KNOXVILLE - The Tennessee women's basketball team announced the addition of 6-foot-3 Washington State graduate transfer Louise Brown on Thursday.
Brown's addition will give an otherwise young roster a third senior for a crucial 2018-19 season.
Tennessee's roster for the upcoming season is shaping up to consist of eight freshmen and sophomores as the Lady Vols seek to rebound from an end to this past season that "left a sour taste," according to rising sophomore Rennia Davis.
Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick, center, is led back to the bench by Rennia Davis (0) assistant coach Dean Lockwood after Warlick argued a call in the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against South Carolina at the women's Southeastern Conference tournament Friday, March 2, 2018, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick watches the second half of a second-round game against Oregon State in the NCAA college basketball tournament Sunday, March 18, 2018, in Knoxville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Wade Payne)Tennessee lost an NCAA tournament home game for the first time in program history when sixth-seeded Oregon State knocked off the third-seeded Lady Vols 66-59 in the second round.
"Since we lost, we've all just been in the gym getting up extra shots and extra work," Davis said last week. "Practices have been way more intense, lifts, everything. You can just tell the coaches and players are more locked in. We're all just dissatisfied with last year."
Departing from the program are Jaime Nared and Mercedes Russell, both selected in this month's WNBA draft, and Kortney Dunbar, who played a role off the bench during Tennessee's 25-8 season.
Davis said there were some positive takeaways from her freshman season in which she averaged 12 points per game. The team raced to a 15-0 start and led eventual national champion Notre Dame by more than 20 points on the road in January.
"We definitely know that we're capable of doing it," Davis said. "Then to see Notre Dame do it, we know we were up 20-something in the first half. So it's a little disappointing but then again, you know it's attainable, so we're fine."
Tennessee's failure to make a Final Four under coach Holly Warlick, who just completed her sixth season, has brought Warlick under public scrutiny. She has one year remaining on her contract, and athletic director Phillip Fulmer declined to elaborate during an interview last week on whether a revamped deal for Warlick may be in the works.
Though the Lady Vols have not progressed beyond the Sweet 16 in the past two seasons, Warlick's recruiting during that time has been impressive.
The 2017 class, which included Davis, guards Anastasia Hayes and Evina Westbrook and post player Kasiyahna Kushkituah, was ranked first in the country by ESPN. Davis, Hayes and Westbrook all played key roles this past year while Kushkituah saw reserve action behind Russell, who graduated as one of the program's all-time statistical leaders.
Entering the program this summer is another highly touted group. All four players in the signing class are ranked in the top 50 nationally for the 2018 class, according to ESPN. They include Hamilton Heights standout Jazmine Massengill.
Adding Brown as a graduate transfer will give Tennessee another post player to help replace Russell's production. Brown averaged 6.4 points and six rebounds per game this past season at Washington State. She is also a career 33 percent 3-point shooter. Barring any offseason roster attrition, Brown, forward Cheridene Green and guard Meme Jackson will comprise Tennessee's senior class in the upcoming season.
Then there is a talented group of young players who hold the keys to the program's future.
"We're going to be pretty young next year and have eight underclassmen," Davis said. "That's tough. But I'm going to have to step up and lead this team."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DavidWCobb and on Facebook at facebook.com/volsupdate.