Part of coaching the Lady Vols means testing yourself against the nation's best opponents. Kim Caldwell will experience that in her first season at Tennessee.

The Lady Vols will host UConn next season, a restoration of a rivalry that went on a one-year hiatus last season. There was a time when this rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport. The rivalry isn't what it once was, and neither is either program. Still, UConn is coming off a Final Four appearance, while Tennessee is a program searching for its footing.

Can the Lady Vols possibly be prepared to handle UConn in Caldwell's first season?

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer, Cora Hall and John Adams weigh in on the rivalry restoration.

They also assess Caldwell's first month on the job and her efforts to boost the roster through transfer additions. And they evaluate Tennessee's chance of keeping its NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive in Caldwell's debut.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 

Connect on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/

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Part of <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/05/06/kim-caldwell-lady-vols-basketball-tennessee-rick-barnes-josh-heupel/73472773007/" aria-label="Link coaching the Lady Vols">coaching the Lady Vols</a> means testing yourself against the nation's best opponents. <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/university-of-tennessee/john-adams/2024/05/08/lady-vols-coach-kim-caldwell-ticket-prices-2024-25-season/73560951007/" aria-label="Link Kim Caldwell">Kim Caldwell</a> will experience that in her first season at Tennessee.
The <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/columnists/blake-toppmeyer/2024/05/02/lady-vols-vs-uconn-rivalry-womens-basketball-geno-auriemma-pat-summitt/73495714007/" aria-label="Link Lady Vols will host UConn next season">Lady Vols will host UConn next season</a>, a restoration of a rivalry that went on a one-year hiatus last season. There was a time when this <a href="https://www.knoxnews.com/story/sports/college/university-of-tennessee/womens-basketball/2020/01/23/lady-vols-uconn-rivalry-womens-basketball-pat-summitt-geno-auriemma/4522168002/" aria-label="Link rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport">rivalry of blue bloods and clash of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma defined the sport</a>. The rivalry isn't what it once was, and neither is either program. Still, UConn is coming off a Final Four appearance, while Tennessee is a program searching for its footing.
Can the Lady Vols possibly be prepared to handle UConn in Caldwell's first season?
On today's episode, hosts <a href="https://twitter.com/btoppmeyer" aria-label="Link Blake Toppmeyer">Blake Toppmeyer</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/corahalll" aria-label="Link Cora Hall">Cora Hall</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/johnadamskns" aria-label="Link John Adams">John Adams</a> weigh in on the rivalry restoration.
They also assess Caldwell's first month on the job and her efforts to boost the roster through transfer additions. And they evaluate Tennessee's chance of keeping its NCAA Tournament appearance streak alive in Caldwell's debut.
Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) Adam (@AdamSparks) Cora (@corahalll) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on Vols sports news by following @GoVolsXtra. 
Connect on Facebook - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/">https://www.facebook.com/GoVolsXtra/</a>
Subscribe to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer. The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessee.

A Tennessee Vols podcast from the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee.

The Volunteer State

The Volunteer State is a Tennessee Vols sports podcast covering sports topics from the University of Tennessee featuring The Knoxville News Sentinel's John Adams, Mike Wilson and Blake Toppmeyer.

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