After some small talk, Pitino grabbed his phone and went to Google to see how far Knoxville is from Cincinnati. Once he found out it was under four hours away, Pitino asked if Barnes and the Volunteers would want to host the Musketeers in an exhibition game.
The two sides agreed and now Xavier will make the 257-mile trek to Thompson-Boling Arena for its second October exhibition on Thursday, Oct. 15.
"That's a top 5 team," Pitino said. "That's a proven program over the last five years or so. I think it's great."
Barnes has led Tennessee to the Elite Eight in three straight seasons. Barnes, who succeeded Rick Pitino as the head coach at Providence in 1988, is entering his 40th season as a head coach and has 861 career victories. He needs just three wins to pass Bob Huggins (863) for 10th all-time and could also pass Adolph Rupp (876), Jim Calhoun (877) and Dean Smith (879).
Xavier had a great environment for its outdoor exhibition win over Dayton in the CareSource Invitational on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Xavier got its first taste of game pressure against the Flyers and passed that test as the Musketeers never trailed in its 82-76 win at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.
How will Xavier handle pressure on the road?
Xavier will get its first true road test of the 2026-27 season, even though it won't count toward its overall record. It should be a good experience for the new-look Musketeers considering Xavier's lone true road game in non-conference play is the Skyline Chili Crosstown Shootout against UC at Fifth Third Arena Dec. 5.
Xavier has four other high-major opponents on its non-conference schedule, but one is at Cintas Center (Iowa) and the Musketeers will face Virginia, Texas A&M and Mississippi State on neutral courts.
Tennessee has won 84.4% of its home games (152-28) in 11 seasons under Barnes. That includes perfect regular seasons in 2019 (18-0) and 2022 (16-0).
What they're saying about Xavier, Tennessee
On Oct. 1, Xavier was picked to finish sixth in the Big East. The Musketeers' transfer portal class includes seven newcomers and is ranked No. 21 by 247Sports.
Tennessee's transfer portal haul is ranked No. 3 by 247Sports. However, that group got a big boost from Vanderbilt center Jalen Washington joining the Volunteers in August. Washington, like Xavier's Filip Borovicanin, is currently suing the NCAA to challenge the new five-in-five model and is ineligible after the NCAA won a stay of an earlier temporary injunction that allowed him to transfer to Tennessee.
Borovicanin, who has practiced with Xavier this offseason, was deemed eligible through an executive order by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine Oct. 12.
Tennessee, which is coming off three consecutive trips to the Elite Eight, was picked to finish fourth in the SEC behind Arkansas, Texas and Florida. The Volunteers are led by incoming transfer guards Dai Dai Ames (California), Terrence Hill Jr. (VCU) and Juke Harris (Wake Forest).
Tennessee checks in at No. 18 in KenPom's preseason rankings and Xavier is No. 58.
Xavier Musketeers vs. Tennessee Volunteers time, TV info
Tip: 7 p.m. (E.T.), Thursday, Oct. 15 at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center (21,678)
TV: SEC Network+
Tennessee Volunteers scouting report
Record: 25-12 last season (lost Elite Eight)
Head coach: Rick Barnes (257-121 at Tennessee, 12th season)
Offense: 78.8 PPG last season
Defense: 69.6 PPG last season
Projected starting lineup
(Position, Height, Stats)
Dai Dai Ames (G, 6'2", 16.9 PPG last season at California)
Terrence Hill Jr. (G, 6'2", 15 PPG last season at VCU)
Juke Harris (G, 6'7", 21.4 PPG last season at Wake Forest)
Jalen Haralson (G, 6'7", 16.2 PPG last season at Notre Dame)
Myles Rubin (C, 6'10", 11.3 PPG last season at Loyola-Chicago)
Xavier Musketeers scouting report
Record: 15-18 last season
Head coach: Richard Pitino (15-18 at Xavier, second season)
Offense: 78.4 PPG last season
Defense: 80.6 PPG last season
Projected starting lineup
(Position, Height, Stats)
Chance Westry (G, 6'3", 15.5 PPG last season at UAB)
Tru Washington (G, 6'4", 11.9 PPG last season at Miami)
Ruben Dominguez (G, 6'6", 10.2 PPG last season at Texas A&M)
Jovan Milicevic (F, 6'10", 12.4 PPG last season at Xavier)
Mike Nwoko (C, 6'10", 13.4 PPG last season at LSU)
Players to watch
Chance Westry: Westry had six points and four assists against Dayton but also committed four turnovers and seven fouls (no foul-outs in game agreed upon). The veteran leader will be counted on to facilitate Xavier's offense and needs a better showing in a tough environment against a Tennessee squad being picked by some to go to the Final Four.
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This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Xavier basketball gets exhibition road test vs. Tennessee Volunteers