“I thought he was held. I mean, it’s a physical game and I just don’t think from what I saw, I thought he had two hands on his shoulders.” What Rick Barnes said about travel call on Felix Okpara in Tennessee’s 53-51 loss at Auburn …

Rick Barnes Criticizes Controversial Travel Call on Felix Okpara in Tennessee’s 53-51 Loss to Auburn

Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes didn’t hold back his thoughts following the Volunteers’ narrow 53-51 loss to Auburn on Saturday. The highly competitive SEC matchup was marred by a controversial travel call against Tennessee’s Felix Okpara late in the game. Barnes, known for his even-keeled demeanor, expressed his frustration with the officiating and defended his player in his postgame comments.

“I thought he was held,” Barnes said when asked about the call that ultimately shifted momentum. “I mean, it’s a physical game, and I just don’t think, from what I saw, that it was the right call. I thought he had two hands on his shoulders.”

With just under a minute left in the game and Tennessee trailing by two, Okpara found himself in a position to make a crucial play near the basket. The sophomore forward had secured a rebound and was attempting to maneuver for a putback when the officials blew the whistle for a travel. Replays showed Okpara struggling to maintain control as Auburn defenders applied heavy pressure.

From Barnes’ perspective, the contact was significant enough to warrant a foul on Auburn rather than a travel on Okpara. “Felix was doing exactly what we asked of him—being aggressive on the boards. It’s tough when a call like that takes away an opportunity in such a close game,” Barnes added.

The travel call was just one of many contentious moments in a game defined by its defensive intensity and physicality. Both teams struggled offensively, with Auburn shooting 35% from the field and Tennessee managing just 38%. Points were hard to come by, and every possession felt magnified, especially in the closing minutes.

Tennessee had multiple opportunities to pull ahead but was undone by turnovers and missed shots. Okpara, who finished the game with six points and eight rebounds, played a key role in anchoring the Volunteers’ defense. However, his pivotal moment was overshadowed by the late whistle that left Barnes and Tennessee fans shaking their heads.

Despite the loss, Barnes praised his team’s effort, particularly on the defensive end. “We played hard, and I’m proud of the way our guys fought. We knew it would be a tough environment, and it was,” he said, referencing Auburn Arena’s raucous crowd.

Barnes also took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of consistent officiating in tightly contested games. “I understand the game is fast, and officials have a tough job, but calls like that change games. All we ask for is consistency,” he stated.

While the controversial call was a major talking point, Barnes acknowledged that Tennessee had other chances to secure a victory. The Volunteers shot just 5-for-20 from three-point range and struggled to capitalize on fast-break opportunities. Senior guard Santiago Vescovi led Tennessee with 14 points but missed a critical three-pointer in the final seconds that could have tied the game.

“Our execution has to be better, especially in close games,” Barnes admitted. “It’s not just about one play or one call. We had chances, and we didn’t make the most of them.”

 

The loss drops Tennessee to 13-6 on the season and 4-3 in SEC play. With tough matchups against Kentucky and Alabama looming, Barnes stressed the need for his team to stay focused and improve.

“This league is unforgiving. We can’t dwell on this. We have to learn from it and move on,” Barnes said.

For Tennessee fans, the frustration of the travel call on Okpara will likely linger, but Barnes remains confident in his team’s resilience. As the Volunteers aim to rebound from this setback, they’ll look to build on their defensive intensity while addressing their offensive struggles.

In the meantime, the debate over the controversial call serves as another reminder of the fine margins that often define college basketball. For Barnes and Tennessee, those margins proved costly on Saturday.

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