Rick Barnes reveals what he wants to see in Tennessee's season opener

Tennessee starts its basketball season this coming Monday as the Vols host Tennessee Tech to open their 2022-23 campaign. Unlike most other division I schools, UT opted not to host any exhibitions of their own in the lead-up to the season. Instead, the only preseason basketball they played was a scrimmage in Frisco, TX last Friday against Gonzaga, which the Volunteers won 99-80.

The team’s next time out will be its season-opener vs. TN Tech. Since Rick Barnes’ club is practically hitting the ground running in the regular season, what does he want to see out of his squad in their official debut?

For Barnes, the most important development is conditioning. He wants to see his guys last the full 40 minutes without dropping like flies. He shared as much at his press conference this week.

“We want to get this done. I think, probably again, as much as we practice and play, execution in the moment. Right now, you know, understanding how valuable those minutes are. And then I would say cardio toughness, you know. When guys get tired, some guys just go over the cliff and fall. I want to see guys that it’s a gradual decline before we can get them out. I think that’s important and I do know we’re a conditioned team.”

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Getting tired is part of playing basketball. Especially with the style the Vols like the play with. Opportunistic in transition, slow-burn half-court offense and intensity and focus at every turn defensively. Few harder minutes exist than the ones Rick Barnes hands out. Have to be well-conditioned to survive the UT hoops experience.

Barnes continued:

“But the pace that we play, I think everyone can handle it. But the fact is…when you do get in those situations where you’re moving up and down the court, maybe the stoppage isn’t what it would normally be and you go for two-and-a-half to three minutes. How many guys can do that without getting tired or fatigued? And like I said, just drop off the cliff. So again, cardio toughness is a big part of it, again, to see how long we can play and sustain what we want to do. And see once we go to the bench if we can maintain it or even take it to another level.”

Barnes has a few specific names in mind when it comes to bringing that energy off the bench. Zakai Zeigler was that dude a year ago — a shifty and tenacious fourth guard who assumed the starting point guard role heading into this season. Now, Rick Barnes has a new name in mind for Zeigler’s spot.

“That’s the one thing this guy did for us a year ago. I think you all witnessed when he (Zeigler) came in the game, it was just a different level. If he’s a starter we’re going to need that from Tyreke [Key], from Jahmai Mashack. We’re going to need that from those guys that come off the bench, that they can, again, not just hold the energy but take it to another level.”

Key, a four-year player at Indiana State who missed all of last season before transferring to Tennessee for his sixth season of college basketball, certainly seems like the off-the-bench spark this year, judging by his 26-point performance off the bench against Gonzaga. Meanwhile the sophomore Mashack has some more developing to do.