Tennessee had ample opportunities to beat Missouri on Tuesday night, but the 15 turnovers and lack of execution on both ends of the floor kept the Vols away from the win column. They fell 73-69, and Rick Barnes was frustrated postgame with the Vols' performance.
“You can’t turn the ball over 15 times like we did and expect to win a game,” Barnes said, reflecting on Tennessee’s fourth straight loss before their recent rebound. “We gave them (Missouri) 15 opportunities any way you want to look at it, we gave them a chance to score 45 points and got nothing.”
Barnes called several of the turnovers “ridiculous” and “unbelievable,” which has happered this team all year. When Tennessee takes care of the baskettball they are a much different team. The Vols have shown they can compete with the best, taking down teams like Houston and Louisville. But they’ve also dropped games they should have won twice, falling to Kentucky largely due to costly turnovers, and tonight against Missouri.
The turnovers are also going to cost the Vols a chance at winning the SEC regular season title, something Tennessee hasn't won since 2018.
Barnes said, “It’s been a problem all year. It’s probably kept us from really being a contender for the championship.. the turnovers.”
Shot selection was another big reason Tennessee couldn't sustain offensives success.
"We started the game with three straight threes. It’s fool’s gold, and we missed two of them," said Barnes. “Some of our shot selection wasn’t good either, and obviously I’m frustrated with our guys because I know we’re better than we played.”
Barnes is upset, clearly, but he's moved on as Tennessee has some massive games ahead of them. "This one’s over and done with, and we got to get ready because the next three in the league are critical. They decide a lot of things for every team,” he said.
Tennessee’s Key Message from the Game
The message is clear for Tennessee: take care of the basketball, limit turnovers and bad shots, and play with consistent effort from start to finish. If they can execute for 40 minutes thy are a very tough team to stop.
“We’re better than how we played tonight,” Barnes said. “But we didn’t play good enough basketball to win.”
The Vols have three tough tests ahead that start with a home game against Alabama on Saturday, and then a road game at South Carolina before returning home to take on Vanderbilt on Senior Night. Their SEC title hopes are pretty much over with the loss to Missouri, but Tennessee can still finish out the year strong, avoid the turnovers, and build on something before March Madness begins.