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Tennessee Lady Vols’ 2022-23 preview: Frontcourt

By Caleb Calhoun

Tennessee guard/forward Marta Suarez (33) during practice after the Lady Vols' media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp
Tennessee guard/forward Marta Suarez (33) during practice after the Lady Vols' media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp /
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Last year’s Tennessee Lady Vols had their season derailed by injuries, but it was a key injury in the frontcourt that did them in. They got up to No. 4 in the polls before backup power forward Keyen Green suffered a season-ending injury. Other players were hurt throughout the year, and they still made the Sweet 16, but the skid from the top started then.

Green has now graduated, as did starting power forward Alexus Dye. However, Kellie Harper went about adding a bunch of new talent down low. That includes two new forwards and two new wing players who can move to the post if needed. Another such wing player returns from injury.

That gives the Tennessee Lady Vols many more options in the post than last year, and they still return one starter and two backups. As we get set to preview UT down low, we’ll separate the slides by returning starters, returning backups, biggest questions and final take. Let’s see if this unit can help the Lady Vols warrant that top five preseason ranking.

The Tennessee Lady Vols have a lot of high profile transfers in the post this year. Who will Kellie Harper turn to for the women’s basketball Volunteers?

Tennessee center Tamari Key (20) during the Lady Vols’ media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp
Tennessee center Tamari Key (20) during the Lady Vols’ media day at Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2022.Kns Lady Vols Media Day Bp /

Returning starters

Tamari Key

  • 6’6″
  • Senior
  • Cary, N.C.

Arguably the best player on the team now, Tamari Key enters her senior season on Rocky Top as easily the most dominant defensive force in the SEC. Last year, she took a huge leap, averaging double figures for the first time in her career at 10.5 points per game and also grabbing over eight rebounds a game.

However, already a block machine when she arrived on campus out of Cary High School in North Carolina in 2019, Key took it to a new level last year, averaging just under three blocks a game and finishing with 119 total. She knows her role and plays it to perfection, staying under the basket.

If Key improved her free throw shooting in the offseason and added just a bit of finesse to her game, she could be the greatest center in Tennessee Lady Vols history. In fact, she could become one of the greatest centers in women’s basketball history. Her potential is through the roof, and another year under Kellie Harper should make her scary.