What's it like to watch a Tennessee basketball game with Rick Barnes? I found out.

ROME — D.J. Jefferson knew he had the defender set up and knew what he had to do.

The Tennessee basketball guard launched off two feet from the edge of the paint, demolishing the rim with a one-handed dunk. He finished it with a hop, a turn and a smile at Vols coach Rick Barnes.

“Did you see him look at me?” Barnes asked me, his smile equaling Jefferson’s.

The ninth-year Vols coach was perched in the second of two rows of baseline seats to observe Tennessee’s exhibition game in Rome on Monday. I sat next to him, getting to see the game through his eyes and hear his thoughts throughout the 97-51 win against Stella Azzurra.

He didn’t officially coach during the three-game tour in Italy. UT associate head coach Justin Gainey was in charge. But Barnes coached nonetheless from the blue baseline seats. 

Barnes and the high points in the Vols' play

Barnes was relaxed but fixated on finite details.

Barnes flagged down Vols director of recruiting Lucas Campbell to pass messages along to the staff. He identified Stella Azzurra's offensive actions. He used Chris Walker, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes campus director, to call out to players. His mind whirled with substitution patterns, shot trends and defensive effort. He delivered instruction to players when they were near him.

“D.J., show me something, man,” Barnes yelled as the redshirt freshman guard entered the game and took his position in the corner. Jefferson nodded his understanding, then scored seven quick points starting with the dunk.

Barnes obsessed over ball movement. The highs were attached to crisp passing and guards slinging the ball well around the perimeter. He loathes lollygagging and does not want the ball to stick and linger in one player’s hands. He knows this team has a bevy of shooting talent and expects ball movement to unlock the highest level of the offense.

[ Mike Wilson, who covers Tennessee men's basketball for Knox News,is the only media member traveling with the Vols during their trip to Italy. Follow his daily coverage at knoxnews.com and in the News Sentinel. ]

He lauded an extra pass by guard Jahmai Mashack to Santiago Vescovi for a 3-pointer in the second quarter. He again praised Mashack for a long pass to set up a Dalton Knecht 3-pointer and called the junior over to let him know.

“We scored in four seconds,” Barnes noted.

Barnes finds low points, too

The lows are when a player suffocates the offense by holding the ball. Redshirt freshman guard Freddie Dilione was especially guilty of that against Stella Azzurra, his third game with the Vols. He made a stellar pass to Barnes’ liking early, but the praise didn't last long. He told Campbell he wanted the guards to run in transition after a made basket and added, "Freddie better know it."

“If you are going to do something with it, do something with it,” Barnes said as Dilione dribbled around the top of the key in the first quarter. “You’ve got to go.”

That frustration led to a postgame on-court conversation between the pair. Barnes said a second-quarter scoring drought fell on Dilione's indecision and sent Walker to tell assistant coach Rod Clark to get Dilione out for the final 2:54 of the first half.

Dilione had good plays, in Barnes’ evaluation — a swing pass to Josiah-Jordan James for a 3-point attempt and a well-paced dribble-drive for a layup in the second quarter were the standouts. But the teachable moments outpaced the good ones for the extremely talented guard who will be essential to UT's successes.

“He’s learning how to be a point guard,” Barnes said when Dilione dribbled into a midrange jumper instead of passing. “Does he want to be a point guard or a scorer?”

Vescovi is not a “ball stopper” on offense. He does what Barnes wants — transition offense and quick passing. It’s part of why he finished with 12 points and a team-high eight assists.

Vescovi was a little bit of both against Stella Azzurra. The level of trust is evident between Barnes and the fifth-year senior guard. He called Vescovi over to ask him to create a shot for Knecht out of Tennessee’s basic set. He was pleased with Vescovi looking ahead to push the ball early. 

“Santi has got to tell them,” Barnes said when he wants more overall ball movement. “They will listen to him.”

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Focusing on the positives

Barnes can easily pick out a missed foul call by the FIBA officials. He does it a dozen or so times. He wasn't getting on the officials in this exhibition, though, just pointing the fouls out. He was more interested in what his team was doing. He wanted to see the Vols run offense the way they practice it. He expected the level of defense played Monday, and Jonas Aidoo caught Barnes' eye for a pair of savvy blocks.

He was quick to say “good play” or “great play” for good defense and smart passes or open shots even if they didn't result in points. A Knecht missed 3-pointer and Tobe Awaka rebound attempt got such praise in the second quarter. James missed a third-quarter 3-pointer, but the movement was excellent. Mashack again got Barnes’ attention for creating an open baseline drive for Dilione in the fourth.

“It was all Shack,” Barnes said. “Good job, Shackman.”

Barnes peppered much of the roster with praise during the exhibition. He’s high on transfer guard Jordan Gainey, who was a menace on both ends.

He sees Knecht making the effort to be good defensively. It’s new for Knecht, Barnes acknowledges, to be asked to guard at a high level. Barnes is calling for it. Knecht has the ability be an all-around player, his passing and rebounding evident Monday, and Barnes wanting more minutes for the Northern Colorado transfer.

Knecht hit his fourth 3-pointer late following a Vescovi 3, leading Barnes to call out “a bolt of lightning” for the offensive jolt of back-to-back triples.

Barnes is a big believer in Jefferson, which is apparent both in his praise and his criticism. He loves the way Jefferson didn’t let a missed shot in the third quarter affect his mindset. He is confident in Jefferson’s shooting and says he is a great cutter. It’s the small things that are coming along. He waves Jefferson over to explain how holding the ball caused a turnover — Knecht moved into the next set as Jefferson hesitated.

“D.J. has come a long way, hasn’t he?” Barnes said. “If he really sticks with it, he is going to be a good one.”

That’s true of this particular Tennessee team as well. UT loaded up on shooting in the transfer portal and meshed veteran know-how with an injection of offensive prowess. The Vols are fresh off a fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance and second Sweet 16 in Barnes’ tenure. This team should make it six and could make it three. 

But on a muggy Monday in a low-ceilinged fieldhouse in Rome, Barnes sees teachable points and decisions to coach and re-coach to get this team to its high ceiling. 

“We’ve got an unselfish team, an unselfish group of guys,” Barnes said. “I think it has been a good three games for them."

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it