Rick Barnes isn’t sounding the slightest bit bothered by Justin Gainey’s move to NC State.
If anything, the Tennessee coach is leaning hard into pride and praise as his former assistant prepares to take over as the head coach of the Wolfpack, Gainey’s alma mater. Barnes addressed the situation at SEC Tipoff, where Tennessee and North Carolina State are slated to meet before the Vols open SEC play.
Barnes made clear just how much respect he has for Gainey, both as a coach and as a person.
"Well, I am really thankful and blessed to spend the time that I was able to spend with Justin. You know, I coached against him when he was with NC State as a player from the time that he walked on to that campus, and I have just the upmost respect for him as a person. There's not a finer human being that you'll ever meet."
Barnes also pointed to Gainey’s basketball IQ and the impact he had on Tennessee’s program before leaving.
"Basketball-wise, it's really neat. He has worked with some terrific coaches through the years.
He's always had a great basketball mind, great evaluator. He came in, and again, left our program better.
And the fact is, NC State made a great hire in Justin. He's the kind of guy that I would want my son to play for.
He's the kind of guy that is going to demand the most from the players."
For Barnes, the hire makes sense on every level. He said Gainey already has a clear vision for how he wants his teams to play, and he’s confident that will carry over to NC State.
"He's going to do what he does. He's very mature for his age in terms of already having a vision in terms of how he wants his teams to play, and he's going to do great.
You know, you always hate going up against guys that know what we are going to try to do. I'm sure there's going to be similarities there, but the fact is I'm just ecstatic for him, because his dream job was to be the head coach at North Carolina State University, and for him to get that opportunity, I mean, he's a Wolfpack and always has been, and I'm just excited for him.
But he definitely earned the job. He deserves to have a shot at it," Barnes said.
In Other News...
Tennessee Fans Have A New Reason To Be Furious Before Saturday
As Tennessee turns its attention to Saturday, the Vols are dealing with an off-field incident that has already drawn plenty of disgust around campus. The University of Tennessee Police Department charged Beckett E. Nachtman, a 19-year-old from New Jersey, with felony vandalism after the Smokey statue outside Gate 21 was damaged on Oct. 10 near Neyland Stadium. Nachtman was not affiliated with the university and was on campus visiting individuals when the incident occurred.
For Tennessee fans, the statue is more than just a piece of campus decor. Smokey has long been one of the programs most recognizable symbols, so the reported beheading of the statue struck a nerve in a place where traditions matter. With the case now in the hands of police, the damage has already become one more unwelcome storyline hanging over a week that was supposed to be about football. [Read more 🡒]
Alabama Just Lost A Huge Piece Before Tennessee Showdown
Alabama enters the Tennessee showdown without one of its most important playmakers, with Ryan Coleman-Williams already ruled out because of a lower-body injury and a head injury suffered against Georgia. The receiver has been the Crimson Tides top target this season, leading the team in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, so his absence changes both the look and the rhythm of Alabamas passing game heading into one of the SECs biggest rivalry dates.
Kalen DeBoer said Coleman-Williams is dealing with both a knee issue and the head injury, leaving his status uncertain beyond this week as Alabama waits to see how he responds. For Tennessee, it is the kind of development that can reshape a game plan before kickoff, even if the full ripple effect will only become clear once the Vols see how the Tide chooses to replace their most productive receiver. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Has One Clear Edge Entering Alabama Game That Could Matter
Tennessee and Alabama meet this week in the Third Saturday in October with matching 5-1 records, and the numbers suggest a tight game despite the oddsmakers leaning toward the Crimson Tide. ESPNs FPI Matchup Predictor gives the Vols a 28.4% chance to win, while DraftKings has them installed as a 7.5-point underdog, a spread that reflects both Alabamas reputation and the challenge of winning in this rivalry setting.
Still, a look at the SEC rankings shows Tennessee does have one area where it can tilt the field, especially when the game gets into the kind of phase that usually decides marquee conference matchups. The Vols have been compared with Alabama across scoring, rushing and passing on both sides of the ball, along with sacks, and that one clear edge could end up mattering more than the pregame forecast suggests. [Read more 🡒]