Tennessee basketball concluded its non conference slate with a 67-52 victory over Norfolk State on New Years Eve in Knoxville.
The Vols jumped out to an early lead behind a hot start for Chaz Lanier and it was a slow burn from there as Tennessee struggled to knock down shots.
Following the game, Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes discussed the slow tempo nature of the game, Cade Phillips performance and much more. Here’s everything Barnes said.
More From RTI: Bishop Boswell Returns To Court In Tennessee Win Against Norfolk State
On how he would assess Tennessee’s offense in the win
“I thought it was a really good game for us, the kind of game we thought, we knew it was gonna be a low-possession game, that’s how they play. We knew they were going to drive the ball at us. We knew we were going to get a lot of looks and that it’s hard for players to turn down shots when they know they get more daylight than they normally get. And obviously I thought early, I thought we took some quick threes that we shouldn’t have taken, especially from the post position. But otherwise, it played the way I thought. We had a chance to obviously make some threes, but they don’t go down. It changed the game. I didn’t think we did a great job on the glass. I would think them coming in, knowing that we do want to rebound the ball, I thought they really were (terrific). I think they’re a really well-coached team. The program, what they’ve done the last three years and what they’ve done in the past, obviously my time in Northern Virginia back in the day, I know a lot about Norfolk State and that area. And (I have) just great respect for that program.
“But their defense, we knew they were going to try to slow it down, tempo us. Try to get us not to play in a high-possession game. And they did a good job with that. And it was good for us. Because it’s really kind of what you could see in the first round of the NCAA Tournament game. But our guys stayed with it and just kind of grinded it out.”
On Chaz Lanier continuing to make progress in this offense while producing at a high rate
“Well he is producing, but he’s got to keep going. He’s got to learn to continue to cut harder. He’s got to come off knowing that he doesn’t have, he’s not going to have as much time to get set up and those type things. And obviously people are scouting him and I thought, I do know he’s gotten better defensively, which is something that is important obviously. But he’s going to have to continue to add to speed to his game. We want to get out and run. But I just think he’s got to be able to catch the ball more. I think he had some good looks. What did he shoot from three? 6 of 16? I thought early he took a couple that weren’t very good, but overall that— and I thought it because he didn’t get set up to answer your question kind of. I thought he just kind of drifted into it and they did a good job closing out where he didn’t get his normal rhythm. But, again, it’s a really good game for us because we talked about how we’ve gotta continue to learn how to guard the ball. Not so much one-on-one, but more as a team where people trying to— we knew they were gonna go downhill hard and they did and did a good job of not fouling them, which we didn’t wanna do that. Other than Z’s five turnovers, again when you’re playing a low possession game, everything gets magnified because of just a low possession game. And every one of those possessions mean that much more. But again, it was good. When we put together our buy games, we want to get challenged. We felt these were two great games to get us ready for conference play and now you can throw it all out. We’re 0-0 like everybody else. Rankings mean nothing. None of it other than maybe people look at it as a way to build their resume right now. But the fact is 0-0 with everybody in the league.”
On if he’s comfortable with the minute distribution
“Well, again, in a game like this, Bishop is working his way back. His minutes will go up. He’s had, he practiced really yesterday for the first time and I thought he did well. So we have confidence that his minutes will go up. We just need Dstone and we need Igor. Those guys can shoot the ball. And they both of them took not good shots early in the game, just trying to, we don’t worry about them making the three, they’re going to. They’re good shooters, they’ll do it. But if they’re pressing to do that, they’re not. And then Shack’s thumb or finger’s been bothering him and in the second half, I just didn’t think he looked comfortable and that’s why we didn’t play him very much.”
On the things he likes most about his team heading into SEC play
“Well, I think obviously rebounding. I mean, every game, as I said, takes on its own identity. It plays, and again, today played the way we thought it would play and you’re hoping you’re gonna shoot the ball well ’cause you know you’re gonna get some looks at it. We knew they would change some defenses, show us some different looks, but we wanted to, again, we knew they were gonna really drive the ball as hard as anybody that we played all year. And they’ve got some guys that can finish it well at the rim. But when I look at it in January, I think everything we do (has to improve). I mean we obviously gotta rebound the ball better. Different team coming in here Saturday and then after that, it’s gonna be a different team.
So we’re gonna have to adjust from game to game. But there are certain fundamental things that we have gotta improve on. It goes back to ball-screen defense, guarding the basketball, finishing the defensive set. Then on offense, not throwing lifelines, turning the ball over in unnecessary ways. We’ve gotta improve there. What did we shoot from the free throw line today? 10-of-16. So, you know, that’s better than probably what we’ve been shooting. But turnovers, shot selection, valuing that basketball is a high premium that we’ve gotta continue to improve with.”
On what makes Cade Phillips so good on lob plays and in the pick-and-roll
“He works and you know, the more he gets out there, you know, his experience, I thought he had a really good day for us. He can jump, he’s more athletic. He’s, as they say, he’s farm strong. People might look at him and think he’s not that strong, but highly competitive. He’s probably improved as much as anybody. I don’t think there’s any question from the last spring to today, he’s improved more than anybody on our team. And the more he’s out there, the more he’s gonna get confident knowing what’s going on. Great teammate, wants to do the right thing, but he’s competitive. Not afraid to stick his nose in there and go after it.”
