Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes met with the media on Friday afternoon before the Vols face off against South Carolina on Senior Day at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center.
Ahead of the matchup, Barnes talked in length about Tennessee’s senior class, what they’ve meant to the program and much more. Here’s everything Barnes said.
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Opening Statement
“I really want to thank Bob Kesling and Bert Bertelkamp for their amazing love for this university and the basketball program and what they’ve meant. And it’s a happy day, but it’s also a sad day because of the last 10 years being with Bob. It’s been really a blessing for me to spend the time, not only before the game with him, but afterwards, just becoming a dear friend. And Bert, same thing. You know, Bert’s sister is my wife’s best friend. And so I’ve got to know the Bertelkamps really well, and Bob.
“And we all owe a sincere big time thanks to them for their love for the university, the basketball program, athletic department. And I’m just thankful that God brought all of our lives together. Because the last 10 years has been a real blessing for me and, I think I speak on behalf of everyone that’s involved with the University of Tennessee.”
On if he ran Bob Kesling out of the business by picking on him so much
“Well, you know what? I tried. I tried 10 years ago, but it didn’t work. And he kind of grew on me, but we’ve had some good times and some fun times. And people would probably, if they could get all of our outtakes, people would probably be surprised.”
On when he took Bob Kesling’s wallet before the Wright State game in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Tournament
“Well, I always was trying to mess him up. I always kidded him because he’s such a professional, but he carries a little card that, at the end (of the interview) when he’s done with me, he’ll call out the sponsors. And I’m saying he’s done this all year, how can he not even memorize it yet. And so, knowing that he’s getting ready for that card, I took it and it was this part of his wallet, and he’s trying to chase me down. And I’m not going to tell you where I put the wallet, because I made him go fishing for it. We’ve had a lot of good laughs.”
On what this Tennessee senior class has meant to him, especially Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack
“Well, again, it is always a tough time. We’re going to actually move our senior day to after the game because, one, we’ve got a lot this year and we really don’t want to rush through it. And we’ve always felt like, I’ve always felt like, those guys, if they would like to have a chance to address Vol Nation, they should be able to do that, if they choose to do it. You can’t do that prior to the game.
“But when I think of those two guys, because four years ago when they came in, two guys that we had no idea at the time, like most guys, the impact that they would make on the program. Not just basketball wise, but what they’ve done outside the program and, and how they have endeared themselves at such a high level with Vol Nation. And I think they’ll go out as really two of the most highly remembered players, certainly in my time here. But what they’ve done on the court, I really wish every coach would have a chance to coach two guys that you learn through them that hard work is a talent. Because I’ve never had to coach hard work with them, which you do sometimes with other players. But that’s a major talent. Their competitive spirit is a talent, their willingness to win.
“I think they both have lived up to our motto, it’s not about me, because they have never made it about them. Even when the transfer portal started, all that started to happen in the NIL, all that, it was always about what can they do to make this program better? And again, it’s been quite a dynamic duo with those guys. They made a major impact.
“I think the impact they made on Jordan Gainey has been remarkable because I could put him right there with them. My only regret with Jordan is that we didn’t have him for four years, because he’s been everything that we would want, plus. And then you bring in Chaz (Lanier) and Igor, the impact they’ve made, ultimate team players. Again, I’d say the same thing (about them). I wish we could have had them the entire time.”
On Tennessee discovering Zakai Zeigler at Peach Jam in the summer of 2021, so late in the recruiting cycle
“Well, we had always sort of kind of kept a scholarship late. We still try to do that if we can. And most of the time, late in the summer we’re thinking, can we get a post player, maybe to go with a developmental guy that way? But knowing that Kennedy Chandler at the time was thinking that he wanted to be one and done, we knew he wanted to be one and done, I just mentioned to the coaches one day, maybe we should think about taking a point guard with that last scholarship. And we’d never done that. And when that happened, Rod (Clark) and those guys had all been down to Augusta and it was the last week and I was rolling in there to see somebody and just happened to, they said, let’s watch him. And based on, also the AAU program he was coming out of is, is when you think of it’s just toughness and everything.
And they had already done their homework.My coaches had already done their homework with it. And then I saw him just play an incredible game and the way he plays now, that’s how he played that day. And we got involved and once people found out we got involved, it always happens, other schools try to get involved and he didn’t have a lot of time to take visits. Once we got him here on the visit, he had to go back home by NCAA rules. And honestly, he had to wait a couple days because he had to get people help him to get enough money to fly back here on his own. And so he came in a couple days after classes started. And I’ve said before, and I’ve always kidded Kennedy about this, I said, you know what, maybe we should have redshirted you instead of him. But I think Kennedy would tell you that was maybe one of the best things that ever happened to him and, and vice versa. But Zakai hit it running and never looked back.”
On the recruiting class with Zeigler, Mashack, Kennedy Chandler and Jonas Aidoo helping the program sustain success
“It is and I think the fact that when we had got it, we felt like we’d got it going and now could we sustain it? And that’s the hard part. I think you can get it going and certainly in most places, but can you sustain it and not just sustain it, but continue to grow it? And that’s the hard part. And so you’ve gotta give, especially those two, great credit for it. I mean, certainly Kennedy had a major impact. Jonas did his part when he was here, but really Jahmai and Z, they have, I’m telling you it’s amazing the impact. And it’s not just on the court, I’m telling you it’s not. What Jahmai and Z have done and Jahmai has gotten involved in so many different things and Vol Leaders, everything.
And like I said, they’ve lived up to our motto. It’s not about me as well as anybody. And this year, I think really where we are right now, their leadership has been at an extremely high level. And both of them, I can’t think their families enough either. I mean, they’ve been so supportive of us when at a time in college basketball when it’s easy for someone to walk out— their families, the values that their families placed in both of these guys about hard work, loyalty, you know, grinding it out day to day. Again, I’m blessed and thank the good Lord for giving me a chance to be around him for the four years I’ve been here. And I love them to death and all of them. And that’s what makes my job a great job.”
On Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack having very different backgrounds, sports bringing people together
“Yeah, I do think that’s true about sports, how it can bring people together and, from different backgrounds. And I do know those guys have created what will be a lifelong experience, a friendship, a relationship, because they have been through it. I’m sure that they were standing right here beside me they would tell you during, when one of them’s up, one of them’s down. They’ve been a rock for each other. And it’s obviously great when they’re both playing at such a high level. And as you guys know, I’m tough on them, but what I appreciate that, I think they appreciate it in their own way because they are highly driven. They want to be coached, they want to get better. But it’s really interesting when you think about they do come from different parts of the country and both grew up differently, but there’s a connection there that’s unique, and I would say that they both have impacted each other in some real profound ways.”
Is it, is it crazy to think about the impact or the, I guess the fit Jemai has been? ’cause I don’t think he ever visited here because of Covid restrictions during his recruitment to, to come across the country having never stepped foot on campus.”
On if it’s crazy to think about the impact Jahmai Mashack has had at Tennessee considering he never visited during his recruitment because of COVID restrictions at the time:
“Well, Mike Schwartz was the lead recruiter on him. All Mike kept telling me through the entire time, ‘coach, I’m just telling you’ he’s what you want.’ And, and I think what Mike meant by that, Mike knows that I like really tough guys. He knows I like guys that work hard, guys that want to get better, guys that wanna be coached. And honestly, I can think of the first couple times I talked to Jahmai and his family, they got it. They were like, ‘Hey, we know where he is, what he’s gotta do to get better and we’re gonna support you every step of the way.’ And they have been incredible, because he’s like all players, it wasn’t easy. Every player comes in thinking it is just going to happen because he had a successful high school career. They’ve been so realistic. They’ve been so honest, so transparent.
“I will say it about him, I still think his best days are ahead of him. But I can remember the first time talking to his family, I knew I hung up the phone thinking that would be a real blessing for me to have a chance to coach him and be around his family. They’ve been highly supportive of him, obviously, and they’re so close. He’s got family in Georgia, which had something to do with it, but him being here has been, really, a blessing.”
On if Zakai Zeigler is the posted child for how a scholarship can change someone and their family’s life
“I think if people really understood what Zakai had to do before he got here — I think Dana O’Neill did a story with him, where she was in New York when we were playing and she said, ‘I wanna know how you did this.’ And he took her to the subway and taught her how he didn’t have the money to get on the subway, but how to get on it by jumping this, jumping that. I don’t think people realize what Zakai had to do to get up in the morning to get a train, to go an hour to school, figure out how to get home, come home and obviously, do his responsibilities with his family.
“And when you think about that, (Zeigler) off the court, his way was totally different than Jahmai’s. I just know Zakai’s route, what he had to go through. And then, as you said, Jahmai was the top-100 player, Z was at a point where he was ready to give it up. He left Augusta, didn’t know if he wanted to reclassify. He felt like he belonged at the highest level, but he was at a point where he thought, ‘well, maybe I should just give this up.’ But thankfully for us, the good Lord put us there at that time and fate worked out that God had a plan for him and us. It’s been a great four-year run.”
On what ways Zeigler has challenged Barnes to be a better coach
“Well, I talk about consistency. I think the most consistent guy in the program’s gotta be the head coach and certainly the staff. But that’s my number one responsibility, that those guys see me every day, do what I’m supposed to do, and when you got a guy like Zakai, he’s gonna bring it every day. So I think he would be the first guy that would probably notice if I wasn’t on my edge or on my game, I think he would notice it, and to be quite frank, I think he’d probably say something to me. He hasn’t had to say anything yet. I’ve said more to him than he’s said to me, but the fact is he would probably know it because he comes out there every day with an edge and a consistency, and that he wants to do his job.”
