Lady Vols basketball was without one of their best players in its 100-93 loss to Oklahoma on Sunday afternoon. Janiah Barker, the team’s leading rebounder and second-leading scorer, did not travel with the team to Norman.
During the game, the ESPN broadcast noted that Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell said Barker was not with the team after she ‘did not meet program expectations.’ After the game concluded, Caldwell met with the media and fielded questions about Barker’s status with the team.
Caldwell alluded that the punishment for Barker is not long-term, and she’d be back with the team sooner than later.
“She didn’t meet team standards,” Caldwell said. “Didn’t make the trip. We’ll fix it when we get back. She’s got a bright future, and she’ll be fine.”
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Heading into the game, Barker was averaging 14.4 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game on 46.9% shooting from the field and 36.6% on threes. She has played in 24 games this year, starting in 18 of them. She has played an average of 24.1 minutes per night.
Most recently, Barker had one of the best games of her career. Against her former team, Texas A&M, she produced 29 points, 10 rebounds, an assist, two steals and two blocks. This wasn’t enough for Tennessee to get over the hump, though, as the Lady Vols suffered a brutal 82-74 defeat at home.
After the Sooners, Tennessee will play No. 7 LSU on the road and No. 5 Vanderbilt at home. Then, the SEC Tournament will begin as the final opportunity for the Lady Vols to build up their NCAA Tournament resume.
