Tennessee Vols basketball will kick off their 2025 SEC play against a familiar face - and an old nemesis

The Tennessee Vols will get a very good look at a now-former key player from their run to the Elite Eight last season, and they'll get it early in their 2025 SEC slate.

Oh, and Rick Barnes will get a shot at one of his good friends as well.

The Arkansas Razorbacks will come to Knoxville for the Vols' first SEC game on January 4 at Thompson-Boling Arena.

As many Tennessee fans know, Arkansas had quite the makeover this season.  First, the Hogs managed to secure services of former Vol F/C Jonas Aidoo, who entered the transfer portal in early April after UT was eliminated by Purdue 72-22 in their Elite Eight matchup.

Aidoo drew much of the blame, rightly or wrongly, after struggling mightily against Purdue's Zach Edey in the NCAA tournament.  He played only 10 minutes despite only having 3 fouls for the game, scoring no points and adding 2 rebounds.

Now, he will come back with a new head coach in Calipari.  Calipari accepted the Arkansas job after the Wildcats suffered yet another early tournament exit.  This time they lost to 14-seed Oakland in their first game 80-76, marking yet another instance of them failing to reach the second weekend of the tournament, a feat they have not accomplished since 2019.

Now, both men who've played plenty of games inside Thompson-Boling Arena will do so wearing Arkansas cardinal and white.  And they'll look to try to get the Hogs back onto the national map at the expense of the Big Orange.

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