From ESPN:
Here are some other such takes that I think I can prove ...
Rick Barnes is on a multiyear tear that few saw coming
When Tennessee tipped off Rick Barnes' third season in Knoxville with a home game against Presbyterian on Nov. 10, 2017, the head coach's record with the Volunteers stood at 31-35. Since that day, however, Barnes has gone 60-15, with win No. 60 coming Saturday afternoon by the score of 75-62 on a neutral floor in Toronto against No. 20 Washington.
Who saw this two-season-plus reign of excellence coming? Not too many people. At the SEC media day prior to the 2017-18 season, the Vols were picked to finish No. 13 in the 14-team league. Instead, you might recall, Tennessee shared the conference title with Auburn that year, as both teams finished 13-5 in league play. The Volunteers followed that up with a 15-3 run through the conference and an NCAA tournament No. 2 seed last season.
Both of those years were powered in no small part by Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone and Kyle Alexander, so it was natural to think Tennessee would take a step back this season with those players having all departed. Perhaps that is indeed what we'll see in 2019-20. The season is young. So far, however, the 3-0 Vols have looked like a team ready to contend for an SEC title.
Barnes' team held Washington to 62 points in a 72-possession game, as highly touted freshman Jaden McDaniels shot just 6-of-17 from the floor for the Huskies. For the season, the Vols have limited opponents to 44% shooting on their 2s.
On offense, Tennessee's John Fulkerson and Jordan Bowden have been hitting their shots from inside and outside the arc, respectively. Those open looks often come courtesy of a Lamonte Turner assist. Turner has connected on just 19% of his 3s on the young season, but fortunately for Barnes, Turner's teammates have collectively hit no less than 58% of theirtries from 3-point land. The new line has been no problem early for Tennessee.
Again, it's early, and the Vols will face challenges as large or larger than the one Washington posed, just in the month of November. Tennessee will face Florida State on a neutral floor in the Emerald Coast Classic, and the next opponent after that will be either Purdue or VCU.
Flip the calendar to December and you'll find a home game against No. 13 Memphis and a road test at Cincinnati.
The Volunteers might drop a game or two in the near future, but recent history is fairly insistent on a more fundamental point: It is unwise to underestimate Rick Barnes
Here are some other such takes that I think I can prove ...
Rick Barnes is on a multiyear tear that few saw coming
When Tennessee tipped off Rick Barnes' third season in Knoxville with a home game against Presbyterian on Nov. 10, 2017, the head coach's record with the Volunteers stood at 31-35. Since that day, however, Barnes has gone 60-15, with win No. 60 coming Saturday afternoon by the score of 75-62 on a neutral floor in Toronto against No. 20 Washington.
Who saw this two-season-plus reign of excellence coming? Not too many people. At the SEC media day prior to the 2017-18 season, the Vols were picked to finish No. 13 in the 14-team league. Instead, you might recall, Tennessee shared the conference title with Auburn that year, as both teams finished 13-5 in league play. The Volunteers followed that up with a 15-3 run through the conference and an NCAA tournament No. 2 seed last season.
Both of those years were powered in no small part by Grant Williams, Admiral Schofield, Jordan Bone and Kyle Alexander, so it was natural to think Tennessee would take a step back this season with those players having all departed. Perhaps that is indeed what we'll see in 2019-20. The season is young. So far, however, the 3-0 Vols have looked like a team ready to contend for an SEC title.
Barnes' team held Washington to 62 points in a 72-possession game, as highly touted freshman Jaden McDaniels shot just 6-of-17 from the floor for the Huskies. For the season, the Vols have limited opponents to 44% shooting on their 2s.
On offense, Tennessee's John Fulkerson and Jordan Bowden have been hitting their shots from inside and outside the arc, respectively. Those open looks often come courtesy of a Lamonte Turner assist. Turner has connected on just 19% of his 3s on the young season, but fortunately for Barnes, Turner's teammates have collectively hit no less than 58% of theirtries from 3-point land. The new line has been no problem early for Tennessee.
Again, it's early, and the Vols will face challenges as large or larger than the one Washington posed, just in the month of November. Tennessee will face Florida State on a neutral floor in the Emerald Coast Classic, and the next opponent after that will be either Purdue or VCU.
Flip the calendar to December and you'll find a home game against No. 13 Memphis and a road test at Cincinnati.
The Volunteers might drop a game or two in the near future, but recent history is fairly insistent on a more fundamental point: It is unwise to underestimate Rick Barnes
