WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAMEDAY
No. 3 UCONN at No. 25 TENNESSEE
When: Thursday, 7 p.m.
Where: Thompson-Boling Arena, Knoxville, Tenn.
Records: UConn 8-0 (7-0, Big East); Tennessee 9-2 (3-1, SEC)
TV: ESPN
Radio: UConn Sports Network (97.9 FMESPN Hartford, WAVZ 1300 AM, WICC 600 AM, WINE 940 AM, WGCH 1490 AM, WILI 1400 AM)
Streaming: Available via the WatchESPN app (watchESPN.com)
KEEP AN EYE ON
We meet again: Junior Evina Westbrook said she’s nervous and excited to face her old team for the first time since transferring to UConn in May 2019. She played 64 games over two seasons with the Lady Vols, but left due to what UConn coach Geno Auriemma called a “toxic” environment.
More specifically, Westbrook’s mother, Eva, told Hearst Connecticut Media that there were several instances where she feared for her daughter’s safety at Tennessee.
“I’m sure she’ll feel the emotions of it, but me personally, we have a game, and hopefully ‘E’ will play well and keep her emotions in check,” Auriemma said.
Crowd noise: Because of COVID-19 restrictions, the Huskies have played in mostly empty buildings this season. But that’ll change Thursday. Tennessee is allowing 4,000 fans into home games, and its average attendance on the season is 2,157. How will the Huskies respond?
“I don’t know how they’re going to react,” Auriemma said. “Our freshmen have never played in front of fans, so I don’t know. … I’m just as anxious as anyone else to see how that plays out with some of these kids because they’ve never been in that situation. Now our older guys have.”
Battle of the boards: Tennessee ranks 11th in the country in rebounding with 46.2 boards per game. Senior Rennia Davis leads the Lady Vols in that category (8.3 per game).
Renewing acquaintances: This will be the 24th meeting between UConn and Tennessee, but the first in Knoxville since 2006. The Huskies beat the Lady Vols 6045 last January in Hartford, ending a 13year hiatus in the rivalry. UConn leads the series 14-9, including 4-0 in national championship games.
While the teams aren’t scheduled to square off next season, both Auriemma and Tennessee coach Kellie Harper are open to continuing the series at some point.
“It takes two people that want to do it, and I’m always up for playing anybody, anywhere, anytime,” Auriemma said. “People that know me know that. … So if Kellie wants to, I’m sure there’s a pretty good chance it’ll happen. When though, I don’t know.”