The No. 8-ranked Lady Vols basketball team is set to begin their season under head coach Kim Caldwell when they face off against No. 9 NC State on Tuesday afternoon in Greensboro, North Carolina. Coming off an impressive exhibition season where they dominated Columbus State by 100 points, the Lady Vols are eager to build on last year’s Sweet 16 appearance, which ended in a challenging loss to top-seeded Texas.
Fans can catch the action starting at 4 p.m. ET at First Horizon Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on ESPN2, with Pam Ward providing play-by-play commentary and Debbie Antonelli serving as the analyst. Additionally, listeners in Knoxville can tune in to the Vol Network for radio coverage.
As for betting odds, Draft Kings places Tennessee as a slight favorite at -1.5, with an over/under of 149.5 points for the match.
Last season, the Lady Vols finished with a 24-10 record and an 8-8 mark in the SEC, while NC State boasted a stronger 28-7 record, having finished 16-2 in the ACC. Both teams also reached the Sweet 16, illustrating their competitive prowess.
Preseason rankings place Tennessee at No. 8 in the AP Poll and No. 9 in the Coaches Poll, while NC State is slightly ahead at No. 9 in the AP Poll and No. 8 in the Coaches Poll.
Key players to watch include Tennessee’s Nya Robertson, who was their leading scorer last season with 18.5 points per game, alongside Zee Spearman and Janiah Barker, both contributing six rebounds per game. For NC State, Khamil Pierre is the standout, having averaged 20.4 points and nearly 10 rebounds per game last season. Pierre has posed challenges for the Lady Vols in the past, making her a focal point for Tennessee’s defensive strategy.
The Lady Vols have bolstered their roster with new talent that could prove vital in containing Pierre’s offensive output. Rebounding will be critical, and Janiah Barker will be essential in limiting second-chance opportunities.
Overall, with a stacked roster and various options for scoring, Tennessee is poised for a strong start to the season. While some adjustment time is expected as the team gels, their increased talent depth could lead them to a tight victory over NC State in a fiercely contested match. The prediction leans towards a narrow win for the Lady Vols, with a projected score of Tennessee 78, NC State 74.