Will Tennessee add a player after losing Cam Carr? Rick Barnes says Vols 'will talk about some things'
Rick Barnes on Monday was thinking back to the conversation he had with Jahmai Mashack and Zakai Zeigler last spring. Tennessee had lost four players to the NCAA Transfer Portal after a run to the Elite Eight, but the two veteran guards had a message for their head coach.
“They said plain and clear, ‘if they don’t want to be here then we don’t want them here,’” Barnes said. “’We want guys that want to be here and guys that really care about being part of the team.’
“They said that. That’s how I think we all feel.”
Barnes was feeling it again after No. 1 Tennessee beat Middle Tennessee State 82-64 Monday night at Food City Center, only a few hours removed from sophomore wing Cam Carr leaving the basketball program with intentions of entering the NCAA Transfer Portal.
Barnes said he didn’t discuss the move with Carr, who he said “just walked out.” He described it as both “baffling” to him personally and a move that surprised and disappointed his teammates.
“So from here on,” Barnes added, “there is nothing to really talk about. He made his decision.”
‘I’m sure we will … talk about some things’
And now Barnes and his staff have a decision to make themselves, with their Tennessee Basketball team is down to nine scholarship players. The Vols (12-0) are off until New Year’s Eve, when they host Norfolk State in a 3 p.m. Eastern Time start (SEC Network+) in Knoxville.
The Vols started the season with 11 players on scholarship, out of a possible 13, but have now lost Carr and sophomore center JP Estrella, who underwent season-ending foot surgery in late November.
The number on Monday night was eight scholarship players available with freshman guard Bishop Boswell (right shoulder) sidelined and considered day-to-day.
Barnes was asked after the game if the Vols would look into making a midseason addition to the roster. The jury is still out on the decision.
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“We haven’t thought a lot about it,” Barnes said. “I’m sure we will, over the next couple of days, talk about some things. We have pretty much played eight or nine guys all year, right? Pretty much.”
Of those nine, two players (Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack) average more than 30 minutes a night. Another four players average 20 or more minutes (Chaz Lanier, Jordan Gainey, Igor Milicic and Felix Okpara). Cade Phillips is averaging 17.3 minus and Darlinstone Dubar averages 12.1.
Rick Barnes on freshman Bishop Boswell: ‘Bishop is going to come back and be a big part of it’
Carr and Estrella were both averaging 10 minutes per game and Boswell averages 4.0.
“Every year is different,” Barnes said, “but every guy we have right now, we’re expecting them to be a big part (of the team).”
Barnes said Dubar has made “great strides” in recent weeks and he is hoping Boswell could return after the Christmas break.
“(Boswell will) come back stronger,” Barnes said. “His mental toughness and just his competitive spirit is something that, it’s going to serve him well. He’s a loyal kid.
“He wants to get it done and he’ll come back strong. There is no doubt that Bishop is going to come back and be a big part of it.”
