Rick Barnes previews Tennessee Basketball in the Players Era tournament in Las Vegas

What Rick Barnes said during his press conference on Sunday from Las Vegas, as Tennessee Basketball prepares to play in the Players Era tournament beginning with Monday’s game against Rutgers:

If he feels like he learned enough over the last three weeks to be ready for the Players Era tournament

“Yeah, we do. Obviously, we know it’s going to be a different level of competition, obviously. But we’ve seen a lot of growth in some areas, not just as a team, but individually. But we still have a ways to go like most teams do in November, December. But yeah, we feel good about where we are.”

What has been Tennessee’s biggest point of emphasis while preparing for this week 

“Consistency. That’s what it has been. And obviously we’ve continued to harp on our defensive ball screen coverages. And the details, whether it’s that or screening on offense. Just details has probably been the biggest in every area of the game.” 

How much better he feels about Tennessee’s post play this season after seeing it for five games

“Well, obviously that’s something that we felt like we’ve lacked the last couple of years. We wanted to add that and we’re confident with it. Yesterday Cade (Phillips) was out with the flu and I think he’ll be back today. Obviously, JP (Estrella) is still out, but it just gives Jaylen (Carey) and DeWayne (Brown) and Felix (Okpara) more reps. But yeah, we believe in it. We think it’s going to get better and better and it’s our job to get it better and better.”

If Tennessee’s JP Estrella will be out for the Players Era tournament

“Yeah, I haven’t heard that. So I would assume that he’s out.  When he’s ready, they’ll tell me and we’ll put him back in, but I haven’t heard anything about anything other than he’s still out.”

If he anticipates Bishop Boswell being available to play this week

“He did a little bit in practice yesterday, so yeah. I think we’ll see how he felt after practice yesterday, but based on practice yesterday, I think he’ll be able to play some.”

How much Nate Ament will improve as he continues to adjust, how much that would elevate this Tennessee team

“Well, yeah, I do think he’s going to get better and better. Doing his work early and learning how to get separation before he gets the ball, get turned around, all those details, that’s part of what we were talking about earlier, details in every area. It’s not just team-wise, it’s also with individual players. And just trying to get each one of those guys better, to understand the nuances of what they need to do. And obviously the better he gets, the better our team is going to be.”

The importance of Bishop Boswell’s defense on the perimeter for Tennessee, playing between Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament 

“Really important. It really is. And they’re getting better. Both of them are getting better (Ja’Kobi Gillespie and Nate Ament). I think as a team, our perimeter guys are getting better as a team. But with Bishop there, I mean, Bishop’s a tough competitor and it’s important. We told those guys, the guy that’s going to get that fifth spot right now is a guy that’s going to have to to be a guy that can think defense first. Because we know we’re looking for more offense from Nate and Ja’Kobi, but that third guy there has got to be a guy that is willing to step up and really defend that high level.”

On what stands out about Rutgers

“Really well coached, excellent coach. Coach Pikiell is excellent. Very, very sound. You watch his teams really good defensively, really protect the lane well. Puts his guys in the position he wants them in, but he’s got a, obviously, a great reputation as a coach. And once you start watching him on tape and seeing what he does with his team, and he does an outstanding job getting the point across of how he wants to play the game.”

On players showing an increased focus in taking care of the ball

“Well, obviously they know it’s a problem. They know that we can’t continue at the rate we are right now to be the team that we want to be. And some of it’s being young, some of it’s putting guys together, having some lineups on the court that doesn’t get to spend a lot of time together in practice. There’s some combinations of it. Some of the turnovers, to be quite honest, are missed calls by officials where guys had a play and pushed in the back or were held up where they couldn’t get to pass where the pass was there. So there’s a lot that goes into it. We can only control what we can control. And it’s part of learning the game and realizing that basketball is a game of possessions. You want to have more than your opponent. And when you have yours, you just certainly don’t want to throw them away by being careless or making poor decisions.”

On if Cade Phillips will be available against Rutgers

“Yeah I think so. He told me he felt a whole lot better yesterday. And he was at practice, he just didn’t participate. So he’s watched us do what we need to do with our game plan.”

A lot of Tennessee’s turnovers being unforced, if those are harder to correct

“Well, most of the ones that are unforced are guys not quite having a total comprehension of the offense and what we’re looking for and taking it to areas where they should be taking it. Just anxious, being a little bit anxious. And it’s early and so you expect some of it, but we don’t expect it from the older guys, that’s for certain. And it’s still part of a team that’s in growth and understanding that if you want to be the team that we want to be, we have to take care of the ball.”