Rick Barnes: Tennessee's Darlinstone Dubar has been 'impressive' in return to the court
Darlinstone Dubar caught the eye of Rick Barnes during Tennessee Basketball’s second game in The Baha Mar Championship last week in The Bahamas.
Dubar, the 6-foot-6, 220-pound Hofstra transfer wing, was matched up with 6-7, 230-pound Baylor forward Norchad Omier and was holding his own.
“He proved to us that he’s competitive,” Barnes said Wednesday night. “I mean, trying to guard Omier is as hard as anything he’ll have to go against all year, and he fought hard.”
Omier finished with 22 points and 10 rebounds in Baylor’s 77-62 loss to No. 7 Tennessee in the Baha Mar title game. But three points and four rebounds Dubar provided in 12 minutes off the bench made a sizable impact on the Vols.
‘Never been around a group of guys and a group of coaches where it is really family’
Dubar made his return in the 64-42 win over Virginia on Thursday night, getting back on the floor after missing the first two weeks of the season due to a personal matter. He scored four points and grabbed three rebounds in 11 minutes.
Dubar had seven points, three rebounds and an assist in 13 minutes in the 78-35 win over UT Martin on Wednesday.
Details of the personal matter that sidelined Dubar have not been disclosed.
“It was fun just being with my teammates,” Dubar said after Wednesday’s game. “Every day is fun. They are with me every step of the way. It was a great crowd. I had a lot of fun out there.”
Dubar stayed around the team while he was off the court, including traveling to Louisville for Tennessee’s 77-55 road win on November 9. He said the support of his teammates “meant everything” to him.
“Never been around a group of guys and a group of coaches where it is really family,” Dubar said. “They have been here for me and I really appreciate them.”
Dubar’s return seemed to be expedite in wake of the injuries to sophomore forward JP Estrella and sophomore wing Cam Carr. Estrella is done for the season due to a foot injury and Carr is out 4-6 weeks with a thumb injury.
Top 10
- 1
Underranked SEC
Lane Kiffin protests CFP rankings
- 2New
Saban chirped
Big 12 comes after GOAT
- 3
DJ Lagway
Fan flashes Florida QB to Pope
- 4Hot
Strength of Schedule
CFP Top 25 SOS ranking
- 5
Alabama needs a prayer
Tide can make the CFP but needs help
Dubar, who has versatility that can help replace both Estrella’s minutes in the post and Carr’s role on the wing, rejoined practice two weeks ago, but became a full participant early last week.
“Just working with Coach G every day,” Dubar said, referencing Tennessee strength coach Garrett Medenwald, “and just being consistent. Just trying to get in shape every day. I am not there yet but I am getting there.”
Up Next: No. 7 Tennessee vs. Syracuse, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Dubar was the first of four NCAA Transfer Portal additions made by the Vols early in the offseason. He committed to Tennessee on April 15 out of Hofstra, where last season he averaged a career-high 17.8 points per game in 33 games, shooting 53.9% from the floor and 39.9% from the 3-point line. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 34.6 minutes per game.
Barnes said Dubar has work to do on the defensive end and that he expects his stamina to “continue to improve.” Offensively, there are no concerns, only some wrinkles to iron out.
“We think he’s a terrific shooter,” Barnes said. “He’ll have to keep figuring out when to and when not to. And understand how to stay in the flow of his teammates. It will be game to game because every game takes on its own identity.
“But for a guy that was really not having a lot of practice the last month, impressive. And we know he can rebound. He proved that to us down in the Bahamas … I’m excited because we know he can continue to, like all of us, get better.”
