The No. 9 ranked Tennessee Volunteers just got absolutely rocked in their first exhibition game, dropping an 86-70 contest to Xavier at Food City Center on October 15. And believe me, head coach Rick Barnes is NOT happy about it. This wasn’t some sleepy preseason tune-up for him, and his post-game comments made it crystal clear the Vols got a much-needed, albeit painful, reality check.
Rick Barnes Blasts “Really, Really Poor Defense”
You can tell Barnes was fuming after the loss. He told the coaches that these guys have heard too much about their offensive production and scoring. He was quick to point out that on nights you don’t shoot well, “if you’re a good basketball team, you’re going to find a way to win the game defensively.” Ouch. He called out the “really, really poor defense,” admitting some of it was so bad “you couldn’t dream of.” Think about that, a coach saying he couldn’t even imagine the defensive lapses he saw. He specifically mentioned letting someone “run by you to get a layup.”
Barnes laid it all out for his team, hoping the loss finally hammered home his message. “I told the guys, I said, maybe now you’ll realize what we’ve been harping on since you guys have been here,” he said. The bottom line? “We’re going to have to learn to guard at a high rate.” It sounds like this team, despite its No. 9 ranking in the preseason USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, was relying way too much on talent and not enough on the fundamentals.
Offense Woes and a Big Test Coming Up
It wasn’t just defense, either. Barnes touched on the offensive struggles too, noting that Dwayne (Brown II) missed some shots at the rim and free throws early on, which could’ve changed their “psyche.” The team thought they could just outscore Xavier, taking “too many bad shots,” which led to “too much stuff at the rim” for the Musketeers. Even after timeouts, the Vols kept giving up what they said they wouldn’t. Barnes said they’ve “got to listen better,” driving home the point that they’re “not going to score our way to wins.” He even told his coaches, “if we’re going to get beat, I hope they really beat us so maybe we can really get their attention.” Well, they certainly got beat.
Now, the Vols, ranked No. 9 right behind Houston and ahead of Virginia, face their second and final exhibition game. It’s Tuesday, 7 p.m. EDT, and they’re heading to Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, to face the No. 2 ranked Duke Blue Devils on the ACC Network. Florida sits at No. 1 in the poll, followed by Duke, Illinois, Arizona, UConn, Michigan State, Texas, Houston, Tennessee, and Virginia rounding out the top ten.
So, yeah, this Tuesday’s matchup against No. 2 Duke? It’s not just another exhibition anymore. It’s a statement game. After getting humbled by Xavier, can the Vols finally show Barnes they’re ready to listen and lock down defensively? Or will Duke deliver another preseason gut-punch? We’ll find out what this team is made of at 7 p.m. EDT.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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