Rick Barnes compares Tennessee Vols basketball atmosphere to the 'blue bloods'
The Tennessee Vols left Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night with a 76-63 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. Tennessee's win avenged the Vols' 107-79 loss to Kentucky earlier this season. UT is now 19-6 this season (and undefeated at home). After the game, Vols head coach Rick Barnes took time to praise the raucous crowd that […]
The Tennessee Vols left Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night with a 76-63 win over the Kentucky Wildcats.
Tennessee's win avenged the Vols' 107-79 loss to Kentucky earlier this season.
UT is now 19-6 this season (and undefeated at home).
After the game, Vols head coach Rick Barnes took time to praise the raucous crowd that showed up to support Tennessee.
"I think our fans were ready from the get-go," said Barnes after the win. "Before I came out tonight, coaches coming in said it’s electric out there. You expect it to be. It’s one of the great rivalries in college basketball. You expect it."
"This building, I’m partial, but I think it’s the best," added Barnes. "Everyone talks about the blue bloods, but the orange bloods are right there, our fans. Tonight it was special. But there have been a lot of games this year where our fans have just been spectacular."
There were 21,768 fans at Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday night. And they were rocking all night long.
The atmosphere at Rupp Arena, KFC Yum! Center (what a name for Louisville's arena), or the Dean Smith center isn't any better than what we saw at Thompson-Boling on Tuesday.
Tennessee may not be a traditional "blue blood", but the fan base is just as crazy about college basketball as fans of those programs. If there was any doubt, Tuesday night against Kentucky proved it.
And it's obvious that Barnes and the UT basketball team recognize and greatly appreciate that passion.
Featured image via Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
