Tennessee basketball did something it’s never done on Friday night, ending rival Kentucky’s season. The Vols coasted past Wildcats 78-65 to advance to the Elite Eight for the second straight season.
The Vols’ defense was much better in their third meeting with the Wildcats while Zakai Zeigler, Jordan Gainey and Jahmai Mashack drove the bus offensively, combining for 51 points.
Following the game, Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes discussed an improved defensive performance, Jordan Gainey’s value and much more. Here’s everything Barnes said.
More From RTI: Three Quick Takeaways As Tennessee Coasts Past Kentucky To Advance To Elite Eight
Opening statement
“Just again, the utmost respect for University of Kentucky and Mark Pope, just great respect all around for that university and him as a person. Extremely proud of our guys. They beat us twice and scored. I think they hit 12 threes in both games, and obviously, tonight, our number one objective, even though, to be quite honest with you, was the last two games too, but they just — they beat us. We guarded the three-point line, and just blessed having these guys every day, how hard they work and I’m just… thank God the fact that I get to spend another day with them.”
On if it was an emphasis to set the tone with physicality
“I don’t ever want to take anything away. They beat us. Whether we did or didn’t do our job, the fact is they beat us, but we knew we had to defend the three-point line better. They made three tonight. They got 13 off and Lamont Butler was terrific. He made four of them. That was our number one goal. They run such good offense. We just wanted to take away the easy back cuts and the three-point line, and we did a better job today than the other two games.”
On having a moment like this at this point in his career
“If you want me to be totally transparent, I have been praying and thanking God for the opportunity to be here because I think all things come from Him and it’s a blessing. We talk about being here at this time, and the number one objective is to bring glory to Him, and that’s what I was thinking about, how blessed I am to have the opportunity to stay in this business, and hopefully, by what we do, we bring the glory to Him.”
On if enough people nationally know how good Jordan Gainey has been this season
“No, I don’t. I think one of the biggest compliments that Jordan should get, when we’re on the road or someplace like this, and they introduce the players, we never come out because we don’t consider that we’ve got just five starters. We consider him a starter, and that’s a tradition we’ve had all year. Our motto has been “it’s not about me”. So, again, we don’t go out. They stay together, work together, sweat together. Jordan, you know, he’s a starter. He’s as much a starter as anybody, and we’ve had teams deeper than that, but I’m glad he’s with us. I really appreciate a number of years ago when Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bowden said if he decides to transfer, he’s one of us. And what he’s been able to do in two years is really a compliment to who he is.
His dad is on the staff, and if you have been around his family, you know what he’s about and it’s never been about him. All he’s wanted to do was play his role and he’s done it as well as anyone can do it.”
