Tennessee basketball head coach Rick Barnes made an eyebrow-raising statement suggesting that his own players could be betting on games.
After a hard-fought win over Auburn on Jan. 31, Barnes addressed the media at a press event, where his comments took an unexpected turn:
“Some of the passes that we throw, I don’t know what to say other than sometimes I wonder if my guys are betting on games. I shouldn’t say that. Erase that. I’m just wondering what’s happening because I know we’re too good of players to do that… I apologize, I shouldn’t have said that.”
His comments follow a recent NCAA point-shaving scandal that led to federal indictments.
Suspicious Betting on Tennessee vs. Auburn?
To date, there have been no public reports of suspicious wagering connected to the Tennessee versus Auburn men’s basketball game on Jan. 31, which Tennessee won 77-69.
The game was held in Knoxville. The State of Tennessee sanctions online sports betting.
Tennessee was favored by 5.5 to 6 points, with moneyline odds from -250 to -290. The over/under was around 148-149. Odds and lines varied by sportsbook.
The Volunteers recorded 15 turnovers in the game against the Tigers.
Typically, sportsbooks can detect unusual betting patterns when games or individual player performances are potentially corrupted by gambling.
Why It Matters
- Barnes’ comments come amid declining public opinion of legal sports betting.
- The NCAA has been lobbying for state bans on college player props.
- Prediction markets, which could be home to rampant insider trading, have launched props.
- Nearly half of NCAA basketball players have received abuse from bettors.
- A recent study found that 21% of bettors admit to verbal abuse.
Was Barnes Joking with Betting Comments?
His comments sounded tongue-in-cheek, and some sports media outlets reported them as unserious. Nonetheless, any suggestion of point-shaving or prop bet manipulation is serious, so it’s unclear how Barnes found it funny.
He seemed to realize the error immediately after making the statement.
Barnes’ comments highlight ongoing concerns about gambling’s impact on college sports. However, the NCAA and Tennessee are unlikely to be fond of his comments. It seems Barnes could soon issue a follow-up statement to clarify or walk back his remarks.
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons/John Polak
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