Tennessee’s Sunday night in Knoxville was all about first impressions. With nine newcomers suiting up for the first time, Coach Rick Barnes was eager to see how their retooled roster would measure up against one of the nation’s best, the No.5 Duke. The Blue Devils ultimately claimed the 83-76 win. Tennessee sure came out swinging early, holding a 43-37 lead at halftime. But once Duke settled in, its size and relentlessness on the boards began to tell. The Blue Devils outrebounded the Vols 48-39, pulling down 16 offensive boards that turned into second-chance points and momentum-shifting possessions.

For Rick Barnes, now entering his 11th season at the helm, that stat line told a lot. Physicality has long been the foundation of his teams, and Sunday made clear there’s still work to be done

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