Once again, Bruce Pearl is proving he’s not going to play it safe.
The University of Tennessee basketball coach is apparently close to reaching a deal to play Gonzaga in the fifth annual “Battle in Seattle” on Dec. 29 in Washington.
“We don’t have a contract signed, but there have been some preliminary discussions between Bruce and (Gonzaga coach) Mark Few,” UT associate head coach Tony Jones said Friday. “Nothing has been finalized.”
Spokane television station KHQ reported Friday the Vols will play the Zags in a nationally televised game.
If a contract can be finalized, Tennessee’s already tough non-conference schedule would get a little tougher.
“Like Ray Mears used to say,” Jones said, “any place, any time, any how.”
The Vols are likely to be a consensus preseason top 10 pick with the bulk of their Sweet 16 lineup returning and strong transfer additions in Tyler Smith and J.P. Prince.
Gonzaga is a perennial power and considered a probable top 20 team heading into the 2007-08 season.
Included in UT’s non-conference schedule is a trip to Memphis on Feb. 23 at the FedEx Forum.
The Vols play Western Kentucky on Dec. 15 at the Sommet Center in Nashville, a road game at Xavier and a home game at renovated Thompson-Boling Arena against Ohio State.
There’s also a trip to Chattanooga planned on Dec. 4 and UT is slated to play in the Legends Classic along with Texas and West Virginia in the eight-team November event.
First-round games will be hosted by participating schools between Nov. 14-18 with the four winners playing in New York on Nov. 23-24.
Gonzaga had won the first four “Battle in Seattle” matchups until losing last season to No. 18-ranked Nevada.
Nevada rallied to beat the Zags 82-74 in front of 15,000 fans at KeyArena.
Gonzaga defeated Oklahoma State 64-62 in 2005 on a banked-in Adam Morrison 3-pointer with 2.5 seconds remaining.
In 2004, the Zags beat UMass 68-57 and in 2003 it was an 87-80 overtime victory against then No. 3-ranked Missouri in the inaugural event.
The Vols also are considering California University of Pennsylvania as a possible Division II exhibition opponent to start the 2007-2008 season.
Pearl said Friday no contract has been signed.
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Comments » 4
GreerVol22 writes:
Ric Flair said it best, to be the man you must beat the man.
DadwasaVol writes:
California University of Pennsylvania as a possible Div 2 opponent? Are we sure?
wvuut#537044 writes:
The California Univ of PA Vulcans are a solid D-II program. Last year they played Pitt, Arkansas and Maryland and gave them all they wanted. I grew up in Califonia, PA and but graduated from UT. USA Today ran a story on the Cal U coach last year as he has fought back from serious illness.
DSaVol writes:
READ PEOPLE!!! The Cal of Pa game is an EXHIBITION!!!! Ya gotta play somebody in the exhibitions since the NCAA won't allow all the holy roller teams in anymore.
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