AUSTIN, Texas — Rick Barnes was finally ready.
Seven years after his 17-year tenure with the Texas Longhorns came to an end, the all-time winningest coach in program history agreed to make his return to the Erwin Center in its final season.
“I said for years I didn’t want to come back — I didn’t want it to be about me,” Barnes said after the game.
Barnes eventually relented, so the No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers made the trip to Austin on Saturday as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge, with Barnes receiving an emotional tribute before the game in front of a number of former players, including TJ Ford, among the first sellout crowd at the Erwin Center since 2016.