1955
  • Last matchup: December 30, 1955
  • Last score: New Mexico State 74, Tennessee 64

The lone showdown with New Mexico State also happened a long time ago, though 1955 is a bit more recent than that matchup with Detroit. Still, this one didn’t go Tennessee’s way either.

Still known back then as New Mexico A&M, the Aggies came to Knoxville and left town with a 74-64 victory, handing the Volunteers a fourth straight loss during what would be a pretty miserable season.

Holy Cross

  • Overall series record: 0-1
  • First matchup: December 28, 1960
  • Last matchup: December 28, 1960
  • Last score: Holy Cross 68, Tennessee 67

The Crusaders of Holy Cross have found their way onto Tennessee’s schedule just once, as you could probably guess, and it happened many years ago.

These two programs faced off in late December 1960 in the Hurricane Classic in Miami, with the Crusaders clinging to a 68-67 victory. Holy Cross would actually win 21 games that season while Tennessee finished below .500, with this being their fifth straight loss in December.

Home/Vols Basketball