Lady Vols are back to their winning ways

Read Time:3 Minute, 34 Second

Up in Knoxville, the winning tradition is something fans and the team cannot escape. That is understandable when your head coach was none other than the legendary Pat Summit. The coach would end her career six years ago and finished with 1,098 victories before sadly passing away. That is still the NCAA basketball standard in Men’s and Women’s basketball. Some cannot help but wonder that if she was still alive, what that incomprehensible number would be.

That was not to be as we lost the legend and her replacement was none other than her right hand of nearly three decades, Holly Warlick. The task would not be simple as she had to fill a pair of shoes that probably will never fit anyone else.

Souvenir poster available at tonight's @LadyVol_Hoops game pic.twitter.com/37ipgT7JFr

— Vol Network (@VolNetwork) January 4, 2018

It was a rough first five years for Warlick as she tried to bring back the glory to The Summit. This season would be a different animal as the Lady Vols have gotten back to their winning tradition.

It began with their annual exhibition game against Carson-Newman. There, she would give way to her four freshmen, Evina Westbrook, Anastasia Hayes, Rennia Davis and Kasi Kushkituah and they did not disappoint.

But the 2017-18 season would need a whole lot more than just one game to call it a success. Warlick would have to do the one thing that has escaped her until now. Find chemistry between the veterans and the new freshmen. One bump in the road was the unexpected departure of Diamond DeShields after she decided to turn pro after the team believed she would be back.

What has transpired is a team full of cohesion determined to close games out. One of the things they have avoided is losing to teams they should beat. Last year was a rough one after losing to six teams that did not even make the NCAA tournament.

Their first test came against No. 20 Marquette in a game that saw the Lady Vols miss free throws that should have won it in regulation. They had to rely on Hayes to score the final five points in overtime for a 101-99 victory to get them to 4-0 on the young season.

Next up, it was No. 2 Texas and it was never really a game. They were led by spectacular senior Jamie Nared with 23 points despite a tough time shooting from the field (6-for-20). She also had 13 rebounds and was joined by senior Mercedes Russell who had a double-double of her own (15 points and 13 rebounds). The win put Tennessee at 10-0.

At 15-0, they went to SEC foe Texas A&M where the two teams traded blow for blow only to wind up tied after four quarters. Danni Williams would score seven of the Aggies nine points in overtime to hand Tennessee their first loss of the year.

So, it was back to work and they would have to travel to battle the defending national champs, South Carolina. What they got was their best performance of the year in an 86-70 blowout ‘W’.

Now, they have to go to No. 5 Notre Dame Thursday to complete the third of four games playing some of the best teams in the country. In order to beat the Irish, Russell and Nared will have to play like leaders. Westbrook and Davis, who have been outstanding, will have to avoid playing like freshmen.

Congrats to #LadyVols seniors @jaimenaredd & @MerSladezz on making the @WoodenAward Midseason Watch List! 🍊🏀#GBO #T3LD pic.twitter.com/bv6NwP8WmE

— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) January 11, 2018

The last juggernaut will be No. 3 Mississippi St at home. With wins in the next two games, the Lady Vols will find themselves back in familiar territory, one of the best teams in the country.

Women’s college basketball has a long hard history and a huge part of that history lies in Knoxville. It is the place where a dynasty was built on rebounding and tough defense. It is now the place where the rest of women’s basketball once again does not want to play.

It’s been a long time coming, but it is so good to see good ole Rocky Top right back where it belongs. That would be right back on top of the women’s college basketball world.