The Tennessee Volunteers have experienced a ton of success under longtime head coach Rick Barnes. Currently ranked No. 1, the Volunteers are coming off a hard fought (74-70) road win at the Texas Longhorns, just four days after they were absolutely boat raced in a 73-49 road loss at rival Florida.
Chaz Lanier didn’t play well against the Gators, and his effort during Saturday’s win wasn’t up to snuff for his coach. Barnes called out his star player for not doing what he was brought to Knoxville to do. Lanier, the graduate transfer who spent the first four years of his college career at North Florida, wasn’t exactly lighting it up against the Longhorns, scoring 10 points, and Barnes let him know about it.
Because of his unwillingness to do what Barnes asked of him, Barnes decided to bench Lanier in the second half, and when asked why he did so the legendary sideline stalker and former Texas coach didn’t mince his words.
Pay For Play Era Is Real
During his postgame press conference Barnes was asked about Lanier’s absence in the second half, and what he told reporters made it sound like Lanier is more of an employee to the university than a student-athlete…