There has been a lot of doubt placed on Tennessee women's basketball head coach Kim Caldwell, and it isn't unfounded.
The Lady Vols just finished the season on an eight-game losing streak, including a double-digit loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and then every single player left the program, leaving Caldwell with an empty roster and more questions than answers.
Now, as Tennessee has clearly decided to keep Caldwell in Knoxville for at least a little longer, she has to prove her worth, and recruiting stars out of the transfer portal is the perfect opportunity.
The good news? This weekend, Caldwell is set to host four transfer prospects from Power Conference programs, all of whom would create the perfect base for rebuilding the Volunteers' roster.
Former Florida Gator Laila Reynolds, Virginia Tech Hokie Mackenzie Nelson, and Georgia Bulldogs Zhen Craft and Rylie Theuerkauf are scheduled to be in Knoxville this weekend, checking out everything that Caldwell and the Vols have to offer.
Kim Caldwell could piece together SEC/ACC starting 5
Of course, Caldwell did land her first pieces of the puzzle when the transfer portal opened earlier this week, earning commitments from former Liberty guard Avery Mills and former NAU guard Naomi White.
However, there is a long way to go before the Lady Vols can even hold a practice. Adding four players who each have experience in the SEC or ACC would be an incredible step in the right direction.
Not to mention the fact that Craft and Theuerkauf have experience playing together, just wrapping up their season with the Bulldogs.
Nelson was a starter for the Hokies this year and averaged a consistent 8.0 points and 5.7 assists per game. Reynolds spent three years with the Gators and became a starter in her freshman season. Now, she averages 12.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
Six players obviously aren't quite enough to field a team in the regular season, but continuing to rebuild her program step by step is exactly what Caldwell has to do.