Reader thinks Rick Barnes is too old to make Sweet 16. Ageing columnist disagrees | Adams

One of my literary contributors think Rick Barnes is too old to ever reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. And another reader thinks Barnes isn't smart enough to succeed as Tennessee's basketball coach.

I disagree on both counts. Check out my give and take with readers.

Richard writes: Is Rick Barnes smart enough to take Zeigler to the Bronx and recruit some hungry/tough basketball players? Not in my opinion.

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My response: I disagree. Barnes is plenty smart.

He was smart enough to recruit Kevin Durant out of the Washington, D.C., area to Texas. He also was smart enough to negotiate a contract that made him one of the highest-paid coaches in college basketball.

And he’s smart enough not to take one of his current players on a recruiting trip. Tennessee has enough problems with the NCAA already.

Mike writes: The Lady Vols will make the final four before “one and done” Barnes makes the Sweet Sixteen. Actually he will never make the S 16. He is 70+ and the talent level drops after this year.

My response: Barnes has recruited too well for anyone to be so sure he won’t make the Sweet 16.

And he’s only 67. He’s just a kid.

I’m 73. Even at that age, doctors aren’t ruling out my covering another Sweet 16.

Admittedly, most of them are optimists.

Tony writes: I'm sure that you've noticed that the elite teams in the country have big men that are threats from 3 point range. This flexibility prevents opposing defenses from packing the paint and opens up the offense.

Why do you suppose Uros Plavsic and John Fulkerson hesitate to take three-point shots?

My response: You must have been watching Auburn. Jabari Smith (6-foot-10) and Walker Kessler (7-1) can both make 3s.

Fulkerson and Plavsic could shoot 3-pointers but wouldn’t make enough of them to justify taking them away from the basket.

Floyd writes: I have emailed you on several occasions to ask you to be more positive about the Vols. So when you do an article that I agree with I think I should likewise compliment you for it.

Very nice article on Roster Management. I had not thought about the “fairness” of the Coaches not renewing a player’s scholarship in light of the players now being able to transfer immediately to another school. Nice point you made and nice article.

My response: Thanks, Floyd. One of my goals for 2022 is to write more columns with which you agree.

Nice to get your approval.

Glenn writes: Kellie Harper has done a good job recruiting and improving the Lady Vols defensive play. Turnovers remain a problem. Averaging 17 per game might be OK against lesser talented teams, but not against better teams like Stanford, South Carolina and Connecticut.

High turnovers were a problem for the previous coach and have continued during her three seasons.

My response: The way injuries have piled up at UConn, UT might commit 27 turnovers and still win. But you are right about Stanford and South Carolina. Tennessee’s margin of error against them will be slim.

Britney writes: I'm not sure UT has received any notable transfers now that Texas has flipped the WY receiver. Is Josh just not the recruiter we need? I know this kid is from Texas and playing for Texas would be a goal, but you would think a quality receiver would want to come to UT.

I hate to sound the alarm, but UT HAS to have a great recruiting coach to succeed.

My response: That had nothing to do with Heupel. My guess is Texas offered a better deal.

Also, in evaluating transfer traffic to Tennessee, keep in mind that the Vols are limited because they’re trying to keep their roster below the limit.

They apparently want to look good for the NCAA when in decides on sanctions for recruiting violations that occurred under former UT coach Jeremy Pruitt.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Reader says Rick Barnes too old to make Sweet 16. Columnist disagrees