Late on Sunday night, Tennessee basketball fans went into a state of panic. After a record breaking 31-6 season, Rick Barnes was reportedly connected to the UCLA opening. As the hours passed, it became painfully obvious that his interest in the job was very real.
UCLA reportedly came in with an offer of five million per year, forcing Tennessee to come back with a competitive offer. Eventually, Barnes opted to stay at Tennessee and continue building his program.
“It had nothing to do with Tennessee,” Barnes told ESPN. “I’ve been here for four years and could never, ever say enough about the way this university, this state and the Vol Nation has treated me.