The end of the regular season is almost here for the Tennessee basketball team, but goodness, there are some blockbuster games on the way for everyone to enjoy. For head man Rick Barnes, this means his guys need to be at their best from start to finish if they want to post wins.
In the victory over Vanderbilt, Tennessee looked sluggish in the first half, which made no sense with the game being played in Knoxville in front of a packed home crowd. This Saturday against No. 7 Texas A&M, a rough road environment will be something for the Vols to try and overcome.
That's not all, however. Barnes also understands that the Aggies can give the Vols loads of issues on the hardwood, especially around the glass. Texas A&M is known for being a tremendous rebounding team, which is something Tennessee needs to brace for come tip-off.
Rick Barnes is hoping Tennessee will elevate its game to face No. 7 Texas A&M
"Well, you know, one of the best offensive (and) defensive rebounding teams in the country," Barnes said via Go Vols 247. "Big, strong, turn you over a lot, but really, really physical team. But they get a great deal of their missed shots, and they don't give you many. They turn you over, and you've got to take care of the ball and know that the physicality is going to be there."
The Aggies have dominated the glass consistently this campaign, which has played a big role in Buzz Williams and Co. posting a 20-6 overall record. Texas A&M did just suffer a mid-week setback against No. 21 Mississippi State, falling 70-54 on Tuesday night.
Tennessee went 1-1 last week, falling to Kentucky at home, but then bouncing back in the second half over the weekend to take down Vandy. Texas A&M is going to be focused on bouncing back as well, with the loss to MSU being a brutal one. The Aggies will have extra motivation to take down the Vols, but Barnes knows what his team must do to avoid suffering the team's sixth conference loss of 2024-25.