Tennessee Set For Regular Season Dance With UNC

Big regular season games are part of college basketball's tradition. The top programs don't get many out-of-conference tests during the regular seasons, but it's must-see television when they do. The Tennessee Volunteers have vaulted into new territory under head coach Rick Barnes; therefore, they will be playing the best of the best moving forward.

The Vols faced several top-10 foes during the 2022 season, but they don't compare to what Tennessee may face on November 29. As part of the ACC/SEC challenge, the Vols travel to Chapel Hill to battle the famous North Carolina Tarheels. The Tarheels have consistently been one of college basketball's top teams since its inception but are coming off a down season. They finished 20-13 and lost in the second-round of the ACC Tournament. The selection committee decided that North Carolina's resume didn't deserve a March Madness big, and the university decided that if they couldn't play in the big dance, they weren't playing postseason basketball. North Carolina turned down an NIT bid and headed to the offseason to prepare for 2023.

They lost all-conference guard Caleb Love to Arizona this offseason after reports surfaced last year that he could leave in the transfer portal. They return several impactful contributors and should have a sour taste in their mouths after the end of last season. Meanwhile, Tennessee is coming off one of its best seasons in program history and is primed to make another compelling case to play in March.

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