Rick Barnes after North Carolina loss: 'We're good'

The Tennessee basketball program is in a bit of a funk after a 4-0 start to the season.

The Vols suffered a 100-92 loss at North Carolina Wednesday night, dropping their third consecutive game.

While head coach Rick Barnes was disappointed with the loss in the ACC-SEC Challenge, he’s not panicking. Barnes said following the loss to the Tar Heels that he still feels good about his team.

“We’re good. We’re a good team,” Barnes said.

Tennessee beat Michigan State in an exhibition game in East Lansing a month ago, before a road trip to Wisconsin during the regular season.

The Vols also played three games in Maui against excellent competition, before returning home and preparing for the Tar Heels. The game against UNC was Tennessee’s first since getting back from Maui. It has been a brutal stretch of games to start the season for the Vols.

“You think about from the time we started, won at Michigan State, Wisconsin. We’ve done a lot of traveling,” Barnes said. “But that’s not an excuse. I’ve always said, you can’t win big games unless you get in them.”

Tennessee has already played several big games this season and has plenty more ahead on its schedule. Barnes is hopeful that the tough games now will prepare his team to have a successful run in the NCAA Tournament.

“I also will tell you this, I just want to be there in March,” Barnes said. “I think what we’re going through right now – we’ve played three really good teams. Arguably the three best post players in the country. And I think what’s come out of this for us is I think Jonas Aidoo finally believes what I’ve told him. He’s got a chance to be as good as all of those guys.”

As Barnes alluded to, Tennessee forward Jonas Aidoo has had his hands full over the past three games, going up against Purdue star Zach Edey, who was named the National Player of the Year last season, as well as Kansas star Hunter Dickinson and North Carolina star Armando Bacot.

Barnes expects Aidoo to be better from facing such strong competition and believes his whole team will improve from going up against some of the top teams in college basketball.

“Once we can throw the ball inside like we did today, it’s going to open up more for those perimeter guys,” Barnes said. “I’m disappointed, because I want to win every time I go out.”