Overview
- No. 10 seed Tennessee lost 76-61 to No. 7 NC State in Ann Arbor, closing at 16-14 (.552), the lowest winning percentage in program history and tied for the fewest wins of the NCAA era.
- The Lady Vols ended on an eight-game skid, went winless in March and recorded just the third first-round NCAA Tournament exit across 44 consecutive appearances.
- Caldwell detailed the abandoned “Plan B” as scaling back the press, slowing tempo, extending player stints and tightening rotations, calling it the worst year of her coaching career.
- Tennessee was without leading rebounder and second-leading scorer Janiah Barker, who was listed out, while Talaysia Cooper scored 24 points and underscored the team’s press-and-effort standard.
- Athletic director Danny White expressed confidence in Caldwell and said he does not expect a quick fix, as Caldwell plans player meetings to gauge retention ahead of the transfer portal and declined to discuss potential staff changes.