The University of Tennessee basketball team will play games across the state of Tennessee, according to its 2005-06 schedule that was released today.

The Vols play 18 of their 27 regular-season games within the state of Tennessee. In addition to playing 15 games in Thompson-Boling Arena, UT will play a pair of games in Nashville and another in Memphis. At the conclusion of the regular season, Nashville will serve as the host of the Southeastern Conference Tournament for the fourth time in the tournament's 41-year history.

"I'm very pleased that we will be playing all over the Volunteer State, in Memphis, Nashville and here in Knoxville," Bruce Pearl said of his first schedule as the head coach of the Tennessee basketball program. "I think it is important for the University of Tennessee to have a presence across the state."

UT's schedule, which opens Nov. 18 when East Tennessee State visits Thompson Boling Arena, features 10 teams that played in the 2005 NCAA Tournament and a total of 13 squads that played in postseason tournaments. The non-conference schedule lists five schools (Louisiana-Lafayette, Eastern Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma State and Alabama A&M) that received NCAA Tournament bids in 2005.

"I think this schedule sends a message to players and fans that we are willing to compete," Pearl said. "There has to be a balance between challenging yourself and building confidence. My hope is that this schedule will provide that. Certainly our three non-conference road games will be demanding and we will have to play well at home."

At least 13 of Tennessee's games will be televised live this season, including three national television appearances. UT's games at Texas (Dec. 17), against Oklahoma State in Oklahoma City (Dec. 22) and at Kentucky (Feb. 7) will be shown on the ESPN family of networks. Jefferson-Pilot Sports will televise seven games and Fox Sports Net/Sunshine Sports will show three contests.

Tennessee opens SEC action Jan. 8 at South Carolina and will play its first league home game three days later when the Vols host Georgia Jan. 11. Senior day will be March 1 when the Kentucky Wildcats visit Thompson-Boling Arena. UT will conclude regular-season action March 4 at Vanderbilt before returning to Nashville five days later for the SEC Tournament.

New season ticket orders are currently being taken online at UTsports.com and by calling the UT Ticket Office at (865) 656-1200 while season ticket renewals will be mailed within the next few days. New ticket packages are available this season, including two four-game SEC packages and the new family plan season ticket. Fans can also purchase tickets to the Nov. 30 Murray State game in Nashville online at UTsports.com and by calling the UT Ticket Office.

2005-06 Tennessee Basketball Schedule

Date Day Opponent Site Time

Nov. 3 Thur. Southern Indiana (exh.) Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 11 Fri. Carson-Newman (exh.) Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 18 Fri. East Tennessee State Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 22 Tue. Louisiana-Lafayette Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 25 Fri. Eastern Kentucky Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Nov. 30 Wed. 1-Murray State Nashville, Tenn. 8:00 p.m.

Dec. 6 Tue. Appalachian State Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 17 Sat. at Texas (ESPN) Austin, Texas 2:00 p.m.

Dec. 22 Thur. 2-Oklahoma State (ESPN2) Oklahoma City, Okla. 6:00 / 8:30 p.m.

Dec. 27 Tue. Alabama A&M Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 Thur. Lipscomb Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 4 Wed. South Alabama Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 8 Sun. *at South Carolina (JP) Columbia, S.C. 1:30 / 4:00 p.m.

Jan. 11 Wed. *Georgia Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 Sat. *at LSU (FSN/SUN) Baton Rouge, La. 8:00 p.m.

Jan. 18 Wed. at Memphis Memphis, Tenn. TBD

Jan. 21 Sat. *Florida (FSN/SUN) Knoxville 7:00 p.m.

Jan. 25 Wed. *at Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. 8:00 p.m.

Jan. 28 Sat. *South Carolina (FSN/SUN) Knoxville 5:00 p.m.

Feb. 1 Wed. *Vanderbilt Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 4 Sat. *Mississippi (JP) Knoxville 3:00 p.m.

Feb. 7 Tue. *at Kentucky (ESPN) Lexington, Ky. 7:00 p.m.

Feb. 12 Sun. *at Georgia (JP) Athens, Ga. 1:00 p.m.

Feb. 15 Wed. *Auburn Knoxville 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 Sat. *at Alabama (JP) Tuscaloosa, Ala. 4:00 p.m.

Feb. 22 Wed. *at Florida (JP) Gainesville, Fla. 8:00 p.m.

Feb. 25 Sat. *Arkansas (JP) Knoxville 1:00 p.m.

March 1 Wed. *Kentucky (JP) Knoxville 8:00 p.m.

March 4 Sat. *at Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn. 8:00 p.m.

March 9-12 SEC Tournament (JP & CBS) Nashville, Tenn. TBD

March 14 NCAA Opening Round Game (Dayton, Ohio)

March 16 & 18 NCAA First & Second Rounds

(Greensboro, N.C. / Jacksonville, Fla. / Salt Lake City, Utah / San Diego, Calif.)

March 17 & 19 NCAA First & Second Rounds

(Dayton, Ohio / Philadelphia, Pa. / Dallas, Texas / Auburn Hills, Mich.)

March 23 & 25 NCAA Regionals (Atlanta, Ga. / Oakland, Calif.)

March 24 & 26 NCAA Regionals (Washington, D.C. / Minneapolis, Minn.)

April 1 & 3 NCAA Final Four (Indianapolis, Ind.)

1-at the Gaylord Entertainment Center

2-70th annual O'Reilly All-College Classic

* Southeastern Conference Game

All Times Eastern & Subject to Change

As of August 31, 2005