There was no hiding from what happened to Tennessee last season.
The Lady Vols finished 16-14, lost their final eight games and watched every player with remaining eligibility enter the transfer portal. Kim Caldwell responded by essentially building another basketball team.
Now we’re beginning to get our first meaningful clues about what she built.
The early returns from preseason practice aren’t perfect. Turnovers have been a problem, passing needs cleaning up and Caldwell is still sorting through combinations. But there’s also been a recurring theme around this group: the energy feels different.
Caldwell sees it, too.
“If the season started today, I think our fan base would love how hard we play and how well we play together,” Caldwell said recently.
That’s encouraging. So is the emerging collection of players who could make this rebuild fascinating.
Start with Aaliyah Moore. The former Texas forward missed all of last season following knee surgery, but she’s now fully cleared and says she’s playing without pain. Moore was an All-Big 12 performer before injuries interrupted her career, and Caldwell is apparently asking her to expand her offensive game.
Moore says Tennessee’s offensive freedom has been an adjustment — in a good way.
“This year, it’s like coach gets mad at you if you don’t shoot the ball,” Moore said. “So I’ve been letting it fly, and it’s been great.”
Then there’s Naomi White, the Northern Arizona transfer who has drawn considerable attention in practice. Observers have noted her handle and three-level scoring ability, while Caldwell has been considerably less cautious in her assessment.
“I have no doubt that that girl will translate,” Caldwell said of White, adding that Tennessee fans are “gonna love her.”
Fatmata Janneh has also looked capable of making an immediate impact inside, while guard Kennedy Fauntleroyhas impressed Caldwell with her passing, rebounding and ability to organize the offense. And Tennessee is gradually working Jada Eads back after her January ACL injury.
There are warning lights. The turnovers seen during an open practice weren’t isolated to one player, and Caldwell acknowledged that Tennessee’s passes aren’t yet as clean as she wants. That’s particularly important for a team intending to play quickly and apply pressure.
But perhaps the most intriguing thing Caldwell said was about her defense: she believes this group is further ahead defensively than any of her previous Tennessee teams.
That’s worth filing away.
Nobody knows yet whether Caldwell’s massive reconstruction will work. But after an offseason filled with departures, arrivals and questions, the Lady Vols are finally giving us something more tangible than a roster on paper.
And the first glimpse is considerably more interesting than the wreckage they left behind.
– Vol Hoops Staff Writer