Mack Brown came back for this season to show, at age 73, he was still the right man for the job. In some ways, he was. But it was impossible to look at the results and want more of this.

Rick Barnes and Mack Brown coached basketball and football, respectively, at Texas for 14 years. The Tennessee coach remains good friends with Brown.

As if tomorrow’s game didn’t carry enough emotions for UNC, Tuesday’s news of Mack Brown's imminent exit poured gas on that flame.