Tennessee basketball sets non-conference matchup against ACC program
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Tennessee basketball will face off against NC State in a neutral site contest in Nashville next season, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Head coach Rick Barnes will face off against former Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey during his first season leading the Wolfpack.
Gainey, who played for NC State from 1996-2000, was named NC State’s head coach on March 31 after Will Wade left for LSU. The former Vols assistant had been at Tennessee since 2021, helping lead the Vols to 3 straight Elite 8 appearances. Gainey’s son, Jordan Gainey, played for the Vols in 2024 and 2025.
While Gainey still has most of his team to build, Tennessee has dominated the transfer portal. The Vols have already landed Notre Dame transfer Jalen Haralson, Loyola Chicago transfer Miles Rubin, Cal transfer Dai Dai Ames, VCU transfer Terrence Hill and Belmont transfer Tyler Lundblade.
The Vols are also after Wake Forest transfer Juke Harris and have yet to receive a decision from Nate Ament, who can either return to school or enter the NBA Draft as a likely lottery pick.
Tennessee is not one to shy away from playing big non-conference games. The Vols faced Houston, Kansas, Illinois and Louisville last season and keep that trend going with this latest addition to their schedule.
Ethan Stone is a Tennessee graduate and loves all things college football and college basketball. Firm believer in fouling while up 3.
