Rick Barnes bemoans missed layups against Kentucky

Just when you thought Kentucky was dead, they shocked the country by getting a road win against No. 5 Tennessee. You may not be too surprised with the Volunteers struggling offensively. Missed layups were a common theme for head coach Rick Barnes, to the point of serious frustration.

Barnes was asked about the missed shots around the rim, saying Tennessee could have been looking for some foul calls. He then broke down a late-game situation, saying a three-pointer was needed instead of trying to get a put-back up. Turns out, neither option was a viable one.

“Zakai (Zeigler), he did not practice for two days leading up to the game,” Barnes said. “That might have had something to do with his. At the end of the game, you can’t go in there looking. You got to finish the play. Even at the end when we got that rebound, tried to force it back up. We really needed a three right there. We had a chance to kick it out and we didn’t.”

Barnes mentioned Ziegler by name, as he was 3-12 from the field and only finished with six points. He struggled the most of any Volunteer player, especially when driving toward the rim.

On paper, Tennessee shooting over 40% from the field is a positive one, especially for a team that has struggled offensively. However, there were some point-blank layups Barnes saw his team miss. Even if you’re at home against a struggling unranked opponent, those kinds of shots have to go in.

“The ones that are point-blank layups, you got to make if you’re going to be a team that wins in games like this. You’ve got to make uncontested layups.”

Tennessee did need a couple of timely shots to go in as well but could not get them to go down. Barnes said the coaching staff tried to run a few plays for better looks. However, the execution was not there and was crucial down the stretch.

“Not real happy with the execution,” Barnes said. “We call certain plays where we want certain shots and guys weren’t taking those shots. You got to execute the play at that point in time.”

Barnes will have time to get his guys in a layup line, with a road game against Mississippi State next on the schedule this Tuesday. Another tough defensive team, if close shots are going in, the Bulldogs could have an advantage.