KNOXVILLE – The Tennessee women’s basketball team – ranked No. 17 in The Associated Press poll and No. 19 in the coaches’ poll – will host Texas (4-4) in the Big 12/SEC Challenge at 2 p.m. Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The Lady Volunteers (7-0) are coming off an 81-54 win over Air Force last Sunday.
Here are three things to look for:
1. A “real” matchup: The Lady Vols are undefeated early and that’s nice, but there still are legitimate questions as to whether this is a good team. Tennessee has played only one opponent that appears respectable, and that one, Notre Dame, was replacing all five starters – all WNBA top-20 draft picks – from last season. The Lady Vols’ first seven opponents are a combined 16-40 this season, and while Texas is not exactly tearing it up, the Longhorns are traditionally strong and three of their four losses are to teams that were ranked at some point. It should be a challenge for Tennessee.
2. Defensive growth: Statistically, Tennessee has played elite defense, which should be the case considering the players’ length. Still, there are reasons for concern as coach Kellie Harper and her staff have locked in on doing the right things, because the Lady Vols really haven’t played anybody that was going to challenge them offensively. Harper doesn’t want little things to turn into big things, which is why she drove the point home that there was no reason the Lady Vols should have been outrebounded by a smaller Air Force team in the last game. Harper said Friday the team still lacks a “raw toughness that you need to have a great defensive team,” which she admitted will take some time. If that can start developing in games like this one – not just foregone-conclusion victories – it will help come conference play.
3. Bench depth: With limited numbers, Tennessee’s coaches have been working to find out whom they can count on to contribute off the bench. So far, only two players – junior forward Kasiyahna Kushkituah and sophomore guard Rae Burrell – have consistently helped, although senior Kamera Harris has had some solid moments in the early going. It will be important that the Lady Vols continue to develop those players as the season goes along. For the team to grow, it will need another shooter – maybe freshman Jessie Rennie – off the bench to emerge. Teams need options, and right now Tennessee can’t consistently rely on its 3-point shooting to win games. That may have been fine early in the season, but as nonconference play ends and Southeastern Conference play begins, that could be a detriment.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @genehenley3 or at Facebook.com/VolsUpdate.