College basketball coaches believe this could finally be Rick Barnes’ year

Rick Barnes has accomplished almost everything Tennessee could have reasonably expected when it hired him.

He has transformed the Volunteers into a perennial contender, recruited and developed NBA talent, won SEC championships and built one of college basketball’s most dependable defensive programs.

Only one major achievement continues to elude him at Tennessee.

A trip to the Final Four.

There is growing belief around the sport that the wait could end during the 2026-27 season.

Tennessee finished third in CBS Sports’ Candid Coaches poll asking nearly 100 Division I coaches to identify the nation’s best team. The Volunteers received 7% of the vote, trailing Florida at 55% and Duke at 16%.

The percentage might not look overwhelming, but Tennessee finishing ahead of recent powerhouse UConn, Illinois, Arizona and several expensive national contenders should not be dismissed.

Coaches respect the roster. They also understand how difficult Barnes’ teams are to beat when they possess enough offensive firepower to complement their defense.

This version could have precisely that.

Tennessee built a roster capable of breaking through

According to CBS Sports, Tennessee spent north of $15 million to put together a team capable of moving beyond the Elite Eight.

The Volunteers aggressively added talent through the transfer portal, but this is not simply a collection of expensive names. Their additions appear to fit the physical identity Barnes has established in Knoxville.

One coach praised Tennessee’s ability to develop players, attack opponents in different ways and defend at an elite level. Another said the Volunteers could win the national championship if the newcomers embrace the program’s physical approach around the basket.

That condition will be crucial.

Talent alone will not make Tennessee special. The new players must defend with discipline, rebound aggressively and accept the demands that accompany playing for Barnes.

If they do, this could become the best offense Barnes has coached during his Tennessee tenure.

That possibility should concern the rest of the SEC.

Florida is the overwhelming conference and national favorite, but Tennessee has the depth to remain within striking distance. The Volunteers will not need to outperform the Gators throughout the entire regular season to validate the investment.

They need to be at their best in March.

Barnes has reached the Final Four once in his lengthy career, guiding Texas there in 2003. More than two decades later, he may have assembled his best chance to return.

The coaches who know his program best appear to believe it is finally possible.

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