Tennessee basketball has been on pause in recent days because of COVID-19 protocols. But the Vols have announced a new opponent and date for when their 2020-21 season will tip off.

After the Vols canceled four games already this season, they will now meet UT Martin on Wednesday, Dec. 9. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. ET and will be streamed on SEC Network+. Tennessee paused activities after coach Rick Barnes was among the staff, players and other personnel who tested positive for COVID-19.

Tennessee has won all four meetings between the schools, and the last one was on Dec. 29, 2010, a Tennessee victory, 68-62. While it’s set to be Tennessee’s first game of the 2020-21 season, UT Martin is set to host Evansville Wednesday.

UT Martin head coach Anthony Stewart died on Nov. 15, and assistant Montez Robinson was elevated to interim head coach. Robinson spent the previous five years as the head coach at Alcorn State and was the 2017 SWAC Coach of the Year.

The Vols are 60-2 all-time against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.

This is the start of what is expected to be a promising season on Rocky Top.

The combination of experience and talent has raised expectations that Tennessee can win the SEC regular season title for the second time in four seasons. For the first time since the 2008-09 season, the Volunteers are the overall preseason favorite in the SEC as picked by the media.