John Adams: This could be last tournament for DeShields, Russell

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - If Tennessee needs extra incentive for the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, maybe Diamond DeShields and Mercedes Russell can provide it. This could be their last college hurrah.

Both are fourth-year juniors who likely will be high WNBA first-round picks if they should choose to forgo their senior season. In one mock draft, DeShields is projected as the first overall pick and Russell No. 7.

As they prepare for Saturday’s first-round tournament game against Dayton, they aren’t professing to think beyond March Madness.

"It's not something I'm worrying about," Russell said Friday. "I will think about it later."

DeShields also is immersed with the business at hand but admits, "It's definitely something that's looming over both our heads."

Once the tournament ends, they won’t have much time for a decision. April 3 is the date to declare for the draft, which is 10 days later.

DeShields is probably the least likely of the two to come back. As highly as she already is rated, she hardly could improve her draft status. Moreover, her game might be better suited for the pros than college.

But the 6-foot-6 Russell surely could better prepare herself for the WNBA and overseas by using all her college eligibility. Her strength and aggressiveness improved from last season to this one, but there’s room for more improvement in both areas.

Health could be a factor in her decision.

Foot problems slowed her development, necessitated surgeries and forced her to redshirt one season at Tennessee. Since she has been injury-free this season, she might want to sign a contract while she’s in the best of health.

Thinking about such matters doesn’t have to be a distraction, though. In fact, it could serve as motivation for the tournament.

Both DeShields and Russell were regarded as two of the best players in the country coming out of high school. But what do they have to show for it?

Neither has played in a Final Four, much less won a national championship. And they’re playing at a program that once took Final Four appearances for granted.

If Tennessee again falls short, fans won’t remember them for what they accomplished but for what they didn’t do. If DeShields and Russell care about that, they should have a sense of urgency about the tournament.

Although I would expect an NCAA tournament stage to bring out the best in DeShields, I was wrong about that last season. In three of four tournament games, she made only 30 percent of her field-goal attempts (15 for 50).

But she also had a 24-point game against Arizona State in the second round. One game later, Russell had 25 points and 15 rebounds in a Sweet 16 upset of Ohio State.

Performances like those remind you why the pros are waiting on Russell and DeShields. And why they’re capable – with a little extra incentive - of changing their Tennessee legacy in this tournament.

John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or john.adams@knoxnews.com. Follow him at: Twitter.com/johnadamskns.