After the Lady Vols defeated UConn last night, Rick Barnes offered his thoughts: Simply put, it was a fantastic victory over a fantastic program. The rivalry between Tennessee and UConn has been unique, but it must be won in order to continue…..

Following the Lady Vols’ impressive 80-76 victory over the University of Connecticut (UConn) on February 7, 2025, Tennessee men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes shared his thoughts on the game and the significance of the rivalry between Tennessee and UConn.

A Historic Win

The Lady Vols’ triumph marked their first victory over UConn since 2007, ending a four-game losing streak to the Huskies. Coach Barnes expressed his excitement, noting, “It was so exciting because they’ve been so close in some of those games. Just a great win over, obviously, a great program.”

The Rivalry’s Significance

Barnes emphasized the importance of the Tennessee-UConn rivalry, describing it as “special.” He highlighted that maintaining the rivalry’s intensity requires victories like this one, stating, “But to keep it going you need to win. I think they had beaten us four times in a row.”

Support for Coach Caldwell

Coach Barnes also expressed his support for Lady Vols head coach Kim Caldwell, who welcomed her first child, a son named Conor, just weeks before the game. He appreciated Caldwell’s dedication, noting, “Really happy for her… I loved her comment at the end of the game that she just wanted to get home and see her baby boy.”