KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper took questions from the media on Wednesday in a Zoom interview session that covered the Lady Vols’ two games this week.
UT (3-1) will play at No. 15 Indiana (2-1) on Thursday at 4 p.m. ET (BTN+) and host Jackson State (1-4) on Sunday at noon ET (SEC Network).
Tennessee Head Coach Kellie Harper
On how the game against Indiana came about:
“At the beginning of the season when we put our schedule out publicly, we knew we were still one game short of a full schedule. We knew that we could add a game during the season. This was the week we wanted to try to add it. We had a game that Stanford was not able to come and play, so we wanted a really good opponent there. We’re very fortunate that Indiana had an opening there at the same time. We were able to get with them, communicate that and make this happen.”
On how the team has bounced back from traveling to Texas and having the game canceled so close to game time:
“It was actually a pretty big blow, to be honest. Players were getting taped. The coaching staff was getting ready. I think we had less than an hour before departing to the gym when we found out. That was tough. We were sitting on go. You build up and do everything leading up to game time. You’re getting ready to peak for game time, and then it doesn’t happen. That’s a big blow. Now, on the flip side, we’re all healthy. We had a safe trip out there. We had a safe trip back. At times like these, it’s easy to really dial in and look at that one little thing, but I think it’s important that we look at the big picture and realize that we’re OK. It’s just part of what we have to do. Honestly, it was a little somber coming home. The trip was a little quiet. At the next practice that we had, we had to get them geared back up and say, ‘This is part of it. That’s in the past; we’re moving forward and have to attack what’s in front of us.’ I think it’s important that we try to remember the big picture in these moments.”
On the challenge Indiana poses:
“They are really good and an excellent basketball team. They don’t do anything tricky. There’s no gimmick to it. They line up and guard you. They line up and score against you. They have a balanced attack. They have solid play. They’re intelligent, very physical and very intense. Coach (Teri) Moren has done an excellent job at Indiana. At my prior stop at Missouri State, we were able to play Indiana, so I understand what this team is all about. They’re going to be a difficult opponent for our team, but it’s a great opportunity to go up there and play against this type of basketball team. That’s the way we’re approaching it and getting our players as prepared as possible.”
On the veteran play of the nine seniors for Jackson State:
“In terms of Jackson State, I haven’t turned my attention to them as of yet, but I know they’re going to come in here competitively and ready to win. I know that. I think that’s the game that coaches look at every year – the game right before Christmas. You want to make sure that they don’t go on Christmas break before that game. They go on Christmas break after that game. Once we get through our Indiana game and have some opportunities to practice back here, we’ll discuss that and make sure we get our players focused for that last game.”
On Tennessee’s defense and the challenge Indiana poses:
“I think, in terms of our defense, it’s hard to take one person out. It’s hard to double team somebody because they’re just so solid across the board. They have a lot of people that can do things with the basketball. They really get to the paint. I think their guards play downhill. They make good decisions going downhill. They can score off the jumper. I think that’s one of their strengths. You can’t sit in the paint because they can knock down some threes as well. You can’t help off post players. They can shoot, and they can score. Obviously, their leading scorer right now is a post player. They’ve just got great balance. I think it’s just a challenge for us because there’s not a lot of gimmicks (and) not a lot of trickiness that you can do. You just literally have to line up and guard. You just have to guard. It’s got to be important to you.”
On whether the game against Indiana could turn into a series:
“It’s something we’ll talk about. I’m probably working on a home-and-home with them now, this year, and get them back down next year. We’ll see after that. Things are just so different this year. You’ve got to get through this year and then process the years in the future.”
On Thursday’s starting lineup:
“We had talked about some things even before the Texas game, so we’ll go into practice today and kind of make that decision coming out of practice. For me, the starting lineup, I know it’s a big deal to a lot of people, but it’s not to me. I think more importantly for us we’ve got to get our team ready to play, and that’s more than just five kids. We’ve got to be able to play our bench up at Indiana to give us an opportunity.”
On Rennia Davis’ shooting:
“I, personally, don’t have a concern about her going out and knocking down shots. Whatever game we go out and play, I feel like she is going to go out and make baskets. I think that’s just how much confidence we have in her. I understand that she may not shoot great next game. I don’t know when that’s going to happen. Our concern is that she’s going to be able to play through it. That’s going to be the greater concern. I don’t concern myself with what she’s doing, because it’s going to be fine. I have great confidence there. We’ve got to continue to help her feel good about taking those shots because our team needs her to.”
-UT Athletics
