KNOXVILLE. Tenn. -- — Ready or not, here it comes.
A preseason that was paused for a couple weeks. No exhibitions. A marquee game against Gonzaga scrapped. An early schedule haphazardly cobbled together. Then, a stretch of four games in eight days.
The Southeastern Conference season is finally next for No. 8 Tennessee. The Volunteers (6-0) battled Wednesday in an 80-60 victory over USC Upstate.
Victor Bailey scored 18 points to lead the victory. It wasn't until a 12-2 run midway through the second half that the Volunteers finally pulled away, Bailey had four points in that burst. Josiah-Jordan James added 11 points and eight rebounds. John Fulkerson scored 10.