He will once again return to Austin on the opposing sideline.
With 17 years under his belt and over 400 wins, Rick Barnes certainly made a home in Austin. Barnes was the head coach of Texas from 1998 to 2015, making 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Following a repeated pattern of a lack of success in the NCAA Tournament, a change was made at the top of the program.
Barnes was the perfect man at the perfect time to clean up the Tennessee basketball program, and the rest is history. Texas has struggled ever since, to put it mildly.
Back in 2022, Barnes made his return to Austin for the first time on the opposing sideline. He was recognized before the game and received a standing ovation from the home crowd. It was one of the final games in the old Erwin Center, which Barnes coached so many games in.
Texas has since opened the Moody Center, where they’ve played since the 2022-23 season. Saturday night will be Barnes’ first time coaching in the new arena.
“I’ve been in the new building,” Rick Barnes said on Thursday. “Last year when I went back to see my daughter, I met a dear friend, Bill Duvall there just to give him a hug and I saw the Moody Center before the game. I didn’t stay for the game, but I was just there. This will be the first time us playing there.
“So it’ll be different in terms of, I mean, when I think about going back to Texas, I think of the Erwin Center, where we were for 17 years. But I mean, I know where it is, know all that stuff, but, yeah, to me, I’m sure I’m going see a lot of people that are still there that I know, but that’s part of it.”
Barnes went 402-180 during his time at Texas, making an appearance in the 2003 Final Four. He’s 214-101 at Tennessee, where he’s currently in his tenth season. Barnes is 2-1 against his old employer since arriving in Knoxville.
Tennessee beat Texas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season. It was an ugly 62-58 win for Barnes and the Volunteers, which advanced to the Sweet 16 with the win.
Even more familiarity exists for Barnes this weekend as he coaches against his old right-hand man in Rodney Terry. Barnes and Terry shared the bench in Austin from 2002-2011. Terry returned to the program with Chris Beard, then took over when Beard was let go. He assumed the full time job in 2023.
“I mean, a lot of love there because we spent many, many hours together through the years and happy at the success they’re having,” Barnes said. “I was thinking this morning how many different tie-ins we all have within the league with each other. It’s almost like the SEC in some ways, it’s just so many people’s lives have touched each other through the years and great blessing from God, but happy with where they are and what they’re doing.
“But got to compete. And I know full well they’re going be ready to do that.”
Tennessee and Texas at set for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off. ESPN will have the coverage.