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Tennessee can put the ball in the hoop, thanks largely to star forward Rickea Jackson, who will be one of the faces of the WNBA when she is drafted on April 15.
Jackson has averaged 19.4 points per game, eight rebounds, 2.4 assists, and shot 47.1 percent from the paint. She has been stellar for the Lady Volunteers in the 2023-24 season.
In the opening round of this year’s tournament, however, their defensive struggles could prove costly against the Horizon League champion Green Bay Phoenix.
Guard Natalie McNeal averaged 13.4 points a game, and 50.6 from the paint in 2023-24, with 6.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists to go along with it. She was superb for a team that won their league title.
It is Green Bay’s defense that puts the Vols on upset watch.
The team struggles with rebounds but is gritty and allows just 57.8 points to opposing teams. They also won by just over 16 points a game on average.
If the Phoenix are able stunt Jackson’s momentum early and force the Vols to look elsewhere for offensive output, Green Bay should be able to dictate pace and play a defensive game that favors them.
That is a big “if” given Jackson’s talent, but one that McNeal and Co. will look to conquer.
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