History is Lady Vols' opponent at SEC tournament

The history of the SEC women’s basketball tournament doesn’t favor going four rounds to win a championship.

Since 1980, only five teams have reached the final day from that starting point and only Auburn in 1997 cut down the nets.

No. 5 seed Tennessee (19-10) has no choice but to try, however. The Lady Vols open Thursday at Bell Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, S.C. (TV: SEC Network, 2:30 p.m.) against No. 12 Alabama (18-12), a 77-57 winner over Vanderbilt on Wednesday.

The Crimson Tide beat Tennessee 65-57 in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Feb. 16. Guard Diamond DeShields was knocked out of the game midway through the first quarter after colliding with an Alabama player during a loose-ball scramble. The loss ended up costing UT a No. 3 seed this week and a double bye until Friday.

“We take care of business during the season and we would be playing on Friday,” UT coach Holly Warlick said Monday on the WNML radio show “Lady Vol Illustrated.” “But we play Thursday. We understand it. We’re not whining about it, complaining about it or feeling sorry for ourselves.”

Despite six conference losses, the Lady Vols beat all four teams seeded ahead of them (South Carolina, Mississippi State, Missouri and Kentucky) in the bracket, suggesting they’re still a threat.

“It will be a test of our endurance, how mentally tough we are, how focused we are,” Warlick said Wednesday. “Can you get past that fatigue factor? So we’ll see.”

The following factors also will impact Tennessee’s chances.

Double vision: The tournament is a balancing act between winning in the moment while also considering the long haul.

Warlick, whose team won this event in 2014, was anticipating the possibilities as early as last week.

“I think it’s going to be a bit of a chess match of what you can get away with and what you can’t,” she said. “What you get to save and what you don’t. It’s always interesting.”

She revisited the circumstances Wednesday, intimating that Tennessee will “play more people” and “mix up our style.”

Conversation starter: The virtues of playing together were lauded by the players and Warlick after Sunday’s 82-64 upset of then-No. 2/3 Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss.

Junior forward Jaime Nared expanded the thought in saying, “I think when we play together and are all talking, we’re unstoppable.”

Communication enhances everything from defense to morale, keeping everyone connected and engaged.

Find extra scoring: Tennessee’s thin ranks still hold some possibilities for augmenting the production of all-conference honorees DeShields, Nared and center Mercedes Russell.

Senior point guard Jordan Reynolds matched her career scoring high of 17 points against Mississippi State. She scored 12 points in wins over Notre Dame and Missouri earlier this season.

“Whenever we can get Jordan scoring, it’s always a good night,” DeShields said.

Alexa Middleton also is capable. The junior guard had reached double figures in four consecutive games before last Sunday.

“Jordan or Lex can come out and give us big games,” DeShields said. “Any added offense is a plus.”

Play smart: Efficiency will enhance Tennessee’s offense, thereby reducing the demands on its defense and rebounding.

The Lady Vols arguably played their sharpest game of the season Sunday against Mississippi State, the conference’s top defensive team.

“Their pressure forces a lot of teams to take bad shots,” DeShields said. “Despite their pressure, we were taking good shots.

“We were mature with the basketball at times. We didn’t rush shots. We were smart with the basketball."