University of Tennessee Athletics
Barnes Media Monday Replay
January 30, 2017 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Head coach Rick Barnes met with reporters on Monday at the Ray & Lucy Hand Digital Studio, discussing the Vols successful homestand and previewing Tuesday's SEC contest at Auburn (9 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
A full video replay of the press conference can be viewed above while the full transcript of his comments can be found below.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes
(On the change in perception of the team over the last three games)
"Well, just as quickly as you can change it, if you don't get better it will go back the other way. I am happy for our guys. They deserve what happened to them because they have worked hard all year. As you guys know, we have played one of the most demanding schedules in the country and we were hoping at some point it would pay off and break through for us. Coming here with three straight wins at home we knew it was an important time for us. I think that we will continue to build. Last week was a great week, but that is over and done with and we have a big week this week. It's different. We are playing a late game tomorrow and then we get back late and have to turn around and go back to Mississippi State so this is a big week for us."
(On the "bubble" conversation)
"We told them that there are a lot of teams that should be in the bubble conversation. That isn't what it's about. Why talk about it? It doesn't do any good to talk about it. What you want to do is win basketball games and take out the talk. That's what we have told them. We aren't going to get caught up in it, and we are going to continue with the process we have had since day one. It will be harder for them because they haven't been through it, but it won't be because of us not reminding them that they have a job to do. All that talk stops. It's your job to do that, that is what you do. From where we are we have to talk about the process and what we have to do to achieve the goals we have set out at the beginning of the year. I like to think our guys will listen to us and stay focused on that."
(On if the results of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge generated more respect for the SEC)
"I don't know if it's so much respect, I still think so much of what is written is perception. The perception is that our league is not as good as I think it is, and I think people in our league think it is. I doubt anyone thought we would go 5-5. I assumed many people did not think we would win many games in the Challenge. I certainly don't think it hurt us by any stretch of the imagination and I think it did help us. People keep trying to project that down the road this will happen, but I know people talk about perception is reality, which is sometimes not true. This league is better than people think and I think sometimes there are leagues out there that other people think are better then they might be. Over the course of the season, with all of the different computer things that are out there, I like to think it's all going to shake out in the end. Our league is going to be like every league in the country for the next month or so. We are all going to be beating up on each other and that's what happens in conference play. I hope our league just gets looked on the way I think it should be, which is in a favorable way."
(On managing the shot clock)
"Sometimes we are better and sometimes not. I think we break out of our offense and I thought we broke out of our offense too soon with 10 seconds. Ten seconds is a long time. But what we did do a better job of in a couple of those games was working to get the ball to the right guys. We did that, but it's something we are going to continue to talk about and work on. I could also show you where, if we weren't making the proper passes at the proper time, we wouldn't have gotten that deep into the shot clock. It goes back to us executing what we are trying to do early in the clock."
(On how the team will respond to the increased stakes)
"I don't think you can hide from it or run from it. The fact is they came to college and like all college players they want to be a part of March Madness. You can't hide from it. You have to embrace it. You also have to understand that talking about it won't get it done. What will get it done is doing your job. That means getting prepared. We have to continue to get better as a team. I think that's what happens this time of year. The teams that always stay in conversation stay on task and understand it. You have to get better with different aspects of what you are doing as a team and you have to get better as individuals. It's there and to act like they don't read about it, you'd be living a lie if you thought that. But the fact is we have to make sure they know how to channel their energies to the process that we are going through."
(On improvement when playing with a lead)
"Have we improved? Yes. There is nothing we haven't improved in so far this year. Just like our big talk at half time was about coming out with the way we started the game against Kansas St. We talked about it and everything we talked about at half time we didn't do it. We showed them that yesterday. We showed them the first five or six minutes of the game and the first five or six minutes of the second half and said that you guys can see it for yourselves. You're talking about it and Robert Hubbs spoke up and said "Coach you said it and the coaches said it to us that you can't play the scoreboard you have to play the game. We aren't mature enough yet to do that." So they know it and they talked about it. Everything we talked about at half time none of it happened, but when they made a push back I think we showed some things that we haven't showed throughout the year. We showed this week that we can respond a little bit better when things aren't going our way. When you have a 17 to 18-point deficit early in the second half people think the game is over, but it is not. That is why you play forty minutes, and if your team doesn't understand that it can get away from you. Jordan Bowden missed a wide open lay-up and they go down and make a lay-up so that flips the momentum. Then we turn it over with two back to back turnovers where Grant Williams threw a pass to Kyle Alexander when he was double teamed and it was miss handled. It was a tough pass and then Grant comes out of the next possession and breaks out of the offensive and travels. This is the stuff we showed them. Why would you do that? We just turned it over so those are the things we still have to learn."
(On Robert Hubbs III being named SEC Player of the Week)
"I'm excited for Robert. I've told you guys all year, starting at the end of last year, he put as much time in and he's done everything that we could ask him to possibly do as a senior. He's done everything. He's had to fight through a lot. I mean, you guys know, he's had to deal with injuries throughout his career but he continues to fight through it, and it really bothers him now if he's not able to go full speed. He doesn't want to miss practice. He wants to be out there, and so we're all happy for him. He's a very humble, kind person, and he deserved it, there's no doubt. What we've done this (last) week, he had a lot to do with that."
(On Auburn)
"When you look at Auburn, one, Bruce (Pearl) does a great job with his schemes. We know that. He's got some extremely talented players. They've lost two games at home. They had a huge win (at TCU in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge Saturday). That was a big win for our league, and obviously for his team to go into TCU, who has done a really good job this year in the Big 12. (Auburn has) guys who can score inside. They have three or four guys who can absolutely explode on you from the perimeter and knock down threes. So, it's going to be a big challenge."
(On Tennessee's ability to win on the road)
"Well, again, I'd like to think that we understand basketball enough to know that when you go on the road, you're going to have to be more together and be able to handle if you have the lead. You have to be able to handle pressure. When teams get behind, they start pressuring on the road. The crowd gets into the game. You have to handle the fact that if a team comes out on fire, can you withstand it and work your way back into a game? We've been good at times, but, as you guys know, we had a lead at Ole Miss and they came out of 13 minutes and played much harder, took total control of the game, and won the game. So, we're going to have to be able to withstand momentum switches and changes in the game. But we've played enough basketball now we should be prepared to deal with all of that; but how we respond to it at that point in time will be the answer, will be the key."
(On how Robert Hubbs' career evolution compares to other players he's coached)
"(Associate head coach Rob Lanier) made a good point to our guys yesterday about there's no such thing as overachieving. If you do something, it's because you're capable of doing it. I think with Robert, what he's doing right now, he's capable to do it. I think he could tell you that there's more than he can do. So, the fact is, when you look at him and where he is right now, it's because he has put the time in. You can't do this without passion, without love for the game. He bought into it; I don't know if it was the easiest thing for him, but he has. Now, it's gone beyond him to where I will tell you, he would give up any of his individual (honors) to win. He wants to win, and you can hear that in his voice when he's talking to the team and the things that he does. But right now, because of where we are, I'm just proud of him as any player I've ever coached because it's not easy. It's easier to do that when you're younger, but when you get older and more set in your ways, it's more difficult; but he's never fought us one step of the way. He's always, `Yes sir, coach,' and he's doing it. I just hope he can finish really strong and that we can finish strong for him."
(On the development of Lamonte Turner and Jordan Bone as playmakers)
"I think the key has been that they're starting to understand how we're supposed to play. I mean, you go back, and they still have a tendency to get caught up in shooting the ball quick and not getting us in our offense, but they are understanding what we're trying to do -- playing from the inside-out and getting certain guys the ball. That's when they play better. We need their aggressiveness, there's no doubt about that and when they are aggressive, but in a team-like way, that's when we're really playing well on the offensive end. Those two guys are key, but where they've improved the most, they both have gotten better defensively. They're not anywhere near where they have to be, but they both are trying to do a much better job with the defensive end. They get screened a lot, both of them, and I think they are both starting to understand how important it is that they understand ball-screen defense. I think they are starting to understand how important it is to play this game without the ball in your hand. That's two things that both of them really struggled with, but, like I said, they've made strides in that area and they've still got a long way to go, but we've got to get them there."
(On 30 percent of the Volunteers' scoring coming from the bench)
"We thought we would have depth because we felt like there wasn't a big gap between players. We told them that as the season goes on, they would determine who would get the minutes and how it plays. When you go back, early, I don't know how many different starting lineups we've had this year, but we have put so much into it, in terms of that. What we did was reward guys with starting by probably what they did in practice. We had some guys along the way that feel better coming off the bench. We knew we were going to need all of these guys, and we still do. We really need Shembari (Phillips) and Kwe (Parker). We need those guys to get better, and be available. We really need those guys. I think Lew's (Evans) a great example of a player that stayed with it. He had his ups and downs. He was key these past three games. He's been a major factor. And so, there's a long way to go. You never know what's going to happen with injuries and such, but the fact is, we need everybody. Kyle (Alexander), I thought he showed great character, the way he fought back after the Kentucky game. Like I told him yesterday, he's got to keep building on that. I think each one of these guys have to do that, but we felt we would have depth. We didn't have that a year ago, and I think a lot of that has helped us this year, because the guys realize that they didn't work hard, didn't play hard, someone was waiting to play. We still can be better."
(On facing Bruce Pearl now compared to facing him at Texas)
"Bruce (Pearl) does a lot of the same things. They've always made it very difficult to get the ball in underneath your basket, from out-of-bounds situations. They have, at times this year, shown their pressure. Offensively, they run their movement, getting into a lot of ball-screen action. I've always thought Bruce (Pearl) was a terrific coach. His teams always compete. They play hard, and like I said, he has them extremely well-coached."
(On the development of Shembari Phillips)
"Again, a great question. To answer that, I'm not sure. I'm not sure if I know an answer, other than, as coaches, we keep talking to him, trying to get him to understand that we need him, what we need him to do, as much as anything, is to really put time into it, to where he, in his own mindset, knows that he's ready to play at a high level. He's had moments here, where he's been really, really good. He was excellent earlier in the year. Then, he got in a little slump, and he hasn't been able to get himself out of it. I think the way you do that is, practicing every day like it's a game. You're trying to get better. I think you come into the gym on your own, and put time in, where it's you wanting to do it, not coaches wanting you to do it. Again, I don't think there are any secrets to this game. The players that work the hardest are the guys that play. We need him to do that. We need him to take his work ethic to a different level. We need him to focus, and to understand that he's got some things that can truly help us. I will say to you, what I am saying about Shembari (Phillips), I'm saying about Kwe (Parker), too. Those two guys, they both have helped us this year, and we're going to need them again. Shembari (Phillips), he can do it. There's no doubt about it, as well as Kwe (Parker). The mental part of this game can really wreak havoc with you, if you're not careful. The way you counter-balance that is, you know that you're doing everything that you can to put yourself into a position to play and play well."
(On thinking about the NCAA tournament)
"Well, there's no doubt, I want to be in it every year. I love it. That's what you do this for. My thought process is, what I said earlier, is that I've got to continue to do my job as coaches, and we will. The fact is, you don't think about it, other than, what we're trying to do is not easy. It's not supposed to be easy. We're wanting to be one of 68 teams, like every team that started out this season, trying to be one of 68 teams in the tournament. But it still goes back to, you've got to get better every day. All you can control is today. We'll have a game tomorrow. Then after that game, you learn from that game. Win or lose, then you've got to get ready for the next one. The fact of the matter is, if you're good enough, and if you do what you're supposed to do, you'll be there. If you're not (good enough), you won't. What I've learned being in this for 40 years is just that. You normally get what you deserve. Our job is to make sure, right now, our guys understand that we have to get better. The team we've got, for the most part, we're going to have for the next couple of years. From where we are, the process that we're going through today is (getting better). I can sit here and tell you what we're doing it practice right now, because it's going to be about us getting better, then, what we do for every game. After the game the other night, I've watched a lot of teams in conversation this time of year about being in the tournament that don't make it. There are teams out there that everybody has written off as, 'They're going to be there.' You ask me what I know. That's what I know. I watched that happen many, many times over. So, just being in the conversation doesn't mean a lot, if you're going to be there at the end, and that's what I hope we're able to do."
(On the responsibility of playing hard)
"I think it's the coaches' responsibility to teach guys what playing hard is. You can look at some teams, and you might not think they're playing hard by their point of pick up on the court, but they're playing hard. You can tell by the way they're locked into the game, what they're trying to get done as a team. Then, you see teams that are running around, jumping around, that look like they're playing hard, and in reality, they may not even get anything done. The fact is, it's our responsibility as coaches to show them what we think is playing hard. Playing hard for us would be guarding the basketball with active hands, help-side defense, all that. Doing your job, really (is playing hard). Once you teach them that, do I think they have an obligation? Absolutely. I think they're here on scholarship. I think they're here because we thought they would be good enough to help us. But what you find out, day in and day out, is some guys love it more than other guys. That's why some guys play more than other guys. The fact is, I've always said, I think playing hard is a talent, because I don't think innately, everybody has it in them to play hard. But I also think it's an acquired talent. I think you can learn to play hard. I've watched a lot of guys come in, and they pick it up, because they really didn't know what playing hard was. Then you start showing [and] them they're able to do it. Some guys do it better than others, obviously. So, I think it has to go both ways."
