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Tennessee Lady Vols’ five biggest preseason storylines for 2021-2022

By Caleb Calhoun

From left, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball guard Brooklynn Miles (0), guard/forward Sara Puckett (1), guard Jordan Walker (4), and forward Alexus Dye (2) during practice in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.Kns Wbball Practice
From left, Tennessee Lady Vols basketball guard Brooklynn Miles (0), guard/forward Sara Puckett (1), guard Jordan Walker (4), and forward Alexus Dye (2) during practice in Knoxville, Tenn. on Tuesday, October 5, 2021.Kns Wbball Practice /
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Tennessee’s Tamari Key (20) and Tennessee’s Rae Burrell (12) block an Arkansas shot during a game between the Lady Vols and Arkansas in Thompson-Boling Arena, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. The Lady Vols defeated Arkansas 88-73.
Tennessee’s Tamari Key (20) and Tennessee’s Rae Burrell (12) block an Arkansas shot during a game between the Lady Vols and Arkansas in Thompson-Boling Arena, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. The Lady Vols defeated Arkansas 88-73. /

2. Can Lady Vols offset the departure of Rennia Davis’ production?

The loss of Rennia Davis departure makes up two storylines on this list. She is the reason beyond the loss of Kasiyahna Kushkituah, and a greater reason at that, for the Tennessee Lady Vols needing to find more depth in the post. However, Davis was such an elite producer that offsetting her departure earns its own slide.

Davis led the team in both points and rebounds last year. Who is going to offset her production? Rae Burrell is the obvious choice, as she has developed dramatically over the past two years and averaged 16.8 points and just under five rebounds last year. We mentioned her as somebody who could move over to the four if needed on the previous slide.

However, if she doesn’t move over, beyond just depth, somebody else needs to pick up scoring. Tamari Key emerging into a superstar at center could help with this. The two best candidates, though, are Keyen Green and Alexus Dye.

Green was supposed to emerge last year but suffered a season-ending injury four games in. Dye averaged a double-double with the Troy Trojans last year. If Burrell continues her development, Key finally breaks out and those two guys bring in more production, then UT will be fine without Davis. However, all of those things need to happen.