The Tennessee Volunteers are set to watch the team that knocked them out in the Elite Eight compete for the national title on Monday night.
Despite widespread speculation that head coach Rick Barnes might step away after the season, that’s not happening—just as he hinted during his NCAA Tournament press conference. Now in his 10th season with the Vols, Barnes says his decision about retirement is guided by faith.
“Rick Barnes said he hasn’t seriously considered retiring—whether that would be now or years down the road. He feels that God isn’t calling him to retire yet, and he won’t make that move until the time is right,” reporter Wes Rucker shared.
With Barnes committed to returning, he’s been aggressively working the transfer portal—an essential strategy in today’s NIL-driven college landscape.
Barnes has a strong record of adding top-tier talent through the portal, as shown by past standouts like Dalton Knecht and NBA-bound Chaz Lanier. Tennessee has already added Ja’Kobi Gillespie to run the point next season, and Bishop Boswell is expected to make a leap with another year under his belt.
On Sunday night, the Vols landed a significant in-state transfer: Jaylen Carey from Vanderbilt. Transfers between the two rival schools are highly uncommon, and the move has raised eyebrows across the state.
Tensions were already high this season between the two programs, and Carey didn’t hold back when speaking on his decision.
“I’m all Vol now, man. I don’t care about black-and-gold. I bleed orange. I’m not worried about what they’re saying,” Carey said, responding to criticism from Vandy fans.
Carey, a power forward, is expected to be with Tennessee for at least two years, provided he stays the course in Knoxville. With his addition, Barnes now has a deep and physical frontcourt featuring JP Estrella, Felix Okpara, Cade Phillips, and Carey—all ready to battle it out in the paint.
