GAME THREAD: Vandy in Knoxville, Sunday, 2 pm EST, ESPN

[RetroVol]

I tried to use Gemini for this, but it just kept giving me bizarre mistakes and outrageous takes. Maybe it's too busy to bother this morning. So, I went back to ChatGPT:

#5 Vanderbilt @ Tennessee
Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET | ESPN
Food City Center (Knoxville)

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Vanderbilt is rolling with an elite shot-maker who lives at the line; Tennessee is in “hit 10 threes or die” mode—and right now they’re still dying.

WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Vanderbilt: 26–3 (12–3 SEC), tied for 2nd in SEC
• Tennessee: 16–11 (8–7 SEC), in the big mid-table logjam
• Home/Away context: Vanderbilt is 6–2 away; Tennessee is 9–3 at home
• NET: Vanderbilt #7; Tennessee #21

WHY IT MATTERS
• Vanderbilt: Win and you finish 13–3 and likely lock down the SEC’s #2 seed battle (Texas is also 12–3) and keep polishing a top-seed NCAA profile.
• Tennessee: It’s the regular-season finale—and the difference between 9–7 (quality finish) and 8–8 (flatline into Nashville).

VANDERBILT IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• Mikayla Blakes is a foul-magnet supernova: last 4 games she’s scored 35, 35, 27, 34—and lived at the stripe in all of them.
• They’re not just “hot,” they’re productive: 4 of the last 5 games are 80+ points (102, 86, 74, 81, 85).
• When they defend, it turns into separation: vs Alabama they forced 23 turnovers and won by 25.

TENNESSEE IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• This is a skid, not a “blip”: Tennessee has lost five straight.
• The weird stat that screams “broken math”: UT has hit 10+ threes in four straight games—and lost all four.
• Discipline problem (not effort): at Oklahoma, the Sooners went 36/46 FT and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds. That’s how you give up 100 even when you score 93.

RECENT FORM (LAST 3 GAMES)
• Vanderbilt — W vs Alabama 85–60 (home); W vs Kentucky 81–79 (home); L @ Georgia 76–74 (away).
• Tennessee — L @ LSU 89–73; L @ Oklahoma 100–93; L vs Texas A&M 82–74.

“LAST GAME” TELLS
• Vanderbilt (vs Alabama): Blakes 35, Washington 10 rebounds (6 OREB), Galvan 9 assists, Alabama coughed it up 23 times.
• Tennessee (@ LSU): Civil 17, Robertson 14, Cooper 13… and still a 16-point loss while the “five straight” got stamped in ink.

AVAILABILITY / ROTATION WATCH
• Mia Pauldo is back in the box score and ramping: 19 minutes vs Oklahoma, 27 minutes vs LSU.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:

1. Guard without “gifting the line.” Blakes is living there, and UT just watched Oklahoma take 46 FTs.
2. Finish possessions. If Vanderbilt gets extra looks, it becomes avalanche math—same script as Oklahoma’s 22 OREB game.
3. Get a real #2 scorer next to Cooper. Tennessee can’t win a shootout AND lose the efficiency battle.

Tennessee AVOID:
• A whistle-heavy rock-fight. That’s literally Blakes’ happy place.
• Letting “10 threes” become a crutch. UT has already proven 10+ makes doesn’t equal wins on this streak.

X-FACTOR: Mia Pauldo’s minutes + impact. If she’s closer to “starter workload” than “managed return,” it changes Tennessee’s creation and ball security immediately.

BOTTOM LINE
Vanderbilt is playing like a top seed with a top-5 player—Tennessee is playing like a team that can’t survive its own volatility right now. If UT wants the upset, it’s not about “making threes.” It’s about not fouling, not giving up second chances, and getting two scorers to show up in the same game.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

I tried to use Gemini for this, but it just kept giving me bizarre mistakes and outrageous takes. Maybe it's too busy to bother this morning. So, I went back to ChatGPT:

#5 Vanderbilt @ Tennessee
Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET | ESPN
Food City Center (Knoxville)

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Vanderbilt is rolling with an elite shot-maker who lives at the line; Tennessee is in “hit 10 threes or die” mode—and right now they’re still dying.

WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Vanderbilt: 26–3 (12–3 SEC), tied for 2nd in SEC
• Tennessee: 16–11 (8–7 SEC), in the big mid-table logjam
• Home/Away context: Vanderbilt is 6–2 away; Tennessee is 9–3 at home
• NET: Vanderbilt #7; Tennessee #21

WHY IT MATTERS
• Vanderbilt: Win and you finish 13–3 and likely lock down the SEC’s #2 seed battle (Texas is also 12–3) and keep polishing a top-seed NCAA profile.
• Tennessee: It’s the regular-season finale—and the difference between 9–7 (quality finish) and 8–8 (flatline into Nashville).

VANDERBILT IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• Mikayla Blakes is a foul-magnet supernova: last 4 games she’s scored 35, 35, 27, 34—and lived at the stripe in all of them.
• They’re not just “hot,” they’re productive: 4 of the last 5 games are 80+ points (102, 86, 74, 81, 85).
• When they defend, it turns into separation: vs Alabama they forced 23 turnovers and won by 25.

TENNESSEE IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• This is a skid, not a “blip”: Tennessee has lost five straight.
• The weird stat that screams “broken math”: UT has hit 10+ threes in four straight games—and lost all four.
• Discipline problem (not effort): at Oklahoma, the Sooners went 36/46 FT and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds. That’s how you give up 100 even when you score 93.

RECENT FORM (LAST 3 GAMES)
• Vanderbilt — W vs Alabama 85–60 (home); W vs Kentucky 81–79 (home); L @ Georgia 76–74 (away).
• Tennessee — L @ LSU 89–73; L @ Oklahoma 100–93; L vs Texas A&M 82–74.

“LAST GAME” TELLS
• Vanderbilt (vs Alabama): Blakes 35, Washington 10 rebounds (6 OREB), Galvan 9 assists, Alabama coughed it up 23 times.
• Tennessee (@ LSU): Civil 17, Robertson 14, Cooper 13… and still a 16-point loss while the “five straight” got stamped in ink.

AVAILABILITY / ROTATION WATCH
• Mia Pauldo is back in the box score and ramping: 19 minutes vs Oklahoma, 27 minutes vs LSU.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:

1. Guard without “gifting the line.” Blakes is living there, and UT just watched Oklahoma take 46 FTs.
2. Finish possessions. If Vanderbilt gets extra looks, it becomes avalanche math—same script as Oklahoma’s 22 OREB game.
3. Get a real #2 scorer next to Cooper. Tennessee can’t win a shootout AND lose the efficiency battle.

Tennessee AVOID:
• A whistle-heavy rock-fight. That’s literally Blakes’ happy place.
• Letting “10 threes” become a crutch. UT has already proven 10+ makes doesn’t equal wins on this streak.

X-FACTOR: Mia Pauldo’s minutes + impact. If she’s closer to “starter workload” than “managed return,” it changes Tennessee’s creation and ball security immediately.

BOTTOM LINE
Vanderbilt is playing like a top seed with a top-5 player—Tennessee is playing like a team that can’t survive its own volatility right now. If UT wants the upset, it’s not about “making threes.” It’s about not fouling, not giving up second chances, and getting two scorers to show up in the same game.

The LVs end the season with a win. LVs 85--Vandy 78. GBO.

 

[J-Dog 1313]

I tried to use Gemini for this, but it just kept giving me bizarre mistakes and outrageous takes. Maybe it's too busy to bother this morning. So, I went back to ChatGPT:

#5 Vanderbilt @ Tennessee
Sunday, March 1, 2026 | 2:00 PM ET | ESPN
Food City Center (Knoxville)

ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY
Vanderbilt is rolling with an elite shot-maker who lives at the line; Tennessee is in “hit 10 threes or die” mode—and right now they’re still dying.

WHERE THIS ONE SITS
• Vanderbilt: 26–3 (12–3 SEC), tied for 2nd in SEC
• Tennessee: 16–11 (8–7 SEC), in the big mid-table logjam
• Home/Away context: Vanderbilt is 6–2 away; Tennessee is 9–3 at home
• NET: Vanderbilt #7; Tennessee #21

WHY IT MATTERS
• Vanderbilt: Win and you finish 13–3 and likely lock down the SEC’s #2 seed battle (Texas is also 12–3) and keep polishing a top-seed NCAA profile.
• Tennessee: It’s the regular-season finale—and the difference between 9–7 (quality finish) and 8–8 (flatline into Nashville).

VANDERBILT IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• Mikayla Blakes is a foul-magnet supernova: last 4 games she’s scored 35, 35, 27, 34—and lived at the stripe in all of them.
• They’re not just “hot,” they’re productive: 4 of the last 5 games are 80+ points (102, 86, 74, 81, 85).
• When they defend, it turns into separation: vs Alabama they forced 23 turnovers and won by 25.

TENNESSEE IDENTITY (WHAT YOU’RE REALLY PLAYING)
• This is a skid, not a “blip”: Tennessee has lost five straight.
• The weird stat that screams “broken math”: UT has hit 10+ threes in four straight games—and lost all four.
• Discipline problem (not effort): at Oklahoma, the Sooners went 36/46 FT and grabbed 22 offensive rebounds. That’s how you give up 100 even when you score 93.

RECENT FORM (LAST 3 GAMES)
• Vanderbilt — W vs Alabama 85–60 (home); W vs Kentucky 81–79 (home); L @ Georgia 76–74 (away).
• Tennessee — L @ LSU 89–73; L @ Oklahoma 100–93; L vs Texas A&M 82–74.

“LAST GAME” TELLS
• Vanderbilt (vs Alabama): Blakes 35, Washington 10 rebounds (6 OREB), Galvan 9 assists, Alabama coughed it up 23 times.
• Tennessee (@ LSU): Civil 17, Robertson 14, Cooper 13… and still a 16-point loss while the “five straight” got stamped in ink.

AVAILABILITY / ROTATION WATCH
• Mia Pauldo is back in the box score and ramping: 19 minutes vs Oklahoma, 27 minutes vs LSU.

KEYS TO THE GAME
Tennessee MUST:

1. Guard without “gifting the line.” Blakes is living there, and UT just watched Oklahoma take 46 FTs.
2. Finish possessions. If Vanderbilt gets extra looks, it becomes avalanche math—same script as Oklahoma’s 22 OREB game.
3. Get a real #2 scorer next to Cooper. Tennessee can’t win a shootout AND lose the efficiency battle.

Tennessee AVOID:
• A whistle-heavy rock-fight. That’s literally Blakes’ happy place.
• Letting “10 threes” become a crutch. UT has already proven 10+ makes doesn’t equal wins on this streak.

X-FACTOR: Mia Pauldo’s minutes + impact. If she’s closer to “starter workload” than “managed return,” it changes Tennessee’s creation and ball security immediately.

BOTTOM LINE
Vanderbilt is playing like a top seed with a top-5 player—Tennessee is playing like a team that can’t survive its own volatility right now. If UT wants the upset, it’s not about “making threes.” It’s about not fouling, not giving up second chances, and getting two scorers to show up in the same game.

Agree 100% with the "BOTTM LINE." GBO.

 

[glv98]

1. Guard without “gifting the line.” Blakes is living there, and UT just watched Oklahoma take 46 FTs.

• A whistle-heavy rock-fight. That’s literally Blakes’ happy place.

The ref whining for this game is sure to be off the charts. I'm going to adjust my drinking game to two drinks every time someone boo hoos about the grand ref conspiracy. Win or lose, I'll be lit up by the end of the game.

CTOR: Mia Pauldo’s minutes + impact

Definitely. Gonna need her to put the clamps on Galvan. Blake's is bad enough by herself but when both she and Galvan get rolling Vandy is extremely hard to stop.

9–7 (quality finish)

Ugh. Bar = lower and lower. Settling in to mid pack SEC

 

[knoxvol52]

Believe Lady Vols actually win this one... Vanderbilt has no benefits from winning this game. No difference between a #3 or #3 seed in SEC tournament.

 

[glv98]

Believe Lady Vols actually win this one... Vanderbilt has no benefits from winning this game. No difference between a #3 or #3 seed in SEC tournament.

You kidding? Possible one seed in NCAA? Can't lose to a mid team like us and keep that alive.

Even if that weren't at stake you better believe they'll be fired up to beat us and fortify their claim as the best team in the state .

Vandy most assuredly will not be cruising.

 

[knoxvol52]

You kidding? Possible one seed in NCAA? Can't lose to a mid team like us and keep that alive.

Even if that weren't at stake you better believe they'll be fired up to beat us and fortify their claim as the best team in the state .

Vandy most assuredly will not be cruising.

Eh, I suppose but if I would rather rest my team and focus on the SEC tournament...Bragging rights isn't nothing to me unless you win the whole thing..

Still yet I believe Tennessee wins and I don't care about the refs...

 

[glv98]

Eh, I suppose but if I would rather rest my team and focus on the SEC tournament...Bragging rights isn't nothing to me unless you win the whole thing..

Still yet I believe Tennessee wins and I don't care about the refs...

Lol pretty sure that number uno big dance seed is way more important to them than bragging rights.

Also I promise you Justine Pissot will not be slacking this game

 

[Orange Maniac]

Lady Vols - 77
Granny Clampet's Gang - 75

 

[brittannica]

You kidding? Possible one seed in NCAA? Can't lose to a mid team like us and keep that alive.

Even if that weren't at stake you better believe they'll be fired up to beat us and fortify their claim as the best team in the state .

Vandy most assuredly will not be cruising.

I also think they are eager to prove they are the best Athletic Dept in the state. They won in football, swept WBB last year, and could split with MBB potentially.

 

[lvocd]

Believe Lady Vols actually win this one... Vanderbilt has no benefits from winning this game. No difference between a #3 or #3 seed in SEC tournament.

Oh Lordt! The complete opposite is true. Ralph may very well frame this to her team as their most important game of the year since a possible 1-seed in the NCAAT is in play.

Blakes will score at least 35 without a doubt, but as long as we control everyone else we’ll have a shot.

 

[vols90]

Blakes scores a career high in points, Galvan gets a career high in assists, and Pissott hits a career high 3 pointers. We give up over 50 points by halftime. Foul count against us will be worse than Texas game because we won’t be able to stop Blakes but Danny is still there cheering his hire on…

Lady Vols 56
Vandy 97

(Just mentally preparing for another blowout and praying they surprise me)

 

[brittannica]

Blakes scores a career high in points, Galvan gets a career high in assists, and Pissott hits a career high 3 pointers. We give up over 50 points by halftime. Foul count against us will be worse than Texas game because we won’t be able to stop Blakes but Danny is still there cheering his hire on…

Lady Vols 56
Vandy 97

(Just mentally preparing for another blowout and praying they surprise me)

I too find worst case scenarios oddly comforting. I do think Vandy's defense is appalling so we have that going for us.

 

[LasVegasBill23]

I also think they are eager to prove they are the best Athletic Dept in the state. They won in football, swept WBB last year, and could split with MBB potentially.

agreed stakes are big this is a watershed time for vandy as they are assuming a different mantle in football so are they in mens and womens hoops

 

[brittannica]

agreed stakes are big this is a watershed time for vandy as they are assuming a different mantle in football so are they in mens and womens hoops

I read on the women's college basketball subreddit, which trends young and immature at times, that Vandy is trying to raise $50 million for women's sports and assume the mantle of the best women's sports programs in the state. The Kohler toilet people are really pushing for more NIL dedicated to women's sports specifically, and I do think they have a real opportunity as Danny seems to care less about women's sports.

Vanderbilt Champions Women’s Athletics with Anchored for Her Campaign

Building on lead gifts from Vanderbilt trustees, audacious $50 million campaign to support women’s athletics writes next chapter in university’s pioneering history

vucommodores.com

 

[RetroVol]

I thought sure I'd find some insight in this, but I'm not coming up with much. EXCEPT - this team's defense has been WAY more of a problem that its offense. I know, DUH!

Game	Barker PTS/REB	Cooper PTS/REB	Spearman PTS/REB
Mississippi St.	10/6	19/4	9/5
UConn	16/2	8/2	14/4
Georgia	9/13	16/9	23/3
South Carolina	10/6	17/5	3/3
Missouri	22/8	17/6	1/1
Texas	12/2	29/1	2/4
Ole Miss	9/6	30/2	2/8
Texas A&M	29/10	11/1	14/5
Oklahoma	DNP	22/3	6/3
LSU	3/3	13/4	7/5

 

[madtownvol]

I too find worst case scenarios oddly comforting. I do think Vandy's defense is appalling so we have that going for us.

The OP left out a plague of locust descending on the team at tip off; Godzilla selectively crushing LVs players, and a Sharknado descending on the LVs at the start of the 3rd quarter.

I promise that if any of those 3 things occur I will not blame the "system," well, just a little bit....

 

[Volfan2012]

Tennessee 87 Vanderbilt 82

 

[Voltopia]

 

[MAD]

Tennessee 86
Vanderbilt 68

 

[Amb3096]

I too find worst case scenarios oddly comforting. I do think Vandy's defense is appalling so we have that going for us.

Vandy plays good perimeter pressure defense, which can force a lot of turnovers. Their interior defense is soft though, with very little height. The probem for Tennessee is all of their interior players will foul out trying to recover when Blake cuts through the middle straight to the hoop.

If they don't absolutely destroy Vandy on the glass and get good production from Spearman and Barker inside, this could get ugly quickly. But from a personnel standpoint, they do match up well with Vandy.
-Galvan > Pauldo
-Blakes > Cooper
-Civil > Mwenentanda
-Barker (if she shows up) > Pissott
-Spearman (if she shows up) > Washington
-Tennessee bench > Vandy bench
-Ralph > Caldwell

Frankly, if Tennessee shows up and plays like a team, they should win. The problem is that hasn't happened this season against good teams, and Vandy plays with really good chemistry. Vandy 87 Tenn 75 is my prediction based on current form.

 

[mudcat1973]

Believe Lady Vols actually win this one... Vanderbilt has no benefits from winning this game. No difference between a #3 or #3 seed in SEC tournament.

Tennessee bragging rightS

 

[LasVegasBill23]

I think Vandy will win by 10 they have been playing well and have been the consistent team