Rick Barnes is one of 20 finalists for the 2023-24 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year Award.
Barnes guided the Vols to a 24-8 (14-4 SEC) record and the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship during the 2023-24 campaign.
The Jim Phelan Award winner is determined by a 10-member voting committee and includes current and former head coaches, as well as CollegeInsider.com staff members.
Barnes is one of three SEC head coaches who are finalists for the award (Bruce Pearl, Auburn, Lamont Paris, South Carolina).
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Tennessee is a No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region of the NCAA Tournament.
The Vols will play No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s Thursday at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Tipoff is slated for 9:20 p.m. EDT and will be televised on TNT.