Tennessee HC Rick Barnes, Forward DeWayne Brown Preview Vols' SEC Tournament Slate

Tennessee Basketball looks to bounce back in SEC Tournament after late-season stumbles.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Tennessee Basketball head coach Rick Barnes and freshman forward DeWayne Brown spoke with the media ahead of the SEC Tournament in Nashville this week. The Vols, seeded 5th, will take on either 12th-seeded Auburn or 13th-seeded Mississippi State in the second round on Thursday afternoon.

Why it matters

Tennessee had a strong SEC regular season but stumbled late, dropping two of their last three games. The SEC Tournament represents a chance for the Vols to regain momentum and potentially earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

The details

Tennessee will be without starting guard Nate Ament for at least the early part of the SEC Tournament due to injury. However, the team is hopeful the break in action will allow Ament and other injured players to recover. Coach Barnes and forward DeWayne Brown discussed the team's mindset and preparation heading into the postseason.

  • The SEC Tournament takes place this week in Nashville.
  • Tennessee's second-round game is scheduled for Thursday, March 13 at 3:00 p.m. ET.
  • If Tennessee wins, they will face 4-seed Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals on Friday.

The players

Rick Barnes

Head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

DeWayne Brown

Freshman forward for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team.

Nate Ament

Starting guard for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team who is currently injured.

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What they’re saying

“The break in action gives a bit of extended time to recover before heading back onto the court.”

— Rick Barnes, Head Coach (rockytopinsider.com)

“I'm really excited for my first postseason run with the team.”

— DeWayne Brown, Freshman Forward (rockytopinsider.com)

What’s next

If Tennessee wins their second-round game on Thursday, they will face 4-seed Vanderbilt in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon with a spot in the SEC Tournament semifinals on the line.

The takeaway

Tennessee has the talent to make a deep run in the SEC Tournament, but will need to overcome late-season injuries and inconsistent play to regain their momentum and secure an NCAA Tournament bid.