Rick Barnes doesn't want Tennessee to change a lot for NCAA Tournament

Tennessee has been one of the better teams in the country throughout the entire season, not just heading into the NCAA Tournament. Because of that success, head coach Rick Barnes doesn’t want to change a lot of things the team is doing.

But Barnes said one thing he wants to see dial up to another level is the team’s film room prep.

“It’s important and it’s got to go to another level,” Barnes said. “Concentration’s got to get ratcheted up. Every game you want to see that. Even when I talk about, from our point of view, our details. Guys still make shots. They still got to make the shot. Teams have done that but we just got to make sure it’s on our terms and that’s where the detail comes in. Our guys really I do think concentrate and they work hard with the scouting report and knowing at this time of year the game slows down some because the long timeouts.”

The Volunteers are 23-10 on the season and were 11-7 in SEC play.

The No. 4 seed in the East Region, Tennessee opens the NCAA Tournament against Louisiana on Thursday.

“I would expect, again this time of year, you’re here because you’ve been successful,” Barnes said. “You don’t ever take it for granted. This is a time of year that I don’t think you change a lot. I think you’re going to prepare like you have everywhere along the line. I think if you do change a lot, I think you send the wrong signal to your team. I want them to be confident. I want them to know they’re going to be prepared and now we can go in and play.”

TV Schedule for Tennessee, other East Region teams for first round of NCAA Tournament

No. 1 Purdue vs. No. 16 Texas Southern/Fairleigh Dickinson — March 17, 6:50 p.m., TNT

No. 8 Memphis vs. No. 9 Florida Atlantic — March 17, 9:20 p.m., TNT

No. 5 Duke vs. No. 12 Oral Roberts — March 16, 7:10 p.m., CBS

No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 13 Louisiana — March 16, 9:40 p.m., CBS

No. 6 Kentucky vs. No. 11 Providence — March 17, 7:10 p.m., CBS

No. 3 Kansas State vs. No. 14 Montana State — March 17, 9:40 p.m., CBS

No. 7 Michigan State vs. No. 10 USC — March 17, 12:15 p.m., CBS

No. 2 Marquette vs. No. 15 Vermont — March 17, 2:45 p.m., CBS

All Times Eastern