The Lady Vols basketball team is gearing up to face South Florida in the opening round of March Madness. This marks the 43rd consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance for the Lady Vols, a testament to their enduring legacy in women’s college basketball ¹.
The Lady Vols, ranked No. 20/19, have secured a No. 5 seed in the Birmingham 3 Regional and will tip off against No. 12 seed South Florida on Friday, March 21, at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN. The game will be played at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio, with No. 4 seed Ohio State serving as the host ¹.
This will be the second meeting between the Lady Vols and the Bulls, with Tennessee leading the series 1-0 after a 52-49 victory in Knoxville on November 15, 2021. South Florida is making its 10th NCAA Tournament appearance, having earned the American Athletic Conference’s automatic bid by winning the league tournament ¹.
The Lady Vols enter the tournament with a 22-9 record, having tied for eighth in the SEC during the regular season. Despite a disappointing end to the season, with losses in three of their last four games, Tennessee is looking to regroup and make a deep run in the tournament ².
First-year head coach Kim Caldwell acknowledged that her team needs to refocus and improve their defense, which has been inconsistent of late. Caldwell emphasized the importance of not letting offensive struggles affect their defensive performance, citing the need for growth and leadership from her players ².
Tennessee’s path to the championship will undoubtedly be challenging, but the Lady Vols have a rich history of success in the NCAA Tournament. With eight national championships under their belt, they’re the only program to have appeared in every NCAA Tournament since its inception in 1982 ¹.
As the Lady Vols prepare to face South Florida, fans can catch the game on ESPN. The winner will advance to the second round, where they’ll face the winner of the Ohio State-Montana State matchup. With their sights set on a deep tournament run, the Lady Vols are ready to put their skills to the test and make a lasting impression in March Madness.