Tennessee basketball will face off against NC State at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Sunday, Dec. 6, the Vols announced on Friday morning. The tipoff time and broadcast details still are not clear. However, the game will be apart of a double-header along with Murray State versus Georgia Tech.
We previously reported the matchup between the Vols and Wolfpack last month before Tennessee officially announced the game on Friday.
The matchup will pit Rick Barnes’ Tennessee program against his former top assistant Justin Gainey in his first season as the Wolfpacks’ head coach. However, the deal was signed for the two teams to face off before NC State hired Gainey, a source told RTI.
Gainey spent the last five seasons on Barnes’ staff at Tennessee including four years as the Vols’ associate head coach. The Vols won the SEC Regular-Season and SEC Tournament, made four trips to the Sweet 16 and three trips to the Elite Eight during Gainey’s time on staff.
After Mike Schwartz left to be the head coach at East Carolina following the 2021-22 season, Gainey became Tennessee’s “defensive coordinator.”
More From RTI: Which SEC Basketball Players Are Staying In NBA Draft, Which Are Returning To School
Gainey has built a solid roster for next season at NC State, retaining star Paul McNeil while landing a number of solid prospects out of the portal including Hofstra point guard Preston Edmead and Santa Clara shooting guard Christian Hammonds. Bart Torvik’s early 2026-27 projections have NC State as the No. 37 team in the country.
Tennessee has yet to announce its official non conference schedule for next season but it’s 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.
Rick Barnes’ 12th Tennessee team will also play either three or four games at the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas. The Vols will face off against Maryland, one of San Diego State or Iowa and one of Oregon, Louisville, St. John’s and Texas Tech. If they win all three games, Tennessee will play a fourth game at the event.
