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VOLS to host yearly basketball doubleheader at Bridgestone Arena w/ 2nd SEC team
Posted on 7/15/15 at 3:16 pm
Posted on 7/15/15 at 3:16 pm
quote:
Rick Barnes on scheduling in Nashville:
"We're going to do a deal every year where we play a quality non-conference opponent in Nashville at Bridgestone every year. It's great for all of our great fans in the mid-state and allows us to play a game here where the SEC Tournament is which is an advantage. We're going to make it a doubleheader with other SEC schools every year. Kind of get that tournament feel. We're going to play Gonzaga there next year to start this thing off. We've talked to Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Arkansas and both of the Alabama schools about coming in here too on kind of a rotation. Hopefully they can find a quality opponent too and we get 4 really good basketball teams in here every year. Like I said, it will start next year with Gonzaga-Tennessee and another marquis SEC game if things can kind of work out. Hopefully we can get this thing officially announced soon."
Good idea imo as SEC non-conference scheduling keeps getting better.
This post was edited on 7/15/15 at 3:18 pm
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Posted on 7/15/15 at 3:18 pm to volfan30
quote:
Good idea imo as SEC non-conference scheduling keeps getting better.
That is a quality get there to be honest. Arkansas will likely be woeful next year with what we lost from our men's team but having a showcase like that featuring the Vols every year would be good for your team and the conference as a whole.
Posted on 7/15/15 at 3:24 pm to Arksulli
Yeah I like these kind of events. We played in one a few years ago against Western Kentucky when they were really rolling and Memphis with Derrick Rose played in the other game against MTSU and that was fun. Getting 4 high majors in there for a night would be solid.
Posted on 7/15/15 at 3:29 pm to volfan30
quote:
Yeah I like these kind of events. We played in one a few years ago against Western Kentucky when they were really rolling and Memphis with Derrick Rose played in the other game against MTSU and that was fun. Getting 4 high majors in there for a night would be solid.
Agreed. Tennessee is right in the middle of a sort of fertile crescent for basketball. Having a big early season OOC event there should draw some teams.
Honestly, even though I think we take a dip next year from what we lost, I would want Arkansas to be part of a high profile event like that taking on some quality OOC opponents. A win could be all the difference in the world as far as seeding or even making the NCAA tournament.
Posted on 7/15/15 at 4:54 pm to volfan30
Vanderbilt's AD just threw up after coming up on this information. 
Great idea by Barnes and the UT AD. It's nothing but beneficial for us to be playing basketball annually and football semi annually in Nashville.
Great idea by Barnes and the UT AD. It's nothing but beneficial for us to be playing basketball annually and football semi annually in Nashville.
Posted on 7/15/15 at 6:07 pm to volfan30
I can definitely see Cal agreeing to it. He loves some OOC neutral site games.
Posted on 7/15/15 at 6:27 pm to BluegrassBelle
quote:
I can definitely see Cal agreeing to it. He loves some OOC neutral site games.
Cal will likely be the first to agree. It hasn't been mentioned a lot but Cal and Barnes are apparently longtime friends. Cal advised Barnes to take the UT job.
Posted on 7/16/15 at 12:08 am to TRUERockyTop
quote:
Vanderbilt's AD just threw up after coming up on this information.
Doubtful. It's not a big deal in-state. UT already has their massive fan base in Nashville who are all very aware of them. More than anything, an event like this will be guaranteed to get publicity outside of the state.
Posted on 7/16/15 at 12:13 am to DoreonthePlains
Football wise, it wouldn't be a big deal simply because the best players in Tennessee go to Tennessee.
Basketball is a different story.
Basketball is a different story.
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