Rick Barnes Ready to Lead Vols Basketball For His 9th Season

(utsports.com) The Tennessee men’s basketball program hosted its annual media day Tuesday, ahead of the 2023-24 season.

Led by head coach Rick Barnes, who is set to begin his ninth season at the helm in Knoxville this year, the Vols boast a healthy mixture of veteran experience and young talent.

Tennessee’s 2023-24 roster features 16 players (13 scholarship student-athletes) representing 13 states, as well as Uruguay. UT has three fifth-year players, one senior, four juniors, three sophomores, two redshirt freshmen and three true freshmen.

Over the last six seasons, Tennessee leads all SEC programs in total victories (144), winning percentage (.716) and postseason wins (15). During that span, the Vols have captured a pair of SEC championships, winning the regular-season title in 2018 and the tournament crown in 2022.

Most recently, the Vols are coming off a 25-win campaign during which they finished the year ranked first in Division I in 3-point defense (.265), third in scoring defense (57.9 ppg) and third in field-goal defense (.373). Tennessee was a perfect 22-0 last season when holding its opponent to fewer than 60 points.

Tennessee’s first home action of the 2023-24 season comes in an exhibition game against Lenoir-Rhyne on Tuesday, Oct. 31 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Its first regular season home contest is on Monday, Nov. 6, against the Golden Eagles of Tennessee Tech. The Vols has proven to own one of the best home-court advantages in the nation, touting an impressive 43-5 (.896) record at home over the last three seasons.