Barnes Sees Progress, but Says Tennessee Is Still Missing Its Edge

Rick Barnes sees progress from his Tennessee team, but by his account the Volunteers are still missing their edge, according to Sports Illustrated's report on the head coach's assessment.

That is a familiar Barnes standard. His best Tennessee teams have paired talent with a hard competitive edge, and his willingness to say the current group has not found it yet is both a critique and a challenge issued publicly to his roster.

The search for that edge becomes a defining early-season theme. Progress without it can look fine in stretches, but Barnes is signaling he wants more before he calls this team ready for the SEC grind.