GAME THREAD: @ #1 UCONN, Sunday, 1/30, 12:00 pm EST (Fox)

#1
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RetroVol

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#1
Trying something new. Took one I liked (Claude) and ran it through others to fact-check, add things I thought needed, etc. As always, check it!

#15 Tennessee @ #1 UConn
Sunday, February 1, 2026 | 12:00 PM ET | FOX
PeoplesBank Arena | Hartford, Connecticut

ONE SENTENCE SUMMARY:
The #15 Lady Vols (14-4, 6-1 SEC) travel to Hartford to face the nation's only unbeaten team, #1 UConn (22-0), in a massive rematch of last season's historic Tennessee victory that saw Kim Caldwell become the first UT coach to beat the Huskies since 2007. ESPN gives UCONN a 95% chance of victory.

CURRENT RECORDS:
• Tennessee: 14-4 overall, 6-1 SEC (Coming off a 77-62 home loss to Mississippi State on Jan 29)
• UConn: 21-0 overall (Nation's last unbeaten team; riding a dominant win streak through the Big East)

CONTEXT:
• Series Record: UConn leads 17-10 all-time, but Tennessee won the most recent meeting on Feb 6, 2025, with an **80-76** thriller in Knoxville.
• National Context: Sarah Strong (So.) and Azzi Fudd (Gr.) are currently the frontrunners for National Player of the Year.

STYLE OF PLAY:
UConn:
• Tempo: Controlled and clinical. Leads the nation in FG% (.527) and assists (24.1 apg).
• The "Strong" Factor: Sophomore Sarah Strong is averaging 18.9 PPG and 8.2 RPG, acting as a point-forward who can dismantle pressure.
• Perimeter: Azzi Fudd is shooting a lethal 43% from deep and 97% from the free-throw line.

Tennessee:
• Tempo: Caldwell’s "Hockey Substitution" system. The Lady Vols lead the SEC in three-pointers made (9.7 per game) and force 21+ turnovers per game.
• Depth: Ten players average double-digit minutes; the bench consistently outscores opponents by double digits.
• Pressure: 94 feet of chaos. The goal is to wear out UConn’s shorter rotation by the fourth quarter.

RECENT RESULTS (Last 3-4 Games):
Tennessee:
• L vs Mississippi State 62-77 (Jan 29) - A "wake-up call" loss; shot just 19% from 3PT.
• W vs #11 Kentucky 60-58 (Jan 22) - Freshman class (Pauldo/Prawl/Civil) carried the scoring.
• W at #21 Alabama 70-59 (Jan 18) - Dominant road performance.

UConn:
• W vs Xavier 97-39 (Jan 28) - Allie Ziebell tied the program record with 10 triples.
• W vs Notre Dame 85-47 (Jan 19) - Most lopsided win in the history of that rivalry.

INJURIES / AVAILABILITY:
Tennessee:
• Full roster available.
UConn:
• UConn played the Xavier game without six players, including a starting post and a key freshman scorer; and Caroline Ducharme was listed with migraine Whether all of that carries over to Sunday is TBD.

Starters:

1. KK Arnold - Jr. | 5-9 | PG
11.2 ppg | 5.1 apg | 3.8 rpg | 2.9 spg | elite on-ball defender and primary facilitator

2. Azzi Fudd - RSr. | 5-11 | G
17.9 ppg | 2.9 apg | 48.5% 3PT (top-10 nationally) | 100% FT | National POY candidate, perimeter scoring threat

3. Ashlynn Shade - So. | 5-10 | G/F
10.8 ppg | 3.4 rpg | versatile wing, strong defender, consistent secondary scorer

4. Sarah Strong - So. | 6-2 | F
18.9 ppg | 8.2 rpg | 59.9% FG | National POY favorite, does everything at elite level

5. Serah Williams - Jr. | 6-4 | F/C
9.5 ppg | 7.1 rpg | 1.8 bpg | rim protector and interior anchor (Wisconsin transfer)

Top Reserves:

• Jana El Alfy - RSo. | 6-5 | C
8.2 ppg | 5.6 rpg | high-efficiency post scorer, recently returned from concussion, provides size and scoring punch

• Allie Ziebell - Fr. | 5-11 | G
12.4 ppg | 42.8% 3PT | elite sharpshooter, tied program record with 10 threes (34 pts) vs. Xavier, instant-offense microwave off bench

KEYS TO THE GAME:
Tennessee MUST:
• **Shoot the lights out:** The "System" only works if the 3PT% is above 30%. Can't repeat the Mississippi State shooting slump.
• **Fluster the stars:** Force Azzi Fudd into high-turnover situations before she can set her feet.
• **Freshman Poise:** Mia Pauldo needs to handle the Hartford atmosphere; she’s been the leading scorer in SEC play but hasn't faced a #1 environment yet.

Tennessee AVOID:**
• **Foul Trouble:** Specifically for **Lazaria "Zee" Spearman** and **Janiah Barker**. If UT's posts go to the bench early, Sarah Strong will feast.
• **Transition D Lapses:** UConn is elite at scoring before the press can set up.

BOTTOM LINE:
UConn is rolling, at home, and playing for revenge. However, Kim Caldwell's "System" is designed to disrupt exactly what UConn does best: execution. If Tennessee can come alive from the 3-point line, press without giving up cheap baskets, and play the good half court defense they've shown at times this season, they could stay in this one and have a chance.
 
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#11
#11
Volfan2012 said:
We can't shoot the ball. I think we might win a lot of road races, but sadly in basketball you have to make field goals. We can't even make free throws.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that was the Achille's heel of all the "cheetah" ball hype.

Prawl has a text book jumper but she just can't hit with any consistency. Those 6 consecutive FT misses were hard to watch. I am mystified by the extent of her shooting struggles

Civil is a slash and drive to the rim player. It is crap shoot when she takes a jumper.

Spearman's shooting has regressed. Boyd seldoms get opportunities so it is hard to judge.

Barker and Coop are far less consistent shooters than this team needed.

Nya struggles mightily against better comp.

Mia has been the most consistent shooter over the last month but she can't do it by herself.

We can hope that this team rallies at the Uconn game and pulls off another shock upset but it is hard to see how that could happen.
 
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#13
#13
I’m not touching this one. I’ll simply hope for the upset.

*Edit: I’d like to add one thing, I will of course be watching this game and regardless of what the final score is, I would think most LV fans would like to see the same thing I want to see at the least….a UT squad that fights to the last second and gives this game their best effort. That would have merit for the outlook going forward. And you never know what can happen if that kind of focus and effort is given. Pride can be a strong motivator.
 
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#15
#15
If the Lady Vols play like they did against Miss. State, it will be a blood bath and not a good one. We need both defense and offense that will travel to UCONN. This can be a very tough outing.

UCONN 78
Lady Vols. 60
 
#16
#16
Volfan2012 said:
Hoopgurlz thought we had a lot of talent looks like a lot of misses. On this team from their original class we have 3, 7,9, 14, 17, 20, 30,34, 45, 57, a couple lower ranked 100 and Robertson is a NR player at least not top 100.
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We have talent to be middle of the pack, one never changed my stance, I said we didn’t have enough during the offseason but I was bashed for it. High school rankings are meaningless to me, show me where they rank in college. We need to have a Championship roster, and this isn’t it..
 
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#17
#17
Rooster1 said:
I’m not touching this one. I’ll simply hope for the upset.

*Edit: I’d like to add one thing, I will of course be watching this game and regardless of what the final score is, I would think most LV fans would like to see the same thing I want to see at the least….a UT squad that fights to the last second and gives this game their best effort. That would have merit for the outlook going forward. And you never know what can happen if that kind of focus and effort is given. Pride can be a strong motivator.
Click to expand...
The silver lining of coming right off an "embarrassment" game is that players should have a burning desire for redemption. I expect the LVs to bring a lot of energy and effort to the Uconn game.
 
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#22
#22
RetroVol said:
Top Reserves:

• Jana El Alfy - RSo. | 6-5 | C
8.2 ppg | 5.6 rpg | high-efficiency post scorer, recently returned from concussion, provides size and scoring punch

• Allie Ziebell - Fr. | 5-11 | G
12.4 ppg | 42.8% 3PT | elite sharpshooter, tied program record with 10 threes (34 pts) vs. Xavier, instant-offense microwave off bench
Click to expand...
There are two key reserves missing from the review. The most important is Blanca Quinonez, who did not play against Xavier and is questionable for Sunday. However, if she’s available, she’s the single most important reserve. A very athletic freshman and the third leading scorer on the team.

The other key reserve is the backup point guard Kayleigh Heckel, who plays far more meaningful minutes than Allie Ziebell.

Also, somewhere in the post it said UConn was 22-0, and somewhere it said 21-0.

Starting Center Serah Williams and key reserve Blanca, along with four others, all missed the last game, and, Azzi Fudd has been in a bit of a slump as her three-point shooting was 30% over the last three games. Add that to the fact they’re playing in that horrible building (instead of the on campus, Gampel Pavilion) and this game can be a lot more interesting than people think.
 
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#25
#25
ncteacher88 said:
There are two key reserves missing from the review. The most important is Blanca Quinonez, who did not play against Xavier and is questionable for Sunday. However, if she’s available, she’s the single most important reserve. A very athletic freshman and the third leading scorer on the team.

The other key reserve is the backup point guard Kayleigh Heckel, who plays far more meaningful minutes than Allie Ziebell.

Also, somewhere in the post it said UConn was 22-0, and somewhere it said 21-0.

Starting Center Serah Williams and key reserve Blanca, along with four others, all missed the last game, and, Azzi Fudd has been in a bit of a slump as her three-point shooting was 30% over the last three games. Add that to the fact they’re playing in that horrible building (instead of the on campus, Gampel Pavilion) and this game can be a lot more interesting than people think.
Click to expand...
I see ya, giving us hope… 👀
 
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