ByRick Barnes Focused On Helping Darlinstone Dubar Amid Personal Matter
Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes is focused on helping forward Darlinstone Dubar amid a personal matter that has kept him away from the team. Dubar has not played in any of Tennessee's first three games this season and is not expected to play in the team's next game on Tuesday against Tennessee Tech.
Barnes' Comments
"Darlinstone is going through a personal matter right now," Barnes said Monday. "We're supporting him and his family in any way we can. He's a great kid and we're all here for him."
Barnes did not provide any specific details about the matter that Dubar is dealing with, but he said that the team is "doing everything we can to support him."
Dubar's Absence
Dubar's absence has been a blow to the Tennessee frontcourt. The 6-foot-10, 245-pound forward was expected to be a key contributor this season after averaging 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds per game last season.
In Dubar's absence, Tennessee has started Olivier Nkamhoua and Jonas Aidoo in the frontcourt. Nkamhoua has averaged 13.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game, while Aidoo has averaged 4.7 points and 4.3 rebounds per game.
Team Support
Barnes said that the team is rallying around Dubar during this difficult time.
"The team has been great," Barnes said. "They've been very supportive of Darlinstone and his family. They know that he's going through a tough time and they're there for him."
Nkamhoua said that the team is "staying positive" despite Dubar's absence.
"We know that Darlinstone is going through a tough time right now," Nkamhoua said. "But we're all here for him. We're a family and we're going to get through this together."
Conclusion
It is unclear when Dubar will return to the team. Barnes said that the team will continue to support him and his family during this difficult time.
The Tennessee basketball team is focused on winning games, but they are also focused on supporting their teammate during a difficult time.
Additional Information
In addition to the information provided above, here are some additional details about the situation:
- Dubar is a native of the Bahamas. He came to the United States to play basketball at Montverde Academy in Florida.
- Dubar committed to Tennessee in 2020. He was a four-star recruit and ranked as the No. 49 overall prospect in the 2021 class, according to 247Sports.
- Dubar played in 32 games for Tennessee last season. He started 13 games and averaged 15.2 minutes per game.
- Dubar is expected to be a key contributor for Tennessee this season. He is a skilled scorer and rebounder who can also defend multiple positions.