NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee coach Rick Barnes saw a chance to bring Duke to campus for the first time in nearly 50 years and jumped at it.

His No. 18 Volunteers host sixth-ranked Duke on Sunday in an exhibition that sold out minutes after tickets went on sale despite the result not counting. It’s much more important to the coaches as a preseason checkup for a pair of programs that finished in the top five last spring.

“I wish we played more of them,” Barnes said. “I really do. I think it would help all of us.”

Barnes has lots of company. The last weekend of October now looks like the second week of the NCAA Tournament with a bunch of games between power conference opponents providing a fresh revenue source along with a chance to test team chemistry during this time of roster overhaul

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