Lady Vols practice on Thursday offered an early look at what Tennessee wants to be this season: fast, aggressive and led by two point guards who are taking on more than just ball-handling duties.
Kennedy Fauntleroy and Jada Eads drew plenty of praise after the team’s local media day and open workout at Pratt Pavilion. Both are carrying a heavy load, including running film sessions for the whole team. That responsibility has already translated to more confidence at the top of the press and in directing the offense this early in the year.
Fauntleroy, in particular, looked like a player who can impact the game in a lot of ways. She can score, sure, but her value showed up most as a rebounder, passer and defender.
She said today that Caldwell has SEC Defensive Player of the Year aspirations for her. If she can boost her steal numbers in this system, she could push herself into that discussion.
There were also several shooters who stood out. Rylie Theuerkauf knocked down a few threes in succession and continues to look dangerous on catch-and-shoot chances, which is exactly why she was brought in. Fatmata Janneh and Harper Peterson also hit shots from the frontcourt, and Aaliyah Moore and Riley Makalusky showed they can stretch the floor, too.
Naomi White kept looking like a scorer who can flip a stretch of possessions in a hurry. She was making shots at a strong rate from deep and added a tough pull-up midrange bucket that could serve as a useful bailout when the halfcourt offense stalls. The only question there is consistency; when she gets rolling, she looks capable of piling up points fast.
Freshman Gabby Minus is still adjusting, which comes with the territory. She had some turnovers, but she also flashed the kind of tools Tennessee will want to lean on: a made three, active defense and the ability to finish at the rim. Once rotations narrow and the staff settles in on 10 or 11 players, it’ll be worth watching how she fits.
Two issues stood out from the session: size and turnovers. The lack of size is a real tradeoff, even if it comes with a clear upside.
Tennessee should be the quickest team on the floor every night, and that speed can create all kinds of problems for bigger, less mobile opponents, just like it did in Caldwell’s first season. But if the Lady Vols get bogged down in the halfcourt, that same weakness could show up.
Turnovers may be more of an October-and-November growing pain than a long-term flaw. That’s the kind of issue teams usually sort through early, and Tennessee’s style could produce some messy stretches and easy transition points for opponents at first.
Still, if the Lady Vols clean that up, the offense has real explosion potential. Tennessee has been living above 100 points per scrimmage all offseason, though the sloppiness has also helped opponents score at a high clip on the other end.
In Other News...
Tennessee Just Entered A Bigger Week 8 Conversation
A Tennessee team that has spent the fall trying to prove its place in the SEC spotlight has now been pulled into a broader Week 8 conversation, at least in the prediction game. Among a slate of upset calls circling college football, the Volunteers are the ones getting singled out for a potential edge over South Carolina, a matchup that would carry plenty of weight for a program still trying to stack consistency behind its stronger performances.
South Carolina has the kind of profile that can make these forecasts interesting, especially when recent results and individual play begin to tilt opinion one way or the other. For Tennessee, the appeal is obvious: a road to momentum, a chance to firm up its standing, and another test of whether the Volunteers can turn promising stretches into something more durable when the conference schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Defensive Turnaround Is Suddenly Paying Off With Elite Recruits
Tennessees defensive resurgence has started to show up in ways that reach beyond the scoreboard. After holding Alabama to 10 points and forcing four turnovers in a recent game, the Volunteers gave 2028 four-star cornerback Tyler Boyd plenty to notice during his visit, and the performance lined up with the kind of progress the new defensive staff under Jim Knowles has been working to build.
Boyd came away talking about those improvements, and his interest in Tennessee appears to have grown after seeing the unit in person. The Vols are keeping the pressure on the recruiting trail, too, with Derek Jones and Josh Heupel staying in regular contact as they try to keep Boyds attention moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessees Passing Game Has A Real Opening If The Vols Hold Up Front
South Carolina has given up plenty through the air in SEC play, and that creates a clear opening for Tennessee as it looks to get its passing game moving in the right direction. For the Vols, this is less about chasing a big number and more about taking what the defense has already shown on film, especially if the matchup lets Tennessee stay on schedule and avoid obvious passing downs.
The key, as always, starts up front. If Tennessee can hold up in pass protection, George MacIntyres reads should come easier, and the rest of the offense will have a chance to do its part as receivers and backs work into the right spots. The opportunity is there, but it only matters if the Vols can keep the pocket clean long enough to make South Carolina pay for what it has been giving up. [Read more 🡒]