Tennessee Vols Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Caldwell Drops Truth Bomb After Embarrassing Loss to Kentucky

Another significant issue was rebounding. “They were bigger than us, so we knew they were going to get some, but I don’t think we rebounded as a team,” Caldwell lamented. The Wildcats outrebounded Tennessee by a wide margin, a statistic that clearly reflected the Lady Vols’ inability to assert themselves on the boards. This failure, she said, stemmed partly from a lack of consistent effort; her team appeared to “take plays off” when things didn’t go their way, leaving them vulnerable to Kentucky’s physical advantage.

Despite the harsh verdict, Caldwell emphasized that the loss would serve as a learning opportunity. “We will not burn the tape. We will watch it in slow motion,” she declared, signaling her intent to scrutinize every mistake and ensure that her players learn from this setback. “When you play an effort-based system and you don’t have effort—or you have one player that decides to take a play off—you’re going to get beat,” she noted, stressing the importance of collective accountability.

Caldwell’s message is clear: this defeat is a turning point. “It’s up to them what the rest of their season looks like. This can make us better, or they can sit on it,” she concluded. With renewed focus on fundamentals and a commitment to higher intensity, Caldwell aims to transform this painful loss into a catalyst for growth, setting a new standard for the Lady Vols as they continue their season.