Tennessee basketball to play Gonzaga in exhibition game in Texas

Tennessee basketball will play an exhibition against Gonzaga before the 2022-23 season, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

The Vols and Bulldogs will play in Frisco, Texas, on Oct. 28. The exhibition will be open to the public, and an announcement regarding the game is expected soon.

Tennessee coach Rick Barnes and Gonzaga coach Mark Few have a long-standing relationship. It led to scrimmages while Barnes was the coach at Texas and multiple matchups between the Vols and Bulldogs. Gonzaga is likely one of the best teams in the nation entering the season after returning six of its top eight scorers, including All-American forward Drew Timme.

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Tennessee is playing a closed-door scrimmage against Michigan State prior to its exhibition with Gonzaga. NCAA rules allow Division I programs to play two scrimmages or exhibitions or a combination of both.

UT won its most recent meeting with Gonzaga 76-73 on Dec. 9, 2018, in Phoenix. Admiral Schofield had 30 points, including 25 in the second half, to upset the then-No. 1 Bulldogs. That victory came amid a 19-game winning streak that propelled Tennessee to the nation's No. 1 ranking.

Tennessee is 2-4 all-time against Gonzaga. It has a 1-2 record during Barnes' tenure. Gonzaga won 86-79 on Dec. 19, 2015, in the Battle in Seattle at Key Arena in Seattle. The Bulldogs won again the next season, 86-76, on Dec. 18, 2016, at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville in the Battle on Broadway.

UT and Gonzaga were scheduled to play in the Jimmy V Classic in 2020 in New York City. The matchup was moved to Indianapolis before Tennessee had to cancel the game due to COVID-19 issues in its program.

Tennessee opened preseason practices Tuesday. The Vols begin the regular season against Tennessee Tech on Nov. 7. They have nonconference games at Arizona, against Maryland in Brooklyn, and against Colorado in Nashville. They also play in the Battle 4 Atlantis, where they open against Butler.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball to play Gonzaga in exhibition game in Texas