Rick Barnes had a puzzled look when he sat down at his weekly press conference Monday.

Tennessee assistant athletic director for communications Tom Satkowiak said the first question would come remotely. Satkowiak held the phone to a microphone, and U.S. Basketball Writers Association president David Teel came on the phone.

Barnes was named the USBWA National Basketball Coach of the Year on Monday, which he learned in that surprise moment. It is Barnes' first national coach of the year honor.

“I think when coaches get an award, it goes directly back to their players and their staff because we all know that it’s a team," Barnes said. "Everything you do, we’re in it together."

Tennessee matched a program record with 31 wins this season. The Vols (31-5) reached that mark Sunday with a win against Iowa to advance to the program's first Sweet 16 since 2014. Tennessee plays in the Sweet 16 against Purdue (25-9) at 7:29 p.m. ET Thursday (TBS).

It is the first regional berth in Barnes' tenure at Tennessee, which began four years ago.

He had a pair of lean seasons before a breakout season in 2017-18, in which the Vols won 26 games and earned a share of the SEC regular-season title.

"It’s truly an honor, the personal honor it is. But again, it wouldn’t have happened without our coaches," Barnes said. "I have the best coaching staff in the country, and obviously what the players do, that’s what it gets down to, the success we’ve had. Boy, that’s a nice honor.”

Barnes praised associate head coach Rob Lanier, assistant coaches Mike Schwartz and Desmond Oliver on Monday. He said all three are important, as are director of player development Bryan Lentz and director of student-athlete development Aubin Goporo.

"The fact is, I cannot say I feel good about that award without thinking about those guys," Barnes said. "Because I know how much they do to help prepare this program and these players."

The Henry Iba Award as National Coach of the Year will be presented on April 15 in St. Louis. Barnes has been named a conference coach of the year six times, including last season as the SEC Coach of the Year for the first time.

"That’s a great honor," Barnes said of the USBWA award. "It really is. But I think it’s an honor for all of us.”

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