Tennessee’s fourth straight day on the floor brought an early preseason test, and Friday’s practice gave a first real look at how Kim Caldwell’s third Lady Vols team is taking shape.
The most notable setup detail was simple: four consecutive days of practice to open the preseason slate, a deliberate move meant to create some adversity and make the group deal with something “hard” right away. From a health standpoint, everyone took part except Avery Mills, who is working back from an ACL injury suffered earlier this offseason. She was still around the team while handling rehab.
There were plenty of new faces and returnees worth watching, starting with Naomi White. The Northern Arizona transfer is stepping up a level after a breakout season, and the staff appears very confident she can carry that production into the SEC.
It’s easy to see why. She can create her own shot, score at all three levels, and looked composed with the ball, which matters a lot in Caldwell’s system.
Fatmata Janneh also made a strong impression. The Texas A&M transfer brings a real presence at forward and could matter on both ends.
At 6-foot-2, she may not have ideal size against every SEC big, but she plays bigger than that. She’s sturdy enough to hold her ground in the post, active enough to bounce back up for rebounds, and showed good touch around the rim.
With defenders being pulled away from the basket, that finishing ability could become a weapon.
Aaliyah Moore looked good as well. The former Texas standout already had the resume - she was an All-Big 12 performer - but the bigger question has been whether her body would hold up.
In this one practice, that didn’t seem like a concern once she settled in. Like Janneh, she gives up some height at 6-foot-1, but she can still play above her size because of her strength.
Moore also said she wants to be someone who can stretch the floor, though that part is still to be proven.
Jada Eads was another encouraging sight. She tore her ACL in January and missed the rest of last season after 16 games, but there was nothing obvious in the way she moved. She looked comfortable handling the ball, and while her game still has room for polishing, the recovery did not appear to be holding her back.
The Georgia transfers added another layer of intrigue. Rylie Theuerkauf shot the ball well, as expected, but she also looked better defensively on the ball than anticipated.
She seems like a natural fit as a catch-and-shoot option in transition. Zhen Craft, meanwhile, looks capable of carving out a meaningful frontcourt role behind Janneh and Moore.
She had an early miss from point-blank range, but settled in and finished better around the rim as practice went on.
If there was one clear problem area, it was turnovers. They weren’t isolated to one player, either.
Some of the giveaways came during scrimmage-style stretches when the defense was creating chaos, but even in transition work, passes were getting picked off too often. Caldwell addressed it in her press conference and then stopped practice to hammer the point home with the team.
It’s too early to make a sweeping judgment about how this roster will stack up, but the energy level was hard to miss. When Tennessee was last seen in practice before the NCAA Tournament, the group looked drained and flat near the end of a losing streak, and the mood around the NC State game was not especially hopeful.
This time felt different. Players were engaged, active, and clearly trying to play together within the system.
That doesn’t mean the roster is more talented than last year’s group. On paper, it isn’t.
But the game isn’t played on paper, and Caldwell has already shown what that can mean. Her first Lady Vols team wasn’t as talented as last season’s roster, either, yet it still upset UConn and reached the Sweet 16.
The current team still looks like a long shot to truly chase an SEC title, which remains Tennessee’s standard. Even so, Friday’s practice suggested something that felt important: a chance to move forward after the way last season ended.
In Other News...
Nick Saban Sees One Big Edge For Tennessee Against Texas
Nick Saban took a first look at Tennessees matchup with Texas during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, and his focus quickly settled on the part of the Vols offense that has become such a defining feature under Josh Heupel. He pointed to Tennessees running game as an important edge and tied it directly to the structure and tempo of Heupels system, which has long been built to stress defenses and keep them on their heels.
Saban also spent time on Texas, where the biggest question in his view centers on Arch Manning and the Longhorns ability to create explosive plays downfield. It sets up an intriguing early storyline for a game with plenty of attention already attached to it, and Sabans full breakdown is slated to air Saturday morning on ESPNs College GameDay. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Suddenly Faces A Serious Situation With Key Defensive Assistant
Tennessees defensive staff is dealing with an unexpected off-field concern after the program announced that linebackers coach William Inge has been hospitalized because of a personal medical issue. The university asked for privacy for Inge and his family while also thanking supporters for their prayers, a reminder of how quickly football can take a back seat when a coachs health becomes the priority.
Inge has been an important part of Tennessees recent defensive work, helping guide a unit that has developed into one of the teams strengths and played a role in the growth of linebackers such as Arion Carter. For a staff that leans heavily on continuity and communication, his absence is a significant situation to monitor while the program waits for more clarity. [Read more 🡒]
College GameDay Is Bringing Another Big Stage Moment To Tennessee
Tennessee is getting another national showcase this weekend, with ESPNs College GameDay set to broadcast from the University of Tennessee campus before the Volunteers matchup with No. 1 Texas. The show will air Saturday morning from the lawn of Ayres Hall and inside Neyland Stadium, adding another spotlight moment to a setting that already figures to be loud, bright and packed with anticipation.
Johnny Knoxville will serve as the celebrity guest picker, giving the pregame spectacle a distinctly Tennessee flavor. The GameDay crews trip also brings the program back into a familiar lane with the Vols, who have had their share of moments on the show over the years, and now get another chance to turn a big-game atmosphere into a full-blown campus event. [Read more 🡒]