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Remembering Tennessee basketball’s four games vs. Rick Barnes-led Texas

By Caleb Calhoun

GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
GREENSBORO, NC - MARCH 21: Head coach Rick Barnes of the Texas Longhorns directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during the second round of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Greensboro Coliseum on March 21, 2009 in Greensboro, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON – MARCH 28: The Texas Longhorns run out onto the court before the third round game of the South Regional against the Stanford Cardinal as part of 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on March 28, 2008 in Houston, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Cardinal 82-62. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
HOUSTON – MARCH 28: The Texas Longhorns run out onto the court before the third round game of the South Regional against the Stanford Cardinal as part of 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Reliant Stadium on March 28, 2008 in Houston, Texas. The Longhorns defeated the Cardinal 82-62. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

97. 467. 2007-2008. 534. Legends Classic. Prudential Center. 78. Newark, N.J.

Rank: 3; Date: Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007

Another forgettable game for Tennessee basketball against Texas and Barnes actually came in an extremely memorable season. The Vols entered the year with four of five starters back from a team that reached the Sweet Sixteen, missed the Elite Eight by one point and added transfer Tyler Smith to the roster.

They were No. 7 in the preseason polls and remained there with an undefeated start three weeks in. At the Legends Classic Championship, the Vols were set to face the Texas Longhorns, who were also undefeated, at No. 15 in the AP Poll and No. 16 in the Coaches Poll.

Signs of trouble were there since UT beat the West Virginia Mountaineers at the last second the day before, but nobody paid attention. That proved costly. After two straight losses to the Vols, games which we are about to cover, Texas and Barnes unleashed holy hell on Bruce Pearl’s team.

D.J. Augustin led the way with 23 points and 8 assists. Four starters went over 20, including A.J. Abrams, Justin Mason and Connor Atchley, who also had 11 rebounds. Texas dominated, but on that day, Tennessee football beat Kentucky to clinch the SEC East, so nobody paid attention.

The Vols also rebounded to win 11 straight, getting them up to No. 3 in the polls. They eventually reached No. 1 and finished the year 31-5 and regular season SEC Champions. However, while they lost in the Sweet Sixteen again, Texas reached the Elite Eight.

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