"Through the fire" - Tennessee's Rick Barnes explains how Nate Ament & the Vols have ascended to a new level
"Through the fire" - Tennessee's Rick Barnes explains how Nate Ament & the Vols have ascended to a new level  
Podcast: Inside College Basketball Now
Published On: Tue Feb 17 2026
Description: Jon Rothstein is joined by Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes to discuss basketball in the SEC, going from Texas to Knoxville, Nate Ament and the keys to the rest of the season for the Volunteers. (0:00) Intro + Tennessee’s Rick Barnes joins! (0:25) Rick’s history with the UT job stretches several decades (3:00) Going from Texas to rebuilding Tennessee (4:45) Differences between Tennessee and Rick’s other jobs (6:30) Enduring losses in the Elite Eight & the NCAA tournament (7:50) The quest for a Final Four (9:30) How Tennessee has won 6 of its last 7 (10:50) Nate Ament has ascended to a new level recently (12:15) JP Estrella in the starting lineup (13:30) Rick’s lifetime contract in Knoxville & retirement (16:00) The growth of SEC basketball (18:00) One win and one loss that sticks with Barnes (19:30) Keys for a tournament run for Tennessee #CollegeBasketball #CBB #NCAA #BigTen #SEC #ACC #EyeOnCollegeBasketball #RickBarnes #Tennessee #Vols #TennesseeBasketball #NateAment 🎥 WATCH • Subscribe to this channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CBSSportsCBB • Watch CBS Sports HQ: https://cbssports.com/live • Watch CBS Sports Network on your TV or the CBS Sports App with your cable provider 🎧 LISTEN • Stream and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2vk8wq9lunf3agEif1kM8T?si=b4e091007c2545c6 • Download and follow Eye on College Basketball & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/eye-on-college-basketball/id268800565 • Stream and follow Inside College Basketball Now with Jon Rothstein & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3t03SRmmslKzdQ5AtGlXiM?si=9443b63851324a18 • Download and follow Inside College Basketball Now & leave a 5⭐️ rating on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-college-basketball-now/id1823022867 📱FOLLOW • Twitter: https://twitter.com/EyeOnCBBPodcast • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cbssportscbb/ • TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cbssportscbb?lang=en ▶︎Gary Parrish: https://twitter.com/GaryParrishCBS ▶︎Matt Norlander: https://twitter.com/MattNorlander ▶︎Jon Rothstein: https://x.com/JonRothstein 📖 READ • More college basketball news: https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/ 🛍️SUPPORT • Shop our merch: https://www.paramountshop.com/collections/eye-on-college-basketball 💵BETTING • For everything CBS Sports Betting: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/ • Find the best sportsbooks: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/best-betting-apps/ • Get the latest sportsbook promos: https://www.cbssports.com/betting/news/sportsbook-promos/ 🎙ABOUT EYE ON COLLEGE BASKETBALL CBS Sports’ official college basketball podcast is the most entertaining and informative of its kind. Gary Parrish and Matt Norlander bring the sport into your ears at least three times per week with commentary, reporting, insider information and statistical analysis throughout college basketball all year long. 🎙ABOUT INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL NOW We're also the home for Inside College Basketball Now, hosted by Jon Rothstein. Known for his unmatched insider knowledge, bold takes, and relentless coverage, Rothstein goes deep to deliver what’s really happening in college hoops. From breaking down the biggest storylines to in-depth interviews with the top coaches in the country, this podcast is your all-access pass to the pulse of the game — 365 days a year. This. Is. March… and everything in between. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices