Tennessee’s men’s basketball team will navigate an unusual slate of opponents in the 2024‑25 regular season, meeting six former players who once wore the orange and white. The matchups, spread across the schedule and including five conference games, reflect the program’s recent churn through the transfer portal.
A New Chapter for the Volunteers
The Volunteers’ 33‑game regular‑season schedule includes 18 % of its games against former players and 33 % of its SEC contests against alumni, a statistical imprint of the roster reshaping that followed the departure of six scholarship athletes.
Bishop Boswell, the former shooting guard who averaged 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season, will meet Tennessee in November in Las Vegas as part of the Players Era Tournament. The game promises a reunion with the Vols’ fan base and a chance for Boswell to showcase his development against his former team.
Jaylen Carey, the power forward who contributed 7.4 points and six rebounds per game in his lone season at Tennessee, is slated to face the Vols twice — first in mid‑January in Knoxville and again in early February in Columbia, Missouri. Both games will test the Vols’ interior defense against a player who thrived in limited minutes but left a measurable impact.
Cade Phillips, a key contributor during Tennessee’s Elite Eight run the previous year, will travel to College Station, Texas, in late January to confront the Vols. Though his role was limited, Phillips’ experience in high‑stakes moments adds a narrative layer to the matchup.
Freddie Dilione, who transferred to Georgia after a modest freshman stint in Knoxville, will return to the Thompson‑Boling Arena in February for his senior season. His homecoming will be closely watched by Volunteers who remember his potential and will hope his growth translates into a stronger performance for the Bulldogs.
B.J. Edwards, now a standout at SMU after limited freshman minutes at Tennessee, is set to play against the Vols in Oklahoma. Last season he posted 12.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.3 steals per game, and his presence adds a new defensive challenge for Tennessee’s backcourt.
Amari Evans, a freshman sensation in SEC play known for his two‑way guard abilities, will also meet Tennessee in February. His emergence as a talent‑laden prospect makes the upcoming encounter a highlight for scouts and fans alike.
Overall, the schedule’s 18 % former‑player component and the concentration of alumni in SEC games illustrate how the transfer portal continues to shape college basketball dynamics, turning former teammates into rivals and adding an extra layer of storylines to each contest.