KNOXVILLE — The Southeastern Conference announced today each school’s conference opponents for the upcoming 2018 season.
Along with matchups against its permanent opponents — Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt — Tennessee will also face Georgia and Ole Miss in home-and-home series.
The Vols’ home slate features games against former SEC East foes Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vanderbilt. UT will also play host to Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss and Texas A&M in 2018.
Tennessee hits the road for contests at Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Missouri, South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Tennessee went 16-16 (8-10 SEC) last season, its second under head coach Rick Barnes. The Vols played one of the most difficult schedules in the nation, ultimately playing five games against all four Final Four programs, including a narrow 73-71 road loss to eventual national champion North Carolina. UT picked up notable home victories against Georgia Tech, fourth-ranked Kentucky and Kansas State as well as road wins over Texas A&M and Vanderbilt.
In 2017-18, the Vols return five members from the highest-scoring freshman class in program history (1,140 points), accounting for nearly half of the team’s statistical production. Rising sophomore forward Grant Williams headed that charge, earning SEC All-Freshman Team honors.
Five newcomers will join the ranks this summer, including true freshmen forwards Zach Kent, Derrick Walker and Yves Pons. Junior college transfer Chris Darrington and graduate transfer James Daniel — the NCAA’s leading scorer in 2015-16 — will look to bolster the Vols’ backcourt.
Times, dates and television information on the 2018 SEC schedule will be released at a later date.
