The Volunteer State

Part of coaching the Lady Vols means testing yourself against the nation's best opponents. Kim Caldwell will experience that in her first season at Tennessee.

The Lady Vols will host UConn next season, a restoration of a rivalry that went on a one-year hiatus last season. There was a time when this rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport. The rivalry isn't what it once was, and neither is either program. Still, UConn is coming off a Final Four appearance, while Tennessee is a program searching for its footing.

Can the Lady Vols possibly be prepared to handle UConn in Caldwell's first season?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the rivalry restoration.

They also assess Caldwell's first month on the job and her efforts to boost the roster through transfer additions. And they evaluate Tennessee's chance of keeping its NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive in Caldwell's debut.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Three Tennessee football players were selected in the NFL Draft last week.

Cause for celebration, or concern?

The four qualifying teams for last season’s College Football Playoff combined for 44 draft picks. 

That suggests that if Tennessee wants to go from competitive program to national championship program under Josh Heupel, he needs to start producing more NFL talent.

And yet, consider that Tennessee finished 9-4 despite not having a single player selected within the draft’s first three rounds. That speaks to Heupel’s coaching ability.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Adam Sparks and John Adams unpack Tennessee’s production in the draft and why they think Jaylen Wright will become UT's most productive NFL player from this draft class.

They also preview next year’s draft class, highlighted by edge rusher James Pierce, who profiles as a potential No. 1 overall pick.

And, they consider this question: Is Tennessee’s draft performance cause for concern?

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.

Tennessee football can rest easy about its starting quarterback situation. Not only is Nico Iamaleava the starter, he's a star in the making. Iamaleava's tidy performance in Saturday's spring game reiterated that all is well with Tennessee's QB1.

Elsewhere on the roster, it's more of a mixed situation. The Vols face areas they could solidify entering this spring transfer portal window.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks review the spring game and address some lingering burning questions.

Which areas of the roster look like strengths? Where does Tennessee require reinforcements? Who's the backup quarterback, and should Tennessee trust him?

Let's dive in.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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The Lady Vols are all in on Kim Caldwell's upside.

Tennessee athletic director Danny White didn't want to miss the boat on Caldwell or delay hiring a coach whose career is on an upward trajectory. Two years ago, Caldwell led Division II Glenville State to its first national championship. This season, her first as a Division I coach, she took Marshall to the NCAA Tournament.

Now, she coaches a blueblood. Caldwell's fast track matches her teams' high-octane style of play.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams review Caldwell's introductory presser, outline what success looks like in Year 1 and grade the hire.

The verdict: Not an 'A' hire, but a passing grade.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Danny White faces a big decision – his biggest decision, in fact, since he hired Josh Heupel in 2021.

White is conducting a Lady Vols coaching search that will reshape the direction of the program. Kellie Harper maintained the program as an NCAA Tournament regular, but she repeatedly peaked in the Sweet 16, and the Lady Vols were eliminated in the second round this year. Recruiting momentum had stalled.

White acted boldly by firing a coach who played for Summitt and who won 20 games this season.

Now, he must be bold in his quest to hire just the fourth coach in program history. The last two Lady Vols coaches came from the Pat Summitt tree. Will White look outside the Lady Vols family for this hire? That seems likely.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the Lady Vols search.

First, they address the candidacy of Duke's Kara Lawson. Verdict: Lawson should not be viewed as the frontrunner.

Then, each offers two swing-for-the-fences candidates, plus a fallback option.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Rick Barnes and the Sweet 16 go hand and hand.

The Vols are back among the NCAA Tournament’s final 16 teams standing in March Madness for the second straight year and the third time during Barnes’ tenure.

But, this round of March Madness remains a familiar pitfall for Tennessee, which has never made a Final Four.

Barnes’ lone Final Four appearance came in 2003 at Texas. He’s in the Sweet 16 for the ninth time.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams handicap the hurdles remaining in Tennessee’s path to the Final Four.

One host says Purdue is the biggest obstacle, while the other two hosts make the case for Creighton. They also debate whether they're more or less confident in Tennessee after two rounds of March Madness.

Tap the link in bio for more details.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Tennessee’s early SEC Tournament exit cost the Vols a likely No. 1 NCAA seed.

The silver lining: Tennessee won’t have to meet No. 1 overall seed UConn in the NCAA Tournament until the national championship. Also good news: Rick Barnes possesses his best team in a handful of years.

But, Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament history remains an elephant in the room. The Vols never have reached a Final Four, and the program’s lone Elite Eight came in 2010, with Bruce Pearl as coach.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Mike Wilson and John Adams assess Tennessee’s NCAA Tournament draw and handicap the Vols’ chances of making a deep run.

Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Midwest Region, where Purdue is the No. 1.

But, it's not Purdue that comes to mind first when predicting stumbling blocks for the Vols. Beware of Creighton. 

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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More than a trophy is at stake when the Tennessee basketball team takes the floor at the SEC Tournament in Nashville this week. A No. 1 seed could be on the line for the Vols (24-7).

Some bracket experts are projecting Tennessee as a No. 1 seed for the NCAA Tournament, but such outlooks are subject to fluctuation. If the Vols bow out early in the conference tournament, they could surrender the inside track to a top seed. If they cut down the nets Sunday in Nashville, that likely would cement a No. 1 seed for Tennessee.

But, to what extent does that even matter?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Mike Wilson discuss the importance (or lack thereof) of the SEC Tournament for Tennessee.

Win the SEC Tournament, and the Vols almost certainly are on the 1-line come Selection Sunday. But, is an SEC Tournament title a kiss of doom for March Madness? History warns of that.

Stay connected on X with Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) and Mike Wilson (@ByMikeWilson), and stay up to date on the Vols by following @GoVolsXtra.

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We're talking about practice. Spring practice.

Tennessee will begin spring workouts on March 18. Let the Nico Iamaleava era take hold. Iamaleava's performance in his first career start, a bowl victory against Iowa, has Vols fans feeling optimistic about the 2024 season.

The quarterback position being in capable hands could put Tennessee on a path toward College Football Playoff contention – but only if the Vols address a few important areas this spring.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and the Adam Sparks highlight four storylines to monitor throughout the Vols' spring, which will culminate with the spring game on April 13.

They break down potential starters in the overhauled secondary and highlight transfers to watch.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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Perhaps it goes without saying. We’ll say it anyway.

The Third Saturday in October will be the most important game on Tennessee’s 2024 schedule.

Oh, sure, we realize the importance of a few other games. When the Vols face Georgia in mid-November, Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs may well be ranked No. 1. Tennessee’s September date at Oklahoma, Josh Heupel’s alma mater, will be another biggie. And be careful about overlooking an October game against Florida. 

Still, it feels as if Tennessee’s path to the College Football Playoff could go through Kalen DeBoer and his Crimson Tide. 

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and Adam Sparks assess Tennessee’s schedule and its path to the playoff.

The 12-team playoff is big enough for a handful of SEC teams. The outcome of Alabama-Tennessee may decide one of the playoff’s final at-large bids.

Also in this episode, Sparks ofers an update on the latest in the state of Tennessee’s lawsuit against the NCAA and the status of the NCAA’s investigation into the Vols.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Mike (@ByMikeWilson) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra.

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