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Rick Barnes shares Tennessee's excitement over playing in Madison Square Garden

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•03/23/23•

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(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

Rick Barnes and Tennessee are quite excited to play in Madison Square Garden for the Sweet 16 against Florida Atlantic.

Safe to say, the environment is different for the postseason. Tennessee is also just four wins away from a national title. At the very least, two wins away from a Final Four appearance and a banner back home.

Barnes tipped his cap to the northeast when he described Madison Square Garden and New York City.

“You know, we played here, was it a year ago, I think, Texas Tech,” Barnes said. “I know this: We all enjoy coming here. Certainly the time that I spent up in Providence and growing up in North Carolina, I have great respect for this part of the country because I’ve always said people here understand basketball at the highest level.

“Every year we do talk about how can we get to New York. Obviously we played in Brooklyn earlier this year against Maryland. But coming a year ago, I think they know it’s a special place. They certainly know what playing in the Garden is about. Certainly with Allan Houston being here and being a part of it, I know they’re excited about being here.”

The Owls, since they’re a No. 9 seed, are a bit of a Cinderella if they make the Elite Eight.

“Well, they certainly catch your attention early in the year when they went to Florida and won at Florida, something we didn’t do,” Barnes said of FAU. “Any program, team that wins 33 games, I don’t care what league you’re in, because it’s hard. All jobs are hard and difficult jobs, but for them to go through that, the first word that would come to my mind is consistency, because to do that day in and day out, knowing that they became the team that everybody was wanting to beat and gear up for.

“And you look at their team, they’re smart, they know each other well, great concepts on the offensive end, very sound defensively, and they should be a very highly confident team, because again, you win 33 games, it speaks volumes. No doubt all that they’ve done, they’ve earned it.”

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No. 4 seeded Tennessee takes on No. 9 Florida Atlantic Thursday at 9:00 p.m. ET in the Sweet 16.