Following No. 9 Tennessee’s decisive 88-53 victory over Vanderbilt on February 17, 2024, head coach Rick Barnes shared his insights during the postgame press conference. He began by commending his team’s first-half performance, noting their respect for Vanderbilt and Coach Jerry Stackhouse as a motivating factor:
> “I thought we were terrific. And honestly, I really do think a lot of it has to do with the respect that we have for Vanderbilt and Coach Stackhouse.”
Barnes highlighted the contributions of veteran players Josiah-Jordan James and Santiago Vescovi, both of whom scored in double figures. He emphasized their leadership and the rhythm they brought to the game:
> “When they’re playing with the rhythm that they were playing with… that’s about as good a 20 minutes as we’ve put together all year.”
Despite the substantial lead, Barnes called a timeout with Tennessee ahead 35-23 late in the first half. He explained this decision was to involve Jonas Aidoo more in the offense:
> “I wanted Jonas Aidoo to be more part of the offense… we had talked about getting him more involved and we lost sight of that.”
Reflecting on the team’s preparation, Barnes attributed their strong performance to a deep respect for Vanderbilt’s schemes and coaching:
> “I really believe… it’s the respect that our players have for the schemes they run and want to do a better job guarding it.”
The lopsided score allowed Tennessee to rest starters and provide bench players with valuable minutes. Barnes expressed hope that this rest would benefit key players like Dalton Knecht and Zakai Zeigler, especially with an upcoming game against Missouri:
> “I hope that because they have played so many minutes this year that it will benefit (Knecht) and not playing as many tonight.”
Barnes also praised freshman Cam Carr’s development, noting his improved stamina and performance during extended minutes:
“I thought he played more and played long minutes… those older guys are pretty locked in every day.”
In summary, Barnes credited the team’s success to their respect for the opponent, veteran leadership, strategic adjustments, and the valuable contributions from both starters and bench players.
