Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes stunned reporters by jokingly suggesting his own players might be betting on games following a series of reckless turnovers.
The veteran coach made the comments during a press conference after the Volunteers’ 77-69 victory over Auburn.
Despite the win, Tennessee has been plagued by ball-security issues during the season and turned the ball over 15 times during Saturday’s win.
The lapse in concentration clearly pushed the 71-year-old coach to his limit in front of the cameras.
‘Some of the passes that we throw, I don’t know what to say,’ Barnes told the media. ‘Other than sometimes I wonder if my guys are betting on games.’
The comment drew immediate laughter from the press room, but the gravity of the statement quickly set in and Barnes moved to retract the statement.
Rick Barnes stunned reporters by joking that his own players might be betting on games
The veteran coach made the comments after the Volunteers’ 77-69 victory over Auburn
‘I shouldn’t say that. Erase that,’ he said, covering his face with his hand in a moment of visible regret.
He later asked the room: ‘Was that a bad joke? I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that.’
Despite the apology, the comment highlighted a real frustration regarding the team’s recent form.
The Volunteers have lost the turnover battle in six consecutive games, dating back to a loss against Florida on January 10.
Star players have not been immune to the trend, with leading scorer Ja’Kobi Gillespie and freshman Nate Ament combining for over five turnovers per game.
Tennessee currently ranks worst in the SEC for turnovers, averaging 13.1 per contest. ‘The fact is, we’ve got to get smarter,’ Barnes added. ‘We have to, and they know it.’
The timing of the joke was particularly sharp given the current climate of college athletics.
Barnes quickly backtracked over the comments which came amid a federal investigation into alleged gambling in college sports
Earlier this month, federal prosecutors released an indictment involving a massive gambling ring.
The investigation alleged that at least 39 players were involved in a conspiracy to manipulate games.
While no Tennessee players have been named in any investigation, the NCAA has remained on high alert regarding ‘competitive integrity.’
Tennessee (15-6, 5-3 SEC) continues their season under a microscope as they look to clean up their play.
