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Tennessee basketball has added scoring talent. Now, Rick Barnes wants those pieces to work as one.The Vols head into a new season after three straight Elite Eight trips. Yet the next step remains clear. Tennessee wants to reach its first Final Four. To get there, Barnes needs more than players who can score. He needs a team that can share the ball and win tough games.
Barnes Puts Team Success First
Barnes does not seem worried about how shots will be split among his new players. His focus is on what gives Tennessee the best chance to win.
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“Well, I’m not concerned about guys and how many shots they think they should get. We’re going to do what we need to do as a team to be the best basketball team that we can be.”
That sets a clear tone. Each player must fit his skills into the team’s needs. Some nights may call for more shots. Others may call for defense, good passes or work on the glass.
Mar 29, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Tennessee Volunteers forward DeWayne Brown II (6) shoots in the second half against the Michigan Wolverines during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Proven Scorers Face an SEC Test
Barnes also made clear what drove Tennessee’s approach to building this class.”But when we set out to put together this class, we decided we were going to pay for production as opposed to retention.”
Still, past success does not make the move to the SEC easy.
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“They’re coming in from different leagues, and our league is different. The SEC is different than any other league in the country, and they’ll have to make those adjustments.”
For Tennessee, the task is to turn those proven skills into a balanced attack.
Mar 29, 2026; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan Wolverines forward Oscar Goodman (5) and Tennessee Volunteers guard Amari Evans (1) battle for the ball in the second half during an Elite Eight game of the Midwest Regional of the men’s…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rick-barnes-explains-tennessee-basketballs-144657920.html
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Publish date : 2026-10-15 14:46:00
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