No. 17 Tennessee will tip off its 2025-26 basketball season on Monday. Rankings reflect the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll.
Monday’s season opener is slated to tip off at 7 p.m. EST. The contest can be watched on SEC Network+. Myan Patel (play-by-play), Steve Hamer (analyst) and Sarah Detwiler (reporter) will be on the call.
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The Tennessee-Mercer basketball series is tied, 4-4, dating to Feb. 7, 1913. The Vols won the last meeting, 84-60, on Nov. 29, 2017 at Food City Center.
Ahead of tipoff on Monday between the Vols and Bears, Nolan Analytics released a game score prediction. Tennessee is projected to defeat Mercer, 85-60.
The 2025-26 men’s basketball season is the 11th for Tennessee under head coach Rick Barnes. He is 1-0 versus Mercer during his tenure at Tennessee.
Tennessee had one exhibition game ahead of regular-season play. No. 5 Duke defeated the Vols, 83-76, at Food City Center.
More: 2025-26 Tennessee men’s basketball schedule, TV, tipoff times
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More: How to watch Tennessee versus Mercer basketball: Time, TV channel
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Score prediction for Tennessee versus Mercer basketball game
