Tennessee's Rick Barnes makes case for Lamont Paris to be named National Coach of the Year
Despite No.17 South Carolina coming up short Wednesday night 66-59 against No.4 ranked Tennessee, it’s been a season to remember for the Gamecocks. So much so that Volunteers’ head coach Rick Barnes went out of his way to make a case as to why USC’s Lamont Paris deserves to be named National Coach of the Year.
“The job that Lamont has done here is amazing,” said Barnes, who was named the Naismith National Coach of the Year in 2019. “The turnaround — for them to go into the last game of the season with a chance to play for an SEC regular season title speaks volumes. He has terrific players but what he’s done is something he should be commended for.”
[Get your first month of GamecockCentral for $1!]
With one regular season game to go, South Carolina is 24-6. The 24 wins are already tied for the fourth most wins in a season in program history, which comes a year after winning just 11 games overall. A win Saturday against Mississippi State would earn the Gamecocks a double-bye in next week’s SEC Tournament.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Tony Bennett retires
Virginia coach abruptly steps down
- 2
Herbie rips OSU fans
Kirk Herbstreit defends Will Howard
- 3Hot
Travis Hunter vs. Ashton Jeanty
Buffs star compares himself vs. Ashton Jeanty
- 4
Highest Paid CFB Coaches
USA Today ranks Top 25 highest-paid college football coaches
- 5New
Isaiah Bond
Steve Sarkisian addresses injury update on Texas star WR
“I told him this and I believe it. If I had a vote I’d vote him for National Coach of the Year because I can’t imagine the SEC being any better than it is this year. For him to do what he did is remarkable.”
[Get the On3 app! Stay connected with GC!]
Saturday’s game against the Bulldogs (19-11 overall, 8-9 in SEC play) is set to tip-off at 2:30 p.m. ET on the SEC Network.
