Rick Barnes Apologizes After Suggesting UT Players Might Be ‘Betting On Games’
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes speaks to Tennessee guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie (0) during a NCAA basketball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and Kentucky Wildcats at Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center in Knoxville, Tenn., on Jan. 17, 2026.
Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball coach Rick Barnes questioned his team’s performance in Saturday’s 77-69 victory over the Auburn Tigers.
After his team committed 15 turnovers in the win, Barnes jokingly questioned if his players were betting on their performance, though he quickly apologized.
What did Rick Barnes say about his players during Saturday’s loss to Auburn?
With college basketball embroiled in a major betting scandal, gambling jokes should probably not be shared during press conferences.
Barnes made that mistake on Saturday, following Tennessee’s tight win over Auburn. The Volunteers covered the 5.5-point spread, but late turnovers made the game closer than it should have been.
“At the end of the game, some of the passes we throw, I don’t know what to say other than sometimes I wonder if my guys are betting on games,” Barnes said.
To his credit, Barnes quickly apologized for the gambling comments.
“I shouldn’t say that, but … erase that,” Barnes added. “I’m just wondering what’s happening. I mean because I know that we’re too good of players to do that. I apologize. I shouldn’t have said that. But that fact is, we’ve gotta get smarter.”
Barnes was clearly joking during the press conference. As of Monday, the NCAA has no plans to investigate the outcome of Tennessee’s win.
Tennessee (15-6) plays Ole Miss on Tuesday night, while Auburn hosts No. 23 Alabama this Saturday afternoon.
An illegal betting scandal has rocked college basketball
College basketball is at an interesting crossroads with the legalization of sports betting.
Last month, federal indictments named 26 defendants in an illegal gambling ring that involved fixing at least 29 Division I men’s college basketball games.
Over 39 players on 17 Division I teams were allegedly involved in the scheme, which initially began with the fixing of Chinese Basketball Association games in September 2022. The point-shaving then moved into college basketball over the next few seasons.
20 of 26 defendants played college basketball in the 2023-24 and/or 2024-25 seasons.
Schools mentioned in the indictment include Tulane, Fordham, DePaul, Robert Morris, Southern Miss, Eastern Michigan, and Alabama State.
Shane Hennen, one of the masterminds of the illegal gambling ring, has been charged with bribery and wire fraud. Henned has entered plea negotiations with federal prosecutors
Other coaches speak out about gambling & the influx of money in college athletics
College athletes used to be considered amateurs, meaning they could not be paid to play a sport.
NIL has completely shifted the landscape of college sports. Players in college basketball and football can now make millions off their name, image, and likeness.
The transfer portal has now become a way for players to test their value and see how much compensation a coach is willing to pay for their services.
With the legalization of sports betting, gambling on college athletics is now a popular option for many bettors.
Pittsburgh Panthers men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel is worried about players who get caught up in the monetary aspects of college athletics, especially gambling.
“They’re basically pro athletes but without the mindset of what a real pro does,” Capel said. “For a lot of these young people, it’s the first time they’ve had money and this amount of money. The responsibility that comes with it, they don’t really understand it, especially younger guys. There are a lot of opportunities for them to make really immature decisions and not smart decisions.
“I’m worried about it with all of these guys. They’re very, very vulnerable. They’re impressionable, they’re vulnerable, and there’s so many ways to get to them now.”
It’s up to each state’s gambling commission to determine the rules for betting on college athletics.
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