What Rick Barnes said about Tennessee Basketball before Tuesday's practice

What head coach Rick Barnes said about No. 20 Tennessee before practice on Tuesday, before the Vols host North Florida on Tuesday (7 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network+) at Food City Center:

What Tennessee needs to improve on from the first week of the season

“Well, there’s a lot. We’re still not where we need to be defensively with our ball-screen coverage. We were a step behind too many times and still have to do a better job guarding the ball. Our help defense, and some of that changes game to game based on personnel, but we still, as a group, I don’t think we understand that the way we need to totally. And then offensively, we were better (against Northern Kentucky). Shot the ball well, obviously. But in terms of the execution, mainly spacing and understanding how to play without the ball, we’ve got a long way to go. And we’ve got to get that part of it.”

What he wants to see from Tennessee guard Amaree Abram this week

“Consistency. We all believe in Moe. We know that he’s working hard. He’s trying to get it right. It’s all new to him, obviously. But he has shown us enough to know that he can help us win games. But it just gets back to consistency. And if he’ll keep working like he is, it’ll come around for him.”

If Tennessee guard Ethan Burg is still getting caught up after arriving in Knoxville in September 

“He’s catching up. I mean, we’re all impressed with what he’s been able to do in such a short time. We would love to play the ‘what if’ game with him and Clarence (Massamba) both. I think before the season is out, Clarence is going to be a factor with us too, a real factor. We would’ve (liked to) had them both all summer, but we didn’t. But I do think Ethan, from the time that he’s come in, has really made some great strides, and he’s still learning, not just what we’re doing, but it’s a whole new game. I was talking to Coach (Justin) Gainey last night about Jordan (Gainey) being over in Croatia. He just said the big difference over there and playing here is the physicality of it. And so Ethan is not afraid of the physicality, but he gets himself in trouble sometimes trying to play that style of basketball. And so he’s learning not just what we’re doing, but he’s learning a whole new game, basically.”

What it says about Ethan Burg that he is playing meaningful minutes at point guard while making that adjustment 

“It’s because he is mature in his thinking. You think about it, I’m sure it’s somewhat humbling to him, coming out of playing where he was here, understanding that it is a difficult game, maybe harder than he thought coming in. I think he would say that, no doubt. But we trust him because we know where his heart is, we know what he wants to do. And from the first time I met with him, he said, you just tell me what I need to do to help the team and I’m going to do that, and whatever it means me adjusting my game. And I know he meant it sincerely. I don’t think he realized how big a statement that was in terms of how hard it was going to be for him to make all the adjustments, but he’s all about it, which is a wonderful thing.” 

If Tennessee sees forwards as four and the fives or if the positions are interchangeable

“Our guys are interchangeable and we play them all inside out. How we play them is based on consistency of their performance. What they do in practice is a big part of it too and we do feel that we’ve got depth there and we want to use it. Those guys, each one of them brings something different. They really do, individually, but we need the consistency from the defensive end and offensively. I mean, we need some production out of those guys up front. I mean, we know that the last couple of years that’s been a downfall that we haven’t been able to generate offense in there the way we need to. And there’s different ways to do it. But we need those guys to keep improving, have the attitudes they’ve had. And long way to go, like every team. We’re still trying to figure out as coaches how to coach these guys too. Because each and every day we see some of this, some of that, and how we can keep it together, put it together with everything that we’re trying to see with all of our guys.”

If he wants to keep using an 11-player rotation or if it will get cut down

“Well, I’ve said it can be a good thing, a bad thing. Well, you’re always competing for minutes. I don’t care if you’re playing eight guys. I mean, those guys are six, seven, eight, want to play more too. But if their separation develops, that could change. But if everybody keeps moving in the direction they are, again, arguably the best team I’ve ever coached went to a Final Four— we had 11 guys that played over 10 minutes a game. But they created that. By the way, they went about their business and we’re still working with this team, like I said, learning how to coach this group. And I think they’re continuing to learn each other. But how it’s going to end up in the end, I don’t know. I really don’t.”

What makes him think Clarence Massamba will be a factor

“Just talking to him about it. I just came out of the gym with him just before I came to see you guys. I asked him what’s on his mind. He said, coach, I’m learning a lot. He said, and he does have a tough schedule academically where he’s not able to get in here as early as he’d like to. He obviously spends time on his own at night. But it’s just his attitude about, hey, I’m learning. It’s neat, it’s fun. I know the mistakes I’m making. I’ve got to slow down. And if you just talk to him, you can just see his maturity and the fact that he’s wanting to get it and he knows it’s a process that he’s going through and he’s willing to work through that process.”

Tennessee being ranked in 243 games during his tenure

“It’s a compliment to our players, our program, the commitment from the administration to help us build what we thought we could build. But again, I don’t think about it. I don’t look at those polls. I don’t think it means a lot other than, I guess, respect. We know that to get where we want to be in the end, it serves you well to be ranked and as high as you can at the end of the year. You hope you’re in a position to get a high seed in the tournament. But through the years, you’ve seen teams come out of nowhere, catch lightning in a bottle at the right time. But with that said, it’s still the process of, every day, trying to get better. And the fact that we get the chance to play hard teams, gives you a chance to win big games. It also can expose some things, obviously, but it’s just really a testament to the guys in the program, coaches, players, and the help we get from our administration.”

How he is seeing Nate Ament’s confidence go up during the start to the season

“I think each and every day he goes out, he’s learning a little bit something every day. I think even in practice, playing against guys that really know his game now, that can continue to push him. I think practice is still a big part of his learning experience. Games, he is, you know, he would be the first to tell you after the Duke scrimmage, he wasn’t happy with himself in the way that his mindset was. Thought he adjusted it extremely well for a freshman the next time out (vs. Mercer). And the other night (vs. Northern Kentucky), starting to understand how to attack space and not go too far, not looking to get himself in trouble, trying to be more efficient with the dribble, getting to his spots, getting the ball up, and doing the things that we’ve talked about. And he’s going to see different defenses all year. He’s going to be a part that people game plan for. But again, he’s a guy that his versatility, you know, he can impact the game in a lot of different ways. And he’s already shown that. And he’s going to continue to get better defensively. He’ll have to, just like all of our guys. I mean, as a group, we’ve got a long way to go there. But it’s going to be fun to watch him continue to grow.”

What stands out about North Florida

“I knew Matt Driscoll for years on years. We met way back at our time at Clemson. Matt did a great job there and then when he left, allowed his assistant coach (to become head coach), which I think is great for the University there. They liked what the program was about. We know they shoot as many three’s as anybody in the country. And you know when you play a team that can do that and are willing to shoot them all night long, they’re never out of the game. They’re going to continue to play their style. Mostly man, but will play a little bit of their 2-3 zone. And obviously Chaz (Lanier) coming from there, I think is a great reminder (for) everyone that it doesn’t matter what people might think, there’s players everywhere, which Chaz proved coming from there to here what he could do. And so again, it’s a mindset going in, but it’s also about us knowing it’s another opportunity for us to improve as a basketball team.”

If he knows who Lanier is rooting for Wednesday night

“Well, I know who paid him. Does that have anything to do with it? Knowing Chaz, you know what? He’s probably one of those guys that probably wouldn’t watch the game because I know he had an incredible time there. I remember how excited he was when he had already committed to us, going back for his graduation and how much that meant to him down there. And then, obviously, coming here in one year, you know how he endeared himself to Vol Nation and coming back home. But I’m sure that, you know, he looks at it and I think he’s going to pull for the Volunteers myself, but he might not say it publicly, you know.”