Rick Barnes is counting on DeWayne Brown II to do much more for Tennessee this season, and not just because the sophomore forward is one of only two returning players from last year’s team.
Brown enters the 2026-27 season with a bigger responsibility on his shoulders, sharing that returnee role with Troy Henderson. Barnes made it clear that Brown’s value is tied to more than points and rebounds now that Tennessee has so many new faces around him.
“A lot. We expect a lot because last year he was the biggest surprise on our basketball team.”
That kind of praise is flattering, but it also sets a higher bar. Brown was productive in a limited role as a freshman, appearing in 35 games and starting 10 of them.
He averaged 4.8 points and 3.6 rebounds in 14.7 minutes per game while shooting 58.6% from the field. He made the most of his chances and gave Tennessee efficient production without needing a heavy shot diet.
Now the challenge shifts. With more minutes likely coming his way, Brown will have more chances to score and clean the glass, but Barnes’ comments show the expectation reaches beyond box-score numbers. The coach wants steadiness, effort, and dependable habits from a player who already proved he belongs.
Barnes also pointed to Brown’s character and work ethic when explaining why Tennessee wanted him back.
" He was the one guy, along with Troy Henderson, that's back. But we knew we wanted DeWayne Brown back.
Because he stands for everything that any coach would want. Just a great character person.
A guy that works hard every day. And he's the ultimate team player.
And we're going to ask him to do a lot more."
That matters even more on a roster filled with fresh faces. Brown already understands what Barnes expects, and that gives him a chance to help establish the tone early in practice. He has a full season in the program while many of his teammates are still learning the ropes.
Barnes also said Brown has taken another step physically.
“And we expect him to do more. He’s gotten himself in even better shape.”
That added conditioning could help him handle a bigger workload, but the next leap still comes down to consistency. Tennessee needs Brown to keep doing the dirty work: finishing inside, chasing rebounds, and bringing it every day.
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The second half in particular underscored where the problems are most urgent, with Tennessee struggling to get the stops needed to keep Xavier from pulling away. The forward rotation also came into focus, because the way that group performs will help define how stable this team can be once games count. For now, the exhibition provided a useful snapshot: the Volunteers have scoring potential, but the defensive consistency still needs real work. [Read more 🡒]