University of Tennessee Athletics
Rick Barnes Press Conference (1.25.16)
January 25, 2016 | Men's Basketball
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes and senior forward Armani Moore spoke to reporters on Monday as part of Vol Basketball's weekly press conference.
Topics on the day ranged from Saturday's upset victory over NO. 24 South Carolina, what it takes to win every possession, and the challenges that await Tennessee during Tuesday's game at Alabama.
A full transcript from both Barnes and Moore is available below.
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes
(On Kevin Punter Jr. becoming one of the SEC's top scorers after tweaking his shot in the offseason)
"We have always tried to teach the high release to certain players. In terms of just tweaking his shot we've had guys that have done that, but I don't think anyone has done it the way he has. He embraced it so quickly. He went through some real frustrations. There were some days that I would be out on the road recruiting and they would send me video and I would call back and say, 'No you've got to move it this way two inches, or you have to do it this way.' They'd send me a picture and I'd say, 'Nope,' and I would walk in when I got back and I would talk a little bit. I would say, 'You don't have to do it. It's up to you to do it. If you want to do it, you can do it.' He showed great determination, discipline, and what he did was pretty drastic when you think about it. I told him that this isn't going to happen overnight. This might not take hold until October to where it would really be your shot. But it happened quicker and it was all because of him. He literally was in there shooting shots two, four, six, and eight feet from the basket for hours and hours."
(On if he's ever felt hesitancy to change a player's shot)
"No. I believe you should change shots with guys. I think that is very important because when you watch NBA teams training camps, you see how willing they are to change player's shots at that level. I think it proves that you should be able to do that. I think the guys who coach at the highest level will tell you that same thing. It cannot happen unless the player wants to do it and buys in to doing it. We have tweaked some things with guys on our team right now and we have done that numerous times. He had to make a drastic change."
(On how hard it is winning every possession)
"Really hard. It is really hard. Not to play the score and to try to win possessions and finish possessions and it is hard. But that is what goes into being a program that is a championship-caliber program. That is where it starts and ends, winning possessions. You have to have the mentality that you want to win every possession on both ends. It has been hard. It has been one of the toughest things because we have had segments that you will watch teams that will do it for a while. The good ones, the ones that will really be successful and want to do something big, are the ones that keep building on it to where each game they are going further with it. They are going to win more possessions, and they are going to fight harder to finish possessions and it is hard. It's not easy to ask players to do that because you are asking them to do a lot of little details that go into the game to get all of that done."
(On the difference between the film session for the Vanderbilt and South Carolina games)
"It wasn't that much different. I'll watch the tape and you will put it under a microscope and it shows you that there are still a lot of things we can do better. We showed some things that we did do better, but we showed some areas that we wanted to improve and we didn't. We have to continue to do better. We learned something from the Vanderbilt game. One being that if you do not play hard you do not have a chance. We have to understand that regardless of a big win, and it was a big win for our guys, that we can do more. We have to do more. We have to do far more. So the tone was that some guys didn't do the things they talked about wanting to do. It is a matter of not just being a team that survives, you want to be a team that is really trying to accomplish something and to do that you have to constantly be looking forward and that is what we will try to build on. Some of it is individual players. Some of it are guys not going to the rebound. When you talk your post players you have to get them on the glass every time and there are still some guys that don't do that the way they should every single time. We got active in the gaps. Kevin Punter did his best job of looking around. He looked back and forth as opposed to getting hammered by screens. I thought he was engaged away from the ball and so the whole session showed that we are not where we need to be and we need to move forward."
(On Armani Moore scoring less)
"I don't look at Armani being like that. I think Armani impacts us when we're playing well if he never scores a point. Early in the year, and I think it's a real compliment to him, we relied on him to do everything. He has a talent in that he's a big-time competitor. He's a guy that wants to win possessions. He's a guy that takes it personal sometimes, and he's hard on himself. He gets frustrated with himself and he gets emotional sometimes, which believe me, you'd rather a guy in some ways have that type of reaction as opposed to being nonchalant about it. Early in the year we were really trying to find ourselves. I think he's rubbed off on us to where we've gotten balanced now. We don't need Armani to score a lot of points. I think he's going to be really important here as we continue to get in the middle of it before we head down the stretch, helping (Kevin Punter) because people are going to really try to take him out of it. Armani's going to end up handling the ball. That doesn't bother me because I do think that when he's engaged and really in-tune, he sees the floor, he gets guys open. I think he can become one of the best defensive players in the country. If he locks in to do that, I think he's got a great future with that. He's competitive. He's not afraid of a challenge. I think he can guard anybody on the floor. So he's a guy that truly can impact winning for us probably more than anybody other than scoring points. He can really impact a game for us. If he scores, which I think he can, but I think where he gets in trouble is when he presses, like most players, not just him, any player that's not making shots, when they start thinking 'I've got to make a shot. I've got to make a shot,' it normally doesn't happen and they dig themselves deeper in a whole. It's when they just let it come to them. I thought he had some great passes Saturday. We put the ball in his hands with that sole purpose of him trying to find teammates. He started the second half with a great drive and kick-out to (Devon Baulkman) in the corner. He had a great pass out to Robert Hubbs III who missed a shot, but just a great look. Armani can impact our team without ever scoring a point in big ways."
(On maintaining a high level of defense)
"I'm not sure it's a matter of maintaining it. We've got to go forward. We've got to get better. There were some things that we did well, but when you go back...South Carolina missed a dunk that would have cut the lead to six right around the two-minute mark. It was a close game, and we still have to learn to play every possession. I do know that we have proven that we can get up and guard the ball. We need to do that more consistently. We're still not where we need to be with our ball-screen defense. This is going to be a challenge in Tuscaloosa. They're going to shoot 25 threes, and so we're going to have to defend the three-point line. When they're knocking down 10 or 12 threes, like Vanderbilt, that's hard to overcome. We're going to have to work hard at shrinking the court and yet, still getting out there. We're asking our guys to do more. We can't ever get to a maintain mentality, like we are there. I'm not sure you can do that with anything, but that's what we talked about yesterday, and tried to show them clips of where they've shown that they can do it. Now, can we do it longer and more often and stay with it."
(On the key to last weekend's South Carolina win)
"We have to rebound the ball. We talked about getting to the offensive boards. I can tell you, Derek Reese did his best job of getting off some block-outs, getting in there. We had more guys making an attempt to get to the offensive glass, but still not as much as we'd like. Defensively, we did have people (diving) down, coming up with some loose ball rebounds. We've got to have that. We can't have five guys, when they shoot the ball, staring and looking at the ball and not pursuing it. When we were rebounding the ball well, we were really getting that type of pursuit. I think that's where Armani [Moore], and even [Robert] Hubbs III got a couple tough rebounds against taller guys in there. We've got to rebound it, and so much of that depends on how well we defend. If we're having to scramble around, and we get beat and get in gaps, they kick out, we start scrambling and get into those long closeouts, it makes it hard to rebound, because you're just kind of flying all over the place and you give up position. A lot goes into how well we rebound, but so much of it is the mentality to do it."
(On what impresses him most about Alabama)
"You go back and look, they probably did as much for our league in (non-conference play) as anybody. They had great wins over some top-25 teams. They might have more wins over ranked opponents than anybody in the league. They've lost some tough games. They do a really good job with their offensive scheme. They spread you out. They do a great job of driving and pulling your defense, and kicking out. That's a team that can make 10, 12, 14 threes if they get going. Defensively, we would plan on [Alabama head coach Avery Johnson] trying to trap Kevin Punter as much as he can, get the ball out of his hands and those type of things. He's going to work hard at trying to take our top players away. You're looking at how Kevin's scoring, teams are going to go in every game with some kind of approach, like `What can we do to slow him down, stop him from doing this or doing that?' That's why I go back to Armani [Moore], what he does for us... He's a guy that gives us another guy that can run our team out there."
(On what he remembers from being an assistant coach at Alabama in 1985-86)
"I learned a lot from coach [Wimp Sanderson]. I actually did a little call-in radio show with him and his son, Barry, this morning. Coach understood the `KISS' theory, you know, `Keep it simple, stupid.' He understood that. He understood players' feelings. He was the first time I've ever been around a coach that once you get into this time of year, we might practice 30 or 45 minutes. I'll never forget, I asked him `What was the key to being successful?' and he said something he had learned from coach [Bear] Bryant. Recruit well, schedule well, and coach [well] is the third part. But don't ever lose games by getting beat on the practice court. I thought our guys were always at their very best come game time. He had just a great, unique way, in terms of knowing players and knowing how far to push them, knowing when to back off. The scheme was simple. I think he was brilliant in the fact that he played through his best players. He knew how to get them ready to play. That year, I remember we were terrific, but I learned a valuable lesson. Our leading scorer, Buck Johnson, got hurt, and Derrick McKey had just kind of hung back. When Buck went down, Derrick stepped up and it just went great. I remember asking Derrick one time, `Why were you holding back?' and he said, `This is Buck's year, and he should do it.' I've learned how players think sometimes. Derrick McKey went on, like Buck, to play in the NBA, but that's what you're aware of. Younger players, making them understand that they don't have to wait. If you're good enough to do it, go do it right now.
"The other thing that I remember was that we lost four times to Kentucky by a total of five or six points on buzzer beaters. I think they beat us by one point in Lexington, one point in--I can still see the shot that Roger Harden hit against us--in Tuscaloosa, then beat us in the conference tournament, then met them in the NCAA Tournament. Coach is a great coach. He is a great personality. We stayed in touch through the years and has given me some great advice throughout the years. He has watched us play. He is just a real genuine person, and if you have ever ben around him, he is a fun guy to be around. He is a terrific basketball coach. You think about where I have been. Everybody talks about me being at football schools. What he taught me is to just do your job and don't worry about football. He really embraced it. I remember the relationship he had with (Alabama football coach) Ray Perkins. They had a great relationship. He said, 'We've got a job. He has got a job. Let's just do our jobs.' Everywhere I have been, I have never looked at anything but our job. Let's do it the best that we can do it."
(On addressing lack of success at certain venues)
"No, we just get ready for the next game. People often ask me what are the hard places to play. Most places where it is hard to play, those teams have had success and had good players. That is what makes arenas hard to play in--the personnel you're up against. There are some arenas that you can name where their crowds really do make a huge difference. I think our crowds have been great this year and helped us. I think there haven been times that we have hit some lulls, but the fact is that it is going to get done between the lines. I think the preparation the day before, I think where you are with what you are doing when you are away from basketball--where are your thoughts, what are you thinking--how engaged are you [contribute]. We talk about young players being immature and not understanding the sense of urgency with having your priorities straight with school, getting rest, eating right, all that--you are somewhat in a routine with them. We try not to break our routine very much. We change some things. We try not to let it get monotonous. Really, it is what we feel today that we need to do. We know what we are going to do in practice today. We want it to be short, sweet and to the point. In terms of going into buildings, you just have to get ready to go and win every possession if you want to win."
(On Big 12/SEC Challenge)
"I don't know if I do like having it this time of year. It is where ESPN wanted to have it. When we were at Texas, I wasn't in favor of it because we played a great non-league schedule. We didn't need to have a challenge. The thought there was that there were 10 of us, and, here, there are 14 in the league. How do you get a real challenge out of that? Then, there is the thought that at this time of the year, it could be an open week if you have injuries or would like to rest them a little bit. You'd have a week to do that. Nonetheless, it has been good. You could probably take a poll of where the Big XII is right now and the SEC, but I think it is great for our league right now. We have a chance as a league to do some things special. I think the Big XII has four teams ranked. You have Oklahoma going into LSU, Iowa State going into Texas A&M, Kentucky going to Kansas. Big games. You talk about our league wanting to have multiple teams in the NCAA Tournament every year. We have already talked about what we need to do in the non-league scheduling, and this is part of that. The reason it is right now is ESPN. They just got through with football playoffs, [Super Bowl] is in two weeks, so here is a great week to have it. They get to do that. This is something they can really promote, too. You go back to when it started The ACC/Big Ten Challenge was right there. They didn't want it [to conflict]. Looking at it from [ESPN's] standpoint, it is a great thing that they can really focus on it this week and make it something special. It is a great opportunity for our league and for people to see. We have a good league. Everybody is beating up on each other right now, but it is what it is and we have to play it."
(On keeping the tempo up on the road)
"I think Avery likes to run, too. It's hard to run against some teams. It really is. I remember at media day, Avery said he wants to play fast, fast, fast, and I think he really does want to play fast, fast, fast. We like to play that way. So, it could be a very high-possession game. I think both teams are getting better defensively. When you have teams that are getting better defensively, it puts you in longer shot clocks. Because, you normally are going to work hard at getting option one, two, or three and going deep, and getting them deep into the clock. That can kind of slow the game down a little bit. I do think we are pretty similar in the fact we both want to play a pretty high-possession game."
(Asked if Kevin Punter Jr. is more important to his team than any other player in the SEC)
"I would say that about Armani, too. If you had asked me a few weeks ago if I thought we could go out on the road and get a win without Armani, I probably would have said no. What happens when you lose a player like Armani, it does allow somebody else an opportunity to step up and play. But, I think when you look at Kevin and you watch us, you'll be surprised that we don't do a lot of stuff outside of our offense to try to get him shots. People are going to try to take him away and, honestly, we say fine. Let the other guys play, and you do what you do. We don't run a play for him every single time. What we do is in the flow of our offense. There are some (schematic) things that we do, but it's not just designed for him. He's valuable. He's doing some great things, and he's done some great things. If you ask me, do we want him on the court as much a possible? Yes. But, if something happens like with Armani, he impacts us in ways people don't realize and we've had to play through some foul trouble without KP too, and we've gotten better. You would have thought we couldn't have done that early in the year without he or Armani on the floor at some point in time. I think when you look around the league, everyone would agree that their top players are the guys you want to have on the court and you don't want to be without."
Tennessee forward Armani Moore
(On producing in areas other than scoring)
"I think that when it comes down to the team, there are a lot of things that a team needs to be successful. I think you have to have guys like me who are not only willing to score points, but also do things in other areas, especially on the defensive side of the ball. I think that's one thing that that I have to really be aggressive doing. I think we've really been getting better as a team at defending the ball, but you definitely have to have a guy like me."
(On not shooting as much in conference play)
"No, I just think it's just understanding my role as far as being on this team. I don't think it's necessarily me shooting bad or anything like that, but there are other guys who are shooting better than me. We have a lot of guys who can score the ball. As far as me understanding my role, I know that we are still averaging at least 80 points a game without me scoring. So, that just goes to show you that I need to be an impact in other areas of the game other than just scoring."
(On coming back after a big loss and how that's different than coming back after a big win)
"I think that can go either way. Obviously when you win a game, you feel like you should carry that over. But once you lose a game, it upsets you and it gives you this hunger that makes you want to go out and win a game as well. For us, we have to develop a level of consistency. I don't think we have had one time this year where we have won two or three games in a row. In the next couple weeks, we need to try and get on a winning streak, and get something started here."
(On guarding any position on the court)
"Yes, sometimes there are times where there is a big height difference, but that's what's going to happen when you have a whole starting lineup with guys who are 6-4 or shorter. But it's fun, and I like the challenge. I don't necessarily look at it as 'this guy might be taller than me', I just think it all boils down to being willing to win."
(On frustration from not scoring as much in SEC play)
"Yeah, being a guy who did a lot of scoring at the beginning of the season, for any player, once you see your numbers decreasing in one area it can be frustrating. But once I actually sat down with myself and realized that even though I'm not scoring, I can always be effective in other areas. Coach Barnes and I sat down and had some conversations about some of the things that I do great. I just want to be able to do those things to help my team. I think now I can come in and be a lot more effective in other areas other than scoring."
(On winning one possession at a time)
"When you look at a game of basketball, I definitely think it's about a game of runs. That's one of the things that we chart when we come in to halftime. We see how many defensive stops we can get in a row. Coach tells us that if we can get three or four stops in a row, and at a consistent level, then nine times out of 10, you'll win the ball game. I think here in the last couple of games, our effort as far as defensive--other than Vanderbilt--we had a whole lot of guys who have given it a little bit more effort."
(On recent Tennessee results at Alabama)
"Every one of those teams who like to pressure the ball, kind of like South Carolina, are the same way. They're going to try to feed off the crowd. You know, it's not necessarily a big gym, so the crowd can easily get into it at any point of time, but I think the most important thing for us as a team, we just have to be poised with the ball and make sure that we aren't making dumb mistakes like turning the ball over and letting the crowd get into it."
(On blocking shots)
"To be honest, I think blocking shots for me is just something that I like to do. I think it helps me, as a player, to get going. I think it just boils down to the will to win for me. I have always felt like that was one of the things that I was good at and I think one of the most important things is timing it."
(On if he learned how to block shots from VFL and current Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson)
"We all know that Josh was a competitive player. I think he was just one of those guys who is always going to give that extra effort. Playing with Josh, I could see that he always wanted to win and I carried after the same thing, you know, just always wanting to win."
(On how the team responded defensively against No. 24 South Carolina on Saturday)
"Definitely, I was really shocked at how we handled the last game. A lot of people say it's easy to get up for a team who's ranked, but if you take that out of it and just look at some of the film that we watch, a lot of guys like Kevin Punter Jr., Devon Baulkman, Derek Reese, Detrick Mostella, you can see how much effort these guys are putting into the defensive side of the ball. I think that's a very big step for us because at the beginning of the year, a lot of people were saying that if we weren't scoring, then we were looking terrible. But during that game, the game was pretty close throughout, but as far as our defense, we stayed consistent throughout the whole game. Obviously there were times when we broke down, but as far as a team effort, I thought we did a marvelous job on that side of the ball."
(On his versatility as a player)
"It's always been that way for me. In high school, obviously, I was one of the tallest guys on the team so I played post a little bit there. There was never a time when my coach said if you get the rebound you can't dribble the ball down the court. As being one of the most effective players on my team in high school, I always had the ball in my hands, so, then in AAU I was a point guard as well, so coming into college, it was a bit different because the level of play is way up than high school. But I've been learning as I go. I still have a lot to learn, but I think Coach Barnes and his staff have really been helping me understand what I need to do as a player."
