What Rick Barnes said before Tennessee basketball practice on Friday

What Rick Barnes said Friday afternoon before practice at Thompson-Boling Arena, updating his team ahead of No. 7 Tennessee’s game against No. 13 Maryland on Sunday (4:30 p.m. ET; Fox Sports 1) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn:

The defensive production from Tennessee so early in the season

“Every game you look back at you know there are areas that you can improve in. We’ve got to really do a better job contesting shots. We can do a lot of different things based on what each player can do. We still have some younger guys that are still trying to figure out exactly what it’s all about. Overall we have some guys that I think have really bought into it.”

What he has seen from Maryland

“I think Coach (Kevin) Willard has done a great job. It’s his first year there and he’s quickly established…if you watch them play they’re not going to beat themselves. If they make a basket they’re going to jump in their 2-2-1 or back to a 2-3, mixes man in. He’s got them believing.

They can shoot the ball. As I watch them now I would say they’re one of the biggest surprises in college basketball. They got off to a terrific start, lost a tough one Sunday in their first road game (at Wisconsin). They’re right there. They do a lot of things that we’re going to have to be ready to defend.”

The challenges presented by Maryland

“We’re asking some guys on our team to do some different things. Like Tyreke Key has never been asked to play point guard. For him to get ready to play against teams that don’t just fall back and play man (is a challenge). That’s what the early part of the season is about. You’ll see a lot of different things and this gives you a chance to work on them. After this game we might go a month and not see another 2-2-1 (press). 

“It’s stuff that you work on but it’s not like you go against it every day in practice. We just went against it, in a different kind of way (against EKU). We believe that if we just do what we talk about it, play our principles that we can handle anything that anybody throws at us.”

Benefitting from a two-game stretch against No. 13 Maryland and No. 10 Arizona

“We’ve been in some big games already, but it’s about getting better right now. It’s tough. We’re getting ready to go play a really good Maryland team and obviously from there we’ll go to Arizona.

“We play all those games to get us ready for what we know is going to be a brutal January-February once we get into conference play. You hope that through everything that we’ve done from start to finish is going to prepare us for SEC play.” 

The importance of this time of year for player improvement with time between games

“I think it’s important. We have a group of guys who have really worked hard in the offseason to improve their skills. Now that exams are over and they have more time they do have the opportunity to get back into it and get the kind of reps that I think they all want to get. 

“We always talk about improving in the offseason, well you have to improve in season too, not only as a team but as individuals. This is the time of year when they can jump on that.”

The progression of Julian Phillips

“Julian has been terrific for us. I can’t imagine there has been a more productive freshman in the country than Julian. What’s great about him is that he wants to get better. We set the bar high, but he may have set it higher for himself. He’s very versatile, can do a lot of different things. With what we’ve gone through with some injuries I’m not sure where we would be without him.”

Up Next: No. 7 Tennessee (8-1) vs. No. 13 Maryland (8-1), Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1

Zakai Zeigler returning home to play in New York

“It’s a nice feeling and we like to recruit the East Coast. I’ve always said this; from my time at Providence and all the time spent in New York City being in the Big East … that’s where it’s at. 

“I think any time you get a chance to go back there during this time of year, whether you’re playing in the Garden or in Barclays where you know you’re going to play a quality opponent, I think any coach looks forward to going to New York to play.

“The fact that we’re going back with Zakai and Tobe I think it’s good for them. They’re both so mature though. They’re going to have family around I’m sure, but they know it’s a business trip and they know what they’ve got to get done.”

The play of Tennessee forward Olivier Nkahmhoua

“Olivier has the ability to do a lot of things for us. He’s another guy—and not just Olivier—they’re not where they’re going to be in another month. He’s getting back into it. As a group we’ve all got to improve. Olivier knows what we need from him. I think he’ll get there for us.”

The status of Tennessee senior shooting guard Santiago Vescovi

“He’s going to practice today. If he gets out there today we’ll see how it goes after today.”