2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team

2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball
NCAA tournament, Second round
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record20–13 (10–6 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
  • Samantha Willams
  • Jon Harper
  • Joy McCorvey
Home arenaThompson–Boling Arena
Seasons
2023–24 SEC women's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 South Carolina 16 0   1.000 38 0   1.000
No. 6 LSU 13 3   .813 31 6   .838
Ole Miss 12 4   .750 24 9   .727
Alabama 10 6   .625 24 10   .706
Tennessee 10 6   .625 20 13   .606
Vanderbilt 9 7   .563 23 10   .697
Mississippi State 8 8   .500 23 12   .657
Auburn 8 8   .500 20 12   .625
Texas A&M 6 10   .375 19 13   .594
Arkansas 6 10   .375 18 15   .545
Florida 5 11   .313 16 16   .500
Kentucky 4 12   .250 12 20   .375
Georgia 3 13   .188 12 18   .400
Missouri 2 14   .125 11 19   .367
2024 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

The 2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers basketball team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2023–24 college basketball season. Led by former Lady Vol Kellie Harper,[1] in her fifth year as head coach, the team played their games at Thompson–Boling Arena as members of the Southeastern Conference.

The Lady Vols finished the season with a 20–13 overall record, 10–6 in the conference. They received a bye in the SEC tournament and advanced to the semifinals, where they lost by one point to South Carolina.[2] The Lady Vols earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, advancing to the second round before losing to North Carolina State.[3]

On April 1, 2024, Tennessee announced that Harper was fired after five seasons.[4]

On April 15, 2024, senior Rickea Jackson was selected by the Los Angeles Sparks, via the Seattle Storm, as the #4 overall pick in the 2024 WNBA draft.[5]

Previous season

[edit]

The 2022–23 team finished the season with a 25–12 overall record, 13–3 in the conference. They advanced to the finals of the SEC tournament, where they lost to South Carolina.[6] Finishing strong in the conference, the Lady Vols earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen before losing to Virginia Tech.[7]

Roster

[edit]
2023–24 Tennessee Lady Volunteers women's basketball team
Players Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Year Previous school Hometown
G 0 Jewel Spear 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Sr Wake Forest University The Colony, TX
G/F 1 Sara Puckett 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Jr Muscle Shoals HS Muscle Shoals, AL
F 2 Rickea Jackson 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) Sr Mississippi State University Detroit, MI
G 5 Kaiya Wynn 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Jr Foster HS Richmond, TX
G 10 Destinee Wells 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Sr Belmont University Lakeland, TN
F 11 Karoline Striplin 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) Jr Geneva HS Hartford, AL
G 12 Edie Darby 5 ft 7 in (1.7 m) So Greenfield HS Greenfield, TN
G/F 13 Avery Strickland 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) So University of Pittsburgh Knoxville, TN
G 15 Jasmine Powell 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) Sr University of Minnesota Detroit, MI
C 20 Tamari Key 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) RS Sr Cary HS Cary, NC
G/F 21 Tess Darby 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Sr Greenfield HS Greenfield, TN
F 53 Jillian Hollingshead 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) Jr University of Georgia Gainesville, GA
G 55 Talaysia Cooper 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) So University of South Carolina Turbeville, SC
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster

Schedule and results

[edit]
Date
time, TV
Rank# Opponent# Result Record High points High rebounds High assists Site (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
10/30/2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+
No. 11 Carson–Newman W 105–72 
 17  Jackson   8  Tied   6  Wells  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,819)
Knoxville, TN
11/5/2023*
6:00 p.m., SECN
No. 11 USA Women's National Team L 59–95 
 15  Jackson   7  Powell   3  Wynn  Thompson–Boling Arena (6,179)
Knoxville, TN
Non-conference regular season
11/7/2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+
No. 11 Florida A&M W 93–64  1–0
 20  Tied   12  Hollingshead   6  Wells  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,684)
Knoxville, TN
11/9/2023*
6:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 11 at No. 18 Florida State L 91–92  1–1
 31  Jackson   17  Jackson   4  Jackson  Donald L. Tucker Center (2,898)
Tallahassee, FL
11/13/2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+
No. 15 Memphis W 84–74 OT 2–1
 24  Puckett   12  Spear   3  Spear  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,729)
Knoxville, TN
11/19/2023*
2:00 p.m., SECN+
No. 15 Troy W 100–73  3–1
 19  Striplin   14  Striplin   8  Wells  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,782)
Knoxville, TN
11/23/2023*
6:00 p.m., FOX
No. 19 vs. No. 21 Indiana
Fort Myers Tip-Off
L 57–71  3–2
 13  Tied   7  Puckett   3  Wells  Suncoast Credit Union Arena (1,314)
Fort Myers, FL
11/25/2023*
1:30 p.m.
No. 19 vs. No. 22 Oklahoma
Fort Myers Tip-Off
W 76–73  4–2
 19  Powell   8  Tied   3  Spear  Suncoast Credit Union Arena (478)
Fort Myers, FL
11/29/2023*
5:00 p.m., ESPN2
No. 20 No. 18 Notre Dame
ACC–SEC Challenge
L 69–74  4–3
 14  Powell   7  Powell   5  Wells  Thompson–Boling Arena (8,211)
Knoxville, TN
12/3/2023*
5:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 20 No. 16 Ohio State
Jimmy V Classic
L 58–78  4–4
 11  Wells   7  Hollingshead   3  Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (8,723)
Knoxville, TN
12/6/2023*
7:30 p.m., ESPN+
vs. Middle Tennessee L 62–73  4–5
 29  Striplin   6  Tied   4  Powell  Spragins Hall (5,015)
Huntsville, AL
12/10/2023*
2:00 p.m., SECN+
Eastern Kentucky W 72–63  5–5
 17  Striplin   9  Hollingshead   5  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,785)
Knoxville, TN
12/19/2023*
6:30 p.m., SECN+
Wofford W 85–63  6–5
 18  Spear   10  Hollingshead   10  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,900)
Knoxville, TN
12/31/2023*
2:00 p.m., ESPN+
at Liberty W 90–55  7–5
 21  Jackson   7  Tied   7  Wynn  Liberty Arena (2,105)
Lynchburg, VA
SEC regular season
1/4/2024
8:00 p.m., SECN+
at Auburn W 75–65  8–5
(1–0)
 24  Jackson   19  Jackson   6  Wynn  Neville Arena 
Auburn, AL
1/7/2024
12:00 p.m., SECN
Kentucky
Rivalry
W 87–69  9–5
(2–0)
 27  Jackson   7  Tied   9  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (8,823)
Knoxville, TN
1/11/2024
7:00 p.m., SECN
Florida W 88–81  10–5
(3–0)
 20  Tied   8  Tied   4  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (7,605)
Knoxville, TN
1/14/2024
5:00 p.m., ESPN
at Texas A&M L 56–71  10–6
(3–1)
 12  Puckett   7  Puckett   5  Puckett  Reed Arena (4,785)
College Station, TX
1/18/2024
7:00 p.m., SECN
at Mississippi State W 75–64  11–6
(4–1)
 19  Jackson   7  Jackson   7  Powell  Humphrey Coliseum (5,507)
Starkville, MS
1/21/2024
3:00 p.m., SECN
Vanderbilt
Rivalry
W 73–64  12–6
(5–1)
 16  Jackson   10  Jackson   8  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (9,088)
Knoxville, TN
1/28/2024
3:00 p.m., ESPN
at Ole Miss L 75–80  12–7
(5–2)
 30  Spear   6  Jackson   6  Powell  SJB Pavilion (3,863)
Oxford, MS
2/1/2024
7:00 p.m., SECN
at Georgia W 95–73  13–7
(6–2)
 25  Spear   8  Key   9  Powell  Stegeman Coliseum (2,596)
Athens, GA
2/4/2024
2:00 p.m., SECN+
Missouri W 80–69  14–7
(7–2)
 22  Spear   6  Spear   6  Tied  Thompson–Boling Arena (9,190)
Knoxville, TN
2/8/2024
7:00 p.m., SECN+
at Alabama L 56–72  14–8
(7–3)
 13  Jackson   7  Key   3  Tied  Coleman Coliseum (2,655)
Tuscaloosa, AL
2/12/2024
7:00 p.m., SECN
Arkansas W 81–55  15–8
(8–3)
 21  Jackson   10  Hollingshead   7  Spear  Thompson–Boling Arena (8,161)
Knoxville, TN
2/15/2024
7:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 1 South Carolina L 55–66  15–9
(8–4)
 19  Jackson   8  Powell   3  Jackson  Thompson–Boling Arena (11,073)
Knoxville, TN
2/18/2024
2:00 p.m., SECN
at Vanderbilt
Rivalry
W 86–61  16–9
(9–4)
 24  Jackson   7  Jackson   4  Jackson  Memorial Gymnasium (6,259)
Nashville, TN
2/25/2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN
No. 13 LSU L 60–75  16–10
(9–5)
 16  Jackson   9  Jackson   6  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (15,261)
Knoxville, TN
2/29/2024
7:00 p.m., SECN
Texas A&M W 75–66  17–10
(10–5)
 27  Jackson   7  Key   6  Powell  Thompson–Boling Arena (8,161)
Knoxville, TN
3/3/2024
12:00 p.m., ESPN
at No. 1 South Carolina L 68–76  17–11
(10–6)
 29  Jackson   8  Jackson   3  Powell  Colonial Life Arena (18,000)
Columbia, SC
SEC tournament
3/7/2024
2:30 p.m., SECN
(5) vs. (12) Kentucky
Second Round / Rivalry
W 76–62  18–11
 22  Puckett   11  Darby   4  Powell  Bon Secours Wellness Arena (6,144)
Greenville, SC
3/8/2024
2:30 p.m., SECN
(5) vs. (4) Alabama
Quarterfinals
W 83–61  19–11
 24  Spear   9  Jackson   6  Wynn  Bon Secours Wellness Arena (8,841)
Greenville, SC
3/9/2024
4:30 p.m., ESPNU
(5) vs. (1) No. 1 South Carolina
Semifinals
L 73–74  19–12
 22  Jackson   9  Jackson   8  Jackson  Bon Secours Wellness Arena (12,784)
Greenville, SC
NCAA tournament
3/23/2024*
12:00 p.m., ESPN
(6 P4) vs. (11 P4) Green Bay
First Round
W 92–63  20–12
 26  Johnson   9  Johnson   6  Powell  Reynolds Coliseum 
Raleigh, NC
3/25/2024*
4:00 p.m., ESPN
(6 P4) at (3 P4) No. 11 NC State
Second Round
L 72–79  20–13
 33  Jackson   10  Jackson   7  Powell  Reynolds Coliseum (4,803)
Raleigh, NC
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
P4=Portland 4.
All times are in Eastern Time.
2023–24 Schedule

Rankings

[edit]
Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP11151920RVRVRVRVRVRVNot released
Coaches12202122RVRVRVRVRVRVRVRVRV

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Voepel, Mechelle (April 8, 2019). "Sources: Lady Vols to hire Harper as coach". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  2. ^ Iacobelli, Pete (March 9, 2024). "Cardoso's first-ever 3 rescues No. 1 South Carolina at SEC Tournament with 74-73 win over Lady Vols". Associated Press. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  3. ^ Lady Vols’ comeback against NC State comes up short Lady Vols basketball can't complete comeback against No. 1 seed Virginia Tech in Sweet 16
  4. ^ "Tennessee Athletics Announces Change Of Leadership In Women's Basketball". Tennessee Volunteers Athletics. April 1, 2024. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  5. ^ "WNBA Draft '24: Draft Results". April 15, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  6. ^ South Carolina women's basketball stays perfect, wins SEC championship 74-58 vs. Tennessee
  7. ^ Lady Vols basketball can't complete comeback against No. 1 seed Virginia Tech in Sweet 16