Good interview with Barnes on CBS Sports Network

[Freak]

 

[Volfan1000]

John Pennington suggested on today's Sports Source edition that the Tennessee basketball team gets tight in March because the players want to do so well for Coach Barnes because of his past NCAA Tournament history.

Does the board think that this is a fair perception?

 

[Purplehaze26]

Sounds like a logical argument to me.

 

[KTrain]

John Pennington suggested on today's Sports Source edition that the Tennessee basketball team gets tight in March because the players want to do so well for Coach Barnes because of his past NCAA Tournament history.

Does the board think that this is a fair perception?

There might be a bit of truth to that, I think he recruits high quality individuals who may care too much, that it may be a detriment, versus players that are playing for themselves. You just look at 2, 5th year players that have just embraced as have the others a portal player to advance the team. So IMO there might be some.

 

[CAVPUT]

John Pennington suggested on today's Sports Source edition that the Tennessee basketball team gets tight in March because the players want to do so well for Coach Barnes because of his past NCAA Tournament history.

Does the board think that this is a fair perception?

If the team is tight, it's because the coaches are tight. The roster reflects the head coach and to a lesser degree, the staff. Some will be excited to be on the big stage and embrace the moment. Others wilt under the spotlight. I think ZZ and Knecht will fall into the former camp. Other than those 2 guys....

 

[VOLINVONORE]

Sounds like a logical argument to me.

Sounds like something Pennington would say.

 

[tennrich1]

I’ve heard almost every reason under the sun. No one knows why we haven’t been more effective in the post season. Frankly I think it’s WAY over analyzed. CLEARLY Rick is a HOF coach and we’ve had exceptional talent. Match ups sometimes have been difficult but that’s the way the tournament plays out. So when you hear the pundits pontificate on Ricks lack of success in the NCAA….you can rest assured…they don’t have a clue either.

 

[tn4elvis]

I’ve heard almost every reason under the sun. No one knows why we haven’t been more effective in the post season. Frankly I think it’s WAY over analyzed. CLEARLY Rick is a HOF coach and we’ve had exceptional talent. Match ups sometimes have been difficult but that’s the way the tournament plays out. So when you hear the pundits pontificate on Ricks lack of success in the NCAA….you can rest assured…they don’t have a clue either.

Look at Kentucky they have future multiple nba all stars and have not won one in a long time. It’s about match ups and playing your best ball on any given day

 

[DeepSpringsVol]

I think its either just rotten luck. Or that Coach is great at scouting opponents on schedule because they have been known whereas the in tournament its on short notice. He even referenced coaches scrambling to get as much information about opponents. So maybe it takes him a bit. Its all just guessing.

 

[Clad in Big Orange]

I think “getting tight” could be part of it. Especially for the 5 year guys that want it so bad for themselves and for coach Barnes. This is what I mean when I say other teams have cocky/confident players. That is just not the makeup of some of our key players. Not sure what the answer is, need a team shrink if we don’t have one.

 

[BoColoco]

I’ve heard almost every reason under the sun. No one knows why we haven’t been more effective in the post season. Frankly I think it’s WAY over analyzed. CLEARLY Rick is a HOF coach and we’ve had exceptional talent. Match ups sometimes have been difficult but that’s the way the tournament plays out. So when you hear the pundits pontificate on Ricks lack of success in the NCAA….you can rest assured…they don’t have a clue either.

Just read this by Dan Wolken which is about as good an explanation as I’ve heard:

“The reason his teams underperform in the tournament, though, is pretty simple to explain. When Barnes’ teams have converted their favorable seeds into deep tournament runs, it has correlated with having a top-10 offense.


Going back to 2002, which is the earliest year KenPom.com began tracking efficiency, Barnes has had a top-10 offense five times. Those years resulted in: Final Four (2003), Elite Eight (2006), round of 32 (2007), Elite Eight (2008) and Sweet 16 (2019), the last of which was an epic, back-and-forth 99-94 loss to Purdue.


When the offensive profile isn’t statistically strong – and it’s been pretty bad for most of his tenure at Tennessee – Barnes’ teams tend to get dragged into the muck and struggle. In a tournament where opponents have time to prepare and premium coaches can use the lengthy timeouts to make mid-game adjustments, Barnes’ teams simply become more vulnerable to upsets than the average top-four seed. “

The point of his story was that Dalton may be the X factor that changes the narrative this year. Let’s hope he’s right.

 

[Voltopia]

John Pennington suggested on today's Sports Source edition that the Tennessee basketball team gets tight in March because the players want to do so well for Coach Barnes because of his past NCAA Tournament history.

Does the board think that this is a fair perception?

I think that could be part of it. I'm sure it's in some part of their minds. Especially the constant social media and sports media talk, where people make fun of him for being so unsuccessful in March.

I think what Jimmy Hyams in that same show said was far more interesting though - he said he asked a number of coaches over the years, including two recently, why Barnes struggled late in each season. Those coaches told him they thought Barnes put his players through too much practice and too much film study, wore his teams down mentally and physically, and didn't have a habit of moderating that approach. Hyams also said one coach explained that Bobby Knight would, for example, cut his practice time in half, and reduce the amount of film study going into March. Barnes, supposedly, doesn't subscribe to that approach.

That seems like a pretty reasonable explanation to me. I had no idea, but apparently Barnes wins 75-78% of his games in November and December, and then by February and March his winning percentage falls to 55-60%. The players come in fresh from the off-season, they have the energy to handle the grind, and you get a lot of superior defense and really high energy play, but then you get to the end of the year and the grind wears everyone down. They get to the tournament and shooters suddenly look like they're mentally burdened, rather than freed. I've wondered about that for years, even going back to his time in Texas (which I lived through, being in Austin at the time). A lot of teams with good players and good ratings that just flame out on approach.

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Look at Kentucky they have future multiple nba all stars and have not won one in a long time. It’s about match ups and playing your best ball on any given day

Because Cal doesn’t care about the Tournament anymore.

His goal is to produce the most NBA draft picks out of any college basketball coach.

 

[Volprofch05]

John Pennington suggested on today's Sports Source edition that the Tennessee basketball team gets tight in March because the players want to do so well for Coach Barnes because of his past NCAA Tournament history.

Does the board think that this is a fair perception?

I've heard quotes from players that have led me to believe that is true.

 

[tennrich1]

Just read this by Dan Wolken which is about as good an explanation as I’ve heard:

“The reason his teams underperform in the tournament, though, is pretty simple to explain. When Barnes’ teams have converted their favorable seeds into deep tournament runs, it has correlated with having a top-10 offense.


Going back to 2002, which is the earliest year KenPom.com began tracking efficiency, Barnes has had a top-10 offense five times. Those years resulted in: Final Four (2003), Elite Eight (2006), round of 32 (2007), Elite Eight (2008) and Sweet 16 (2019), the last of which was an epic, back-and-forth 99-94 loss to Purdue.


When the offensive profile isn’t statistically strong – and it’s been pretty bad for most of his tenure at Tennessee – Barnes’ teams tend to get dragged into the muck and struggle. In a tournament where opponents have time to prepare and premium coaches can use the lengthy timeouts to make mid-game adjustments, Barnes’ teams simply become more vulnerable to upsets than the average top-four seed. “

The point of his story was that Dalton may be the X factor that changes the narrative this year. Let’s hope he’s right.

Interest read. I too hope he's right, but I must admit...I still have a sour taste in my mouth for Wolken from his time in Memphis. However, his explanation is as valid as any other persons I suppose. I'm sure Rick and his staff have poured over every single metric available to them. I'd imagine ever team we play will sell out to try and stop DK. The one thing I DO know...our veterans (who I love and respect) MUST step up on the offensive end. I NEVER worry about them on the defensive end.

 

[TheMookieMonster]

Just read this by Dan Wolken which is about as good an explanation as I’ve heard:

“The reason his teams underperform in the tournament, though, is pretty simple to explain. When Barnes’ teams have converted their favorable seeds into deep tournament runs, it has correlated with having a top-10 offense.


Going back to 2002, which is the earliest year KenPom.com began tracking efficiency, Barnes has had a top-10 offense five times. Those years resulted in: Final Four (2003), Elite Eight (2006), round of 32 (2007), Elite Eight (2008) and Sweet 16 (2019), the last of which was an epic, back-and-forth 99-94 loss to Purdue.


When the offensive profile isn’t statistically strong – and it’s been pretty bad for most of his tenure at Tennessee – Barnes’ teams tend to get dragged into the muck and struggle. In a tournament where opponents have time to prepare and premium coaches can use the lengthy timeouts to make mid-game adjustments, Barnes’ teams simply become more vulnerable to upsets than the average top-four seed. “

The point of his story was that Dalton may be the X factor that changes the narrative this year. Let’s hope he’s right.

Dalton can be the X factor, but he certainly looked a bit rattled by the stage on Friday. The pressure is only going to mount. I do have confidence he’ll figure it out, the bigger concern isn’t if Dalton can be the X factor, it is if anyone else is going to be capable of supporting him. Just look at the MSU game, they completely focused their attention on neutralizing Knecht and making him as uncomfortable as possible. They dared the rest of this team to be the one to beat them, and we couldn’t do it.

Dalton is fantastic. But we will go as far as his supporting cast takes him.

 

[Zues1]

Mark Pancratz take is Barnes stays with his routine until the last game. Hard practices and long film rooms. Where other coaches cut these in half and allow the team to catch their breath, enjoy the run so to speak.
Whatever, something has not worked.
We're about to find out if these guys can turn it on for one last ride.

 

[whodeycin85]

We miss having an enforcer..UROS wasnt the most talented but he set the tone down low..even if just for a few min a game...I thought Awaka would take that role over

 

[Other_Guy]

John Pennington suggested on today's Sports Source edition that the Tennessee basketball team gets tight in March because the players want to do so well for Coach Barnes because of his past NCAA Tournament history.

Does the board think that this is a fair perception?

Caleb Calhoun swears that they threw the game. It was definitely a very strange game for them.

 

[SGMVols]

Mark Pancratz take is Barnes stays with his routine until the last game. Hard practices and long film rooms. Where other coaches cut these in half and allow the team to catch their breath, enjoy the run so to speak.
Whatever, something has not worked.
We're about to find out if these guys can turn it on for one last ride.

I don’t buy the “he works guys too hard in practice” crap.

This isn’t the NBA where you just roll the ball out there and the players know what to do. College guys need direction and competition in practice.

Watch tape of a UConn or Houston practice. They get after it like it’s a Final Four game.

 

[cardvolfan]

I’ve heard almost every reason under the sun. No one knows why we haven’t been more effective in the post season. Frankly I think it’s WAY over analyzed. CLEARLY Rick is a HOF coach and we’ve had exceptional talent. Match ups sometimes have been difficult but that’s the way the tournament plays out. So when you hear the pundits pontificate on Ricks lack of success in the NCAA….you can rest assured…they don’t have a clue either.

This, 1,000%.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Most coaches that get to the NCAAT as often as CRB does are at blue bloods and have rosters loaded with high 4 and 5 stars that can steam roll their way to Sweet 16s. Barnes doesn’t have the same advantages - his rosters often overachieve over regular seasons and are vulnerable to get picked off in a one and done contest being managed by part time referees.

 

[Zues1]

I don’t buy the “he works guys too hard in practice” crap.

This isn’t the NBA where you just roll the ball out there and the players know what to do. College guys need direction and competition in practice.

Watch tape of a UConn or Houston practice. They get after it like it’s a Final Four game.

You could be correct. But seemed like a good take.
Do you know if U Conn and Houston practice right on through the tournament like It's day one practice.
Or do they back off some.

 

[Zues1]

Double post

 

[volfeeva]

I think “getting tight” could be part of it. Especially for the 5 year guys that want it so bad for themselves and for coach Barnes. This is what I mean when I say other teams have cocky/confident players. That is just not the makeup of some of our key players. Not sure what the answer is, need a team shrink if we don’t have one.

I have seen this team go through that " play tight" is some early games, then they seem to find their mo-jo where they had that " refuse to lose" mentality. Simply put, they didn't fold when they got down 10 points or more. But against Kentucky and MSU they seem to revert back to that attitude of playing not to lose instead of being lose and playing to win. I kinda put that on the coach as it's his job to get them motivated before a game, and also inject some motivation during a game. This team is too good to exit the tourney early