What Rick Barnes said after Tennessee's narrow victory over Alabama
It wasn’t pretty, but the No. 3 Tennessee Volunteers managed to escape with a 71-68 victory over Alabama on Saturday afternoon.
The Vols struggled shooting in the second half, while Alabama G John Petty caught fire, bringing the Crimson Tide back into the game and giving them a late lead.
However, the Vols did what they needed to do, and now coach Rick Barnes has a teaching moment for his veteran squad.
After the game, Barnes was open about needing a challenge like this one. Here’s what he said about Saturday’s narrow win:
On Vols’ second-half struggles:
#Vols coach Rick Barnes on survival win over Bama: I think you have to give Bama a lot of credit for that second half. They played great basketball.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 19, 2019
Rick Barnes: They (Alabama) outplayed us in the second half. I thought both teams played really hard and we were fortunate to win.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) January 19, 2019
On needing to be challenged after a dominant start to SEC play:
#Vols coach Rick Barnes on not calling timeout during Bama’s early 2ndH run: I told the coaches I wasn’t gonna call a timeout there, because we needed it. We needed that experience. We needed to play through it.
But then it got so bad I finally called a timeout.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 19, 2019
Rick Barnes: "I hate to say it, but we needed a game like this."
Said he didn't want to call a timeout early in the second half because he wanted to see how his team would respond.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) January 19, 2019
On potentially being No. 1 in the AP Poll:
Rick Barnes on #Vols maybe being ranked No. 1 on Monday morning: I don’t really care or think about it. We’re about to play a lot of tough games if we’re ranked 1, 21, 41 or whatever. We’ve got to play better.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 19, 2019
On controversial calls late in the second half:
#Vols coach Rick Barnes: I didn’t like those charge calls on Grant, and I’m sure Avery didn’t like that traveling call on Petty. That’s just how it goes.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) January 19, 2019
On Admiral Schofield still having an impact despite struggles:
Rick Barnes on Admiral Schofield recording a double-double despite his poor shooting night: That's what good players do. They find a way to affect the game.
— Rocky Top Insider (@rockytopinsider) January 19, 2019
