Rick Barnes Talks Keys to Winning, Team's Focus and More Ahead of Date With Mississippi State

UT basketball head coach Rick Barnes previews the Vols in the SEC Tournament on Thursday.

Jack Foster | Mar 11, 2022

TAMPA, Fla.– Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes met with the media on Thursday afternoon to preview the SEC Tournament and recap the regular season for the final time before Tennessee takes on Mississippi State in the quarterfinals of the Tournament.

Barnes discussed that his team must not beat themselves in order to make it to Sunday.

"You have to finish games, have to be locked into your game plan and be playing your best basketball," Barnes said.

On Thursday, Barnes said his team was 'really focused' in practice.

"Going into the arena today, our guys were really focused," Barnes said. "We came to do some free throw shooting and break the day up a little bit, but they were really focused."

Barnes' entire Thursday media availability is in the video above, featuring a highly comical moment between barnes, Zakai Zeigler, and Olivier Nkamhoua, is above.

Video courtesy Tennessee Athletics Communications

Published Mar 11, 2022

JACK FOSTER

Jack is a sophomore at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville majoring in Journalism/Electronic Media. Jack grew up in Paris, Tennessee, but now spends the majority of his time in Knoxville doubling as a student and sports journalist for Volunteer Country. Jack has been a sports junkie since he was a young kid and always watched NFL football with his dad on Sundays. Jack still follows the NFL religiously, as he is an avid fantasy football player. Jack started with Volunteer Country in May of 2021 and has since helped provide full coverage of football, baseball and men's and women's basketball. Jack also works as a recurring member of WUTK's Rock Solid Sports show on Wednesdays and Fridays, and he also serves as head sports producer of The Volunteer Channel's Vol News, a student-run show at the University. When Jack is not watching or covering sports, find him on the golf course or back home spending time with his parents, younger sister and friends. Follow Jack on Twitter and Instagram by clicking "Twitter" and "Instagram" to see all of his work with Volunteer Country as well as student media.