Basketball season has returned as the Vols look to earn their first Final Four berth in program history while the Lady Vols ring in the Kim Caldwell era.
Letter from the Sports Editor: Getting over the hump
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I sat in media row on Sunday, watching as Tennessee basketball tested different lineups and fought a solid Indiana team in a charity exhibition. It would be hard not to notice the Dalton Knecht Lakers jersey or the plethora of kids wearing the No. 3 jersey around the arena.
Knecht took the Vols to a place they had been just once before, but he couldn’t get the Vols over the hump. Tennessee ran into the juggernaut of Zach Edey and Purdue, ultimately falling in the Elite Eight. I had my flight booked, ready to head to Phoenix and cover the first Final Four berth in Tennessee program history. Like many others, I canceled that flight.
When will Tennessee finally get the elusive Final Four, or dare I even say it, an NCAA National Championship? For two important pieces of Tennessee’s roster, it is now or never.
After the 2024-25 season, the Vols will be without electric point guard Zakai Zeigler and defender Jahmai Mashack. You will read in the Beacon’s basketball special edition that Zeigler and Mashack called a meeting after the Elite Eight loss, making sure the
team was on the same page and knew how much is at stake with the upcoming season.
There is a different urgency around Tennessee, one the players feel as well. By all accounts, everyone has bought into what head coach Rick Barnes wants his team to do.
It will take more than one person to get Tennessee to the Final Four it has failed to reach. It will take a team of veterans who have played in big games before and know how to operate as a team — I think Tennessee has a good core who checks those boxes. On paper, it is a talented roster that should
make a run.
Whether that run happens or not is to be determined. No one knew in the preseason how talented Knecht was, or how much he would raise the ceiling of Tennessee. The Vols need scorers to emerge, and a little bit of luck, to get where they want to go.
The elusive Final Four was in sight for Tennessee last season. Players know what it takes, but it is a matter of putting that all together to make history. The marathon starts now for the Vols.
We sleep in May.
Letter from the Assistant Sports Editor: Generational time on Rocky Top
TREVOR MCGEE Assistant Sports Editor
From an Elite Eight appearance to an NCAA Baseball National Championship, followed by maintaining potential playoff status in football, Tennessee athletics has enjoyed success across its three major men’s sports recently.
Each of those three teams has one thing in common: generational athletes.
In the sports world, the term “generational” is often used loosely to describe an athlete whose talent is only seen once in a generation. It gets thrown around
during draft season, left for the casual fan to separate one athlete from the rest. For Tennessee athletics, it has seen its own version of generational athletes across the last three sporting seasons.
Dalton Knecht solidified his legacy with an All-American bid and SEC Player of the Year honors, leading Rick Barnes’ squad to heights it had only seen once before. Christian Moore followed that up on the diamond with an all-time great season to give the Vols its first national championship in the sport. On the gridiron, Dylan Sampson is in the midst of chasing records while solidifying himself into award conversations.
Needless to say, Tennessee fans have been treated to a rare period of sustained excellence, with each season seamlessly transitioning into the next chapter of success. It’s an unusual sight to see for the fans who have endured more bad than good.
After years of up and down performances, this consistent run across sports is something to savor. It’s a reminder of why fans stick with their teams through thick and thin, hoping for seasons as memorable as these.
For me, I have not yet had the joy of covering basketball. I sat in the student section, like most of you probably have at one point, indulging in the pure chaos that Knecht brought to the court any given day. It will be yet another new experience for me, but the same goal remains — capturing the stories that need to be told.
As we officially transition into the start of basketball season, we now get treated with a new Barnes-led basketball team, awaiting to see who will be the next guy to step up. Of course, in the opposite locker room is the historic Lady Vols and firstyear head coach Kim Caldwell whom we cannot forget about either. Regardless, it should be another sporting season of sustained success — something that is becoming the norm on Rocky Top.
Zakai Zeigler (5) drives to the rim during an NCAA Tournament game against Purdue at Little Caesars Arena. Sunday, March 31, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Dalton Knecht returns to Tennessee during a game against Kent State at Neyland Stadium. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Cambree Gliessner / The Daily Beacon
Previewing Tennessee basketball’s 2024-25 schedule
Tennessee Basketball finished the regular season as SEC champions last season. The Vols were a two-seed in the NCAA Tournament and made it to their second Elite Eight in program history.
Finishing first in the SEC will be harder this time around. The Vols are ranked No. 12 in the preseason AP Poll, which is third best in the conference. The SEC has the most teams ranked in the preseason AP Poll with nine. The Vols will get no games off come January as they attempt to obtain back-to-back regular season championships.
Here’s a look at some of the Vols’ toughest games during the season.
Dec. 10 vs. Miami
Tennessee is facing off against the Miami Hurricanes in Madison Square Garden for the Jimmy V Classic. The Hurricanes are looking to bounce back from a disappointing season where they finished 14th in the ACC after being ranked No. 8 in the AP Poll. The headline for Miami all offseason was the commitment of incoming freshman Jalil Bethea. Bethea was ESPN’s 10thranked prospect and was a McDonald’s All-American. The Hurricanes also added transfer Jalen Blackmon who averaged 21.3 points per game for Stetson.
The Hurricanes are coached by Jim Larrañaga, a two-time ACC Coach of the Year. Larrañaga led the Hurricanes to a Final Four and a first-place finish in the ACC in 2023.
The Vols will have to play a hungry Hurricane team in the most famous arena in all of basketball. Miami has an impressive starting lineup filled with four-star transfers and a preseason ACC first-teamer in Nijel Pack.
Dec. 14 at Illinois
The Vols travel to Champaign to play against the reigning Big Ten Tournament champions, the Illinois Fighting Illini. The Illini received the most votes among unranked teams in the AP Poll and are ranked No. 24 in the coaches poll.
During the offseason, the Illini lost their top three scorers. Terrence Shannon Jr. and Marcus Domask went to the NBA and Coleman Hawkins went to the transfer portal. Head coach Brad Underwood recruited a five-star freshman and four transfers to replace the lost scoring. This team is very young, only having one four-year player. Illinois is projected to start three freshmen, two of which have experience playing basketball overseas. This should be the hardest team the Vols
play during their non-conference schedule. Illinois is a well-coached team and even their freshmen have professional experience.
Jan. 4 vs. Arkansas
Tennessee’s first SEC matchup is at home against the No. 16 Arkansas Razorbacks. Arkansas hired John Calipari as its new head coach this offseason. Calipari completely overhauled last year’s roster with redshirt junior Trevon Brazile as the only remaining player.
The Razorbacks are projected to have four transfers in their starting lineup including former Vol Jonas Aidoo. Aidoo was previously the starting center and leading rebounder for the Vols. Other transfers joining Aidoo in the starting lineup are D.J. Wagner and Adou Thiero from Kentucky and Johnell Davis from Florida Atlantic.
This is a great test of where the Vols stand in the SEC. Calipari is a Hall of Fame coach and the Razorbacks are projected to finish fourth in the SEC, right behind the Vols. This game can be a tone-setter for the Vols as they head into a treacherous conference schedule.
Jan. 7 at Florida
Any time Tennessee plays Florida it’s a big game, especially in Gainesville. Last season, the Gators lost in the SEC Championship game against Auburn before getting upset by 10-seed Colorado in the NCAA Tournament.
Florida had four wins against top25 ranked teams, and its first road win against a top-10 team since 2003. The Gators retain Walter Clayton Jr., an All-SEC guard, and Alex Condon who was on the All-SEC freshman team.
Florida starts the season ranked No. 21
in the preseason poll and is projected to finish sixth in the conference.
Rivalry games are always harder than the matchup shows on paper, especially in a hostile environment. As both programs trend upward, this could set the standard for the future of the Tennessee-Florida rivalry.
Jan. 11 at Texas
Tennessee will travel to Austin to play Texas in its first season as a member of the SEC. The Longhorns come into the season ranked No. 19 and are projected to finish seventh in the SEC.
Texas added three transfers who combined for 48.2 points per game last season. Texas also added freshman Tre Johnson who was the fifth-best player in the class according to ESPN.
Texas head coach Rodney Terry led the Longhorns to the round of 32 in both seasons with the team. Terry won the Big 12 Championship and led the Longhorns to the Elite Eight in his first season.
In last year’s NCAA Tournament game, Tennessee beat Texas 62-58. That point total was the lowest the Vols scored in the NCAA Tournament. Texas has now added scorers through the transfer portal and recruiting to take advantage of their defense. This will be a tough game for the Vols as the Longhorns look for revenge.
It will also be a return to Austin for Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes, who enjoyed a lot of success with the Longhorns.
Jan. 25 at Auburn
This should be the hardest away game for the Vols this season. The Auburn Tigers have all the characteristics of a great team. They have Bruce Pearl, a three-time SEC Coach of the Year, Johni Broome, a
first-team All-SEC player and a dominant home-court advantage.
Last year, Auburn won the SEC Championship and earned a four seed going into the NCAA Tournament. Auburn had a 15-1 record in home games that season which was the best in the SEC.
Auburn is projected to finish second in the SEC only behind Alabama and come into the season ranked No. 11. The Tigers are led by senior big man Broome who earned first-team All-SEC and All-SEC defensive team honors.
This has the potential to be the toughest game the Vols play all regular season.
Feb. 22 at Texas A&M
The Vols will have to travel to College Station to play a veteran Texas A&M Aggies team. The No. 13 Aggies return the most production in the SEC, with four of their five starters being seniors.
The Aggies are led by Wade Taylor IV, who is the first Aggie to earn first-team All-SEC honors twice. Taylor is one of the greatest scorers in SEC history, coming off a season where he averaged 19.1 points per game and scored 687 points total. If Taylor scored 687 points again he would have the sixth most career points in SEC history. Defensively the Aggies are led by senior Andersson Garcia. Garcia led the SEC in offensive and total rebounds in 2023.
The Vols were 1-1 against the Aggies last year, with the home team winning both games. The Vols will have their hands full against a team that prides themselves on scoring and rebounding.
March 1 vs. Alabama
This is the biggest game of the season. The Crimson Tide come into the season ranked No. 2 in the country and are projected to win the SEC. Alabama looks to build off a Final Four appearance where it lost to UConn.
Alabama’s Mark Sears led the SEC in total points, free throws made and minutes played in 2023. This season, Sears is the overwhelming favorite to win SEC Player of the Year.
Head coach Nate Oats has turned Alabama into a top basketball school since he took over. In his second year as head coach the Crimson Tide were SEC regular season champions, and in 2023 Alabama was the No. 1 overall seed entering the NCAA Tournament.
The Vols won the last three matchups against the Crimson Tide. Not only is this the highest-ranked team the Vols will play in the regular season, but it is also Alabama. Expect a crazy environment in Food City Center on March 1.
LOGAN STACY Contributor
Rod Clark and Rick Barnes coach their team during an exhibition game at Food City Center. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
‘A star in what he does’: How Jahmai Mashack is Tennessee’s ultimate glue guy
TREVOR MCGEE
Assistant Sports Editor
Every team needs one, but not every team has one.
That is, of course, a glue guy. In basketball, it’s crucial to have someone on the roster who can unite the team through gritty, unselfish play. Senior guard Jahmai Mashack assumes that role for Tennessee basketball.
“He’s a guy that’s bought into his role,” head coach Rick Barnes said. “He’s a star in what he does, and he has improved his shot.”
In Tennessee’s 66-62 exhibition loss to Indiana, Mashack logged 27 minutes on the court — recording nine points, three steals, two offensive rebounds, two defensive rebounds and an assist. His clutch 3-pointer late in the second half ended a 3:50 scoring drought, keeping the Vols within striking distance.
The stat-stuffing performance is nothing new for the veteran utility piece. When Tennessee needed someone to step up against a talented Creighton offense in March, Mashack rose to the occasion, posting five offensive boards, two blocks and two steals in 25 minutes, earning a plus12 in the plus-minus category. His primary assignment, Trey Alexander, was held to 13 points on 3-of-12 shooting.
“He’s a guy that’s bought into his role.
He’s a star in what he does. ”
Rick Barnes Head Basketball Coach
wears on teams. ... It’s hard to get into your offense. That is something that can’t be replaced. It’s something we need on the court. It’s great that we pressure the ball and that we’re able to do that, but for as long as we do it, that’s what separates us from every other team — we sustain it.”
including a crucial 2-for-2 shooting night from deep to clinch the win at Alabama.
“I think it separates us as a team because guys think that early pressure is going to happen,” Mashack said after the win over Creighton. “But to sustain that for as long as we do, it
Mashack’s suffocating defense has been noticed by Tennessee fans, but national media has largely overlooked the 6-foot-6 athlete from Fontana, California. Through three years, Mashack hasn’t been named to an alldefensive team or placed on any preseason watch lists. While his defensive accolades may be lacking, his leadership has not gone unrecognized. This season, Mashack was named chair of the SEC Men’s Basketball Leadership Councill. His leadership for the Vols is a role that will be crucial following the departures of veteran leaders JosiahJordan James and Santiago Vescovi.
As he steps into his senior year, Mashack’s game isn’t just about defense anymore. Last season, he showed flashes of offensive potential,
“The tougher team is going to win games like this,” Mashack said after the Alabama victory. “You’re not going to win with just being better. You’re not going to win with just execution. You’re going to win with toughness and fight and grit and who wants it more.”
Mashack’s head coach noticed the effort in that game especially.
“He’s a team-first player,” Barnes said. “I love him to death. His toughness, his defense, what he’s elite at when he does what he’s really good at.”
Over the offseason, Mashack focused primarily on developing his shot. While he is a career 33.8% 3-point shooter, he’s averaged fewer than one attempt per game.
“He’s worked on it really for four years,” Barnes said earlier this offseason. “Now, when he takes the shots that we know he practices and gets set, we’re surprised if he misses. He’s
worked hard at it, and we need him to do that. I think through the preseason, he’s probably been our most consistent 3-point shooter overall.” Mashack’s first public performance this season reflected that improvement as he shot 3-for-6, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc against Indiana.
“I think he’s a perfect example of knowing who he is, and he’s not going to go searching them out,” Barnes said after the Indiana exhibition. “But he knows if he’s there, he’s going to take them. ... And again, when he’s open, we expect him to shoot it. But he’s also become a smart player in the fact he knew early we’d been missing some threes, and he was the guy trying to get some paint touches.”
As the offseason officially comes to a close, Mashack will lead his Tennessee squad onto the court Nov. 4 to take on the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs. With sharpened skills and a defined role, he looks to cement his legacy as Tennessee’s invaluable glue guy this season.
Jahmai Mashack (15) communicates with his team during an exhibition game against Indiana at Food City Center. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
How a meeting fueled Tennessee basketball through offseason
CALEB JARREAU
Sports Editor
The Tennessee basketball team has a players-only meeting following every season, but the meeting after being eliminated in the Elite Eight was different.
Every player, no matter how many minutes played, felt the pain of the elimination loss to Purdue. It was one of Tennessee’s best seasons in program history. Still, it ended without the elusive national championship.
“Just thinking about that Elite Eight run and how that ended up, nobody liked that feeling at all,” sophomore JP Estrella said. “I mean, that really lit a fire under us.”
Zakai Zeigler and Jahmai Mashack led the meeting. The two seniors spoke where the Vols wanted to go and how they could get there. Every player had something to say. Zeigler, though, told the team it was the little things that cost Tennessee in its loss to Purdue.
It has been those little things — boxouts, making shots, missing assignments — the team has focused on during the offseason. Those things add up — something Tennessee learned in its loss to Purdue.
“We told everybody, ‘Once we get back, it is time to work,” Zeigler said. “It’s nothing less than that because we don’t want that same feeling as we did before.”
Team chemistry an emphasis in offseason
There was also an initiative to build team chemistry with the five newcomers Tennessee welcomed to the roster. The group of four transfers and fourstar freshman Bishop Boswell are expected to be crucial for Tennessee.
The focus on team chemistry, both on and off the floor, began with JosiahJordan James and Santiago Vescovi. Through the pair’s six years in Knoxville, they made it an emphasis to bond. Zeigler, who learned from James and Vescovi’s leadership, knows the importance of this firsthand.
The Vols will travel to hostile environments where everyone will be against them. It is during those moments that they need to lean on their chemistry with one another. That includes both on the floor and off the court as well.
Last year, the Vols took a summer trip overseas that was essential in building chemistry. Zeigler, Mashack and Jordan Gainey knew they had to do something to build chemistry with the new group.
With no summer basketball schedule this year, the group took a weekend trip to Atlanta. There was no agenda, just time as a team away from basketball to build chemistry.
“We started to learn how guys were,” Zeigler said. “Like, if they were more to their self, we try to bring him out more, try talking. I would say more so it was just being together off the court. We just went around the town and just tried to have as much fun as possible.”
A heightened sense of urgency
There has been a heightened sense of urgency in everything Tennessee has done over the offseason. That can be felt in the way the Vols have competed in practice.
Players hold each other accountable before coaches even have the chance. The leadership on the team is strong, and the buy-in is there to match it. It is a team that heads into the 2024-25 season with clear-cut goals.
“We’re all pushing to get 1% better every single day,” Gainey said. “And this coach is always going to be hard on
us regardless of the situation because he wants what we want, and that’s the only way if we’re going to get it.”
The extra fuel comes from being so close in the NCAA Tournament but not getting the job done. It is a feeling the Vols set out to avoid again. The group is on the same page heading into the 2024-25 season.
That journey, which began in the offseason, can be traced back to the meeting orchestrated by Zeigler and Mashack.
“We want a national championship,” Estrella said. “We feel like this is the year that we’re going to do it.”
Zakai Zeigler (5) scans the floor during an exhibition game against Indiana at Food City Center. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.
Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Lady Vols basketball to begin new era with veteran roster
It’s safe to say that lack of experience can be crossed off the list of potential concerns for head coach Kim Caldwell’s squad.
Tennessee will feature one of the oldest rosters in the nation this season, a group that features eight players with senior status or greater and only one freshman.
With just two returning starters, many new faces will be relied upon to try and return the Lady Vols back to the elite status the program has long been known for.
Tried and true
After losing three starters from a year ago, including superstar and WNBA draftee Rickea Jackson, Tennessee will welcome back key mainstays, including Jewel Spear and Sara Puckett.
Spear returns for her fifth season and hopes to continue in her role as one of the Lady Vols’ best offensive threats. The top returning scorer assumes a strong leadership position, not only through her on-court performance but also the sense of accountability she generates among teammates.
“She is remarkable,” Caldwell said. “She can score at all three levels. She is a phenomenal leader. She’ll put people in the right spot, she is an absolute gamer.”
Puckett enters the new campaign off of a career year. The senior forward averaged 9.9 points per game to go along with 38 3-pointers, a total that landed her third-best on the team.
Confidence is at an all-time high for the Muscle Shoals, Alabama, native. With plans of going pro in the WNBA, Puckett believes her best basketball is in front of her and hopes to bring Tennessee back to increased national relevance.
“I want to be the best leader I can be for my team,” Puckett said. “No matter what anybody needs, I want to be able to give that to them.”
Tess Darby is back for her graduate season as one of the premier 3-point shooters in Lady Vols’ history. The Greenfield, Tennessee, product is set to flourish in Caldwell’s run-and-gun system, especially through her successes from beyond the arc, though she doesn’t necessarily want her play to be one-dimensional.
“Just being able to do more,” Darby said. “Just not where other teams can put just 3-point shooter on a scouting
paper.”
Forward Jillian Hollingshead returns for her senior campaign as one of the best size options for Caldwell on the interior. The 6-foot-5 senior mainly fulfilled a valuable bench role a year ago and will likely be a cog in the defensive resistance.
The recent loss of Kaiya Wynn due to a season-ending injury likely brings senior guard Destinee Wells to be one of Wynn’s biggest sympathizers after suffering a similar fate herself just 10 games into last season. Wells enters her senior year in an effort to avenge her teammate and her own unlucky past fortune through her efforts on the court.
Impact additions
Seven fresh names will look to round out the Tennessee personnel.
A duo of guards in Samara Spencer and Ruby Whitehorn bring their talents to the Lady Vols, hoping to make a big contribution on both ends of the floor.
Spencer is perhaps the best of the bunch, averaging 13.9 points per game
a year ago with Arkansas. The senior led the Razorbacks in assists and is a steady option from the charity stripe.
Clemson transfer Whitehorn brings a two-way play style that will likely be huge for Tennessee throughout the season. The junior possesses a similar scoring ability to Spencer while playing proficient defense, recording 45 steals last season with the Tigers.
Three forward imports from the ACC in Alyssa Latham, Zee Spearman and Favor Ayodele add a solid rebounding element to what will be a fast-paced Tennessee team.
Latham paced Syracuse last season with seven rebounds per game, a strong number that played a part in her ACC All-Freshman recognition.
Spearman was just as much of a paint presence in her time with Miami, leading the Hurricanes in rebounding while showing smart shot selection. Expanding her game has been a focus for the junior thus far in her time with Tennessee, especially under Caldwell’s instruction.
“I wasn’t really playing more on the perimeter as I would be this year,” Spearman said. “I got real comfortable playing on the perimeter being with Coach Kim, she really developed me as a real true forward.”
Foreign-born Pitt transfer Ayodele enters her second season of Division-I competition after spending time at the junior college level. The Spain native helped the Panthers on the interior with an average of 6.2 rebounds a game.
Lone freshman Kaniya Boyd is ready to go after a season-ending injury cut her high school career short. The guard will look to make a name for herself and learn from teammates in the process.
Talaysia Cooper also looks to slot in at guard and make a big impact for Caldwell and the Lady Vols.
With so much new to figure out and experiment with, there’s really no saying how Caldwell will manage her team down the line. No matter the situation though, Tennessee should be well equipped to handle whatever might be thrown its way.
ALEX SARKIS Staff Writer
Jewel Spear (0) acknowledges the crowd of cheering Lady Vols fans after scoring 24 points against Alabama at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. Friday, March 8, 2024. File / The Daily Beacon
Kaniya Boyd, Talaysia Cooper return to court this season for Lady Vols basketball
JACK CHURCH Senior Staff Writer
All Kaniya Boyd needed to hear from head coach Kim Caldwell was that Lady Vols basketball would go quickly.
“When she said we were going to play fast, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m staying,’” Boyd said.
The redshirt freshman guard enrolled early in Knoxville midway through the 2023-24 season but considered transferring out following the coaching change. Caldwell’s system cemented Boyd’s decision to remain with the Lady Vols for another year.
Caldwell has also started to put together her own culture within the Tennessee program. Early on, that meant trying to bring the team together, something that appealed to Boyd.
“We have team bonding this Friday at a haunted house,” Boyd said. “She just keeps us together, and she makes sure we’re doing good.”
Boyd was a four-star recruit in espnW’s class of 2024 and was the only commit from that recruiting class. The Las Vegas native led Centennial High School to a state championship her junior year with 12.2 points, 4.5 assists and 3.4 steals per contest. She enrolled early after injuring her knee, forcing her to miss her senior season of high school basketball.
Boyd’s teammates expect her to make a substantial impact in her first time off the court. Fifth-year senior Jewel Spear watched Boyd develop and looks forward to playing with her ingame action.
“I’m excited for her,” Spear said. “She wasn’t able to play last year, but just her being able to have the opportunity on the court this year. … She’s a really good defender and just makes a difference for our team.”
Talaysia Cooper also redshirted last season after entering the transfer portal late. She practiced and played on Tennessee’s scout team a season ago but couldn’t play in any game action last season.
While Cooper couldn’t play, she still developed chemistry with her teammates which can make an impact this season. Her wait for college basketball games that count will end Nov. 5 after 589 days.
“It’s been a long year,” Cooper said. “I learned a lot of things just watching from the sidelines.”
A five-star recruit, Cooper chose to attend South Carolina but got limited playing time her freshman year. She scored a high of 15 points in a game against Texas A&M but was never a major part of Dawn Staley’s rotation, causing her to leave.
Cooper didn’t come to Tennessee to play for Caldwell, but her situation ended up making that the case. The defensive system Caldwell brought in suits Cooper’s strengths as a player, something that never would have happened under the previous coaching staff.
“I love it because I’m used to pressing,” Cooper said. “Picking up full court, just playing physical … but I feel like it’s helping me a lot just practicing every day, getting better.”
Cooper’s intensity at practice carried over to this offseason. After running constantly for a three-hour practice, games will seem easy by comparison. That’s where Caldwell’s emphasis on conditioning during the offseason will pay off.
Tennessee’s entire team is starting to feel the same restlessness that has plagued Boyd and Cooper since their arrivals in Knoxville. That feeling will be over Thursday when the Lady Vols take on Carson-Newman.
“We’re tired of playing against each other,” Caldwell said. “We’re tired of playing against our practice team. So we’re really, really, really looking forward to putting the finishing touches on.”
Kaniya Boyd (4) conducts a drill during preseason practice at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 23. 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Lady Vols basketball schedule highlighted by matchups with UConn, South Carolina
The Lady Vols are set to have a number of marquee matchups this season, including playing three out of the top four teams in the preseason AP Poll.
Here’s a look at the Lady Vols’ notable games throughout the season.
Dec. 4 vs. Florida State
The Lady Vols start off with a tough team early as No. 19 Florida State comes into Knoxville as part of the SEC/ACC challenge. This will only be Tennessee’s sixth game of the year, and it is the first game versus a team ranked in the preseason AP Poll.
Last season, Florida State finished with a 23-11 record and was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA tournament by Alabama. However, it had some postseason success as it made it to the semifinals of the ACC Tournament.
Florida State returns its three leading scorers from last season including Makayla Timpson and Ta’Niya Latson, who were All-ACC caliber players last year. Its offense was extremely potent as it averaged 78.5 points per game, which was second in the ACC. However, the Seminoles struggled heavily on the defensive side of the ball and finished last in the conference in points allowed.
This matchup could bode well for the Lady Vols as new head coach Kim Caldwell builds her team on high-pressure defense and prolific offense. This will help attack Florida State’s vulnerable defense and hopefully shut down some of that offensive firepower. It will also be a great contest to see how good Caldwell’s offense can actually be.
Jan. 5 vs. Oklahoma
The first real conference test for Caldwell’s team comes quick, as the preseason No. 10 ranked Sooners come into Knoxville. This is just the second SEC game of the season for Tennessee.
The Sooners look to make a splash as first-time members of the conference. Last season, they finished 23-10 with a second-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. All five of their starters return, including co-Big 12 Player of the Year Skylar Vann. They also picked up stand-out center Raegan Beers from Oregon State in the transfer portal to add some much-needed size.
This could be a signature win for the Lady Vols early in conference play. They have the advantage of playing this one at home, and it could help make a difference in the game. However, it will be a tough test against an experienced and defensively
Jan. 23 at Texas
Jan. 9 and Feb. 9 vs. LSU Tennessee will face off against Kim Mulkey’s Tigers twice in the regular season both at home and on the road. LSU is ranked at No. 7 in the preseason AP Poll. These games come just a month apart and with only seven games coming in between them.
LSU will look a little different this year as national champion and first-round draft pick Angel Reese is gone. Reese was the Tigers’ leading scorer and rebounder last season, so there is a lot of production to replace.
However, the Tigers bring back multiple talented pieces including preseason player of the year co-winners Flau’jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow.
Last season, LSU finished with an impressive 31-6 record and was 18-1 at home. It made it all the way to the Elite Eight where Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes were able to send it home. The Tigers also had a lot of success in conference play as they made the SEC Championship and lost to the eventual national champions in South Carolina.
These games will be important for the Lady Vols’ conference record as they look to compete and take down a top SEC team twice in the regular season. It is also one of Tennessee’s first conference games, so it will help prove where the Lady Vols fall among the many talented teams in the SEC. The Lady Vols need to aim to defend their home court in January and knock off the Tigers once again in Baton Rouge in February to help bump up their conference standing.
No. 4 Texas is the first opponent in what is a gauntlet of games for the Lady Vols, who are all ranked in the top five of the preseason AP Poll.
Texas finished last season with a 33-5 record, and made it as far as the Elite Eight before losing to NC State. They were also Big 12 Tournament champions.
Texas returns a few key players including Madison Booker. She had a stellar freshman year last year, earning her Big 12 Player of the Year honors. They also bring in size similar to Oklahoma in Kyla Oldacre from Miami and have a solid freshman class coming in.
The Longhorns are also new to the SEC and look to make a statement in their first year in the conference. The Lady Vols also did not travel well last season, going just 5-6 on the road. Caldwell looks to turn that around this year, and this is the first big road test to try and see how well Tennessee will travel this season.
Jan. 27 vs. South Carolina
Just four days after the contest in Austin, the Lady Vols will take on the preseason No. 1 and defending national champion South Carolina Gamecocks.
Last season, South Carolina went undefeated with a 38-0 record. It won the SEC regular season and tournament championships as well as the NCAA Tournament championship.
The Gamecocks look very similar to last season, returning many of their key players and adding Gatorade Player of the Year Joyce Edwards. Edwards could look to add some great interior scoring as she averaged
over 30 points per game last season. Dawn Staley, a women’s basketball legend, also returns to lead the Gamecocks. This will no doubts be one of Tennessee’s most challenging games all year. The Lady Vols will try to take down a team that did not lose a single game all last season. However, if Caldwell can have her players shooting well from three and putting up substantial points, the Lady Vols could have a chance.
Feb. 6 vs. UConn
Once again, Tennessee does not get much rest from huge matchups as it plays preseason No. 2 UConn just two games after its game against South Carolina and three days before its second matchup at LSU.
The Huskies had an impressive 33-6 season last year which included winning the Big East Tournament and making the Final Four before losing to Iowa.
UConn returns a few important players including top WNBA Draft prospect Paige Bueckers. Bueckers averaged 21.9 points per game on 53% shooting from the field and will be one of the top players in the country if she stays healthy. Alongside her is Azzi Fudd, who returns from injury and is also a top prospect in the WNBA Draft. Both shooters could prove to be a problem for even the top defenses in the country. The Huskies will need to show up inside the paint and stay healthy to live up to its standards.
This is an extremely tough non-conference game for Tennessee. It comes toward the end of a grueling stretch where the Lady Vols play three of the top four ranked preseason teams and preseason No. 7 LSU.
sound Sooners team.
PATRICK FALCON Contributor
Sara Puckett (1) shoots the ball during a game against the University of Arkansas at Food City Center. Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.
Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
Tennessee athletics expands student section for basketball as student sports attendance rises
JACK CHURCH Senior Staff Writer
Tennessee athletics announced in an email to students that the student section for men’s basketball will include more room near the court during the 2024-25 season at Food City Center.
This season, students at men’s basketball games will have access to sections 113, 114, 128 and 129. Previously, the lower half of section 114 was used for media seating, but the media area has moved to the top of section 113.
Tennessee students will also have seats available in sections 323 through 327A at men’s basketball games this season, the same area as prior years.
At Lady Vols basketball games, the student section has not changed. Students will have access to sections 128 and 129, and upper-level sections will open if there is enough demand from requested tickets.
Similar to football tickets, students will request men’s and women’s basketball tickets in the Tennessee Athletics app. Tickets are free of charge and are available on a first-come, firstserved basis. Students can reserve tickets beginning one week prior to the game at 9:00 a.m.
All non-conference games through Dec. 11 will be worth at least one “T-Credit,” Tennessee’s student loyalty system that gives students higher odds of receiving student football tickets. Games during the winter break will not be worth any “T-Credits.”
Tennessee’s new system is made to reward students who consistently show up to all sporting events, and it has created higher attendance at non-revenue sports. Tennessee volleyball’s top three all-time attendance marks were set this season, and Tennessee soccer set its highest average home attendance for a season in program
history.
Although some students were opposed to the new football ticketing system that incentivized attendance at other sports, it has worked as intended. Attendance across all Tennessee athletics events is improving consistently.
Tennessee associate athletic director of marketing and fan experience Jimmy Delaney has never seen students be so invested in these sports, which is a credit to both the student body and the growing size of the undergraduate population.
“This is the most involved I have seen it since I’ve been here, and I’ve been here for a long time,” Delaney said. “What I think is awesome about it is that as campus continues to grow and grow, we’re equally seeing that percentage of students who want to be involved in going to soccer matches and volleyball.”
Students are the lifeblood of any college athletics atmosphere. That’s most apparent at men’s basketball games as the student section is constantly standing and yelling, even when the team may not be generating momentum.
For that reason, getting more students closer to the court should improve an atmosphere at Food City Center that saw eight sellouts last season. With students as passionate about Tennessee’s teams as ever, that’s expected to make a winning combination.
“When the students are there and they’re going, the fans feed off of them,” Delaney said. “The team feeds off of them. It’s the synergy, all those parts.”
Tennessee’s men’s basketball team won the SEC regular-season championship for the 11th time in program history last season and advanced to the Elite Eight for the second time ever. Tennessee’s women’s basketball team is entering a new era this season under head coach Kim Caldwell following Kellie Harper’s firing after last season.
Sports Editor Caleb Jarreau contributed to this story.
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Caleb
THEO
How Kim Caldwell’s brand of basketball can set the Lady Vols apart
ALEX SARKIS Staff Writer
It’s not very difficult to see that there’s plenty of new things in store for Tennessee women’s basketball.
When head coach Kim Caldwell was hired last April, some speculation arose around whether her trademark aggressive and high-tempo style would translate to the likes of the SEC.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could do it here,” Caldwell said in her introductory press conference.
Caldwell’s confidence and a shared team goal of having the ability to push the pace throughout every matchup this season will likely be one of the main characteristics of the Lady Vols as the new season approaches.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could do it here.”
will look to keep that number high in her new conference.
aspect to Caldwell’s teams that she has stressed at each coaching stop.
Fast and furious
Caldwell’s overwhelming style paired with veteran experience could bear fantastic results for Tennessee.
On the offensive side of the ball, look for the Lady Vols to not shy away from shooting. Caldwell’s teams have never finished a season ranking lower than No. 4 nationally in scoring and have been known to take shots at will. The tools of veteran scorers Sara Puckett and Jewel Spear will be given plenty of freedom to continue to flourish.
“I think that getting a lot more shots up than the other team, more rebounds, that’s going to help us a lot,” Puckett said. “We’re going to have more possessions behind the ball.”
Defensively, Caldwell has enjoyed almost identical success, specifically in forcing turnovers, a trait that would greatly aid the speedy attack on offense. Clemson transfer Ruby Whitehorn will be an integral piece in slowing down the opposing attack. The junior recorded 45 steals with the Tigers last season and
“She has a bright future,” Caldwell said. “I think she is going to be one of those ones that may start off a little slow, and then you are going to see her take off.”
Trusting the process
The implementation of any new play style takes some time to adjust to, especially for certain players.
Caldwell is well aware of the possible learning curve and acknowledges that it will take some time for the Lady Vols to start firing on all cylinders.
“In the past, November is horrendous, and December is a little bit better,” Caldwell said. “Then you kind of hit your stride, and they get more comfortable going into it.”
Tennessee will be selecting starters for each game based on individual player performance from the previous game, a unique style that attempts to reward every single positive performance throughout the season.
Personal accountability and the notion of always being replaceable is an
“She doesn’t limit you. She also helps you work on your game so that you’re not limited when it comes to your actual game.”
SAMARA SPENCER Lady Vols Guard
Free and easy
Even though there is a concrete method to success for Tennessee, Caldwell is strong in her encouragement of her players to not feel confined.
One of the main praises of Caldwell’s players comes from their recognition of the fluidity and flowing nature the system can open up within the game.
“She doesn’t limit you,” guard Samara Spencer said. “She also helps you work on your game so that you’re not limited when it comes to your actual game.”
The growth of her players throughout the offseason in practice has been an encouraging sign for Caldwell in her first few months with the Lady Vols. With seven newcomers to the lineup, the naturally occurring chemistry within the team has already begun to form.
“They are coming into their own roles, which is something that also takes time in this style of play,” Caldwell said. “I have seen them come into their roles more and more the last two to three weeks, and it’s made our team better.”
Kim Caldwell coaches the Lady Vols during preseason practice at Food City Center. Wednesday, Oct. 23. 2024. Cole Moore / The Daily Beacon
KIM CALDWELL Lady Vols Basketball Coach