10 factors determining if Vols head coach Rick Barnes leaves for UCLA

5. Location

There are two truths here: the objective truth and the truth for Rick Barnes. And to be fair, those two truths could be totally different things, but at least one of them is likely to be a major factor as to whether or not he leaves Tennessee basketball.

First off, for the objective truth: More people would rather live in Southern California than East Tennessee, or anywhere in Appalachia for that matter. Sorry, but it’s the truth. Nobody can honestly say they wouldn’t prefer that.

You get better year-round weather, there are two major cities in Los Angeles and San Diego, and there’s a ton more to do. And if you can afford it, which Barnes would be able to with his salary, you’re living in paradise.

Now in his mid-60s, Barnes has to be thinking about how he wants to spend his golden years, even if he’s going to be coaching while doing it. And who wouldn’t prefer the year-round sun? There’s a reason so many people retire to Florida and Arizona.

LA provides that sun, and it’s where Arizona people would want to live if it wasn’t so expensive. But given that Barnes is a basketball coach, money is no object. That makes LA, objectively, a better place.

However, Barnes in particular may have a different thought. Being from Hickory, N.C., Appalachia is the weather and the region he knows best. He’s a lifelong southerner. So while LA is objectively better, Knoxville may be better for Barnes. It’s something worth keeping an eye on.