Tennessee upset Auburn in the SEC Tournament semifinals with an 80-75 win over the No. 1 team in the SEC and the country.
The win advanced Tennessee to the SEC Championship and gave Tennessee the opportunity to still earn a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. It also proved the Vols have what it takes to win it all this year.
Former Tennessee head coach and current Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl paid Rick Barnes and the Vols a major compliment after the game, crediting the program's success to its culture, character, and faith.
"It's character, it's culture, it's their faith," Pearl said postgame about Tennessee's play style. "It's the men that are coaching them. Great coaches and great men.
"There's no issues," Pearl continued. "There's no extracurricular. You understand how they play. You respect how they play; they respect how we play. That's from their head coach."
While it's no surprise that one of the best head coaches in the country continues to speak highly of Barnes and the Vols, this is a huge compliment to Barnes, his coaching style, and how it has translated to Tennessee's play on the court.
Pearl and many other coaches across the sport speak highly of Barnes and the reputation he has built throughout his career. His coaching style translates to on- and off-court success for his players, building better players and better men.
Tennessee will look to continue its momentum on Sunday in the SEC Championship. The Vols play Florida in a rubber match for the SEC Championship.
The Vols split the season series 1-1 and will look to win game three, win the SEC championship, and lock in a 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Tennessee and Florida will tip off at 1:00 PM ET.