Tennessee women’s basketball head coach Kellie Harper and senior guard/forward and All-America candidate Rennia Davis met with the media on Thursday afternoon over Zoom to preview the Lady Vols’ 2020-21 season.
Head Coach Kellie Harper
Opening statement:
“We’re excited. We’re excited about getting to play basketball and this upcoming season. I understand we still have to be flexible and we have to be able to pivot at any moment, but we’ve had good practices. We’ve had a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and our players have been really positive throughout this time. They seem pretty eager to take the court against an opponent. So, I’ve been thrilled. I love the way that this team is shaping up, and I’m excited to see what we can do.”
On whether Tennessee is still going to be able to open the season at a tournament in Florida:
“We found out last night that we are not. So, we are still working on non-conference scheduling. The landscape is changing weekly, if not daily, so we’re hoping to finalize our non-conference and get our conference schedule out sooner rather than later. It’s definitely been a challenge.”
On what she’s been most pleased about so far in practice:
“I think everybody has been on the same page in terms of learning and putting things in. I think we’ve worked hard, and our players have really come with great energy each and every day. Our communication has been much better than it was a year ago. Everybody has been very positive, and I think really embraced our returners and newcomers alike, so it’s been a really good atmosphere. In terms of basketball, it’s still early and we’re still putting things in, but I like the energy that we’re using on defense and I like the thought process that we have offensively at this point.”
On whether the Tennessee-UConn game scheduled for January is still on:
“Right now, we haven’t been able to announce anything on our end, but with it being a Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame game and a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame game along with the Pat Summitt Foundation, it is still scheduled for January 21. I have not had conversations with them, but I know the administration for both schools, as well folks in both of those parties, have been in touch.”
On keeping the team engaged during an abnormal time:
“Early on, back in the spring, which seems like a lifetime ago now, we couldn’t do a whole lot. We were trying to make sure we were face to face, just like this, having Zoom calls with them, talking to them about what they could be doing. Did they have access to a basketball goal outside? Did they have access to just a basketball where they could dribble inside? So, we had a lot of conversations throughout that time and we were really intentional with our meetings. We had book clubs, we had diversity training, we had leadership meetings. We tried to be very intentional about staying engaged with our team, even when it was not on the court. And we tried to take advantage of that time and take advantage of those meetings because that was a really great opportunity for growth for our team.”
On where the newcomers are at in their transition into college basketball:
“We weren’t able to get them here as early as normal. Typically, they would have been here toward the end of May. It was several weeks later that we got them on campus, but we’ve been able to work with them in one-on-one settings and small groups and then as a team. So, I think right now, they’re comfortable with what we’re doing. They’re pretty excited about coming to practice every day and getting better. I think they have picked things up very quickly. The only thing that they’re missing at this point is the experience, and they’re not going to get that until they step out there in their first college game. With where they’re at right now, I’ve been very pleased.”
On whether she wants to continue to take the approach of using lots of substitutions:
“Going into this season, I feel more comfortable with our depth. I like playing players. They come to practice every day, they want to play. I think when they go out there and earn playing time, I want to reward them with that. In terms of having a substitution pattern, we want to do that. It has to make sense, but I think right now just numbers wise, we have a little more depth.”
On Rennia Davis’ development:
“Historically, one of the things that you can look at with Rennia’s performances is you can see how she has improved every year. I think she had a really good junior campaign, and what we would like to do is build on that. For her to take a really good season last year and even improve on that. She’s finding a little more diversity in her game. She’s gotten better at ball handling, she can really shoot, she can really score, and she’s a great athlete. I’ve been really impressed with her defense this preseason. She’s done a really good job on the ball and off the ball. She’s an excellent rebounder. She can continue to improve in almost all of those areas. We just want her to be Rennia and just find small ways to be better each and every day.”
On whether she believes the team’s improved communication is due to the offseason Zoom calls and the communication built there:
“Our communication has been better, but we’re still working on it, we’re still a work in progress and will continue to improve in that area. I think it’s three things. I think one, we have worked so much off the court this summer, I think it is translating to the court. I think they understand how much they have to communicate to be successful. Two, I think our upperclassmen just have another year under their belts and are more experienced, a little bit more confident. And when you have that confidence, it’s easier to speak, it’s easier to communicate on the court, and I think we’re seeing that from them which has been a really good positive. And then our newcomers, who I think by nature are pretty vocal. They’re bringing a lot of energy, and so I think it’s been a wonderful addition to our team not only with X’s and O’s, but also just their personalities and how they blend and fit in with this group.”
On how she would say the team’s chemistry has progressed since she was hired:
“I think right now it’s really good. And don’t get me wrong, it’s not one of those things that you finally arrive at, you check a box for and move on from. It’s constant. You have to work on it. And we do. We are very intentional about working on our team chemistry and finding ways to continue to build that confidence with each other. But it just feels good when you walk in, there’s a really good vibe to practice right now, or to any of our meetings. I think they’re legitimately pulling for each other and understand how important that the teammate next to them is. Everybody has to be pulling in the right direction for us to do something special. It’s not four people. Four people can’t pull the whole team along. It’s everybody, and I think they’re really buying into that.”
On what she likes out of each freshman so far:
“Tess Darby is an excellent shooter and a really hard worker. She is one of those players that will ask a lot of questions just because she wants to get it right. She comes from a winning program, and we can feel that from her.
“Destiny Salary, same thing in terms of coming from a winning program. She brings a lot of energy, a lot of personality, which I think is just as important as any basketball skills she can bring. But right now, on the court, she’s doing a really good job handling the ball, she’s doing a good job getting to the basket and knocking down shots, too. We’ve really liked seeing her development this preseason.
“Marta Suárez is very dynamic. She has a wide skill set, she can play several positions, she’s got a little ‘baller’ in her and is really fun to watch because she can make plays.”
On Jordan Horston and Tamari Key’s development:
“I’ll start with Jordan. I feel like her maturity level has been raised. She is already more consistent in showing up at practice and in doing what she needs to do to be successful. She looks amazing right now. She looks the part. She walks out on the court, and she’s bigger and stronger than everybody. And I think what we’re trying to work on is let’s translate that into your aggressiveness at the basket. She’s knocking down shots, she’s getting to the basket. Her strength and size right now could allow her to play more powerfully this season.
“I think Tamari is still just really talented. I think for her, her growth is still just taking that talent to the next level and not just being talented, but outworking someone, or being more aggressive on the court and not letting plays happen to her, her going out and making plays because she’s so capable of doing that.”
On Rae Burrell:
“First off, I think she was the ultimate sixth man last year. That is what you want. You want somebody coming in fearless, playing downhill, being aggressive coming off the bench, because that’s firepower coming off the bench. So, I thought that was a great role that she filled for us. But she also did a really good job when she stepped in the starting role. She’s still showing that aggressiveness, she’s showing a lot of high energy plays. She’s not gotten a lot of shots, but she’s had some really good practices. The more that she plays, the better she’s going to get in my opinion.”
On defense being behind the offense heading into the season:
“We have spent more time on our offense. I will say we’ve spent a lot of time on offense this offseason, and a lot of that is by design. At any point we could lose practices due to COVID, and so what we’ve tried to do is front-load and put in as much of the teaching aspects early, so that at any point we’re still going to be in pretty good shape in terms of what we can do. For us, we felt like the defense would be one of those things that we could pick up late if we needed to. So, we’ve been heavy on the offense early on by design, and then we’ve really picked up defense. I’ve been proud of them how they’ve started off the preseason defensively, so hopefully we can stick with that.”
On the challenges of developing a deep rotation:
“The issues arise because players want to play, and everybody wants to play as many minutes as they possibly can. But I think if you go back and look at my teams historically, we play a lot of people. It just takes communication with your players. I think it also takes them buying in and understanding how effective and beneficial it is to have a solid, deep rotation. When and where the positives will show will be at the end of the year, at the end of a game when you have a little bit more fresh legs. I feel really good about.”
On Jordan Horston, Jordan Walker and Keyen Green:
“Both Jordan Horston and Jordan Walker are playing point guard right now, as well as Destiny Salary. We’re trying to get those three solid reps throughout the practices. Jordan Horston and Destiny Salary can also play the off-guard with no problem, so we can play those players together which gives us depth and a lot of different combinations, which I think is really valuable and useful. But they’ve done well. I think they’re picking things up. I’ve been really impressed with Destiny Salary and Jordan Walker walking in and stepping up and being vocal, asking questions, getting things right, being aggressive. They haven’t played timid at all, and I think that’s hard to do, especially at a point guard position when you’re new.
“Keyen Green has made a big impact on our team already. She comes in with great maturity, great leadership, unbelievable work ethic on the court. I think she took four charges in one practice. This is a tough, hard-nosed kid that wants the basketball, and if you don’t throw it to her, she’ll just go get the rebound. She’s been really good for us thus far.”
On the recent roundtable discussion with UTPD?
“We are having ongoing diversity, inclusion and equality discussions. We are consistently having conversations with our team to educate, to find our voice, and to also find where we can make a difference and where our team as a whole can make a difference. We have different discussions every couple of weeks, and we were very fortunate to have Chief Lane and one of his officers come and answer questions from our group. It was very insightful, and I think that our players really appreciated their time and also their experience and them just sharing a different lens on what’s going on in the world.”
On the importance of getting consistent scoring from the low post position:
“We’re definitely capable. I think the consistency was lacking last year. We would have a game where we’d really score underneath and then maybe have a couple games where we didn’t. We’re talented enough, and I think we’ve got the personnel to do it. I think, for us, for our offense to be as good as it can possibly be, we need great balance with not just interior scoring, but scoring in the paint, off the dribble, scoring behind the 3-point line, scoring in transition, scoring at the free-throw line. We want to be able to put points on the board in a variety of ways; obviously, low-post work will be part of that.”
On whether the team has organized anything in terms of early voting:
“Yes, we have 100 percent registration to vote at this point. We’re working on getting absentee ballots, because most of our players are going to be voting by absentee ballot. So, we’re working on getting those in and turned in, and we are off that day just to make sure that everybody has an opportunity to get out and vote.”
On the team’s depth at post:
“Kasi (Kasiyahna Kushkituah) has had a terrific offseason. She looks great. She has practiced with more confidence. She’s been really, really good, and I’m proud of her. She has a motivation going into her senior year; she wants to go out and have a really strong senior season, and she’s had a good offseason to get that started.
“Jaiden McCoy, again I think for her, it’s being able to be that rebounder, that player that can score on the block and play a little bit of perimeter for us in a four-out situation… you know, be the player that is going to help us be better when she steps on the court. (We need her to) be a great defender and be very versatile in who she guards. We need to be able to have that trust in her that when she goes out there that she’s going to be solid; that’s what we need from her to be the best we can be.
“And Emily (Emily Saunders), I think she’s just continuing to work and play up to speed and try to find ways to use her size, because that is to her advantage when she’s out on the court.”
On having players with good size and the tempo she wants to play:
“I want to play with pace too, because the great thing is my size is mobile! They can go. They can go. Kasi is flying down the court and Tamari Key can really run. Keyen Green is about as fast as any guard we have, so I think we’ve got some speed in the interior. So just because we’re big, it doesn’t mean we want to play slow. We still want to get up and down the court. You know, Tamari Key, if she runs the floor well, and she beats a post down the court, guards are going to struggle guarding her if there’s a mismatch in transition, so we want to try to take advantage of that. And our guards will push the ball, so there will be some opportunities for our post players if they’ll get down the court, and I think they will.”
Senior Guard/Forward Rennia Davis
On what she has been able to do to stay ready and prepared for her senior season since March:
“Since March it has felt like so long, and I have been in the gym the whole time. That’s all we could do in the pandemic, and obviously we couldn’t get in a gym immediately, but outside I was just working on what I could. I’ve been focusing on my ball handling and just overall strength and conditioning, and I feel like we have needed to get stronger this year, so I have been working on that and doing pretty good at it.”
On who she thought has stood out since starting practice:
“In my opinion, everyone from last year has improved, and everybody who has come in this year has really brought positive energy to this team and has really bought in what we are trying to do. I can’t pinpoint a specific person because I just personally think everybody has improved, and I just feel like that.”
On whether she has made defense more of a priority this season and whether she has been working on it:
“I used to hate defense, but once I got to college and learned the importance of it I have really put more effort In that area. I’ve really been trying, and defense is really all about effort anyway, so just pushing myself every day in practice and guarding these quick guys we practice against, I really think I have improved and gotten better.”
On whether she has followed the WNBA this season, and what she has learned from that to improve her game:
“This has definitely been the most I’ve watched the WNBA, obviously because it is where I want to be at next year. The biggest thing I have taken away from it is getting out in transition, last year I believe I did pretty good in that and I saw WNBA players and how they scored the majority of the time. I believe I have an advantage in that area, just having fresher legs than some of the other players that have been in the league longer than me, so I think I could have an advantage of getting out in transition and scoring easy baskets.”
On what she thinks about post depth and Keyen Green as a newcomer:
“Keyen Green is tough. That is the simplest way I can put it. The charges (she takes in practice) to me just amplify how tough she is, and obviously we had Lou last year to take those charges, but Keyen just being able to step in and fill that role that was huge for us that she was able to do that. She also communicates really well with the guards when they are playing with her, so I really like Keyen.”
On how the leadership of the returning players is going to affect the overall team:
“Leadership is going to be huge for us, as it has been since I have been here. I just think this year we have more people that will be able to step into that role, but also we have more people that are willing to listen, so I think that is huge too, and our communication has improved since I have been here in my opinion, so I am just really excited this year and where we are going.”
On whether the team is wanting more and wanting to continue to have success, especially since last year ended abruptly:
“Yes, I can only speak for myself, but for me personally the way last season ended is still not sitting right with me, not even because of the pandemic but because of how we performed in our last game, so I have used it as motivation this offseason and so I won’t put us in that same position again next year.”
On with the schedule not out yet, how that affects the team and the preparation for when they will get to play:
“That’s a great question. It can be hard to stay focused if it’s not something you want to do, but it is something I am passionate about and enjoy doing, so I think it is important we stay ready. Kellie has done a great job with keeping us with that mindset as well and not letting us get relaxed, and not really being concerned with a specific start date and just knowing we’re playing, so that when It is time to play we are ready and not have to get ready.”
On whether a fifth year of eligibility because of the new NCAA rule, is intriguing to her:
“I’m not closed to anything right now, but I am most focused on how we will do this season coming up. I believe I have a lot of time to decide if I want to enter my name into the draft next year, or decide on a fifth season, but today I am not as concerned about that as maybe other people are.”
On how the freshmen being more vocal has impacted this team for this upcoming season:
“I love our freshmen this year, and I honestly wish I came in with as much confidence my freshman year, because I think I would be a lot further along. The freshmen this year are willing to talk but also willing to learn. They have great personalities, great presence, the vibes, and the energy, and I believe you don’t come across groups like that often, so I am excited for the freshman and what they will bring to the team and they are all going to contribute in some way as well.”
On whether she sees the confidence in the freshmen in their ability to be vocal or how they perform in practice:
“It is really both, I can speak for one freshman in particular, Destiny (Salary), because I have been in the gym with her more than any other freshman. She already has a great personality but then she also has this confidence about her as well, so all that tied in together she can play and has probably done more than most of us expected. She has great energy and the first thing she told me is she didn’t come here to sit on the bench, and I like that because it gives me confidence to know that I will have someone in practice everyday that is going to push me, so I really appreciate that about her.”
On how she balances being encouraging and also demanding to get the team to perform at their best:
“That is tough with any leader, but especially with so many new players we had come in this year, but the biggest thing for me is building those relationships outside of basketball, that is important because if that happens and I am able to communicate with a freshman about food or something they had today, just to let them know I care about them other ways than basketball, so when we get on the court it makes it that much easier to communicate I think people take things less personally that way too.”
On as a senior how excited she is to have a full team on scholarship and will have depth with rotations:
“We have 13 players that are not only on the roster but will be able to contribute at some point this year, so for me that Is extremely motivating, especially for someone who has had to play extensive minutes in previous years, so just having someone who can come off the bench and give me breather sometimes, or if I get in foul trouble there is not a drop off with the subs, I think that is huge for us and this year it will be on full display.”
On what she thinks about Jordan Walker as a newcomer and how she can help the other point guards and alleviate the need for Davis to play back-up point guard:
“That’s exactly what I was thinking is ‘I was about to be PG2 and work on my ball handling, which is what I do anyway, but I was like I was really going to have to lock in on ball handling,’ but I talked to Jordan prior to her coming and just encouraged her and she obviously saw fit to be here. I’m so glad she came. She is such a tough player, has so much poise and confidence within herself, and confidence in her teammates, and she just adds something to the point guard spot that I don’t think we have had in awhile. She’s aggressive up there, and I really like playing with her.”
-UT Athletics
