KNOXVILLE, TN – February 06, 2025 – Guard Talaysia Cooper #55 of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers during the game between the UConn Huskies and the Tennessee Lady Volunteers at Food City Center in Knoxville, TN. Photo By Kate Luffman/Tennessee Athletics

On Sunday afternoon, Lady Vols basketball is squaring off with top-ranked UConn on the road. Tennessee beat the Huskies in Knoxville a year ago, but now, UConn will be out for revenge.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the matchup.

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How to Watch — No. 15 Lady Vols (14-4, 6-1 SEC) at No. 1 UConn (22-0, 12-0 Big East)

Start Time: Noon ET/11 a.m. CT
Location: PeoplesBank Arena (Hartford, Conn.)
Watch: FOX | PxP: Brandon Gaudin, Analyst: Sarah Kustok
Online Streaming: Watch FOX
Radio (Knoxville): The Vol Network/The Vol Network App
Vol Network radio crew: PxP: Brian Rice, Studio Host: Jay Lifford

 

Betting Odds

No odds listed yet

 

ESPN Matchup Predictor

Lady Vols: 4.5%

UConn: 95.5%

 

What Kim Caldwell Said

On preparing for UConn

“You gotta fix us first. And if it looks like it did today, we’re gonna get ran out of the gym in the first quarter. And so, we gotta fix us first and then start our prep for them.”

On conversations about the UConn game with the team, the game being bigger than them

“Yeah, I think, again, tomorrow is a lot about us and then we’ll get to that. But yeah, it can’t be about us. Anytime it’s about us, it’s terrible.”

 

Last Five Games

Lady Vols: 

vs. Mississippi State, 77-62 L
vs. Kentucky, 60-58 W
at Alabama, 70-59 W
vs. Arkansas, 85-50 W
at Mississippi State, 90-90 W

 

UConn:

vs. Xavier, 97-39 W
at Seton Hall, 92-52 W
at Georgetown, 83-42 W
vs. Notre Dame, 85-47 W
vs. Villanova, 99-50 W

 

Where They Land In Rankings

Lady Vols: 

AP Poll – No. 15

Coaches Poll – No. 15

Bart Torvik – No. 13

 

UConn:

AP Poll – No. 1

Coaches Poll – No. 1

Bart Torvik – No. 1

 

Stat Leaders

Lady Vols:

Points: Talaysia Cooper – 14.7
Rebounds: Zee Spearman – 6.8
Assists: Talaysia Cooper – 4.1

 

UConn:

Points: Sarah Strong – 19.1
Rebounds: Sarah Strong – 8.0
Assists: KK Arnold – 4.5

 

Prediction

The Lady Vols are coming off a tough loss to Mississippi State at home. After the game, Kim Caldwell was clearly not happy with her team’s effort. She thought they were complacent and could tell they weren’t in the right headspace.

The fact that this is still an issue as we turn the calendar to February is certainly concerning. With the potential of things snowballing in the wrong direction, this is the last opponent Tennessee wants to see. Not only is UConn the best team in the country, but it lost to the Lady Vols in Knoxville a year ago and is likely out for revenge.

The main key is going to be limiting Sarah Strong as a scorer and on the glass. Even if Tennessee is able to do that, there’s a long list of other options, though. That means the Lady Vols are going to need the likes of Talaysia Cooper, Janiah Barker and Mia Pauldo to step up to match the scoring output.

UConn 88, Lady Vols 63