Rick Barnes Slams Late Travel Call: Was Tennessee Robbed in Auburn Defeat?
Rick Barnes voiced his disagreement with a controversial late-game call that led to a crucial turnover by Felix Okpara during Tennessee’s loss to Auburn on Saturday. The call, a travel violation, came at a pivotal moment with just 1:32 left on the clock, as Tennessee led 51-49.
While Barnes acknowledged that Okpara did indeed commit a travel violation, he strongly argued that the violation was preceded by a physical altercation in which Auburn’s Johni Broome appeared to grab Okpara, disrupting his balance. Barnes believed Broome’s actions before the travel should have been penalized as a foul, contending that the Auburn forward had placed both hands on Okpara’s shoulders, which played a key role in knocking him off balance.
“I thought he was held,” Barnes remarked. “It’s a physical game, and from what I saw, Broome had two hands on his shoulders, which affected Okpara’s ability to stay on his feet.” The Tennessee coach’s frustration was evident, especially after the officials ruled it a travel violation, resulting in the Vols losing possession at a critical juncture.
Following the call, Barnes, visibly upset, spiked his water bottle on the sideline. His emotional reaction underscored how significant that moment was in the game. The turnover gave Auburn the ball with a chance to reclaim the lead, which they did, scoring the final four points to complete a 6-0 run and secure a 53-51 victory.
In the play leading up to the travel call, Barnes had just called a timeout with 1:34 remaining to set up an inbound pass. The ball was given to Okpara, who was being closely defended by Broome. During the sequence, Broome appeared to grab Okpara’s shoulder with his right hand, knocking him off balance and causing the travel violation.
“I think he traveled, but you can’t put two hands on someone’s shoulders,” Barnes continued, expressing his belief that Broome’s physical contact contributed to the turnover. “That’s what my coaching staff saw in their review of the situation after the game. Maybe it didn’t seem that way to others, but it definitely impacted Okpara’s ability to maintain control.”
Following the controversial call, Okpara was visibly upset, jumping in frustration at the decision. Barnes, equally frustrated, threw his water bottle, which exploded on the court and required cleanup before play could resume. The coach gestured toward the officials, making a motion with his arms as if to indicate Broome’s actions were a foul, not just a simple defensive play. In his view, Okpara should have been awarded free throws rather than penalized for traveling.
Had the officials called Broome for a foul, Okpara, a 68.4% free-throw shooter, would have had a chance to extend Tennessee’s lead. However, with possession now awarded to Auburn, the Tigers took advantage of the situation. On the ensuing possession, Auburn’s Jordan Gainey drew a foul from Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey, sending Broome to the free-throw line. Broome missed the first of his free throws, and shortly thereafter, Zakai Zeigler of Tennessee had a layup attempt roll off the rim, keeping the Vols from regaining their lead.
Auburn then took control of the game with Miles Kelly hitting a clutch three-pointer from the corner to put the Tigers ahead 52-51. After a missed driving layup by Milicic, Tahaad Pettiford made a key free throw, extending Auburn’s lead to 53-51, the final margin of victory. With just 9.4 seconds remaining, Barnes called another timeout to draw up a play, but Zeigler’s final three-point attempt missed, and Auburn secured the win.
The outcome of the game left Barnes and his team reflecting on the crucial call that many felt could have turned the tide in Tennessee’s favor. Despite the disappointing result, Barnes stood by his belief that a more favorable call could have changed the course of the game for the Vols.
