The Official Rick Barnes discussion thread

[DowntownVol]

So how realisticly close are we to Barnes actually retiring? I know the word is that he only wants to coach if his teams can legitimately compete, but I'm just having a hard time imagining him retiring after this season, regardless of what happens. Let's say hypothetically in a worst case scenario that we wind up finishing in the middle 3rd of the SEC and don't make it out of the NCAA opening weekend - what do we think Barnes will do in that case? Imho, something like that would have to happen for Barnes to seriously consider it. Would a big transfer or surprise commit possibly change things? Of course, I may be way off base here.

My sincere belief is that this team was constructed as a last hurrah, a do-or-die run at a Final Four or beyond - imagine how much better the offense could be with Carr and Estrella in the rotation. This is Barnes' tenth year, he's already established himself as the best all-time UT men's hoops coach after Mears (and a FF or beyond probably puts him over the top), he's 70, and reading between the lines on some of his statements, it's fairly obvious that the NIL era doesn't appeal to him in the slightest. He's old school, he wants develop players, not buy them. I think he's out after this year regardless of how we finish. And I personally am not ruling him out of a FF run this year. Sometimes teams get scorching hot in March. Last year it was UConn. Doesn't it eventually have to happen to us?

 

[therealitytheory]

We need a new offensive system. The Barnes defensive ball system is not working. In today’s college basketball offense wins just like in football. And Barnes needs to step his HS recruiting game up.

Can you imagine anyone saying Heupel's system doesn't work if he was #1 in the polls for 5 weeks?
Honestly, some of you people obviously weren't around when UT basketball was a wasteland.

 

[VolsAgainstTheWorld15]

So how realisticly close are we to Barnes actually retiring? I know the word is that he only wants to coach if his teams can legitimately compete, but I'm just having a hard time imagining him retiring after this season, regardless of what happens. Let's say hypothetically in a worst case scenario that we wind up finishing in the middle 3rd of the SEC and don't make it out of the NCAA opening weekend - what do we think Barnes will do in that case? Imho, something like that would have to happen for Barnes to seriously consider it. Would a big transfer or surprise commit possibly change things? Of course, I may be way off base here.

I personally think this will be his last season regardless of how it ends. However, I don’t foresee him announcing his retirement directly after the season ends. I think he takes his time to mull things over and ultimately decides over the summer that he’s done.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Many of our “fans” really suck. UT is in a very rare position to make a Final Four or better and some can only complain about the coach that has taken UT to places it’s never been before. Including just the second Elite 8 EVER. The first SECT championship since 1979. 3x SECT finals after having only been there one other time since 1979. An outright SEC regular season championship.

 

[Chaz-Vol]

Many of our “fans” really suck. UT is in a very rare position to make a Final Four or better and some can only complain about the coach that has taken UT to places it’s never been before. Including just the second Elite 8 EVER. The first SECT championship since 1979. 3x SECT finals after having only been there one other time since 1979. An outright SEC regular season championship.

I think some fans are pretty wild sure but on a whole a lot of reasonable people on the board have legitimate concerns. Barnes has given vols the most consistent winning of any coach and brought a great culture that makes their team and players easy to like.

He's also now had essentially a decade of consistently bad offenses except one Grant/admiral year and Knecht last year. Sure if the bracket falls just right they can make a final 4 run but there's a reason that generally teams that make final fours and win championships have top 20 offense and defense. This team has a clear flaw that if it doesn't change likely will result in getting bounced when they have another poor offensive night.

 

[Sudden Impact]

I personally think this will be his last season regardless of how it ends. However, I don’t foresee him announcing his retirement directly after the season ends. I think he takes his time to mull things over and ultimately decides over the summer that he’s done.

Too late in the year with players and coaches, next year maybe announced as his last season. They will try to bring on a potential replacement?

 

[CAVPUT]

Totally disagree about Barnes being a great recruiter. I think he is a great coach and an average recruiter. I love Barnes. But it’s becoming apparent that his offensive style is not gonna get it done. That’s not a knock on him. It’s just a Father Time thing.

I think he gets exactly the players he wants and fits his system and culture. I don't think he really places that high a priority on shooting and offense when he evals a kid. There have been times where a kid with offensive skills simply doesn't embrace defense or simply isn't the fit Barnes and co thought they'd be and they end up leaving the program. We've all seen it. Guys like ZZ, JJJ, and Mashack are his kind of players. Knecht was a unicorn. Folks knew what we were getting with Barnes. Can't say his defensive philosophy is wrong or doesn't work. It wins, but it's not flashy and will usually stub its toe in the tournament. Still a lot better than some of our previous coaches/teams.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Only one UT coach has more conference championships than Barnes. But offense…

The PPG stats are meaningless. When your defense often puts on so much pressure that the other team can’t even get shots up until late in the clock, obviously there are fewer opportunities to score points in games.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Barnes has had his team in the top ten in every AP poll since the 3rd week. But the Legions of the Miserable are having a complete melt down.

 

[VolCalls]

I think some fans are pretty wild sure but on a whole a lot of reasonable people on the board have legitimate concerns. Barnes has given vols the most consistent winning of any coach and brought a great culture that makes their team and players easy to like.

He's also now had essentially a decade of consistently bad offenses except one Grant/admiral year and Knecht last year. Sure if the bracket falls just right they can make a final 4 run but there's a reason that generally teams that make final fours and win championships have top 20 offense and defense. This team has a clear flaw that if it doesn't change likely will result in getting bounced when they have another poor offensive night.

Since 2002, 30 of the 88 teams who have made the Final Four had an offensive efficiency above 20. That’s better than one in three. We’re fine.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Since 2002, 30 of the 88 teams who have made the Final Four had an offensive efficiency above 20. That’s better than one in three. We’re fine.

Also, since that time every NCAA championship has been in the top 12 by week 6. We fine there, too.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

Except for the COVID disruption resetting the progression of elevating the program, Barnes has won at least as many games every two years than in the previous ones.

31 (2015-17)
42 (2016-18)
57 (2017-19)
COVID (2019-20)
35 (2019-21)
45 (2020-22)
52 (2021-23)
52 (2022-24)
47 and counting (2023-25)

He’s only in his 10th season at UT. These drive-by clowns are acting like he’s been here for 20 or 30 years running a stagnant program.

 

[DowntownVol]

I'd like the Barnes bashers to consider this: you know there are people on other message boards who are like, man, I wish our team had an identity, like Rick Barnes at Tennessee, everything's built on tough physical defense, he has them in the hunt every single year, wouldn't be nice if our school/our coach had that kind of consistency, etc. grass is always greener.

 

[cwbytruckers]

Bad shooters like Knecht? Just for comparison, Dalton shot 1-5 from three at UK, 1-7 at Bama, and 1-8 against Texas. He was/is a great shooter.

And we don’t have a DK this year. Lanier struggles to get open and everyone else are streak shooters

 

[cwbytruckers]

Lanier is a good shooter.

But struggles to get open

 

[cwbytruckers]

And your alternative?

Let DW find a good offensive minded coach. He knows what we would need.

 

[Thunder Good-Oil]

I’m starting to understand why the drunk Basilio caller Philly says TN fans are the “Dumbest fan base in America”.

 

[ABtheVolsfan92]

don't think we should ever hope to get rid of Barnes. But I think it would be nice to have a Kim Caldwell equivalent in the mens game

 

[knoxchief]

I read today that John Gruden is headed back to Tennessee....oh wait....that's football..

 

[ttocswob]

I read today that John Gruden is headed back to Tennessee....oh wait....that's football..

Such greatness transcends any one particular sport.

Soon...

 

[SGMVols]

I’m starting to understand why the drunk Basilio caller Philly says TN fans are the “Dumbest fan base in America”.

If that’s true it’s because he’s in it. He’s an absolute clown.

 

[OrangeInKy]

I’m starting to understand why the drunk Basilio caller Philly says TN fans are the “Dumbest fan base in America”.

That guy insulting anyone’s intelligence is comical.