All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee Lady Vols 2018-2019 preview by position: Back court outlook

By Caleb Calhoun

KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Tennessee Volunteers fans hold up a cardboard photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt during the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Connecticut 60-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
KNOXVILLE, TN - JANUARY 21: Tennessee Volunteers fans hold up a cardboard photo of women's basketball coach Pat Summitt during the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Thompson-Boling Arena on January 21, 2012 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Connecticut 60-57. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 5
Next
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images
Photo by John Sommers II/Getty Images /

Projected Starters

OFF GUARDS

Rennia Davis; Sophomore; 6’2″; Jacksonville, Fla.

Holly Warlick went for diversity last year when she started Rennie Davis on the wing and Jaime Nared at forward under the basket. Both were the same size and could stretch the floor. This year, Davis will be expected to provide a size advantage again with her interchangeability.

At 6’2″, Davis is the team’s leading returning scorer after averaging 12 points a game. She’s also their leading returning rebounder, as she was second on the team last year, averaging over seven and a half a game. Add in her .329 three-point percentage, and she’s clearly the best all-around returning player. So now, it’s her time to step up. Davis should become the star of team.

Meme Jackson; Senior; 5’11”; Murfreesboro, Tenn.

The veteran player for the Tennessee Lady Vols, Meme Jackson complements Davis’s play by being the smart player. She started all 33 games last season and averaged over eight points. But despite her size, Jackson was a well-rounded player. She averaged over four rebounds and two and a half assists per game as well.

This year, as a senior, the team’s most efficient three-point shooter is back. And she is a key glue player for the back court to make sure this unit still develops. Jackson is also No. 2 among returners in steals from last year, so she’ll need to step up as a defensive specialist.

POINT GUARD

Evina Westbrook; Sophomore; 6’0″; Salem, Ore.

This year’s team could have had Evina Westbrook and Anastasia Hayes on the court together, but Hayes’s dismissal makes Westbrook the only returning true point guard on the team. So she’s going to resume her starting role, and she’s the player who needs to take the biggest step this year. Westbrook showed lots of flashes of greatness last season, averaging over four assists and eight points a game.

But she also made lots of freshman mistakes. The team’s leader in turnovers, she averaged over three and a half for a very poor assist to turnover ratio. The loss to the Texas A&M Aggies that we initially referred to was mostly on her. So the top recruit from 2017 has a lot of potential, but she still has a lot of work to do to improve. If she can take that next step and limit the turnovers, the Tennessee Lady Vols will be in great shape.