Blinders are not truly part of Rick Barnes’ wardrobe these days, but the University of Tennessee basketball coach brings a fastidious focus to his work atop a Vols’ program that keeps climbing in the national rankings and owns 17 wins at the earliest point in a season in a decade.
So the focus is, understandably, on arguably college basketball’s hottest team – yes, Tennessee – and Barnes’ quest to return to the NCAA Tournament for a 23rd time.
Still, Barnes is comfortable in his own skin and no stranger to coaching hoops at big-time football havens. The Hickory, N.