No. 23 Tennessee (8-3) will host Gardner-Webb (2-12) on Sunday.
Tipoff between the Vols and Bulldogs is slated for 3 p.m. EST at Food City Center and can be watched on SEC Network+.
Sunday will mark the return of a former Tennessee player. D.J. Jefferson plays for Gardner-Webb and was in the Vols' program from 2022-24. He played one season (2023-24) after redshirting during the previous campaign, while traveling and practicing with the team.
The 6-foot-5, 209-pound guard appeared in one game for the Vols, recording three points and two rebounds for Tennessee in its, 80-42, season-opening victory over Tennessee Tech on Nov. 6, 2023. He was also part of the Vols' scout team throughout the season.
In 2023, Jefferson had playing time during Tennessee's three-game exhibition tour in Italy, making one start and averaging 7.0 points per game.
A native of Richardson, Texas and a graduate of Minnesota Preparation Academy (Long Lake, Minnesota), Jefferson entered Tennessee as a four-star prospect, a 2023-24 Winter SEC Honor Roll and a member and on the 2022-23 First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll.
Jefferson has appeared in nine games for the Bulldogs this season, averaging 6.9 points, 2.1 rebounds and 0.1 assists per game.
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This article originally appeared on Vols Wire: Former Vol will return to Knoxville to play Tennessee basketball