After a tough 43-point loss to top-ranked South Carolina, the Lady Vols are looking to regroup and reset as they prepare to host Missouri on Thursday. It’s not just about bouncing back in the win column - it’s about reestablishing identity, sharpening execution, and showing resilience in the face of adversity. And with a familiar face returning to Thompson-Boling Arena, there’s a little extra emotion in the air, even if no one’s saying it out loud.
Tennessee head coach Kim Caldwell addressed the media ahead of the matchup, offering a glimpse into her team’s mindset following the lopsided defeat. While she didn’t sugarcoat the result, the focus now is on how her squad responds - not just emotionally, but tactically. South Carolina exposed some areas that need tightening up, and Missouri presents a different, but still very real, set of challenges.
Speaking of Missouri, this game carries a storyline that goes beyond the box score. The Tigers are led by Kellie Harper - the former Lady Vols head coach and a championship-winning point guard under Pat Summitt. Thursday marks Harper’s first return to Knoxville as an opposing coach since her departure from the program, a moment that naturally adds weight to an already meaningful SEC matchup.
Harper, though, is keeping the focus on her players.
“For me, I’m just doing my job,” she said. “This is about our players.
It really is. It’s about our team, and we’re going over to play a game.
I know there’s going to be so many people wanting to make it about me, and I get that, but it really isn’t. It’s about the game.
We’ve got to do our best to have our players prepared. The challenges that we have on Thursday are enormous.
They’re big, they’re athletic. But we know we’ll fight and we’ll play hard.”
Missouri has had its share of struggles this season, but Harper’s group won’t be short on motivation. They’re coming into Knoxville with something to prove - to themselves, to their coach, and to the rest of the conference. And for Tennessee, this is about regaining rhythm and confidence, especially on the defensive end and in transition, where Caldwell’s system thrives when clicking.
Tip-off is set for 6:30 p.m. ET on SECN+.
Two teams with something to prove. One court with plenty of history.
And a matchup that goes well beyond the final score.