Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes met with the local media on Wednesday morning before the Vols leave for Indianapolis and their Sweet 16 matchup against Kentucky at Lucas Oil Stadium.
It’s the 232nd matchup between Tennessee and Kentucky but just the first between the two teams in the regular season. The Wildcats won both meetings in the regular season but Tennessee has won eight of its last 10 games since the second meeting.
Barnes discussed facing a team they have so much familiarity with in the NCAA Tournament, Chaz Lanier’s strong March play and much more. Here’s everything Barnes said.
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On how strange it is for Tennessee to be preparing for an opponent in the Sweet 16 that it has already faced twice
“Well, with having as many teams in our league having a type of year, I don’t (know). I’ve always thought about it’s just the next game. And it’s been a month or so since we last played Kentucky. I think it’d be different if it was a week ago, maybe in the (SEC) Tournament, a week and a half ago. But it is what it is. And this time of year, it doesn’t matter. You’re playing right now, obviously, you’re on a pretty good roll. I’m sure guys our excited, confident. So whether it’s Kentucky or whoever, you’ve just got to be ready to play.”
On if he’d rather Tennessee play a team that its familiar with or not familiar with
“It doesn’t matter. I just know how hard we knew we had to get ready top lay Wofford, then the winner of the UCLA-Utah State game. And it’s no different this week. It’s the next game up on your schedule and you’ve gotta be ready to go.”
On point guard Lamont Butler’s importance for Kentucky
“He’s a terrific player. I love the way he plays. And he’s obviously been there before. He knows what it’s like this time of year to play basketball. But he brings a really good defensive element to them and he knows what he’s doing on the offensive end. Physicality. He brings physicality.”
On what Igor Milicic Jr. did well in Tennessee’s two games against Kentucky, his play against UCLA in the second round
“I thought Igor played well (against Kentucky) and I thought he played well the other night. He got back and he had seven rebounds and did a lot of good things with the ball. But right now, whether it’s Igor, whoever, they’ve got to be ready to play. We’ve talked about this time of year, what it’s all about. But Igor did play well, I thought, both times. And we need him to do it, that and more.”
On Kentucky have success in the two games at the 3-point line, against Tennessee’s No. 1-ranked 3-point defense
“Well, I think you give them credit. One, they made made the shots, there’s no question. And they’re a team that is capable of making tough shots. But we did have some breakdowns that let them get going. And I think a team like that, they can shoot it, you give them just a little bit of space, let them get the rhythm, it doesn’t take much for them to have a great night against you.”
On how important the play of Tennessee’s front court on defense and in rebounding was against UCLA in these second round
“When we play our best basketball, it’s when we’ve got a complete effort, not only from our guards, but with our front line. At this time of year, if you’re going to win and move, you got to have everybody. It can’t be one-sided from your own attack. And we just need that consistency from here on out.”
On Tennessee’s Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips and Igor Milicic Jr. combining for 20 rebounds against UCLA
“Huge. And that was a major emphasis going in because you know, you go back, and when we’ve been pounded on the boards, it’s really hurt us. Obviously it would hurt anybody. We talk about it all the time, the game going on within the game that, whether it’s trying to get some of your misses. But you can’t be a good defensive team if you don’t finish it and rebound the ball and allow your offense to get out, maybe get some easy baskets.”
On the NCAA Transfer Portal opening while the NCAA Tournament is still going on
“It is what it is. I mean, it’s the rules they put in play. It is what it is. We have to live within it and do what we do. And again, I’m thankful and that we have a coaching staff that’s been on top of it. And it’s different because we’re still in the tournament, but yet still recruiting as if we weren’t. But I don’t think we’re any different than any of the other teams that’s still playing.”
On Kim Caldwell taking the Lady Vols to the Sweet 16 in her first season
“It’s awesome. I mean, from the time that she’s walked on this campus, she’s made a tremendous impact. I go back a year ago when we started with the Big Orange Caravan that you knew she was confident in what she was doing, her style, she knew that she believed in that. And I look back and I really admire Danny White and his staff for making a hire. I mean, people probably said, who? What? But she’s got all that quiet real quick. But if you knew how hard our women’s team and I watched it all through the summer and fall, I’m not the least bit surprised in what she’s got going. She’s only gonna continue to build on it. And I hope this team continues to go because again, we’ve watched them personal and up close how hard they work every day and it really, it’s neat watching their success.”
On if he’s ever had two players be finalists for National Defensive Player of the Year, whether he’d vote for Zakai Zeigler or Jahmai Mashack
“You know what I don’t think I have, but if I had a vote, I’d vote for both of them. And simply because they both go about it a different way. You got one guy that is having to match up every night with normally the other team’s best player. Then you got a guy like Zakai who’s playing 94 feet and getting ball screened every time he turns around. So it’s two different ways that you look at it, but it’s really a compliment to both of them. And the fact is, I’d vote for both of them and I guess on a national level, they’d both get half a vote, but I think they both are more than deserving of it.”
On if Chaz Lanier has been at his best as of late
“I think he’s continued to get better. I think he’s, and you would expect that. I mean, because of, again, if you know him (and) how he goes about his business and he went through a learning year in what is arguably the greatest college basketball league ever and against the physical guys, terrific coaches, players that know how to guard people, how to change things up. And he had to learn it on the run. And, and he’s done that and he’s just gotten so much better. And I think that, he’s just, in terms of his own future and career, I think he’s just getting started to what he’s gonna be.”
On what about Chaz’s personality allows him to get better this time of year
“Well, I think he said it best the other day, and I think this, he said he’s grounded. Every time you hear him talk, he gives glory to God. He said, that’s my foundation, that’s my rock. And I think that that’s true. I think that he realizes that God has put him here at this time to glorify God. And that means to do everything he possibly can to prepare himself mentally, emotionally, to do everything that he can possibly do to get ready to go out and try to play the best basketball he can. And I don’t think he’s laying around worrying about, am I gonna make a shot? I think he’s just thinking about his preparation, what he needs to do. And that’s not just offensively, he’s gotten so much better on the defensive end and I mean, he’s just improved in every facet of his game. But it’s his personality. He hasn’t changed. I mean, he came in here very unselfish, wanted to be part of a team, wanted to be part of a program, and he’s done more than his part to come in and not just help us, but make our program better.”
On how beneficial it is to have players that won’t be intimidated by playing during the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament
“I think that’s important. You know, I do, I think it’s important. Obviously Zakai (Zeigler), and Jahmai (Mashack) and Jordan (Gainey), you know, Cade (Phillips) got a taste of it last year, and JP (Estrella) a little bit, even though he is not playing. I think it’s so important and I think the carryover going forward is so important for those guys, because those guys are going into a new role. But I don’t think there’s any question you want guys that have been there and understand what you have to do mentally to focus on getting ready to do your job.”
On how much validation it is for the SEC to have seven teams in the Sweet 16
“I think it is. I mean you talk about it and almost have half of ’em, half our league is there. I think it speaks volumes of the kind of year that we’ve had. Obviously when you have more teams in, you’re going to have a chance to lose more games. I’m sure people early (during the first round) were probably taking shots at the league, I would assume. I don’t read it, but I would assume that’s what was being said. But the fact is, we’ve got seven in and again, I look at our league and appreciate it ’cause I know we all would say we know what we had to go through all year to get to this point.
“But again, I’m proud of it ’cause I know where we were 10 years ago. I mean, I was in that room and you know, the commissioner made the comment, he wanted to see basketball become, like, I think he said women’s softball at the time. I think we had a bunch that year in softball. And he said he’d like to see a day when we got double digits (in the men’s basketball tournament) ’cause I think we were coming off where there was maybe, what? Two or three teams that were in the tournament? To get where we are today, it’s taken a while to get here, but it’s been good.”
On Texas firing head coach Rodney Terry
“I talked to him obviously before he had heard, and you know, he was hoping to have a chance to talk about it with (Texas AD) Chris Del Conte and see if there was a way moving forward. But after it happened — I talked to him the day before — I called him back after I’d gotten the news and before I could even say anything, he said, ‘Coach, I’m good.’ He said, ‘I know God’s got a plan for me.’ He said, ‘(God) brought me here, he’s got something planned.’ And I think he’s just in a good place as a person, but you know, Rodney was a part of that program as an assistant (and as a ) head coach for 11 or 12 years, and obviously was there when we had some good runs.
“Rodney’s a good man. I thought the staff did a good job with their team. He’ll be fine. Whatever he decides to do. I think he’s already had opportunities that maybe he passed on. But I love Rodney. It warmed my heart when I heard him say that God had a plan for him because I believe that. I think he’s got a plan for all of us. I think he’s sovereign. I don’t think his sovereignty has ever lost. So he’ll put him where he wants him to be.”
