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Tennessee Lady Vols: 5 keys for SEC play in 2017-2018

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 23: Tennessee fans cheer prior to the start of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 23, 2004 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - OCTOBER 23: Tennessee fans cheer prior to the start of the game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on October 23, 2004 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images /

5. The Tennessee Lady Vols need a suffocating defense.

So far this year, defense hasn’t been a problem. In a sense, this is where the team really takes you back to the days of Pat Summitt. Holly Warlick’s Tennessee Lady Vols dominate their opponents on defense.

The interior defense will never be a problem. With senior Mercedes Russell down there and key complementary role parts, there’s no reason to worry.

However, perimeter defense could be a question in conference play. With such a young squad out there, can the Lady Vols keep suffocating opponents on defense? That will make or break the idea as to whether or not this team is back.

Right now, Tennessee gives up fewer than 62 points a game. And while they shut down people inside, the real story is the fact that they force between 16 and 17 turnovers a game. That includes an average of nearly 10 steals a game. On top of that, they also hold opponents to 23 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

So, again, the perimeter defense has been dominant. And it’s been consistent, which is a major deviation from last year. Add in the fact that they rarely get in foul trouble, and you can’t get much better than the Tennessee Lady Vols’ perimeter defense.

This has been a huge advantage for them. If they can keep this up throughout conference play, they will own teams. However, there is another factor when it comes to the perimeter that has plagued them in the past. We go to that key next.