Tennessee basketball’s draw if officially set for this season’s Players Era Festival in Las Vegas with three guaranteed games Thanksgiving week.
The Vols first game is on Tuesday, Nov. 24 when they face Maryland. Tennessee will then face either Iowa State or San Diego State on Thanksgiving day. Tennessee’s third game of the event is on Friday, Nov. 27 when they face off against one of St. John’s, Oregon, Louisville and Texas Tech.
Rick Barnes’ 12th Tennessee team is a part of a 16-team Players Era Tournament. If the Vols win their first three games they will play in the championship against one of Gonzaga, Kansas State, Baylor, Alabama, Michigan, Creighton, TCU or Miami on Saturday, Nov. 28.
If Tennessee does not win each of its first three games then they will not play a fourth game on that Saturday.
There’s a handful of potential interesting storylines for Tennessee. Against Maryland, the Vols will face former starting shooting guard Bishop Boswell. After playing a key role in Tennessee’s third straight run to the Elite Eight, Boswell transferred to Maryland this offseason.
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The Vols could potentially face off against Iowa State in a rematch of last season’s Sweet 16 matchup in Chicago.
It’s the second straight season that Tennessee has competed in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Vols went 2-1 a season ago, defeating Rutgers and Houston before falling to Kansas in the third place game.
While Tennessee has yet to release its non conference schedule for next season, it is beginning to come into view. The Vols will host Big 10 power Michigan State at home while traveling to Mackey Arena to face Purdue on Dec. 12.
Tennessee will, again, participate in the ACC-SEC Challenge and is due for a home game in the event after playing at Syracuse last season. With the ACC improving, the Vols hope to get a solid opponent that can boost their resume before next season.
The Vols will also play at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville for a second straight season, this time facing off against former assistant coach Justin Gainey and North Carolina State.
