Lady Vols basketball belief didn't pay off this season, but it laid foundation for the future
SEATTLE – Tennessee basketball's locker room was quiet, save for a few sniffles and silent tears, after a second straight loss in the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
After two dominant first round wins, there was a sense of belief going into No. 4 seed Lady Vols' matchup with Virginia Tech. But Tennessee came out flat in its attempt to oust the top seed in its region, and eventually fell 73-64 at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday.
Despite clawing and battling their way back into the game – even bringing it within one point with six minutes left after trailing by 18 points – the Lady Vols fell short of their first trip to the Elite Eight since 2016.
"We were right there, we just couldn't get over the edge," UT guard Jasmine Powell said.
It was a simple statement from the senior, yet it – and the loss – encapsulated this season for Tennessee (25-12).
They Lady Vols had a poor start after high expectations, and then a valiant fight to come painfully close the potential they always believed they could reach.
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"They believed that they could be something special, and I'm proud of them for that," Tennessee coach Kellie Harper said. "I'm proud of them for coming back to practice every single day, willing to get better and willing to fight, and they did. We're sitting here with back-to-back Sweet 16 opportunities because of that, because of their belief ... it's been a special group for us to coach and that's why it hurts."
It may have taken too long this season, but the Lady Vols found an identity of grit and a refusal to quit until the final buzzer, which was also the story of their Sweet 16 exit.
"We was down and we didn't lay down," UT senior Jordan Horston said. "That just shows to who we are. We don't back down no matter what. I feel like we fought ... We wanted it so bad. It hurts because we really wanted it. I felt like we gave everything we got, everything we had."
It's the fourth time Harper has recorded a 25-win season as a head coach, and the first time she did it in back-to-back seasons. Tennessee's back-to-back trips to the Sweet 16 were also the first since the 2015 and 2016 season.
There are signs of the progress in the program Harper is building. This season cemented the culture she has strived to build since she arrived at her alma mater, even though it didn't result in the deep run of seasons past.
"I hope that the next team and people coming here, they see how much that we fought this season," said Jordan Walker, who played her last game for the Lady Vols. "Whether they're watching the first half of the season and seeing where we are now, how much we fought to be better and to be together – whether they're watching that, or even this last game and the feeling that we had. I just hope that next year they remember that feeling and remember all the things that we overcame this year, and start off strong and just know that they can overcome a lot."
Tennessee returns seniors Rickea Jackson and Tamari Key, who announced they are using their extra year of eligibility to return for a fifth season. Horston also has the option to return for a fifth season, but has not made a decision yet.
With key pieces returning and what the Lady Vols managed to accomplish, there's one thing for certain: the belief that carried them this season isn't going anywhere.
"It just shows we weren't a team to back down," UT sophomore Sara Puckett said. "We came together and just were going to take anything that was coming at us because we knew we could overcome it together ... I'm just proud of us."
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Why this season set foundation for the future of Lady Vols basketball
