Tennessee meets a team it defeated in the regular season to start its SEC Tournament run
Knoxville, Tenn. – The Lady Vols will play on the opening day of the SEC Tournament for the first time since 2009. The Lady Vols enter as the 9 seed, the lowest in program history.
Their road won’t be easy, but they will meet 16-seed Texas A&M Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., a team they defeated in the regular season. Head Coach Kim Caldwell said the only way they get out of this funk now, is to play their way out of it.
The Lady Vols defeated the Aggies on Jan. 2, 91-78.
No surprise Talaysia Cooper was massive in that game with 16 points and 2 steals. Whether Tennessee gets production from her again likely won’t be determined until a couple of hours before tipoff.
She rolled her ankle in their final game against Georgia.
Key One: Plus 10 rebounding margin
In the win against Texas A&M, Tennessee won the rebounding battle plus 10. Their ability to grab 21 offensive rebounds fed 23 second-chance points and likely saved the game for them.
The other three times Tennessee had a plus-10 margin, they won those games. It came against Arkansas (+17), UConn (+12), and against Alabama (+14).
Tennessee’s best rebounder is Zee Spearman, who averages 6 a night, the exact number she gave them against the Aggies.
The last three games, the Lady Vols have been in the negatives. So, getting production from Spearman is vital, especially if Cooper doesn’t play as she is next in average rebounds.
Jillian Hollingshead also has to bring the toughness Wednesday and has to find a way to give the team more than just three rebounds.
Key Two: Ball Movement
Tennessee captured their 13th straight win when they met the Aggies thanks to great shot selections. It led to four players finishing in double-digit scoring and propelled the team to a 22-point first-half lead.
They were better than 45% from the field and perimeter. They’ve not been at least 40 percent from the field and three since Ole Miss. They’ve not been at least 45% since their loss to Texas, and they were 50% or better in both categories.
What led to that production is how they shared the ball and inside-out work.
Caldwell said the Aggies just ran out of time in their comeback effort, as they outscored the Lady Vols in the final two quarters.
Key Three: Defensive Stops
Tennessee’s failure to create stops on defense has been problem number one in its final two games.
So, what will the answer be for Aicha ‘AC’ Coulibaly? Early foul trouble in the first meeting was probably the difference in the game.
She had 20 points and 3 blocks in 26 minutes of play, she averages 13.
She and the team are strongest from the field. Limiting second-chance points, get in the right spots for rebounds is important, but before that finding ways to close lanes to the rim and crowding the paint, I think should be where the team wants to start.
The Aggies only take about four three-pointers a game, it might be a scenario where Tennessee can play a defense that almost begs them to take threes.
If Tennessee can win those battles they have a strong chance to advance.
