Rick Barnes just gave Tennessee fans another big-time game to circle on the calendar

Tennessee basketball already has a loaded nonconference schedule next season. In typical Rick Barnes fashion, the Vols are taking on a challenging slate to prepare for March Madness. Tennessee will compete in the Players Era tournament, giving them multiple opportunities to face high-level competition. They’ll also take on Purdue and NC State, where they’ll reunite with former assistant coach Justin Gainey.

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It's already a very difficult first couple of months, and well, another big-time opponent has been added ot the schedule with the announcement of the ACC/SEC Challenge. Per Jon Rothstein, the Vols will host Florida State this December in the showcase, taking on the Seminoles

Tennessee will host Florida State in ACC/SEC Challenge

Honestly, it’s kind of refreshing not having to play one of the premier ACC opponents like Duke, North Carolina, or Virgina. Tennessee already has a tough enough schedule, so getting to host Florida State, which isn’t exactly a powerhouse right now, is a nice bonus. The Vols already face a difficult slate with their nonconference games and the SEC schedule, so they didn’t really need another gauntlet. Plus, Florida State’s uniforms are pretty sweet, and that never hurts.

The history between these two teams is actually pretty close. Tennessee holds a narrow 5-4 edge in the all-time series, though Florida State won the most recent meeting in 2019 by a score of 60-57. It’s kind of surprising they’ve only played nine times since 1950 when you consider how often both programs show up in March Madness and nonconference events. Honestly, it’s nice to see a different matchup instead of the same teams over and over again, like Louisville.

Luke Loucks has done a really nice job in his first year at Florida State as a young head coach. The Seminoles won 18 games last season with a fairly mediocre roster. They play a high-tempo style that pressures opponents defensively and loves to shoot three-pointers. It’s a highly volatile brand of basketball, but it can lead to some big wins. Tennessee’s ball handlers will need to be on point in this matchup, and giving the ball away against a team that plays at that pace can be a killer.

Rick Barnes needs to have Tennessee ready quickly

Big games means big expectaions.

Tennessee cannot afford to mess around when it comes to its nonconference schedule. If the Vols drop too many of those games, they could put themselves in a hole before SEC play even begins. With so many new faces on the roster, it will be a big challenge for Rick Barnes to get everything to gel quickly while also remaining competitive in these nonconference matchups. With only one ball and so many good scoers, everyone needs to understand what their role is and who gets to do what.

Tennessee doesn’t have to run the table in these games, but they do need to stay competitive and come away with a few quality wins. It'll be an exciting November and December.

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