A lesson in post season basketball.

[WaywardVol]

The UK vs Florida game is a perfect example of how the game changes in the post season. Literally a 20 point swing from their first meeting until today’s tourney game. This is why I don’t see Barnes ever advancing to another Final 4 (Braces for attack). EVERY team turns up their defense in the NCAA tourney. Primarily, that means they put more effort into the defensive end. Scoring totals go down. UT plays the whole year at a playoff level on defense. That means there’s just not much else you can get out of the tank on the defensive end. In fact, you can drain your teams by playing at that level that long. This year we have unusual depth in the post and I think we’re more fresh than we’ve been down low. However, it’s taken a toll on our guards, specifically Gillespie and Ament.

Offense, unlike defense is not as effort related. Your offense either functions or it doesn’t. We’re a great offensive rebounding team. But, we miss a crap ton of buckets to get those rebounds. We miss a crap ton of buckets because the lack of focus on making easy buckets. Truth is, we stink at scoring. Barnes addressed this by bringing in proven scores in Knect and Lanier. He loosened the reigns and let thee guys create. Similar for Ament. The problem is these guys don’t fix the offensive system.

This team is particularly suspect because we lack 3 point shooters. We don’t have a 3 point shooter off the bench. We go through extended droughts, and while that may work against a middling team like Auburn, it won’t work in the tourney.

Ok, Rick, make me eat my words.

 

[SmokeyLives]

I love Coach Barnes. But to me, and the kindest way to say it; this basketball season has been far from his best coaching effort. Why we consistently have a big on the floor that can't make a layup or a free throw is beyond me. And if Boswell could handle the ball, play defense, and not turn the ball over he'd be worthy. But he does none of those. So you put all the weight on a freshman to carry the load.

 

[gule]

if he had better than Boswell on the bench he'd play them...

 

[WaywardVol]

I love Coach Barnes. But to me, and the kindest way to say it; this basketball season has been far from his best coaching effort. Why we consistently have a big on the floor that can't make a layup or a free throw is beyond me. And if Boswell could handle the ball, play defense, and not turn the ball over he'd be worthy. But he does none of those. So you put all the weight on a freshman to carry the load.

When I discussed Boswell recently. I got absolutely piled on by the territorial dogs here. I don’t blame Boswell. Barnes’ system is the issue. Tonight good offense beat good defense. You can’t miss that many free throws and layups and tell me you’re serious about the game. You can scream and foot at practice all you want. Get your team to make damn free throws.

 

[K-town Vol Fan]

This team is particularly suspect because we lack 3 point shooters. We don’t have a 3 point shooter off the bench. We go through extended droughts, and while that may work against a middling team like Auburn, it won’t work in the tourney.

This is my biggest complaint about RB. He just doesn't recruit shooters. When's the last time a RB coached team has had more than 1 or 2 guys that you can't leave open? It's just not a successful strategy in 2026. Sure, you'll win a lot of regular season games being completely defensive minded, but you need shooters in March. If you only have 1 it makes it too easy for teams to take that 1 guy away.

 

[SmokeyLives]

if he had better than Boswell on the bench he'd play them...

Disagree. Evans, Henderson(even hurt), Burg, all better. Heck you'd be better off with Gillespie, Ament, Brown, Okpara and Estrella on the floor.

 

[rx7outkast]

The original post is 100% spot-on. Defense doesn't win championships (in basketball) because the very nature of the game changes in the postseason. This team is plenty talented, but they haven't shown anything in 30+ games that would make me think they can compete to win a championship. If Coach Barnes wants to keep coaching, and I assume that he does, then he needs to fundamentally revisit his approach and roster construction. May I suggest he start by not recruiting or playing anyone that can't consistently shoot 75% or better from the free throw line.

 

[adam.vol]

The original post is 100% spot-on. Defense doesn't win championships (in basketball) because the very nature of the game changes in the postseason. This team is plenty talented, but they haven't shown anything in 30+ games that would make me think they can compete to win a championship. If Coach Barnes wants to keep coaching, and I assume that he does, then he needs to fundamentally revisit his approach and roster construction. May I suggest he start by not recruiting or playing anyone that can't consistently shoot 75% or better from the free throw line.

Superior defense does not win if it does not make your offense superior in return. We’re playing “Woody Ball” in basketball right now.

 

[WaywardVol]

Superior defense does not win if it does not make your offense superior in return. We’re playing “Woody Ball” in basketball right now.

5 missed free throws and a cloud of dust.

 

[kckempf]

When I discussed Boswell recently. I got absolutely piled on by the territorial dogs here. I don’t blame Boswell. Barnes’ system is the issue. Tonight good offense beat good defense. You can’t miss that many free throws and layups and tell me you’re serious about the game. You can scream and foot at practice all you want. Get your team to make damn free throws.

If you're getting layup opportunities and foul shots but you're missing them, that's not a "system" problem. A system can create open shots, players have to make them.

I'm not Chicken Little about this game. We had trouble on the quick turnaround earlier this year so I didn't think we would have our legs under us playing on consecutive days. If anything I'm impressed by Barnes's big adjustment to throw a bunch of pick and roll action into the offense. That's not a staple of the motion offense and we're clearly trying to use our best players in mismatches.

 

[WaywardVol]

If you're getting layup opportunities and foul shots but you're missing them, that's not a "system" problem. A system can create open shots, players have to make them.

I'm not Chicken Little about this game. We had trouble on the quick turnaround earlier this year so I didn't think we would have our legs under us playing on consecutive days. If anything I'm impressed by Barnes's big adjustment to throw a bunch of pick and roll action into the offense. That's not a staple of the motion offense and we're clearly trying to use our best players in mismatches.

I beg to differ. You have guys that don’t finish. Over and over. Guys that were finishing earlier in the year. Their legs are gine bro.

 

[BreatheUT]

The UK vs Florida game is a perfect example of how the game changes in the post season. Literally a 20 point swing from their first meeting until today’s tourney game. This is why I don’t see Barnes ever advancing to another Final 4 (Braces for attack). EVERY team turns up their defense in the NCAA tourney. Primarily, that means they put more effort into the defensive end. Scoring totals go down. UT plays the whole year at a playoff level on defense. That means there’s just not much else you can get out of the tank on the defensive end. In fact, you can drain your teams by playing at that level that long. This year we have unusual depth in the post and I think we’re more fresh than we’ve been down low. However, it’s taken a toll on our guards, specifically Gillespie and Ament.

Offense, unlike defense is not as effort related. Your offense either functions or it doesn’t. We’re a great offensive rebounding team. But, we miss a crap ton of buckets to get those rebounds. We miss a crap ton of buckets because the lack of focus on making easy buckets. Truth is, we stink at scoring. Barnes addressed this by bringing in proven scores in Knect and Lanier. He loosened the reigns and let thee guys create. Similar for Ament. The problem is these guys don’t fix the offensive system.

This team is particularly suspect because we lack 3 point shooters. We don’t have a 3 point shooter off the bench. We go through extended droughts, and while that may work against a middling team like Auburn, it won’t work in the tourney.

Ok, Rick, make me eat my words.

I wouldn't compare Ament to Knect or Lanier because the lack of consistent long range shooting. He's kinda more of a man I didn't know he had 23 points kinda player. Lanier and especially Knect felt like they were hitting the middle of the dart board from 50 feet sometimes.

 

[omghulkhands]

If you're getting layup opportunities and foul shots but you're missing them, that's not a "system" problem. A system can create open shots, players have to make them.

I'm not Chicken Little about this game. We had trouble on the quick turnaround earlier this year so I didn't think we would have our legs under us playing on consecutive days. If anything I'm impressed by Barnes's big adjustment to throw a bunch of pick and roll action into the offense. That's not a staple of the motion offense and we're clearly trying to use our best players in mismatches.

Same. I thought this was a tough game against a tough opponent that was a battle until the end. Not really worthy of the think pieces.

 

[kckempf]

I beg to differ. You have guys that don’t finish. Over and over. Guys that were finishing earlier in the year. Their legs are gine bro.

I doubt you read the whole thing, and "legs are gone" is also not a "system problem".

 

[BreatheUT]

The original post is 100% spot-on. Defense doesn't win championships (in basketball) because the very nature of the game changes in the postseason. This team is plenty talented, but they haven't shown anything in 30+ games that would make me think they can compete to win a championship. If Coach Barnes wants to keep coaching, and I assume that he does, then he needs to fundamentally revisit his approach and roster construction. May I suggest he start by not recruiting or playing anyone that can't consistently shoot 75% or better from the free throw line.

How we got this bad at the FT line is surprising since I thought fundamentals was at least a quality Barnes coveted.

 

[Special Ed]

There's a Barnes thread?