The University of Tennessee men’s basketball team officially opened preseason practice on Tuesday, one day after head coach Rick Barnes hosted his annual golf tournament to benefit the Emerald Youth Foundation.
Barnes addressed reporters Monday morning and discussed the preseason, his 2021-22 roster, Tennessee’s nonconference schedule.
He also spoke on the Volunteers’ football program and his support of first-year head coach Josh Heupel.
Barnes said he feels that the football program is headed in the right direction.
“I think our football team is in good hands,” Barnes said of the Vols (2-2, 0-1 SEC). “Right now, at the University of Tennessee, we have unbelievable leadership from at the top from (president) Randy Boyd to (chancellor) Donde Plowman.
“I think they made an unbelievably great hire for us with Danny White (as athletics director) and his staff. What they are doing, and the direction they are taking the entire athletic department.”
Barnes said he believes in Heupel and thinks he will be in Knoxville for the distant future.
“I am impressed with my time with coach Heupel,” Barnes said. “One, he knows exactly what he wants to do. He knows that he wants to build a program. Does he want to win today? Absolutely, all coaches want to.
“He is in it for the long haul. I think if you have watched us, we have shown great progress. I don’t think there’s any question whatsoever that we have got the right guy leading the football program.”
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