I think criticism of Barnes is more to do with his lack of developing post players (I know, Grant Williams). Until he can show that he can develop
a post player and get past NCAA field of 32, he will continue to be criticized.
With great play from BHH, progress from ORN and Plav, and solid contribution from Aidoo, along with making S16 next year, a lot of the criticism will fade.
Interesting question but in context how many great post players has UT had historically?
Grant is among the best ever power forward/centers that UT has ever had, and Barnes coached him. Arguably may be the best post player Tennessee has ever had with two SEC player of the year awards. I have been watching UT basketball since 1975 and would easily consider Fulkerson among the top 15 post/power forwards at UT over these last 45 years...and Barnes has coached him too. Some examples, Reggie Johnson who played in the late 70’s, Howard Wood who also played in the 70’s and similar to Grant was only 6’7, Jarnell Stokes, Wayne Chism. Maymon had one pretty good year as an undersized 4. Isaiah Victor was solid (and often forgotten). Marcus Haislip had one great year than went pro immediately. CJ Black was pretty good. Carlos Groves yet another undersized BF was decent but played on horrible squads. Etc....
Insofar as pure centers are concerned Tom Boerwinkle who played in the 60’s, or Steve Hamer who played in the early 90’s come to mind. Brandon Crump was pretty good. Major Wingate had one decent year. Willie Burton and Rob Jones were both serviceable but undersized centers. A.W. Davis was a 6’7 center in early 60’s. Who else? Kyle Alexander was not a great center but how he developed under Barnes was unquestionable and we all know he was really forced to play as a freshman. Barnes wanted to redshirt him. Going back beyond the 60’s I can’t really speak too but a different era of basketball obviously.
Now Bernard King and Dale Ellis were the best 2 players in UT history but both were small forwards who happened to play in the post a lot. Ron Slay likewise was a big small forward who could play on perimeter or post up. Dyron Nix, an athletic freak who also was a small forward who jumped over teams in the paint. Tyler Smith also a 6’7 SF who could both high or low post. Likewise Admiral, Armani Moore were undersized players who often had to play out of position were both SF. I don’t consider any of them as pure post players in regard to this conversation. UT has historically played a lot of guys who probably had more of a small forward skill set at the 4 often out of necessity.
At Texas Barnes had 4 centers/post players who were drafted in the 1st round of NBA draft (Aldridge, Turner, Thompson, and Mihm) in 17 years. (I didn’t even count Durant who had SF skill set despite being 6’10). So Barnes has already shown he can develop post players. I suppose my point is....finding/developing great centers or post players is much more difficult than developing guards/wings or even PGs....for literally any program. Especially great centers. For UT they have been few and far between for any coach EVER.
In my opinion, Grant Williams is one of the best BF/post players in UT history. Fulkerson, although a different player, is in same category as CJ Black, Rob Jones, Isaiah Victor, Jerome Maymon (all good college players) historically in my opinion for positional players in the last 45 years. Barnes has coached him too. Modern basketball Is much different than how basketball was even played in decades past, largely due to 3 pt line and shot clock, but there isn’t anything to suggest Barnes can’t develop post players. Position less basketball is here to stay, but I do agree that having post presence is still critical. Now it is his job to recruit them, but nevertheless difficult to find too. Baylor won a national championship with a ton of perimeter players, an undersized BF, a tall bench player who could stroke from the 3 and a couple serviceable post players who defended and got rebounds. Welcome to basketball in the 2020’s. They just happened to have a ton of really good perimeter players who could create shots and hit perimeter shots. Sort of like Villanova’s runs.
Given this fact it is somewhat of an indictment of programs like UNC for instance given they seem to have high school All American centers/post players (sometimes multiple at the same time) in the program year after year after year. Can’t argue with their historic success but it isn’t as if they lacked the players particularly at post. I still think having balance is the best path for success but just difficult (particularly in this day and age) to find anyone who can play (or even wants to play) in the post. That is not an insignificant challenge and if you look at the history of UT basketball isn’t exactly a new challenge.
