Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes has expressed concern about his team's reluctance to take open shots during games. This issue was highlighted in a recent SEC Tournament quarterfinals game against Mississippi State, where Tennessee failed to capitalize on several good shooting opportunities. Barnes emphasized the importance of taking shots and believes that the team needs to be more aggressive in this aspect of their game.

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When Tennessee players pass up open shots, it often leads to worse shots and turnovers. In the game against Mississippi State, there were instances where players chose to drive or pass instead of taking open 3-pointers. This resulted in shot-clock violations and difficult shots at the end of the clock. Barnes believes that by not taking good shots, the team is making the game harder for themselves and missing out on rebounding opportunities.

Dalton Knecht, Tennessee's leading scorer and SEC player of the year, often draws the attention of opposing defenses. This opens up opportunities for his teammates to take shots, but they need to be willing to do so. Barnes acknowledges that Knecht can still improve his shot selection, but he also believes that other players need to step up and contribute offensively. He specifically mentioned the importance of guard Zakai Zeigler, who shoulders a significant scoring burden for the team.

As Tennessee prepares for the NCAA Tournament, Barnes emphasizes the need for all players to be more willing to take shots. Knecht and Zeigler are the team's leading scorers for a reason, but they can't do it all on their own. Barnes wants to see more aggression and confidence from the rest of the team, as taking good shots with proper spacing leads to better offensive flow and more scoring opportunities. Ultimately, the team's success in the tournament may hinge on their ability to overcome their reluctance to shoot.