Lady Vols: 5 quick questions from media day

The women's basketball preseason polls don't agree on Tennessee. 

The Lady Vols have been ranked as high as No. 10 so far but were completely left out of one top 25 (Street & Smith's).

At the team's media day on Thursday, UT coach Holly Warlick said she doesn't pay attention to the rankings nor does she use them as motivation. Jaime Nared favored a similar view on how Tennessee is viewed.

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"You look a month or two from now and the top 25 changes," the senior forward said. "You can care about whatever the polls have to say or you can just work as hard as you can.

"People can say what they want about our team but at the end of the day, what matters is how you play when you step on the court."

The Lady Vols first step on the court for an exhibition against Carson-Newman on Nov. 7 at Thompson-Boling Arena. In the meantime, here's five questions about the work that's ongoing.

Who's going to start?

Nared and fellow senior Mercedes Russell are locks to report for the opening tipoff. Another certainty is that at least one freshman will start. The pertinent question is how many other freshmen will, too.

"We could start three freshmen; the freshmen are extremely talented," Warlick said. "Right now we're trying to get guys that jell together. We've got until our first game to figure it out. There'll be a freshman who starts. It may be two. It may be three.

"It's my goal to put the best team out there that's going to get us off to a good start. I don't care what class they are. Can they get the job done."

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Who's the most improved?

Warlick mentioned several players in this regard. But her most pointed observations involved Russell. The 6-foot-6 center is the team's top returning scorer (16.1 points per game) and rebounder (9.7).

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"She's more physical," Warlick said. "She's more demanding. I've never seen her more hungry and determined."

When the "more demanding" description was mentioned to the soft-spoken Russell she chuckled. But she also said, "I guess so. I know this year my role has to be huge."

Can two points guards play together?

Warlick is open to starting freshmen Anastasia Hayes and Evina Westbrook together even though they are both point guards. Hayes said that they already work well together.

"We like know how each other plays," Hayes said. "I don't know. It's just something that we have. Every time that we play together, it's just great."

What's the freshmen's best shared trait?

While Warlick mentioned their talent, the four freshmen's best asset at this juncture might be their willingness to learn.

"(They) ask a lot of questions when they don't understand (something), are really wanting to get better," Nared said. "That's something new here."

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Assistant coach Dean Lockwood said the freshmen have been "savvy and smart enough" to not be full of themselves.

 "How willing you are to be taught and to learn?" he said, "That either magnifies your talent or it can detract from your talent."

How's the team's health?

All 10 players are practicing. Kortney Dunbar said she underwent offseason surgery to address a plantar fascia issue in her right foot.

The senior forward is well enough now to put up, on average, 250 3-point shots after practice. She's trying to regain her shooting stroke and earn more playing time.

"That's one thing I put on myself this year," she said. "I kind of got lackadaisical with my shooting."

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