Rick Barnes is set to take the SEC Media Day stage Tuesday evening, giving Tennessee fans their first real look at the Vols as preseason buzz starts to build.
Barnes will speak at 5:50 p.m. ET in Birmingham, and the SEC Network will carry the coverage. Tennessee is one of eight teams featured on the opening day of the event, joined by Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, South Carolina, and Vanderbilt.
The Vols are also sending three players to the event: sophomore forward DeWayne Brown, junior guard Terrence Hill, and senior Tyler Lundblade.
Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward from Hoover, AL, is heading into his second season with Tennessee after being one of two carryovers from the 2025-2026 roster. As a freshman, he appeared in 35 games and averaged 4.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 0.4 blocks.
This offseason, Brown has taken on a larger role, with the expectation that he’ll grow into a reliable playmaker. Barnes has also praised the leap he’s made as a leader in practice.
Hill arrives after two seasons at VCU and brings a proven scoring punch to Knoxville. The 6-foot-2 junior posted 15.0 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game in his final year with the Rams. He also showed off his perimeter touch in last week’s open scrimmage at the Food City Center, and he’s expected to open the season as Tennessee’s starting point guard.
Lundblade gives the Vols another dangerous shooter. Last season at Belmont, the 6-foot-6 senior knocked down 40.6% of his three-point attempts, after hitting 48.1% from deep the year before.
He finished with averages of 15.6 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.8 assists for the Bruins. Lundblade is still coming back from back surgery this offseason, but the expectation is that he’ll be ready at some point early in the season.
Wednesday’s SEC Media Day slate features Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Missouri, Texas, and Texas A&M.
Tennessee’s preseason schedule continues after media day. The Vols host Xavier on Thursday night in Knoxville, then play their second exhibition at Duke on Oct.
- The regular season begins Nov. 3 against Wofford at the Food City Center.
In Other News...
Vols Grind Out Road Win As One Arkansas Moment Steals Attention
Tennessees trip to Fayetteville ended with a 24-17 win over Arkansas, a result that steadied the Volunteers after a road battle that never really let either side get comfortable. The victory pushed Tennessee to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in SEC play, while Arkansas slipped to 2-4 and 0-3 in conference action, leaving the Razorbacks searching for answers after another tough league loss.
The football itself had plenty to discuss, but one camera shot from the afternoon quickly took on a life of its own and became part of the conversation around the game. For Tennessee, the bigger takeaway is that a hard-fought road win can travel well in October, especially in a league where every possession seems to matter and where the Volunteers are still trying to sort out who they are as the season moves deeper into SEC play. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Defense Could Catch A Huge Break Against Alabama
Alabamas offensive line picture has become a little murkier heading into the Tennessee matchup after center Racin Delgatty went down with a lower-body injury in a recent game. His status for Saturday is still uncertain, and that matters for a Volunteers defense looking to keep pressure on a Crimson Tide front that may have to adjust on the fly.
If Delgatty is sidelined, Alabama would likely turn to backup Mal Waldrep in the middle, a spot Tennessee will be watching closely. Xavier Gilliam has been one of the Vols more reliable defensive players this season, and any instability up front could give him and the rest of the defense a better chance to win key snaps in the trenches. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Alabama Just Got Even Bigger In Knoxville
The buildup around Tennessees showdown with Alabama just picked up another layer, with SEC Nation set to spend Saturday morning in Knoxville before the Vols and Crimson Tide kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The pregame show will air from 9 a.m. to noon on SEC Network, giving the campus a full-day spotlight ahead of one of the seasons biggest SEC matchups.
The setting should feel as big as the stakes, with Neyland Stadium already sold out and fans expected to pour in early for a rare chance to make a long Saturday of it. Tennessee is also sweetening the game-day experience with half-price concessions for the first hour after gates open, which figures to help fuel the kind of atmosphere the Vols hope to ride once the broadcast lights move from campus to the stadium. [Read more 🡒]