Tennessee Basketball, Michigan unable to finalize exhibition game

Tennessee Basketball won’t be playing an exhibition game at Michigan in October, a source told Volquest. The two programs were previously in discussions for a preseason game in Ann Arbor, but the game was not able to be finalized.

It’s currently unclear if the Vols will look for another high-major exhibition opponent. Tennessee recently announced it will host Duke in an exhibition game on October 26, a 7 p.m. Eastern Time start at Food City Center.

In January the NCAA eased rules for exhibition games, allowing for two to be played against any four-year schools. The Vols open the regular-season schedule at home on November 3 against Mercer.

Tennessee lost 66-62 to Indiana in a preseason exhibition last October at Food City Center. The Vols went to Michigan State in October 2023 for a charity exhibition, winning 89-88, and beat Gonzaga in a charity exhibition in Frisco, Texas, in 2022.

Ticket information released for Duke exhibition game

The Duke exhibition game will not be part of Tennessee’s season-ticket package. Tickets for the exhibition will start at $35 for lower-level seats and $20 in the upper level at Thompson-Boling Arena.

“We have so much respect for Jon Scheyer and for the Duke basketball program,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said in a press release. “It is an exciting opportunity for our players and our fans to host the Blue Devils here in Knoxville for a high-level exhibition game.

“We are confident this matchup will benefit both teams and really help prepare us for the upcoming season.”

General public ticket sales will open August 15 at 10 a.m. Eastern Time. Tennessee students will be admitted free, with the claim period for student tickets beginning October 20. Parking information will be released at a later date.

According to Tennessee’s press release, season-ticket holders beginning Friday will have first right of refusal for their current seat locations for the Duke exhibition and will receive email communication from Tennessee Athletics Friday afternoon with more details. The first right of refusal for current seat locations ends August 8 at 5 p.m. ET.

Donor presales will take place August 13-14, with eligible donors receiving email communication from Tennessee before the presale.

Tennessee Basketball’s history against Duke

Tennessee has faced Duke 16 times and has an 8-8 record against the Blue Devils. The Vols won the most recent matchup 65-52 in the second round of the 2023 NCAA Tournament in Orlando. 

Duke beat Tennessee 77-67 in the 2011 Maui Invitational and the Vols won a natural-site game in New Orleans 90-69 in December 1980. Tennessee hasn’t hosted Duke since an 81-78 loss in December 1976.

Tennessee will reportedly open the season November 3 against Mercer. The Vols will face Rutgers, Houston and a third team to be determined in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas November 24-27.

December starts with a road game at Syracuse in the ACC-SEC Challenge on December 2. The Illinois series will continue with a game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on December 6 and Louisville comes to Knoxville on December 16 to finish a two-year home-and-home.

The Vols host Louisville on December 16, Gardner-Webb on December 21 and close the non-conference schedule against South Carolina State on December 30. 

Tennessee won 77-55 at Louisville last November in the first road game of the season and the start of the two-year home-and-home between the two programs. The Vols swept Illinois over the last two seasons and will face the Illini again in Chicago during the 2026-27 season.

Syracuse has been on the schedule the last two seasons, with Tennessee winning in Hawaii during the Maui Invitational in November 2023 and again last December in the ACC-SEC Challenge game at Food City Center.