UT’s Trae Golden brings the ball downcourt during a game against UTC at Thompson-Boling Arena in this file photo.KNOXVILLE — There was good mixed with bad on the box score.
Trae Golden scored eight points to keep Tennessee in the game late in the first half of Saturday’s loss at Alabama, but the Volunteers’ sophomore point guard turned the ball over six times and admitted after the game he didn’t control the game like he should.
First-year UT coach Cuonzo Martin said Monday that Golden’s accountability wasn’t required.
“Not necessarily for sound bites,” Martin said. “If you truly believe that and you feel that, that’s one thing, but not necessarily for the media to write in the paper. I was never one to beat myself up over a loss. I knew what I did wrong; I didn’t have to speak about it all day long. I didn’t feel like talking after a loss anyway.
“I think in [Golden’s] case, he understands that it’s just carrying out assignments. It doesn’t necessarily have to be talked about. It’s understood: When you know you played bad or you felt like you played bad, just deal with it and keep moving.”