Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes met with the local media on Friday morning before the Vols host Alabama at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center on Saturday afternoon.
Alabama enters the rivalry matchup as one of two unbeaten teams in SEC play while Tennessee has won two straight games since following at Mississippi State last week.
Barnes discussed the challenge’s that Alabama presents, Santiago Vescovi embracing a new role and much more. Here’s everything Barnes said.
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On Tennessee using the lineup with two forwards more against Florida on Tuesday, what led to that decision
“Well, nothing other than we just felt like it was something we could do, because they play two big guys. They actually run four through there. But we’re not opposed to doing it if that’s what the game calls for. And actually we don’t mind it at all, really. But that way we can cut down on Jo’s minutes, too, because we do think he’s put in a lot of minutes here early. I thought JP really looked comfortable. I thought he was confident. And Jonas and Tobe had another good game.”
On J.P. Estrella and Freddie Dilione V getting valuable minutes for Tennessee in SEC play, getting a taste of conference play and what it takes
“It is (big) if they embrace the preparation. If they can come back each day. That’s where all the younger guys have started understanding how important listening and, in terms of game preparation. And understanding too, that at any point in time they could be called on. And it’s really neat watching them this time of year where, and sometimes it takes guys less time. Normally, I would say it’s normal for freshmen to maybe start to understand it more about this time of year. But we’re just happy that those guys, their ability to start to prepare the right way is what’s happening.”
On what stands out about this Alabama team
“They’re the No. 1 offensive team in the country. And Mark Sears is, boy, he’s playing great basketball. They’ve got a lot of really good shooters around him. And the thing that has impressed me is I think they’ve gotten so much better, like most teams normally do. Their defense, very efficient for that too. But the way they play, it’s, as you know, Nate’s always done a great job with his team, putting him in the right spots to be effective and be efficient. And he’s done it with this team.”
On what Alabama’s Mark Sears does to be such an effective scorer
“He can score it. You’ve got to find him early because he can take it and go. Really does a great job of squaring his shoulders to the rim. And (he) finds people. He can score himself and he knows that they’ve got those shooters in the corners for the most part. And I like the fact, I think he puts the ball where it needs to be.”
On Tennessee trying to stop an Alabama team that doesn’t do much in the midrange, how to try to force Alabama into midrange offense
“It’s hard to do that because again, Nate has them so well coached and drilled. They know what they want and what they’re looking for and you knyou can’t give, you’ve got so many guys, you can’t give them any daylight because they shoot it quick and get their feet set quic. And obviously they practice that. And so if you go to sleep for just a little bit, somebody can get a good look at it.”
On if watching what Dalton Knecht has done recently is even more impressive when watching it on tape, versus what it looks like live
“He did some things the other night that we know that he’s capable of. He got on the glass, he had the tip dunk and he’s definitely trying to guard and put more effort in the defensive end of it. And just not just being a guy that, he’s shown all year he can score in a lot of different ways, but when he can add getting out, running in transition, getting to the offensive glass, and then if he just does his work early defensively, he’s proven he can do it on that end. We expect him to get better. Will he get 39 or 40 every night? We don’t expect that. But we do expect him to take his shots when he’s open. And we also talk about with him in film, you know, he had a chance to get off the ball a couple times quicker that would’ve got his teammates with a better look at it. And all those things, as he sees different defenses, eventually he’ll work his way through that too.”
On if he’s seen Jonas Aidoo’s confidence grow as of late
“I think Jonas is confident. I do. I just think that when he really works hard to get his space and the closer he is to the rim, he’s got a really quick second, third jump. His length is really a factor there. When he is fighting for his space. That’s when he’s really effective.”
On how valuable Josiah-Jordan James versatility is
“Jo, I can’t think of anything he hasn’t done since he’s been here. He’s played every position on the floor for us and continues to do whatever. Again, I talk about he and Santi and Jahmai Mashack, and even Zakai. Those guys, even if they don’t score a point, they impact winning in some way, somehow. Whether it’s setting the teammates up on the offensive team, screening for them, getting them open and defensively they fix each other’s mistakes in a great way.”
On what it says about Santiago Vescovi to embrace a lesser offensive role
“Well, Santi’s always done that. Santi is one of the best defensive players in the country. And he’s certainly, offensively, he’s never been a selfish player. I mean if anything he’s too unselfish because he’s probably been the guy we’ve asked to shoot more than any guy we’ve ever coached. He just is one of those guys, and I respect him for it, He knows (when) he feels it.
If not, he’s going to try to do something to get his teammates open. And what he does too, I mean, he is very conscientious of when— just like Dalton the other night, he. I think more than anybody knew that he had a rhythm going and he was looking for him, trying to get him set up. And I think Santi really tries to do that for Jonas too, trying to get Jonas involved. And Santi sees the game in a great way. I mean, he is very in tune with what’s going on out there and can put guys in different spots like from a sideline out of bounds, baseline out of bound situation, he’ll move people around to put him in the right spots and what he sees that needs to be done at that point in time.”
On what about Dalton Knecht’s mindset that’s led to his success
“I would say the biggest thing is knowing that he can have an impact on the game in different ways, learning that when he makes shots, it’s all nice and looks good and he can do a lot of spectacular things with the ball, but knowing that he can impact the game otherwise. I think that’s been his biggest shift.”
On why he pushes Dalton Knecht so much
“Well, I think that’s true of any player. I think that from a coaching standpoint, we see players where — I think players see where they are right now. I think coaches see where they can be. And that’s why we try to keep pushing them, you know, because we’ve got good players, but we know they can be better. We know the better they become, the better our team becomes. And the key is getting them to understand what we see. And some guys you don’t have to because some guys just see it and they want to go at it. But for the majority of guys, it’s your job as a coach to get them to see what you know they can become.”
On how much Knecht embraces being pushed
“Oh, he does. Every day. First of all, he signed up for it, because we talked about it. And I think he would tell you that I’ve lived up to my end of the bargain, but he does, he embraces it. He’s one of those guys that in practice, he comes out here knowing that (he’s) going to get it but I do it with all of them. I don’t think he thinks anything of it other than that (if) he’s not ready to play, I’m gonna try to light a fire under him.”
On his message to Dolly Parton on her birthday
“Keep singing. Keep doing it. Why stop? She’s such an icon in this state and around the world. Happy birthday to her for one, but keep doing what you’re doing.”
