The Lady Vols are gearing up for their third straight ranked showdown, and this one comes with a twist-both in competition and scheduling. Tennessee is set to face off against Ole Miss in Oxford on Monday, but due to inclement weather, tip-off has been bumped up to an earlier start.
Instead of the originally scheduled 8:30 p.m. ET, the game will now tip at 4 p.m.
ET. As for the broadcast, it was slated for ESPNU, but that could be subject to change, with an official update expected over the weekend.
This isn’t just another SEC matchup-it’s a battle between two top-20 teams. Tennessee enters the weekend ranked No. 17, while Ole Miss sits right behind them at No.
- But with a new AP Poll set to drop just hours before tip-off on Monday, there could be movement on both sides.
Either way, the stakes are high, and the momentum is real.
Tennessee is coming off a gritty win over No. 11 Kentucky-a game that went down to the wire and showcased the Lady Vols’ defensive identity under head coach Kim Caldwell.
With the game on the line, Talaysia Cooper came up with the defensive play of the night, grabbing a clutch steal to seal the win. On the offensive end, Mia Pauldo carried the scoring load, dropping 21 points on 9-of-22 shooting.
She was the only Lady Vol to crack double figures, but this one was less about flash and more about grit.
Caldwell didn’t mince words after the game. “I think we did it with defensive effort,” she said.
And the numbers back her up. Tennessee forced 21 turnovers while only coughing it up nine times themselves-a massive swing in possessions.
That’s been a point of emphasis for Caldwell all season, and it showed up in a big way against Kentucky.
“The majority of our points came from the foul line,” Caldwell noted. “When we looked at the stat sheet, the only thing I really touched base on is we got 20 more shots than them.
It’s what we want all year. It’s what we want every single game.”
That shot differential is no accident. It’s a product of relentless defensive pressure and a commitment to controlling tempo.
Against Alabama earlier this season, Tennessee only managed one more shot than their opponent. Caldwell made it clear: that won’t cut it.
“If we don’t get 20 more shots against this team here today, we lose by 15,” she said.
So far, the formula is working. The Lady Vols are forcing turnovers, protecting the ball, and grinding out wins in a loaded SEC.
Next up is a tough road test against an Ole Miss team that just took care of business against Missouri. After that, Tennessee returns home to face Mississippi State on Thursday, Jan. 29, with tip-off set for 6:30 p.m.
ET.
But first, all eyes are on Oxford. Two ranked teams.
One early tip. And a whole lot on the line.