Quick turnaround, so I just gave this to ChatGPT in the same thread that generated the TX Scouting Report (to keep that context) and let it fly. Did ask it to double-check all factual statements, so if it screwed up....
#22 Tennessee @ #14 Ole Miss
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM ET (6:00 CT) | ESPNU
Sandy & John Black Pavilion (Oxford, MS)
Make-up game from the Jan. 26 postponement.
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Ole Miss wants a disciplined, physical rock-fight in an undefeated home gym; Tennessee wants chaos, pace, and enough clean possessions to keep Cooper from having to play superhero again.
WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Tennessee: 16–7 (8–3 SEC)
• Ole Miss: 20–6 (7–4 SEC)
• NET: Ole Miss #19 (Tennessee is also top-20 NET per NCAA NET list.)
OLE MISS IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• Defense travels: Ole Miss is giving up just 57.8 PPG.
• Not slow, but not sloppy: ~71.7 possessions/40 (they’ll run if you give it to them, but they’ll happily grind you).
• Home-court edge is real: 11–0 at home.
• Quality profile: Q1 is a problem (2–5), but they’ve handled business everywhere else (Q4: 11–0).
RECENT FORM (LAST 3 GAMES)
• Tennessee: L vs #4 Texas 65–63 (home); W vs Missouri 98–53 (home); L @ South Carolina 93–50 (away).
• Ole Miss: L @ Kentucky 74–57 (away); W vs Arkansas 80–57 (home); L @ Alabama 64–63 (away).
TENNESSEE “LAST GAME” TELL (vs Texas)
• Cooper dropped 29… and Tennessee still lost, because UT coughed it up 23 times and shot 5–11 FT.
INJURIES / AVAILABILITY WATCH
• Tennessee: Mia Pauldo missed the Texas game (was not in the box score/rotation).
• Ole Miss: Latasha Lattimore logged 36 minutes in the Kentucky game (so whatever the earlier ankle scare was, she looked available there).
(For both teams: the day-of SEC availability sheet matters, but it’s been inconsistent to access reliably.)
LIKELY STARTING LINEUPS (BASED ON MOST RECENT STARTERS)
OLE MISS (starters used @ Kentucky)
• F Christeen Iwuala (6'3) — glass/paint finisher; 13.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG (60.9% FG).
• F Cotie McMahon (6'0) — #1 option; 19.8 PPG (tough cover, lives at the line when you reach).
• F Latasha Lattimore (6'4) — rim + boards; team blocks leader (2.2 BPG).
• G Sira Thienou (6'1) — pressure defender; team steals leader (1.7 SPG).
• G Tameiya Powe (6'1) — veteran guard/spacing piece.
TENNESSEE (starters used vs Texas)
• G Talaysia Cooper — engine/scorer (and yes, Ole Miss will load up on her).
• G Nya Robertson — secondary creator/shooter.
• F Janiah Barker — mismatch hunter; you need her physicality.
• F Zee Spearman — spacing big; must be a threat to open lanes.
• G/F Alyssa Latham — connector/defense; minutes depend on whistles and ball security.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:
1. Value the ball. UT had 23 TO vs Texas; Ole Miss is built to punish careless possessions.
2. Win the “adult basketball” minutes (rebounding + physicality) so Ole Miss can’t just sit on a lead in that building. Ole Miss is 11–0 at home for a reason.
3. Get to the line and cash it. Going 5–11 FT like Texas is basically volunteering to lose on the road.
Tennessee AVOID:
• Foul-reach-bailout possessions that let McMahon live at the stripe. (At Kentucky she still got 8–8 FT even while shooting 4–18.)
• A tight 4Q where you’re chasing. Ole Miss is 0–3 in one-possession games, but that also tells you they’ve been in nail-biters—don’t assume they’ll flinch.
X-FACTOR: Zee Spearman’s shot-making. If she’s a non-factor again (2 points vs Texas), Ole Miss can smother Cooper with extra bodies and dare UT’s others to beat them.
BOTTOM LINE
This is a resume + toughness game: Ole Miss is top-20 NET, undefeated at home, and built around defense. If Tennessee’s “system” turns into “23 turnovers again,” it’s over. If UT protects the ball and gets a real second scorer next to Cooper, this becomes a very winnable road punch.
#22 Tennessee @ #14 Ole Miss
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026 | 7:00 PM ET (6:00 CT) | ESPNU
Sandy & John Black Pavilion (Oxford, MS)
Make-up game from the Jan. 26 postponement.
ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Ole Miss wants a disciplined, physical rock-fight in an undefeated home gym; Tennessee wants chaos, pace, and enough clean possessions to keep Cooper from having to play superhero again.
WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Tennessee: 16–7 (8–3 SEC)
• Ole Miss: 20–6 (7–4 SEC)
• NET: Ole Miss #19 (Tennessee is also top-20 NET per NCAA NET list.)
OLE MISS IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• Defense travels: Ole Miss is giving up just 57.8 PPG.
• Not slow, but not sloppy: ~71.7 possessions/40 (they’ll run if you give it to them, but they’ll happily grind you).
• Home-court edge is real: 11–0 at home.
• Quality profile: Q1 is a problem (2–5), but they’ve handled business everywhere else (Q4: 11–0).
RECENT FORM (LAST 3 GAMES)
• Tennessee: L vs #4 Texas 65–63 (home); W vs Missouri 98–53 (home); L @ South Carolina 93–50 (away).
• Ole Miss: L @ Kentucky 74–57 (away); W vs Arkansas 80–57 (home); L @ Alabama 64–63 (away).
TENNESSEE “LAST GAME” TELL (vs Texas)
• Cooper dropped 29… and Tennessee still lost, because UT coughed it up 23 times and shot 5–11 FT.
INJURIES / AVAILABILITY WATCH
• Tennessee: Mia Pauldo missed the Texas game (was not in the box score/rotation).
• Ole Miss: Latasha Lattimore logged 36 minutes in the Kentucky game (so whatever the earlier ankle scare was, she looked available there).
(For both teams: the day-of SEC availability sheet matters, but it’s been inconsistent to access reliably.)
LIKELY STARTING LINEUPS (BASED ON MOST RECENT STARTERS)
OLE MISS (starters used @ Kentucky)
• F Christeen Iwuala (6'3) — glass/paint finisher; 13.3 PPG, 8.8 RPG (60.9% FG).
• F Cotie McMahon (6'0) — #1 option; 19.8 PPG (tough cover, lives at the line when you reach).
• F Latasha Lattimore (6'4) — rim + boards; team blocks leader (2.2 BPG).
• G Sira Thienou (6'1) — pressure defender; team steals leader (1.7 SPG).
• G Tameiya Powe (6'1) — veteran guard/spacing piece.
TENNESSEE (starters used vs Texas)
• G Talaysia Cooper — engine/scorer (and yes, Ole Miss will load up on her).
• G Nya Robertson — secondary creator/shooter.
• F Janiah Barker — mismatch hunter; you need her physicality.
• F Zee Spearman — spacing big; must be a threat to open lanes.
• G/F Alyssa Latham — connector/defense; minutes depend on whistles and ball security.
KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:
1. Value the ball. UT had 23 TO vs Texas; Ole Miss is built to punish careless possessions.
2. Win the “adult basketball” minutes (rebounding + physicality) so Ole Miss can’t just sit on a lead in that building. Ole Miss is 11–0 at home for a reason.
3. Get to the line and cash it. Going 5–11 FT like Texas is basically volunteering to lose on the road.
Tennessee AVOID:
• Foul-reach-bailout possessions that let McMahon live at the stripe. (At Kentucky she still got 8–8 FT even while shooting 4–18.)
• A tight 4Q where you’re chasing. Ole Miss is 0–3 in one-possession games, but that also tells you they’ve been in nail-biters—don’t assume they’ll flinch.
X-FACTOR: Zee Spearman’s shot-making. If she’s a non-factor again (2 points vs Texas), Ole Miss can smother Cooper with extra bodies and dare UT’s others to beat them.
BOTTOM LINE
This is a resume + toughness game: Ole Miss is top-20 NET, undefeated at home, and built around defense. If Tennessee’s “system” turns into “23 turnovers again,” it’s over. If UT protects the ball and gets a real second scorer next to Cooper, this becomes a very winnable road punch.
