Barnes plans to stick around at Texas

ByC.L. BROWN
December 18, 2013, 1:37 PM

— -- As a little-used freshman reserve at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Rick Barnes hadn't played in several games when he unexpectedly heard his name called to enter a particularly fast-paced game at Western Carolina.

John Lentz, Barnes' roommate and a senior on the team, recalled that after a few times up and down the court without a stoppage, a temporary reprieve finally came when a teammate was fouled and sent to the free throw line.

Barnes approached Lentz standing at midcourt trying to catch his breath. "John, I'm really tired," Barnes said.

"Tell Coach [Bob] Hodges to take you out. You need a break," Lentz said.

"If I do that, he might not put me back in," Barnes replied.

"Well," said Lentz, who currently serves as the head coach at Lenoir-Rhyne, "you'd better figure it out, big boy."

Barnes didn't take himself out of the game. Not then. Not ever. The current Texas coach is conditioned to find a way to fight through, which is where he finds himself this season following his first losing season in 15 years coaching the Longhorns.

Last season was the only time during his tenure that the Longhorns didn't make the NCAA tournament. But their recent history in the Big Dance has been brief -- Texas hasn't advanced past the tournament's opening weekend since 2008's Elite Eight appearance.

Combine that with the fact that DeLoss Dodds, the athletic director who hired Barnes away from Clemson, retired this year, and this season has all the prerequisites to heat Barnes' seat.

Barnes doesn't plan on being a part of those changes just yet.