The Lady Vols are back on the floor quickly, and their second game of the season brings their first road test. Tennessee, now 1-0, heads into a matchup with Coppin State on Thursday night with the expectation that it should handle business against the Eagles.
The conversation around this one has centered on how Tennessee looks on the defensive end. One staff prediction leaned hard into that side of the ball, pointing to an aggressive scheme from Coach Kim Caldwell and expecting the Lady Vols to overwhelm Coppin State with pressure.
That prediction called for Fatmata Janneh to post 3+ blocks and Kennedy Fauntleroy to finish with 3+ steals, while K.K. Smikle was picked to lead the team in scoring.
Naomi White was also singled out as a player with a strong offensive night ahead, and the pick was a blowout win for Tennessee.
Another forecast had the Lady Vols reaching triple digits again, with production spread across the roster. Freshman Gabby Minus was identified as someone who could play a major role in the win.
The expectation of a comfortable Tennessee victory was echoed again in another prediction, which noted that the Lady Vols opened the season with a dominant win over Duquesne. That performance was fueled by Kaylene Smikle’s 31-point debut, and the staff outlook was that Tennessee’s depth, offensive versatility, and defensive pressure would be too much for Coppin State to deal with.
The final prediction also circled back to the defense, saying that while the offense has drawn plenty of attention, the Lady Vols have already shown strong moments on that end of the court. The expectation there was simple: Tennessee should dominate defensively on Thursday night.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Got A Huge Edge In A Massive Kentucky Showdown
Saturday night at Neyland Stadium already had the feel of a measuring-stick game, and now Tennessee enters it with a clean bill of health on the current roster. The 13th-ranked Volunteers will host No. 6 Kentucky at 6:15 p.m. ET in an SEC rivalry matchup that carries real weight for both teams, with each still eyeing the playoff picture and knowing a win would do plenty for the rsum.
For Tennessee, the absence of any new injury changes matters as much as the ranking gap. The Vols are still dealing with six season-ending injuries, but otherwise look ready for a game that could reshape the league conversation, while Kentucky got a small boost of its own with defensive back Isaiah McMillian moving to probable after previously being listed as questionable. In a matchup this big, the margins are thin, and availability could end up being part of the story before the first snap even arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Faces A Costly Problem At The Worst Time Against Kentucky
Penalty issues have been a recurring problem for Tennessee all season, and they come into this matchup with Kentucky needing a cleaner performance than the one that has too often followed them around. The Volunteers have been flagged 61 times and have given away too many yards in the process, a costly habit for a team trying to stay sharp in a rivalry game where every mistake can swing momentum.
Kentucky brings a different kind of challenge, one that shows up in the details. The Wildcats have been much better at avoiding self-inflicted damage and have built a strong turnover margin, while Josh Heupel has already pointed to the importance of Tennessee playing a disciplined game. Against an opponent that protects the football and limits mistakes, the margin for error is thin, and the Volunteers cannot afford another sloppy afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Kim Caldwell Sees One Clear Issue Despite Tennessees 2-0 Start
Tennessee opened the season 2-0 and handled Coppin State 98-60, but Kim Caldwell still found room for a sharp critique in the aftermath. In her postgame interviews on MEAC Network TV and Vol Network radio, the Lady Vols coach pointed to the teams defensive adjustments, the play of younger pieces, and the early contributions from Kennedy Fauntleroy and Gabby Minus as reasons for optimism, even with the lopsided win in hand.
The bigger concern, Caldwell said, was the kind of issue that can linger long after a comfortable result: ball sharing, defense and shot selection. With a young roster still settling in, Tennessee has already shown it can overwhelm an opponent, but the next step is making those stretches more complete and more consistent, especially once the competition tightens and the margin for error shrinks. [Read more 🡒]