Tennessee rolled past New Haven on Tuesday night, but the 83-40 win in Knoxville still left a few things hanging in the air for the Lady Vols.
The defense did its job and the scoreboard was never in doubt. Even so, the game exposed some early issues that Tennessee will have to sort out before the schedule gets tougher. The biggest one was inside.
For a team with seven players listed at 6 feet or taller, the Lady Vols did not control the paint the way you’d expect against a New Haven roster with just two players above six feet. One was listed at 6-foot and the other at 6-foot-2, yet the Chargers matched Tennessee with 22 points in the paint. The Lady Vols also went just 9-for-25 on layups, and more than half of their shot attempts came from three.
That’s the kind of number that jumps out immediately. If Tennessee couldn’t establish itself around the rim against a much smaller team ranked near the bottom of Division I, the concern only grows with SEC play looming.
The idea is that the Lady Vols can pull opposing bigs away from the basket, but that still has to come with some ability to finish at the rim. So far, that part hasn’t shown up.
The scoring picture wasn’t much cleaner. Kaylene Smikle, who opened the season with 31 points on blistering efficiency, was held to 10 points on 3-for-11 shooting from the field and 2-for-6 from deep.
Naomi White, another player expected to be one of Tennessee’s top scorers, had three points on 1-for-8 shooting overall and 1-for-4 from three. Rylie Theuerkauf also struggled, finishing with three points on 1-for-7 shooting from the floor and 1-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Tennessee still got enough production to pull away, with four players reaching double figures. Aaliyah Moore led the way with 14 points, freshman Gabby Minus stayed hot with 13, Kennedy Fauntleroy added 11 despite inefficient shooting, and Smikle reached 10.
That balance helped, but it also underscored the point: for this team to hit its ceiling, Smikle, White and Theuerkauf need to be much more efficient than they were Tuesday night.
Then there’s Nya Robertson, whose role still isn’t clear. Tuesday was her second game available for Tennessee under a temporary restraining order that lets her play in a fifth year of college eligibility. The TRO expires on Nov. 13, which means she is eligible for Thursday’s game against MTSU before a longer-term decision is made.
Her minutes have been limited so far. At Coppin State, she only checked in late with the game already decided.
Against New Haven, she got some early second-quarter run, then came back in the fourth quarter for six more minutes. She finished with six points on 2-for-6 shooting from the field and 2-for-5 from three, plus an assist.
Robertson averaged 8.5 points per game last season while shooting 36.1% from the field and 33.1% from three, along with 2.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Right now, though, she still feels more like a piece in waiting than a defined part of the rotation.
Whether Kim Caldwell is easing her in because of the eligibility situation or because Robertson is still getting back into game shape after time as a student assistant, the result is the same: she hasn’t been a major factor yet. Caldwell is expected to address the situation after the game.
In Other News...
Why Alabama Still Sits Ahead Of Tennessee Just Got Clear
The latest College Football Playoff rankings left Tennessee still chasing Alabama, even though both teams carry two losses. The Vols landed at No. 8 while the Crimson Tide stayed at No. 3, and committee chair Hunter Yurachek pointed to Alabamas stronger schedule and better collection of quality wins as the separator.
For Tennessee, the path forward is still right there on the schedule, but it is not an easy one. Matchups with Texas A&M, LSU and Vanderbilt will give the Vols chances to strengthen their case, and in a crowded playoff race, every week now feels like an audition for a higher spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Just Landed A Top Commit With One Huge Catch
Tennessees 2027 baseball class already has a headline name in in-state catcher Blake Lundy, a highly rated prospect by Perfect Game who gives the Volunteers another important piece in the early stages of that group. He joins a run of top commits for Tennessee, adding to the programs recent momentum on the recruiting trail and reinforcing how quickly the Vols are stacking talent for the future.
Lundys commitment, though, comes with the familiar uncertainty that shadows elite baseball recruiting. He is still eligible for the upcoming MLB Draft, and his path could still turn toward professional baseball instead of Knoxville. For Tennessee, the good news is clear: if he chooses the college route, the Volunteers will be waiting as his landing spot. [Read more 🡒]
Tennessee Gets One Break But Another Loss Just Got Much Tougher
Tennessee got a small bit of relief in its first injury update of the week ahead of Texas A&M, with tight end DaSaahn Brame not appearing on the availability report after leaving the previous game. But the bigger news was far more damaging for a defense already stretched thin: sack leader Tyree Weathersby is out for the season after suffering a knee injury, a significant blow to a pass rush that has leaned on him for production.
Weathersby became the eighth Tennessee player to go down with a season-ending injury this year, underscoring how much attrition the Volunteers have had to absorb as the schedule tightens. The report also listed six other players who have now been sidelined for several straight games, leaving Tennessee to keep piecing together depth at multiple spots while trying to stay competitive in a crucial stretch. [Read more 🡒]