Barnes Faces Gainey in Nashville Showdown

0:00On April 22, Tennessee just locked in a non-coference matchup against NC State right here in Nashville this season. It's a juicy one, pitting Vol's head coach Rick Barnes against his former assistant Justin Gaining, who's now running the show for the Wolfpack. Gaining steps in after Will Wade jumped ship to LSU earlier this off-season. A former point guard for NC State himself, Gaining spent five seasons learning the ropes under Barnes and Knoxville before making the leap. Fans are buzzing about the history too. Tennessee holds a five-win, seven-loss edge all time against the Wolfpack, dating back to their first clash in 1929. Last time they met was in 2023 on a neutral court in San Antonio, and the Vol's hosted Illinois at Bridgestone Arena just last year. This adds to Tennessee's stacked non-coference late. They'll hit the road at Purdue, join the player's air tournament for three big games, and host another in the SEC ACC Challenge. With Gaining facing his old balls, expect fireworks in Music City keeps the Vol's sharp heading into league play.