Lady Vols: Tennessee takes on Texas in different context

The difference in Tennessee isn't solely the team's talking point anymore. Others are joining the conversation.

Former Lady Vol Abby Conklin, who is here this weekend as part of a championship teams reunion, has watched all of Tennessee nine women's basketball games and said, "This team is like a breath of fresh air as a former player."

More:Lady Vols: Reunion will give alum Conklin closer look at team

No. 2 Texas (7-0) also is here Sunday for its annual game with the Lady Vols (TV: ESPN2, 3 p.m.). After watching video of No. 13/11 Tennessee (9-0), Longhorns coach Karen Aston anticipates more rival in the rivalry this time.

"They are a much-improved team from top to bottom," she said. "They have players who look like they've really bought into roles. It looks like they're really serious about defense and rebounding and things that I think Tennessee has always been known for."

Tennessee's renewal would be well served by incorporating last season's success in big games. Despite losing six games against teams that didn't make the NCAA tournament field, those Lady Vols were 4-2 against top 10 opponents. Sunday's showdown will be Tennessee's first chance to tackle a marquee opponent in its revised context.

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"I think last year the games we should've won we didn't appear to get up for those," Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said on Saturday. "We got up for those games we weren't supposed to win. That's what brought us inconsistency.

"This year's team has been very consistent. We've played well against teams we were supposed to beat. We've played well against teams that were very competitive. I've seen very even keel play from us, just because we approach every game the same and that's been really really positive for us."

Staying the course against Texas will come down to several factors:

Tug of war over tempo 

As evidenced by their scoring averages, both teams favor the fast lane. Texas is averaging 93 points per game while Tennessee is averaging 89.4.

"I think it's going to be an up-and-down game," Warlick said. "That's what we want. That's what they want. But then they want to slow us down and we want to slow them down."

The wrestling match over transition play will involve, among other things, defense and guard play. Texas has an edge in backcourt experience. Guards Brooke McCarty and Ariel Atkins, both seniors, lead the Longhorns in scoring and steals.

Texas' opponents are averaging 21.9 turnovers per game.

"They're great defenders," Warlick said of the Longhorns. "They'll turn you over, which leads to what I think is one of the best parts of their game, their transition offense."

Rebounding

Even without forward Joyner Holmes, who is suspended until Dec. 23 because of a school violation, the Longhorns are averaging 46.6 rebounds per game and have  a plus-15.4 rebounding margin.

Tennessee's average is up to 50.1 and its margin is 13.7 after gathering 73 rebounds against Troy last Wednesday.

More:Lady Vols warm up for Texas by scoring rout of Troy

Lady Vols reserve center Cheridene Green has reached double figures in rebounds the past two games. She could be a key factor, given her physical nature and her zest for such work.

"I've always had that mindset; I like to grab rebounds," she said after posting a double-double (16 points, 13 rebounds) against Troy. "When the rebounds go up, I'm like 'I got it, I got it' or 'That's mine, that's mine.' "

Managing the moment

Aston said her team is "fired up" about Sunday's game and Atkins added, "I think it's about time for us to really get down to it and understand what it means to play in such a different environment. I think Tennessee's basketball environment is just really different."

In this case, it will be different for Tennessee's new players as well. They will be mingling with alums from the 1987, 1997 and 2007 national championship teams. They likely will play before the season's biggest crowd with fans being asked to wear Tennessee orange and create an "orange out."

Warlick hopes the Lady Vols can rely on consistency to make a difference.

"They stay in the moment," she said. "That's a great thing for a basketball team."