Kim Caldwell’s Tennessee lineup change in SEC Tournament that helped Lady Vols escape worst week of season

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Kim Caldwell had two days to right the ship before the 2025 postseason started for Lady Vols basketball.

The first-year Tennessee coach was steady. There wasn’t a panic when the Lady Vols played their two worst games of the season going into the SEC Tournament. She didn’t only focus on the negatives, even though there were plenty from the last two games.

She did, however, have her typical brevity in her message to her team.

“She just literally told us have a come-to-Jesus moment and get back to how we were before,” redshirt freshman Kaniya Boyd said.

It only took one quarter against No. 16 seed Texas A&M at Bon Secours Wellness Arena for the No. 9 seed Lady Vols to find themselves again. Tennessee took control of the game in the second quarter and never looked back in the 77-37 blowout win to open the SEC Tournament on Wednesday.

The Lady Vols leaned on their defense, scoring 37 points off 32 forced turnovers. It was their eighth game of the season with 30-plus forced turnovers, which ties the program record set by the 1997-98 undefeated championship team.

For the first time in three games, Tennessee looked like it was on the same page.

Caldwell helped the Lady Vols find their confidence again. She showed them positive things about what they looked like earlier in SEC play and in their upset of UConn.

“I think that just gave us confidence, but also knowing we can still be that team, it’s not too late to do that,” senior guard Jewel Spear said. “And I think it got everybody on the same page.”

Senior point guard Samara Spencer said it helped to come together as a team and restate their goals that still lie ahead of them. March didn’t start off how they wanted, but the rest of the month is still full of opportunities.

“It’s a personal game, for sure, we want our get back,” Zee Spearman said. “But we know we got to stick together to do that. If we all play hard, we good. Nobody’s stopping us.”

Caldwell shook things up with starting lineup. She started Boyd, Alyssa Latham and Tess Darby alongside Spear and Zee Spearman, who are regular starters.

Boyd was one of the best players on the court for Tennessee and finished with seven points, three rebounds, two steals and an assist in 22 minutes. She was the fastest player on the floor and pushed the pace in transition, opening up the Lady Vols’ transition offense.

“I didn’t even realize that was her first postseason game, but special,” Spear said of Boyd’s performance. “It just shows it doesn’t even seem like she’s a freshman. She does the little things, the effort-based things, and it gives us energy.”