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Tennessee Lady Vols preview vs. Auburn: Live stream, game time TV Info

By Caleb Calhoun

DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Smokey, the mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, performs during a time out in the second half against the Wright State Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - MARCH 15: Smokey, the mascot of the Tennessee Volunteers, performs during a time out in the second half against the Wright State Raiders in the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at American Airlines Center on March 15, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /
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The Tennessee Lady Vols return home Thursday to host the Auburn Tigers. Here is our preview for the women’s basketball Volunteers.

After a 91-63 blowout loss to the Mississippi State Bulldogs that put them squarely on the bubble of the NCAA Tournament outlook, the Tennessee Lady Vols return home to begin a four-game stretch that they have to do well in. It starts against the Auburn Tigers, the team they beat to open SEC play this year.

Auburn heads to Knoxville having won three of their last four games, and UT enters the game with the same record in their last four games despite the Sunday blowout. Evina Westbrook, who sat out the Mississippi State game due to a suspension, is expected to be back in the lineup in this game.

At 15-8 and 4-6, the Tennessee Lady Vols are either a last four in team or a first four out team in many bracketology projections. Auburn is fighting for a spot too at 18-6 and 6-5, making this a huge game for both teams. Here is all the information you need for this match-up.

Auburn Tigers at Tennessee Lady Volunteers

When: Thursday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. E.T.

Where: Thompson Boling Arena; Knoxville, Tenn.

TV: SEC Network Plus

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Right now, Tennessee is outside of the top 60 of the RPI, meaning they are probably out of the NCAA Tournament hunt at this point. However, at No. 50, Auburn gives them a chance to pick up a decent win and somewhat boost their schedule strength.

After the Tigers, the Tennessee Lady Vols visit the Missouri Tigers and Texas A&M Aggies, two top 35 RPI teams, and then host the South Carolina Gamecocks, a top 15 RPI team. With their final two games being against the Vanderbilt Commodores and at the Ole Miss Rebels, two of the worst teams in the league, these next four games are their chance to build their resume.

Assuming they win those last two games, Holly Warlick’s team has to win at least two of these upcoming games to maintain any chance to stay in the NCAA Tournament and not have to rely on SEC Tournament magic. Auburn is their most winnable game of the four, so this one is almost a must-win.

Winning any of the other three would be somewhat of an upset, but the Lady Vols have no choice. They have to find a way to score a win in one of those games, or it’s going to be impossible to sell them belonging in the NCAA Tournament. Before that, though, they need to take care of Auburn.