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The Tennessee Volunteers ended last season just one win shy of the program’s first-ever Final Four appearance. Unfortunately, their run came to an end at the hands of the Houston Cougars. Following the loss, speculation swirled around the possibility of head coach Rick Barnes retiring — but he quickly shut that down.
“Rick Barnes said he really hasn't thought about whether he'll retire after this season or many years from now. He said right now he doesn't think God wants him to retire, and he won't retire until that point,” Wes Rucker posted.
As the offseason unfolded, Barnes stayed active in the transfer portal, continuing his trend of bringing in high-level talent — a pattern that has defined his recent seasons. For nearly three months, Tennessee had been searching for the perfect fit to fill the final spot on its roster.
“We got a group of guys that I think that truly have bought into wanting to be the best team they can be," Barnes told the Knoxville media in May. "We need someone to come in with that mindset knowing that what their skill level — whatever it may be — what skills they bring fits into what we need. And they have to know that if we're talking to them, it's something that we're looking for and what we believe we need to have here to help us improve."
On Friday, Barnes landed his final piece: a commitment from international player Ethan Burg, who brings both experience and upside to the Vols’ backcourt.
“The 6-3 combo guard from Israel has played professionally the last two seasons. He’s expected to have two-three years of eligibility for the Vols,” Tiptonedits posted.
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Burg visited Tennessee in June, and just a month later, he made his decision official. He brings a significant veteran presence to Knoxville and is expected to be eligible for at least two years under Barnes. Once again, Rick Barnes has struck gold on the recruiting trail.
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