While Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes has won a lot of games in his career, his success in the NCAA Tournament has been fleeting. Unfortunately for Barnes and the Volunteers, that trend continued on Thursday.
Things looked fine for Tennessee, the No. 4 seed in the East Region, for a while. The Volunteers led No. 9 Florida Atlantic 27-22 at halftime. The second half was a different story.
But the Owls largely dominated the final 20 minutes en route to a 62-55 victory.
"FLORIDA ATLANTIC IS ELITE EIGHT BOUND!"- Brian Anderson 🏀🦉 #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/i08wHwqCFt
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 24, 2023
Florida Atlantic, of course, deserves ample praise. Before this season, the Owls had never won an NCAA Tournament game. Now, they sit one game away from a Final Four.
But for Barnes, this is an all too similar story.
Barnes led Texas to a Final Four appearance in 2003. The Longhorns subsequently made the Elite Eight under Barnes in both 2006 and 2008. Since then, though, Barnes’ teams have been consistent tournament disappointments. Barnes remained at Texas through the 2014-15 season. From 2009-2015, the Longhorns never made it beyond the second round. Since taking over at Tennessee in the 2015-16 season, the Volunteers have twice made it to the Sweet 16, but never beyond.
With all of that in mind, Barnes came under heavy fire as the Volunteers were eliminated by the Owls on Thursday night.
2nd half swoon by the Vols. Another rough exit for Rick Barnes. He hasn't been beyond the Sweet 16 since 2008.
That was so long ago Texas competed in a Big 12 with Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado and A&M.
— Damon Amendolara (@DAonCBS) March 24, 2023
Rick Barnes has led four different schools to 27 total NCAA Tournament appearances.
Barnes’ tournament record is now 27-27 overall.
His teams have reached the Elite Eight just three times.
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) March 24, 2023
Base Salary of FAU coach Dusty Mays: $545,000
Base Salary of Tennessee coach Rick Barnes: $5.45 Million.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 24, 2023
Rick Barnes pic.twitter.com/ZLSBxumRtS
— Mike Rutherford (@CardChronicle) March 24, 2023
Florida Atlantic made an elite 8 before Rick Barnes could at Tennessee
— Charlie Burris (@Charlie_Burris) March 24, 2023
Beating Duke and then losing to FAU is as Rick Barnes as it gets.
— Berkley’s Pops ™️ (@BrandoAKing) March 24, 2023
Rick Barnes really does teach these guys to completely self-destruct in March pic.twitter.com/KMcQZa39ie
— The College Basketball Stories Podcast (@theCBBstories) March 24, 2023
I don’t have it in my heart to criticize a good man like Rick Barnes tonight. But I will do it tomorrow.
— Jared Stillman (@JaredStillman) March 24, 2023
Rick Barnes is a great guy and a really good basketball coach. Elite recruiter. How he’s this bad in the tournament (and always has been) is baffling to me.
— Mike Herndon (@MikeHerndonNFL) March 24, 2023
