All for Tennessee
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 6
Next
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images /

4. The Tennessee Lady Vols can’t have horrendous shooting games. 

So far, they haven’t had to deal with it. But if they do, it’ll become an issue. Last year, the Tennessee Lady Vols would have games where they shot below 30 percent from the field. And it would cost them in a big way.

Sticking true to Pat Summitt’s system, it would almost seem like Holly Warlick forgot about offense. However, things have been different this year.

You can bring up the easier schedule, but that doesn’t explain the Texas win. And shooing 48 percent from the field on average and 33 percent from three with a group of freshmen shouldering a huge part of the load can’t be understated.

This group is only going to get better as the schedule gets harder. And the opponents getting harder is why this becomes a question.

Against such well-coached teams in the SEC, will the Tennessee Lady Vols be able to avoid those horrendously bad shooting days they had the previous two years? It doesn’t even always come against top teams.

Middle of the pack SEC teams caused them frustration shooting the ball at times. So they need to make sure that doesn’t happen. Again, lots of this falls of the freshmen, who need to be able to stretch the floor to open up some room for Mercedes Russell.

Meanwhile, Jaime Nared needs to stay as consistent as she has been for the past few weeks. Her shooting percentage has been very helpful.

Overall, the team has shot very well so far. If they can keep up this hot shooting, they will once again clearly be the class of the SEC.