Lady Vols ‘can’t skip steps’ in the SEC Tournament after missing double-bye, says Kellie Harper.

This marks a shift from the norm as, for the first time since coach Kellie Harper’s debut season with Tennessee basketball, their SEC Tournament journey will kick off in the second round rather than the quarterfinals. Despite finishing tied for fourth place in the SEC, a departure from their third-place or tied-for-third finishes in the past four years, the Lady Vols (17-11, 10-6 SEC) missed out on a double-bye in the tournament due to Alabama holding the tiebreaker.

Seeded fifth, the Lady Vols are scheduled to face the winner of the Kentucky vs. Georgia matchup on Thursday at Bon Secours Wellness Arena, with the game expected to tip off around 2:30 p.m. on SEC Network.

Coach Harper emphasized the team’s focus on immediate challenges, stating, “For our team, we have big goals. And the way we’re going to approach it is, we’re going to only talk about Georgia and Kentucky. We’re going to talk about what we need to do against those two teams. You can’t really look past that.”

While playing a game before a potential rematch with No. 4 seed Alabama in the quarterfinals could have its benefits, Harper acknowledges the fresh legs of the Tide and emphasizes the need to be ready to play regardless of potential advantages.

Tennessee’s 10-6 conference play record mirrors that of the 2019-20 season when they missed out on a double-bye in the SEC Tournament. Starting a day earlier alters the preparation routine, eliminating an extra day off before the postseason and requiring a packed Wednesday schedule of media obligations, open gym, opponent scouting during the Kentucky vs. Georgia game, and evening practice.

Harper emphasized the importance of staying focused on the immediate task, saying, “So, it’s a lot that happens on Wednesday for us now, and then you can’t skip. You can’t skip steps. You cannot play on Friday unless you win on Thursday. And so the focus really, really has to be on game one.”

Reflecting on the challenging final stretch of SEC play against formidable opponents like LSU, Texas A&M, and a second matchup with undefeated South Carolina, Harper believes the team’s recent performance positions them well for the postseason. Despite acknowledging imperfections and room for growth, she expressed confidence that the Lady Vols haven’t reached their full potential and are committed to continuous improvement.