FAU coach Dusty May: Australian rugby comment meant as compliment to Tennessee basketball

NEW YORK − Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May hadn't seen Tennessee basketball's game against Duke when he made a remark about needing to study "Australian rugby" before facing the Vols in the NCAA Tournament.

May clarified the remark was meant as praise toward the Vols and not a knock on Rick Barnes' team.

"I say that in the most complimentary way possible," May said Wednesday. "Coach Barnes is a legend. And it hasn’t changed. When I was at Florida, the same way. It was hard to make a pass, let alone score a basket against them.”

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The No. 4-seeded Vols (25-10) face No. 9 seed Florida Atlantic (33-3) on Thursday (9 p.m. ET, TBS) in the Sweet 16 at Madison Square Garden.

May, who was on Florida's staff under former Gators coach Mike White, made the remark Sunday after the Owls clinched a Sweet 16 berth by beating No. 16 Farleigh Dickinson 78-70. He said Florida Atlantic was "going to study Australian rugby rules and get ready for the Vols."

Tennessee's physical play against Duke came under scrutiny from ESPN analyst and former Duke player Jay Bilas. Bilas said UT's 65-52 win "was officiated like a hockey game" and that flagrant fouls in the game were not called flagrant.

May said his quip about Australian rules football was made after seeing comments on Twitter. He also clarified he confused rugby and Australian rules football.

“It’s the most physical sport without pads that I’ve ever watched or have ever seen," May said of rugby. "I know that was taken, I guess, in different ways. If you said that our team is extremely physical, extremely aggressive and extremely intense, I would tell the staff and the players that you guys are doing a great job, because that’s what I want them to say about us defensively."

Tennessee has the nation's No. 1-ranked defense in adjusted defensive efficiency. UT was ranked No. 1 for most of the season, then fell to No. 2 early in the postseason before regaining the No. 1 spot after the opening weekend.

"We're bringing our hard hat," Owls forward Giancarlo Rosado said. "We know Tennessee is physical but we are too."

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee basketball: FAU coach's 'Australian rugby' a Vols compliment