Rick Barnes, the veteran coach of the Tennessee Volunteers, is entering his second decade at the helm, and he's proving that he's far from slowing down. The team has consistently been a top contender, a testament to Barnes's ability to adapt and evolve. But this year, the roster is undergoing a significant transformation. Let's dive in!
For the past four seasons, the Volunteers have been a fixture in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, with an impressive 80-week streak that included 50 weeks in the top 10 and even 5 weeks at the coveted No. 1 spot. Barnes's leadership has also led to two consecutive trips to the NCAA tournament's Elite Eight, a feat the team hadn't achieved before his arrival in 2015. The team has won at least 25 games in 6 of the last 8 seasons, with 30 victories twice. Barnes, at 71 years old, continues to adapt to the ever-changing landscape of college basketball.
"In all my time in college basketball, we've had to adapt every year to something," Barnes stated, highlighting the constant need for evolution in the sport. He credits the administration for providing the necessary resources to stay competitive. "We are always ready to adapt to change and pivot different ways based on where we are and what might happen."
Barnes is beginning his 39th season as a head coach, and he leads all active Division I men's basketball coaches with 836 wins. However, this year's Volunteers might need a few name tags! Only two players from last season's successful team, 6-foot-11 senior forward Felix Okpara and 6-9 junior forward Cade Phillips, remain prominent figures.
But don't mistake this for a lack of experience. Barnes utilized the NCAA transfer portal to bring in seasoned players like 6-1 senior guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie, 6-3 senior guard Amaree Abram, and 6-8 junior forward Jaylen Carey. The team also welcomes 6-3 sophomore guard Ethan Burg, who played for Israel's senior national team, and a freshman class led by 6-10 forward Nate Ament, ranked eighth nationally by 247Sports.com.
"I would think the most consistent guys have been Ja'Kobi and Felix," Barnes noted. He also praised Ament's progress, saying, "He's learning to play on the perimeter consistently for the first time in his life. He's guarding guards now, whereas in high school he was mostly matched against post guys."
Ament, a highly-rated prospect, is learning a new style of play. This highlights the constant need for players to adapt and expand their skill sets to remain competitive.
This season, Tennessee will have more depth inside with Okpara, Carey, Phillips, 6-11 redshirt sophomore J.P. Estrella, and 6-8, 251-pound freshman DeWayne Brown. Barnes anticipates a shift in offensive strategy, potentially focusing more on posting up the ball, which could be a game-changer.
Last season, Tennessee's losses included the SEC tournament final against Florida and the Elite Eight against Houston. The Vols will face Houston in the Players Era Men's Championship in Las Vegas on November 25. Their home opener is against Mercer. An exhibition game against Duke is scheduled for October 26, televised on ESPN.
"I think the biggest thing is that we've got so many new guys, and we're going to get introduced to those new guys here pretty soon," Barnes said. "Being around them every day, we've got a really good group of guys who have a real commitment to each other, and that's not just me coach-speaking."
It's a bold statement to say that the team's chemistry is already strong, given the number of new players.
Making History
Grant Hurst, after completing his redshirt junior year, chose to return for his final season. His younger sister, Lauren, is now a freshman guard/forward for the Lady Vols. They are the first brother-sister duo to play basketball for Tennessee simultaneously. Hurst, who began his college career at UT Martin, is now on scholarship.
Green Commits
Tennessee has secured a commitment from 6-6, 205-pound forward Manny Green of Cedar Grove High School, ranked among the top prospects in the Peach State. Green joins forward Ralph Scott as four-star prospects committed to the Vols, whose class is ranked 13th by 247Sports.
What do you think about the changes to the Volunteers' roster? Do you think they have what it takes to make another deep run in the tournament? Share your thoughts in the comments!
