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Tennessee basketball to face Syracuse in ACC-SEC Challenge

By Colton Pickard

Nov 20, 2023; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan Gainey (2) drives to the basket defended by Syracuse Orange guard JJ Starling (2) and guard Justin Taylor (5) during the first period at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2023; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Tennessee Volunteers guard Jordan Gainey (2) drives to the basket defended by Syracuse Orange guard JJ Starling (2) and guard Justin Taylor (5) during the first period at SimpliFi Arena at Stan Sheriff Center. Mandatory Credit: Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports / Steven Erler-USA TODAY Sports
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Tennessee basketball has learned its opponent for the 2024 ACC-SEC Challenge. The Vols will face Syracuse in this year's challenge between the two power conferences. Jon Rothstein's College Hoops Today reported on Wednesday each matchup for this year's challenge. 

The ACC-SEC Challenge will return in 2024 for its second season. The SEC previously had an agreement with the Big 12, but that partnership ended after the 2022-23 basketball season. The ACC previously participated in the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, which also ended after 2022-23. 

The Orange will travel to Knoxville to face Tennessee on Tuesday, December 3. Tennessee played North Carolina last season in the first year of the SEC's new challenge against another power conference. 

Tennessee has some recent experience against Syracuse. The two teams played in the opening round of last year's Maui Invitational, where the Vols defeated the Orange 73-56. Virtually every key player who helped Tennessee win that game has left through the transfer portal or graduation. 

The Vols now have six non-conference matchups set for the upcoming season. The first non-conference game will be at Louisville on November 9. The Vols will then play in the Baha Mar Tournament, which will feature Virginia, St. John's, and Baylor. 

Then the Vols will host Syracuse on December 3 in the ACC-SEC Challenge, and then will head to New York City to face Miami on December 10, and finally at Illinois on December 14.

Tennessee will look a lot different on the hardwood this year. The Vols are returning a few notable players in Zakai Zeigler, Jahmai Mashack, and J.P. Estrella, among a few other role players. The rest of the roster has been filled through the transfer portal. 

Rick Barnes and the Vols have brought in some of the country's most efficient scorers through the portal and revamped their roster for another run at the SEC Championship. 

Other notable matchups in this year's ACC-SEC Challenge are Arkansas at Miami, Kentucky at Clemson, Wake Forest at Texas A&M, Alabama at North Carolina, Auburn at Duke, and Texas at North Carolina State.

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