Is it OK for Tennessee Lady Vols basketball fans to start dreaming about a Final Four again? | Adams

Let’s play “Name that basketball team.”

Record: 17-1. SEC record: 6-0. Only loss: Stanford. Winning streak: eight games. Beat nationally ranked Texas. Beat Kentucky by 25 points.

If you answered “the 2021-22 Tennessee Lady Vols,” you’re wrong. The current Lady Vols beat Kentucky by 26 points.

The correct answer: the 2007-08 Lady Vols, the school’s last national champion, which at this stage of the season was on a strikingly similar course as the current Tennessee team.

Comparing Lady Vols Final Four teams to possible Final Four UT teams was an appropriate discussion when legendary coach Pat Summitt routinely assembled rosters with championship potential. But a program with 22 Final Fours on its résumé hasn’t advanced that far in the NCAA Tournament in 14 years.

The good news for UT fans: coach Kellie Harper’s third team could rise above the program’s recent past.

The Lady Vols will enter Sunday’s game at Georgia on an eight-game winning streak since losing to second-ranked Stanford. Tennessee is No. 5 nationally and atop the SEC standings at 6-0, just ahead of No. 1 South Carolina.

Its success is no mystery. It’s the national leader in field-goal percentage defense and in defensive rebounds. Tennessee’s last national championship team also excelled defensively and in rebounding. And like the current Lady Vols, its players meshed nicely and were comfortable in clearly defined roles.

A glaring difference: The 2007-08 team had Candace Parker, one of the all-time greats in women’s basketball. At 6-foot-5, she could dominate in the post or play effectively on the perimeter.

But these Lady Vols have a strong inside presence in 6-6 Tamari Key, the SEC’s premier shot blocker and one of its top rebounders. They also have an advantage in size (10 players 6-foot or taller, compared to six on UT’s last national championship team).

The 2007-08 team offered few surprises. It returned many of the same players from its 2006-07 national championship team and had no problem picking up where it left off.

As good as this team has been, it's still on the way up and could be even better in March. Reaching the Final Four is no longer farfetched. Here’s what it would take:

Staying healthy: The Lady Vols already have had two scares.

Key went down with what looked like a serious injury against the Wildcats. But looks proved misleading. Harper lists her as “day to day” with an ankle injury.

Rae Burrell, their best player, missed 12 games with a leg injury.

Harper’s decision to gradually work Burrell back into the lineup has gone well. The team has kept winning, and Burrell has rounded into shape. She had 14 points and made all four of her 3-point attempts last Sunday.

Boosting the offense: The Lady Vols defense has exhibited few flaws, but their offense has room for improvement. That’s where Burrell comes in.

If not for her injury, Burrell might have led the SEC in scoring. At 6-foot, she’s quick to the basket and has a deft shooting touch. When she’s at full speed, she should create more scoring opportunities for her teammates.

High seeding: It's simple: The higher the seeding, the easier the path to the Final Four.

The Lady Vols are projected as a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament. Maintaining that or earning a top seed could depend on how they fare against nationally ranked teams. Including Sunday’s game against No. 13 Georgia, Tennessee has four regular-season games remaining against ranked opponents.

UT will play No. 1 South Carolina and No. 9 Connecticut on the road, and No. 11 LSU at Thompson-Boling Arena. The SEC Tournament will provide more opportunities against nationally ranked teams.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: twitter.com/johnadamskns.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: OK for Tennessee Lady Vols basketball fans to dream about Final Four?