The Tennessee Lady Vols basketball team is gearing up for another crucial matchup on the road, set to face off against Kentucky on Thursday. Meanwhile, a standout Lady Vols player recently shared her thoughts on head coach Kim Caldwell’s coaching style and her team.
As the regular season nears its end, the team remains focused on securing a strong position in the SEC Tournament.
Lady Vols Star Praises Kim Caldwell’s Coaching Approach
The official X account of Lady Vols basketball recently posted a video featuring one of the team’s stars, forward Jillian Hollingshead, accompanied by the caption:
“We’re really a family. We always have a good time. Our chemistry is good on and off the court.”
“We’re really a family. We always have a good time. Our chemistry is good on and off the court.”
📺 The Kim Caldwell Show pic.twitter.com/uJYHr20auU
— Lady Vols Basketball (@LadyVol_Hoops) February 26, 2025
In the video, Hollingshead spoke at length about the team’s culture and how Caldwell’s leadership has strengthened their bond and competitive spirit.
“Our whole team is really competitive,” she said.
“It really starts in practice. It’s a box-out drill, a shooting drill—like, we’re all trying to win at the end of the day. And when we come and play, we all have that same mentality. It’s really one of the things I like about this team. It’s just the perfect fit. We’re really a family. We always have a good time.”
Hollingshead also shared a personal anecdote about how growing up playing basketball with her brother helped shape her skills and mindset.
“I used to play on the concrete courts with my brother, just playing street ball, showing my talents, and just really hooping. I used to go out there, and my brother was like, ‘You can’t call fouls, you can’t do this.’ Well, I was playing against grown men, and I was still in middle school. I was as skinny as my pinky, but I think it made me better, made me a lot tougher, and just kept my competitiveness up.”
Additionally, she emphasized how crucial leadership has been in her development as a player. She said:
“My parents used to be able to point things out off the court, and that same mentality goes for our coaches and players. I’ve been here for a couple of years now, so leading where I need to lead has helped me throughout.”
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She wrapped up her thoughts by acknowledging the legacy of Tennessee basketball and the deep respect she holds for the program’s history.
“It’s about legacy, honestly. Before I got here, every time I thought about Tennessee, I thought about Pat Summitt and the legacy she left behind—not just for women’s basketball, but for women’s sports in general. It’s really an everything school.
“I know a lot of schools say that, but not all of them mean it. Tennessee, as a whole, really does mean it—it’s an everything school.”
Tennessee Prepares for Key SEC Matchups
For the Lady Vols to position themselves favorably in the SEC Tournament, they must secure victories in both Thursday’s game against Kentucky and Sunday’s regular-season finale against Georgia. Every game from this point forward is critical as Tennessee looks to improve its standing within the conference.
The Lady Vols have been riding a wave of momentum. Earlier in the season, during October 2024, at Caldwell’s introductory press conference, Hollingshead immediately sensed that the new head coach would be a perfect fit for Tennessee’s program.
When Caldwell was asked in April whether her aggressive play style could translate to success at a higher level, her response was unequivocal.
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think we could do it here,” Caldwell stated confidently.
That unwavering belief resonated with her players.
“She just stood up there with a lot of confidence and meant what she said,” Hollingshead reflected during a local media day. “A lot of coaches who would take a job like Tennessee, I think, would be a little bit nervous.”
Currently ranked No. 11 in the country, the Lady Vols (21-6, 8-6 SEC) are set to take on No. 15 Kentucky (21-5, 10-4 SEC) on Thursday at 6:00 p.m. CT (7:00 p.m. ET) at Memorial Coliseum.
The game will be televised nationally on SEC Network and broadcast on Lady Vol Network radio stations. It will also be audio-streamed on UTSports.com and SiriusXM Satellite Radio (Channels 106 & 190).
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With two games remaining before the SEC Tournament, Tennessee finds itself in eighth place in the conference standings. However, with a strong finish, the Lady Vols could climb as high as fourth or fifth, provided they win out and receive some favorable results from other matchups.
The team has been on a hot streak, winning four consecutive games and six of its last seven, including statement victories over No. 5 UConn and No. 18 Alabama. Their only recent setback was a narrow road loss to No. 6 LSU.
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