KNOXVILLE - The Tennessee men's basketball team finalized its 2019-20 schedule Tuesday with the announcement of the Southeastern Conference slate.
With the official addition of nine home games against SEC competition, the Volunteers will have a total of 17 dates at Thompson-Boling Arena, where they have won 26 straight games, most in the country.
Tennessee's league schedule starts at home against defending regular-season champion LSU on Jan. 4. The Vols later will host South Carolina (Jan. 11), Ole Miss (Jan. 21), Texas A&M (Jan. 28), Kentucky (Feb. 8), Arkansas (Feb. 11), Vanderbilt (Feb. 18), Florida (Feb. 29) and Auburn (March 7).
The Vols travel to Missouri (Jan. 7), Georgia (Jan. 15), Vanderbilt (Jan. 18), Mississippi State (Feb. 1), Alabama (Feb. 4), South Carolina (Feb. 15), Auburn (Feb. 22), Arkansas (Feb. 26) and Kentucky (March 3).
The SEC tournament begins on March 11 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.
Tennessee returns senior guards Jordan Bowden and Lamonte Turner, who will be expected to lead an otherwise young roster. Turner averaged 11 points per game last season, and Bowden was right behind at 10.6.
The Vols also will be relying on highly touted 6-foot-6 freshman Josiah James in a potent three-guard lineup, while expecting to get some quality contributions from players such as 6-9 junior forward John Fulkerson and 6-6 swingman Jalen Johnson.
Tennessee has applied for an NCAA waiver for 7-foot-1 Arizona State transfer Uros Plasvic that would make him immediately eligible. If that is approved, Plasvic likely will replace Kyle Alexander, who is a member of the NBA's Miami Heat.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.
TENNESSEE MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE
Oct. 30 – Eastern New Mexico (exhibition)
Nov. 5 – UNC Asheville
Nov. 12 – Murray State
Nov. 16 – Washington (James Naismith Classic in Toronto)
Nov. 20 – Alabama State
Nov. 25 – UT-Chattanooga
Nov. 29 – Florida State (Emerald Coast Classic, Niceville, Fla.)
Nov. 30 – VCU or Purdue (Emerald Coast Classic, Niceville, Fla.)
Dec. 4 – Florida A&M
Dec. 14 – Memphis
Dec. 18 – at Cincinnati
Dec. 21 – Jacksonville State
Dec. 28 - Wisconsin
Jan. 4 – LSU
Jan. 7 – at Missouri
Jan. 11 – South Carolina
Jan. 15 – at Georgia
Jan. 18 – at Vanderbilt
Jan. 21 – Ole Miss
Jan. 25 – at Kansas
Jan. 28 – Texas A&M
Feb. 1 – at Mississippi State
Feb. 4 – at Alabama
Feb. 8 – Kentucky
Feb. 11 – Arkansas
Feb. 15 – at South Carolina
Feb. 18 – Vanderbilt
Feb. 22 – at Auburn
Feb. 26 – at Arkansas
Feb. 29 – Florida
March 3 – at Kentucky
March 7 – Auburn