Rick Barnes gives ‘utmost respect’ to LSU men’s basketball

By Ethan Stenger, Sports Editor

February 25, 2025

Following No. 5 Tennessee’s 65-59 road triumph over LSU, Volunteers head coach Rick Barnes congratulated Tigers head coach Matt McMahon and his team on their efforts.

“You know what really made our team tonight was the respect that they had for LSU,” Barnes said.

The Tigers ripped off a 13-4 run with two minutes remaining when the game was basically out of reach. McMahon’s men refused to quit until they heard the buzzer sound.

“But honestly, the game played the way we thought it would because they have fought all year long,” Barnes said. “LSU and again, just the utmost respect for what Matt’s doing and how hard his guys are playing.”

Barnes made sure to praise McMahon specifically.

“I obviously have a great deal of respect for Matt and his entire staff,” Barnes said. “When you lose players like he did early in the year, and continue to find a way to just keep his guys in games.”

On Saturday, Tennessee will return home to host No. 6 Alabama in a top-10 showdown, while the Tigers will travel east to take on No. 21 Mississippi State.

About the Contributor

Ethan Stenger, Sports Editor

Why did you join the Reveille? I worked at my student newspaper during my junior and senior years of high school, so it felt like a no-brainer. It was a smooth transition. What positions have you held at the Reveille? I was a sports reporter during my freshman year, covering soccer in the fall and the national champion gymnastics team in the spring. What's your favorite thing about working at the Reveille? The experiences that the Reveille has offered me have honestly changed my life. When I got to cover the SEC and national championships for gymnastics and Alabama-LSU on a Saturday night in Death Valley, there were moments when I just took a step back and thought, “Wow, Ethan, you can do this. This dream isn’t so far-fetched.” What's your favorite story that you've worked on so far? Last March, my mom walked into the living room while I watched a men’s college basketball game and said, “Wait, why do they play two halves instead of four quarters?” My dad had asked the same question days earlier, so I finally answered it. If you ask Google, my article is one of the first things that comes up. It’s pretty remarkable to think that people will be coming back to read my words for years to come. What do you hope to do after graduation? Inspire curiosity, spread compassion and change the world with art.