Tennessee Coach Benches Leading Scorer Chaz Lanier

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes benched leading scorer Chaz Lanier just 11 seconds into the second half of their game against Texas, citing his failure to shoot a designed play as the reason. Despite Lanier's status as the SEC's leading scorer, Barnes emphasized that he expects more from him than just scoring, urging him to improve his offensive mechanics and teamwork. Lanier finished with 10 points in the game, marking a struggle after previously scoring 17 or more points in ten consecutive games. Barnes highlighted that Lanier needs to learn to cut harder and work early off screens to be effective. This direct approach from Barnes, especially in the context of player compensation in college sports, has been noted as refreshing and candid. The Vols managed to secure a 74-70 victory despite Lanier's performance, demonstrating the team's depth and resilience.