2009-10 Tennessee Basketball Schedule

by Will on Aug 20, 2009 5:44 PM EDT in Tennessee Volunteer Basketball Comment 16 comments

Trips to Los Angeles, Memphis and the Virgin Islands, plus a five-star home date with Kansas highlight the Vols' 2009-10 basketball schedule, officially released with times and television by the university today. In all the Vols will play 30 games before heading to Nashville for the SEC Tournament - the 16 standard SEC contests, 11 non-conference games and a three game stint in the Paradise Jam.

Bruce Pearl has continued to schedule competitively for the Vols, as even the "lesser" non-conference home dates are with teams who are traditionally competing for their own conference championships, meaning there are plenty of names your bracket is familiar with in this listing.

16 days 'til football season...85 days until Bruce Ball, Year 5...

Complete schedule after the jump:

2009-10 Tennessee Basketball Schedule

Fri Nov 13 - Austin Peay - 7:30
Tue Nov 17 - UNC Asheville - 7:30
Fri Nov 20 - East Carolina - 3:30 (Paradise Jam Game 1 - St. Thomas)
Sat Nov 21 - DePaul OR Northern Iowa - 6:00 (Paradise Jam Game 2 - St. Thomas)
Mon Nov 23 - Paradise Jam Game 3 - St. Thomas
Fri Nov 27 - College of Charleston - 7:30
Wed Dec 2 - ETSU - 7:30
Fri Dec 11 - MTSU - 7:00 (Sommet Center - Nashville)
Tue Dec 15 - Wyoming - 7:00
Sat Dec 19 - at USC - TBA
Wed Dec 23 - North Carolina A&T - 7:00
Thu Dec 31 - at Memphis - TBA (CBS)
Wed Jan 6 - Charlotte - 7:30
Sun Jan 10 - Kansas - 1:30 (CBS)

Thu Jan 14 - Auburn - 7:00 (ESPN/2)
Sat Jan 16 - Ole Miss - 1:30 (SEC Network)
Tue Jan 19 - at Alabama - 7:00 (ESPN)
Sat Jan 23 - at Georgia - 5:00 (FSN South)
Wed Jan 27 - Vanderbilt - 7:00 (ESPNU)
Sun Jan 31 - Florida - 1:00 (CBS)
Thu Feb 4 - at LSU - 9:00 (ESPN/2)
Sat Feb 6 - South Carolina - 6:00 (ESPN)
Tue Feb 9 - at Vanderbilt - 7:00 (ESPN)
Sat Feb 13 - at Kentucky - 9:00 (ESPN + GameDay)
Wed Feb 17 - Georgia - 7:00 (SEC Network)
Sat Feb 20 - at South Carolina - 1:30 (SEC Network)
Tue Feb 23 - at Florida - 9:00 (ESPN)
Sat Feb 27 - Kentucky - Noon (CBS)
Wed Mar 3 - Arkansas - 7:00 (CSS)
Sat Mar 6 - at Mississippi State - 6:00 (ESPN)

Some additional thoughts:

With the Vols and Memphis playing on New Year's Eve, you don't want the football team to show up in the Chick-fil-A Bowl or any other Dec. 31 game.
There are no more breaks within the SEC schedule - apparently every team will play twice a week with no off dates inbetween, which had previously allowed the Vols to schedule teams like Memphis and Ohio State during those openings.
The SEC schedule opens easy but closes hard for the Vols - no reason Tennessee shouldn't be 5-0 against that opening slate, but the last five games are a nightmare, and you don't want to be on the bubble against that lineup coming down the stretch.

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The layout of the SEC schedule

What the heck was wrong with Wednesday/Saturday? We have at least two instances of Thursday/Saturday/Tuesday in SEC play, including one that involves two road trips. Three games in 6 nights is never the best idea (8, of course, is standard), but how do you like this schedule

Thursday night: game in Baton Rouge
Friday: travel back to Knoxville
Saturday: home game
Sunday: rest
Monday: travel to Nashville
Tuesday: game against Vandy in their evil arena.

Bruce’s non-conference scheduling continues to be good. I just hope we have what it takes to improve seriously this season, especially when other teams around us are getting loads better.

by Incipient_Senescence on Aug 20, 2009 6:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think that's the price we pay

for the deal with ESPN. Four games on CBS plus 8 on ESPN (and somebody will pick up the USC game) offers increased exposure, but it definitely came at a scheduling price.

I’ll be interested to see what the complete ESPN schedule looks like – they had games Monday-Thursday and Saturday nights last year, but only showed the SEC in the Tuesday 9:00 PM slot. With the new deal you’re already seeing the Vols get love on Tuesday and Thursday from the worldwide leader…I’m curious as to how much of that came at the expense of the other major conferences. No way ESPN gave up much of their ACC/Big East rights, surely not…

Will - Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Aug 20, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man ... what to do for the Wyoming game ...

I can’t just re-use the football jerseys. They’re football jerseys. I don’t have basketball jerseys – nor do I see myself spending the money for them.

Hmm…

I could follow Pearl’s lead with Orange/White and Brown/Yellow chest paint…

by Hooper on Aug 20, 2009 6:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Or stop the silly Wyoming Love!!

Man, though, I do love how UT schedules “upper-echelon” “lower-teir” teams.

College of Charleston took out Davidson last year, keeping Stephan Curry out of the NCAA Tourney. That thursday night game is going to be way hyped up, I think. It will be a nice New Years Eve present.

by bobo_the_vol on Aug 20, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But Wyoming’s my alma mater, man!

Ok, ok, I’ll tone it down. Maybe.

by Hooper on Aug 20, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Man last season must have been tough for you.

What did you do during that game?

36-0

by Bamabrave4 on Aug 21, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

*unrelated note

Is there a possibility we share the same favorite NFL team? If so, we are in for a long season NFL-wise.

36-0

by Bamabrave4 on Aug 21, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mine's the Broncos.

As listed in my profile. [hint, hint]

I’ll let the others in attendance answer your other question, if they feel like it. I have a feeling they can add more color to the description…

by Hooper on Aug 21, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Please don't add more color to the description

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Graysnail on Aug 21, 2009 6:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew I liked you for some reason

Let’s go Broncos

36-0

by Bamabrave4 on Aug 22, 2009 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok. To spare our regulars,

here’s a link for you.

(Those who were on this site last November: you’ve seen it already.)

by Hooper on Aug 21, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can't re-use the football jersey because it remains unwashed

they won’t let you in the arena.

The beginning of a lifelong losing streak for the ’boys against the Vols.

by memphispete on Aug 20, 2009 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One observation

What I consider to be three of our biggest home games (Kansas Jan. 10, Florida Jan. 31, and Kentucky Feb. 27) fall on Sunday, Sunday and Saturday respectively with Kansas at 1:30 pm getting the latest tip time. This concerns me. While I’m sure the general admission crowd will fill up most of the arena I have much less confidence in my esteemed peers, the student body. Last year the Kentucky game, our biggest bball rival, fell at like 12:30 on a Sunday (correct me if I’m wrong). The standing section was lethargic and not completely full, the lower bowl section sat most of the game and there were holes missing in the upper section. The only games I remember our student section to be full and truly rocking last year was against Gonzaga and Florida, both of which were night games. Don’t get me started on the “less important” games such as LSU and Miss. St. wherein the standing section behind the goal was half empty, the lower section sat on their hands most of the game except after a big play, and the upper section was mostly empty. The point of my posting is that I’m worried TBA might end up being a less than intimidating environment during three of the Vols biggest games. I hope I’m wrong, I hope TBA gets so loud the Jayhawks get confused and think they are playing a game inside Neyland. However, judging from last basketball season I’m less than optimistic, and that makes me sad. One factor I just thought of that could buck this negative trend would be the excitement from a rejuvenated football program carrying over to the hard court. That I have to convince myself our students will show up to support the most successful coach in UT bball history depresses me. Were Tennessee, we should support our players no matter what the circumstances. Go Vols!

"It's static noise. You can't hear anything. You go up and down the line, your wide receivers, your running backs, your tight ends, nobody can hear. Nobody."
- Cal QB Nate Longshore commenting on playing in Neyland Stadium

by jimvols on Aug 20, 2009 10:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point on that.

I always felt that the fatigue from the football season carried over into basketball season last year. But Sunday noonsies are horrible times for games in East Tennessee. Even those who aren’t at church have had their tummies filled with Cracker Barrel goodness.

by Hooper on Aug 20, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The solution: tailgate.

Seriously.

Eric Berry for sending the guy who wins the Heisman spinning 720 degrees in the air at the podium - or for intercepting it and returning it to where it rightfully belongs

by Graysnail on Aug 21, 2009 6:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Sunday UK game was two seasons ago

But I remember the same general attitude. Last year was the Jodie Meeks UK game at night that offered little to cheer about throughout…and I’d agree completely that Gonzaga was the peak last year, which shouldn’t have been the case at all. Our fan support from unrealistic expectations was and is very frustrating.

Methinks Calipari might throw what should be unneeded energy into that game this time around though, hopefully regardless of start time…

Will - Rocky Top Talk

by Will on Aug 20, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs