JOHN ADAMS

John Adams: Why Lady Vols should schedule UConn in basketball

John Adams
USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

The Tennessee women’s basketball season ended Monday night with a loss in the second round of the NCAA tournament. A few days later, the Lady Vols should already be thinking about next season.

Connecticut head coach Geno Auriemma gestures during the second half of a college basketball game against Texas in the regional final of the women's NCAA Tournament , Monday, March 28, 2016, in Bridgeport, Conn. UConn 86-65. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill)

But not just about the team. About the schedule, too.

A word of advice: Connecticut.

Tennessee should do whatever it takes to get the four-time defending national champions on its next schedule.

Agree to play in Stoors, Conn. Agree to play anywhere. Just get Connecticut back on the schedule.

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Never mind how the series ended in 2007. Forget the history. Look to the future.

UT needs UConn now. It needs to experience what makes a great program, the kind Tennessee once had.

Coach Geno Auriemma signs exceptional players. But it’s what he does with those players that best explains how Connecticut has won 11 national championships and 109 consecutive games.

He gets them to play hard and together. And he accepts nothing less.

►Related: Auriemma, UConn haven't lost consecutive games in 24 years

This was supposed to be a transitional year for the Huskies after losing the star-studded nucleus of the four consecutive national championship teams. As scary as this might read to the rest of the women’s basketball, the next UConn team could be significantly better.

In a transitional season, the Huskies are unbeaten and four victories away from another national title. But even if UConn falls short - Maryland or Baylor could beat it in the tournament - that shouldn’t detract from what it has accomplished. It has gone 34-0 so far with three new starters and a short bench.

►Related: Kia Nurse ties NCAA tournament record as UConn rolls into Sweet 16

The program’s experience, talent and depth might vary somewhat from one season to the next. The level of effort and team play remains remarkably consistent.

That’s why Tennessee needs to schedule the Huskies. It needs to experience their effort, teamwork and dedication to excellence over the course of a 40-minute game.

In a disappointing 20-12 season, UT extended itself in spurts and clicked intermittently. That produced both excellent and wretched performances.

While UConn was pummeling a helpless opponent in its conference tournament, one play stood out. It wasn’t a basket, assist or block. It was a UConn player diving out of bounds for the ball as though the fate of the program were at stake.

The Huskies led by more than 50 points at the time.

That’s what best distinguishes them from other programs. They play with a sense of urgency, regardless of the score. In fact, they seem oblivious to the score.

“There aren’t very many teams I want to turn on the television and watch,” Chattanooga coach Jim Foster said last week during the NCAA tournament in Louisville.

But he watches UConn. And he schedules it, too.

“They work hard all the time,” he said. “They’re unselfish all the time.

“Why wouldn’t you want to expose your kids to that?”

Good question.

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

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