Rick Barnes recaps Vols’ loss at Auburn

Tennessee lost, 77-72, Saturday at Auburn.

On not having to play another game until next Sunday:

“It’s hard to talk about competitive fire when you feel like your whole team is bringing it and I didn’t think that today. We’ve talked more about that than anything we’ve coached since we’ve been here, I don’t understand the inconsistency because there are enough guys that have played enough basketball right now. This week we all have to go back and take a good hard look and say what I can do for this program to make it what it should be and just really use this week to get better.”

On the turnovers in the first half and the lack of getting to the free-throw line:

“You have to be aggressive to do that. You can get fouled in the post if you work hard and fight for your space on the floor instead of being pushed around. John Fulkerson shouldn’t be turning the ball over four times. It’s the bad turnovers you have to eliminate, but I go back to being locked in and that every possession matters and competing like every possession matters on both ends. I talked to Keon when he should’ve driven but took a 3 and made it a one-possession game so things like that. I go back to the little things that the freshmen are being put into a position that they shouldn’t have to be. I wish our older and experienced guys would do a little bit more so that the freshmen wouldn’t have pressure on their shoulders.”

NEXT: Rick Barnes postgame continued