Kim Caldwell had plenty to like after Tennessee’s 110-64 rout of MTSU on Thursday night in Knoxville, and she spent much of her postgame session pointing to the same theme: the Lady Vols played together, cleaned up the details, and looked far sharper than they had the other night.
Caldwell said she was “really proud of our team’s response to our game the other night,” adding that Tennessee “fixed their offensive spacing,” “finished really well,” and got “significantly better” at the foul line. She also praised the team’s ball pressure and the way the Lady Vols kept moving the ball even when shots weren’t dropping.
“I was really, really impressed with what they did on the floor tonight.”
The win came with one injury note as Aaliyah Moore exited and did not return. Caldwell said Moore “hurt her calf,” and the staff decided there was no reason to push it.
“So, it’s just something we’re going to have to treat tomorrow.”
There was also a strong night from Harissoum Coulibaly, and Caldwell made it clear that performance fit the player they expected when they recruited her.
“Yeah, that’s who Hari is. It was really great to see her be more comfortable on the floor tonight. I think she’s going to continue to grow and grow.”
Caldwell said Coulibaly had been “struggling a little bit in games,” but noted that Tennessee is still a new group and some players are still working through the adjustment. Even so, she said the team was happy for Coulibaly because “that’s who she is.”
Gabby Minus drew praise as well, with Caldwell stressing that the freshman’s consistency doesn’t surprise her.
“No, it doesn’t, because she’s consistent every single day.”
Caldwell pointed to Minus putting in extra work after a poor foul-shooting night, saying she was back in the gym shooting free throws and trying to correct it. She described Minus as someone who plays with urgency and wants to do things the right way, while adding, “She has a very high ceiling.”
The defensive pressure that fueled Tennessee’s second-half surge was another major point of emphasis. Caldwell said the Lady Vols were connected on rotations in a way they hadn’t been before.
“I think one thing that KK (Kaylene Smike) always says to our team is five people have to rotate together. We all have to rotate together.”
She said that was the best the team had looked in that area, with nobody lagging behind and everybody ready to attack the ball. Caldwell said the pressure from the opening tip helped Tennessee get off to a strong start.
Smike’s own performance also drew a detailed breakdown from her coach, who said Tennessee knew what it was getting.
“I think that to her point, we knew who we were getting in a player, and she still too I think has a really high ceiling.”
Caldwell said Smike’s shooting has been underrated, but what stood out most was her defense. She praised the way Smike pressures the ball, flies around, chases steals, and still keeps teammates involved when she gets going offensively.
“That’s why she’s efficient. She makes the right plays. She shares the ball.”
The overall flow of the offense, Caldwell said, was helped by the steals Tennessee forced. She pointed to the 30 steals as a major driver of the game.
“It was great. I was very impressed with our turnovers that we forced and the 30 steals that we had. That’s a great number.”
She said the defense and offense were connected, and that the steals only happen when all five players are working in sync.
Caldwell also talked about the challenge of a short turnaround and a long day of film work before the game. She said the team handled the first one-day prep of the season well.
“That was our first one-day prep, and we’re having a lot of firsts right now throughout the season.”
Even with the condensed schedule, she said the players listened, absorbed the correction, and responded the right way.
On the road ahead, Tennessee will be off tomorrow, then return to work on Saturday before continuing prep for Belmont. The Lady Vols play at Belmont on Tuesday and then again on Thursday.
Caldwell also singled out Jada Eads, especially for her work on the glass. She said Eads’ six offensive rebounds stood out and noted that Eads missed the summer and is still getting back into rhythm.
“You’re just going to see her continue to get better and better.”
She closed by touching on Tennessee’s latest signing class, saying the program has not yet been allowed to talk about Amaya Manuel and Maci Pringle, two top-35 players. Caldwell said Kaylene Smikle and Fats Janneh were a big part of it, but credited the whole team for helping recruit them.
“I think they will both be players that you guys will love to watch, our fans will love to watch as much as you guys love Gabby (Minus) and the two that are up here and how hard we play. Those two fit that mold.”
In Other News...
Tennessee Suddenly Has An O-Line Problem Before Texas A&M
Tennessees offensive line took an unexpected hit Thursday night when starting left guard Nic Moore showed up on the SEC Availability Report as out after not appearing on it the day before. Moore had settled in as a productive starter at left guard, so his absence lands at an awkward time with Texas A&M next on the schedule and the Volunteers already needing stability up front.
Now the focus shifts to how Tennessee reshuffles the interior line to cover the vacancy. The staff is weighing lineup adjustments at left guard, and with a conference game looming, the next move matters for both protection and the run game as the Vols try to keep their offense on track. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Has A Backfield Problem Before A Huge SEC Test
Tennessees backfield took a sudden hit heading into a pivotal SEC matchup, with Daune Morris ruled out for the game against Texas A&M after suffering a leg injury in a car accident. The setback lands at a bad time for the Volunteers, who had been counting on Morris as a reliable second-string option and a useful piece in recent games.
Morris is expected to miss the rest of the season, leaving Tennessee to adjust its depth chart as the stakes rise. For a team already staring at a major test, losing a back who had become part of the weekly rotation adds another layer of pressure to an offense that now has to find answers quickly. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Heads Into Texas A&M With A New Concern Up Front
Tennessee heads into a tough SEC road trip at Kyle Field with a fresh concern up front, as starting left guard Nic Moore is listed out because of injury. The Volunteers are already dealing with the usual wear and tear that comes with late-season conference play, and losing a starter on the offensive line adds another layer of pressure against a Texas A&M front that will be looking to make life difficult in the trenches.
The injury report also shows defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby out, while tight end DaSaahn Brame is available, giving Tennessee at least one positive note on the availability front. Texas A&M has its own list of question marks, including wide receivers Terry Bussey and Kelshaun Johnson and offensive lineman Trovon Baugh, so both teams will be monitoring personnel right up to kickoff in a game where depth could matter as much as the game plan. [Read more 🡒]