Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes didn’t mince words when he revealed why he sat out the team’s leading scorer, Chaz Lanier, in Saturday’s win over the Texas Longhorns.
Lanier had 10 points in 34 minutes as No. 1 Tennessee won 74-70 against the Longhorns. He averages 19 points per game. Barnes said he pulled Lanier after he didn’t shoot the ball on a play designed for him.
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Tennessee head basketball coach Rick Barnes talks with Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier during the Arkansas game at Thompson-Boling Arena at the Food City Center in Knoxville on January 4, 2025. (Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
“I took him out on the first play of the second half because he didn’t shoot the ball,” he said, via CBS Sports. “This game is designed for this shot. I told him, ‘If you don’t do what you’re paid to do, then you’re going to sit here.’ Because he gets paid to do that.”
Barnes’ “paid to do” remark raised eyebrows in the era of name, image and likeness. No head coach had been as direct as Barnes after the victory.
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Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier drives Florida forward Alex Condon on Jan. 7, 2025, in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Lanier has a NIL valuation of $1.7 million, according to On3 Sports.
“I always told Chaz, he doesn’t need to score the ball for us to win,” Barnes added. “He’s going to have to help these guys by learning how to shoot, he’s going to have to learn to cut harder, to do his job early coming off screens, because he gallops a little bit.”
Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes protests a call during the Florida game, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Gainesville. (AP Photo/Alan Youngblood)
Tennessee is 15–1 this year and 2-1 against SEC opponents.
