What Rick Barnes said at Tennessee's Big Orange Caravan stop in Nashville on Tuesday

Everything head coach Rick Barnes said while meeting with reporters on Tuesday during Tennessee’s Big Orange Caravan stop at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, discussing Santiago Vescovi’s decision to return for a fifth season, Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips going through the NBA Draft process and what they Vols are building for the 2023-24 season:

Santiago Vescovi deciding to return for another season at Tennessee

“We are excited because he is excited. I remember senior night and he talked about it might not be his last one. It gives us back a guy who is arguably our most durable guy the last four years. Santi loves the university of Tennessee and Vol nation. When I got up this morning I went to the barber shop and everyone was so excited and we know who goes to the barber shop. We are excited and his teammates are too.”

Tennessee wings Josiah-Jordan James and Julian Phillips going through the draft process

“Both Josiah and Julian are going through the NBA (Draft) process. That’s what they have to do and it’s a process they have to go through. They’re certainly training for it. And we want what’s best for them. So that’s just a process that they have to go through.”

The difficulty of the timing of recruiting the NCAA Transfer Portal while waiting on decisions from players going through the NBA Draft process

“It is, but from both ends, you’re transparent and you talk about it. We know that we’ve got to do what is right for our program, knowing that this time of year, with everything changes everyday. Something can change here or there. The fact is, it’s kind of a day-to-day ordeal we go through this time of year.”

If there is a way to fix the problems with the basketball calendar this time of year

“I don’t know if there’s a way to fix it. Because the NBA right now is in their playoffs. These other guys are going to get ready for the draft. It’s not lining up with the transfer portal and recruiting this time of year. I don’t know what the solution is, where we would have a period — I don’t think you can force guys to ever come back when they’re trying to pursue their dreams of playing in the NBA. So we have to play off of that. Like I said, the NBA, I don’t think guys will know what they can do until they get through the end of May. And it’s just so different right now, where we are. But we all have to deal with it. You have to figure it out. That’s all it is. You have to figure it out.”

Looking back Tennessee’s past season, where they’re looking to improve moving forward

“When I look back, I’m really proud of these guys. I don’t know if in my entire career as a head coach that we went through what we did in February (this season), with so many injuries that happened to key guys in ways that I don’t think we can ever imagine. Certainly Zakai (Zeigler) going down. But with that said, I just can’t thank our guys enough with the way they kept fighting through it. What really hurt us I thought at the end, we just couldn’t get an offensive rhythm because it seemed from game-to-game we were having to adjust. Where we were, being inconsistent at times. We fought. We really did try to do everything we could. I think the guys did that. They continued to believe in each other. You get to the tournament, I’ve said it before, you’ve got to have a little bit of luck with it. But you also have to — I go back, if you would’ve told me we were going to win our first-round NCAA game with Jahmai (Mashack) being our leading scorer and Santi only scoring two points, I don’t know if I would have thought that. But I think that speaks volumes about the team. They knew they would find a way to try to win games. That’s kind of what February was like for us.”

If they’re looking for more scoring for next season’s Tennessee roster

“Yeah, I think what we need, I think there’s no doubt we need to improve our shooting. Not only by recruiting it, which I think we have done that, but also with the guys that we have. I have great confidence that these guys are going to do that. I think we’ll be a more athletic team. And we’ll be a little bit different somewhat up front. We’ll still add there. But I do know that, you know what, we shot right around 32 percent (at the 3-point line). What I told our guys, we just need the guys to take the shots within our offense. And they’ve got to do that with confidence. That’s part of my job, to make sure they know that. But I do think, well I don’t think, I know, that we have improved our perimeter shooting with our recruiting.”

If the same type of defense will translate for Tennessee next season

“We’ll have to continue (it). Young guys, you always have to bring them up to speed. I mean, there’s no doubt we’ve got to do that. But I think we’ve got a group of older guys that will lead the charge there, in terms of letting them know this is what we have to do to win the way we want to win. But young guys always are going to find out it’s much harder than they think to play at this level. But again, we have great confidence. One, in our player leadership, but also I think I’ve got the best coaching staff in the country.”

What he thinks they need to do differently next season based on how the past season went

“Yeah, I think one, you go back to the bracket we were in. It gets back to matchups. When we lost Zakai and playing against a team like Florida Atlantic, it could’ve been Memphis, it could’ve been Fairleigh Dickinson, teams that press. In some ways, we probably would’ve matched up better with Purdue because of the style of play. That’s where the NCAA Tournament gets to matchups. But without Zakai, we lost a guy that could break down defenses. We lost a guy that could create a little bit more. But again, I think all those things you’re asking about, where we get better, I think we will get better there. And I think we’ve improved a lot of that through recruiting and we’ve just got to put it all together.”

How big the upcoming offseason is for Tobe Awaka and BJ Edwards, players like that taking the next step

“I think that’s the key and I think that’s a great question. As a coaching staff, that’s what we talk about. Ok, it’s your turn. You’ve got to understand how important this time of year is. Then leading into May and on into June, July. We’ll have a foreign trip this year. There’s no doubt we will count heavily on the guys we recruited, but we’ll rely more heavy on the guys who are in the program that we think know what its about. We’ve got a lot of guys, Tobe and Jonas (Aidoo), Jahmai Mashack, those guys played in some big games. So we know that they can handle that. The younger guys will make that adjustment quicker. Our schedule we play, we’ll start the season with a scrimmage against Michigan State up there. Then we’ll talk about what we want to do after that with an exhibition game or another one of the games where we can maybe do a charity game. Then Maui and all that. It’s going to help these young guys early. But we’re counting on these young guys that have been in it, that they will make sure they understand how important this time of year is to get better.”

Jahmai Mashack getting more meaningful minutes late in Tennessee’s season after Zakai Zeigler’s injury

“No doubt about it. We’re looking for him to make the next jump now. He ended this season a starter on our team and he earned it. And like I said, the first round of the NCAA Tournament (he) was our leading scorer. I think he’s an elite defender. I think he’s certainly one of the best in the country. I know he’s going to work to continue to add to his offensive game. I think he’ll get much better at finishing around the rim. He started really understanding the midrange game. But we have a lot of confidence in him. We know he has the ability to get to a different level. And no one wants to get there more so than him.”