This Tennessee basketball season began with cancellations against Charlotte, VCU, Gonzaga and Notre Dame.
The stretch run for the Volunteers could be turning into an adventure as well.
Tennessee's scheduled home game Tuesday against South Carolina has been moved to Wednesday night as a result of a positive COVID-19 test, contact tracing and subsequent quarantining of individuals within the Vols program. The Vols, who are 14-5 overall, 7-5 in Southeastern Conference play and 19th in the latest Associated Press poll, are scheduled to host Kentucky this Saturday and travel to Auburn next Saturday, but those are the only remaining regular-season contests on their schedule.
The Vols had a game at Vanderbilt on Jan. 12 postponed due to COVID-related issues within the Commodores program, and those same issues affected Florida recently, which resulted in the Vols hosting Georgia last Wednesday instead of the Gators. There are three open dates available between Feb. 27 and March 10, which is the opening day of this year's SEC tournament in Nashville.
"I'm not sure exactly how the SEC has done it," Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said Monday before the one-day postponement was announced. "I don't know if they've gone back from day one at the games that were missed. I think they've done a great job with trying to get us through this year, and we have the three open dates.
"I would be surprised if those games aren't made up some way and some how."
Tennessee's COVID-19 situation coupled with the dicey weather that is plodding through the SEC footprint has resulted in the following changes to this week's schedule - Tuesday's Missouri at Georgia game has been moved from a 6:30 tip to 7 (SEC Network); South Carolina's contest at Tennessee on Wednesday night will tip at 9 (SEC Network); Tuesday's Mississippi State at Auburn game will now be Thursday afternoon at 5 (ESPNU); Wednesday night's Alabama at Texas A&M showdown will now be Thursday afternoon at 3 (SEC Network), and Wednesday night's LSU at Ole Miss game will now be Thursday afternoon at 5 (SEC Network).
Tuesday's Florida at Arkansas contest at 7 (ESPN2) and Wednesday's Kentucky at Vanderbilt game at 7 (SEC Network) are the only matchups that haven't been altered. Kentucky, incidentally, arrived in Nashville on Monday for Wednesday night's game.
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.