Lady Vols basketball is looking to get back on track on Thursday night by hosting Missouri. This also marks the return of former Tennessee head coach and national champion player Kellie Harper as the coach of the Tigers.
Before the game, Harper met with UT head coach Kim Caldwell. She was hired a year ago after the firing of Harper. The pair shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at midcourt.
During the starting lineup introductions, Harper was also announced by the PA and given a standing ovation by the Lady Vols fans in attendance.
Kim Caldwell and Kellie Harper exchange pregame pleasantries ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3mnxKpmzHX
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) February 12, 2026
Round of applause for Kellie Harper as she’s introduced pregame ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8cG99oIDvv
— Ryan Sylvia (@RyanTSylvia) February 12, 2026
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Before the game, Harper tried to redirect the spotlight that is being placed on her in the return to Knoxville. Instead, she’s emphasizing how important the game is and the challenge ahead for her players.
“For me, I’m just doing my job,” Harper said. “This is about our players. It really is. It’s about our team, and we’re going over to play a game. I know there’s going to be so many people wanting to make it about me, and I get that, but it really isn’t. It’s about the game. We’ve got to do our best to have our players prepared. The challenges that we have on Thursday are enormous. They’re big, they’re athletic. But we know we’ll fight and we’ll play hard.”
Harper said she hasn’t thought much about the return, either. Since it’s been nearly two years since she last coached at UT, she’d moved on.
Last season, Harper served as an in-studio analyst on the SEC Network. After one year on the broadcasting side of the industry, she returned to coaching in the SEC with Missouri.
“Honestly, no, and I know it’s going to be hard for people to understand that, but I’m now almost two years removed,” Harper said. “I do think time takes a lot of emotion out of it. And I’ve always been the type of person of what is next? What is next on my agenda? I can lock in, I can compartmentalize pretty well as a coach, and really dive into what needs to be done. I know we’re going to Knoxville on Thursday, but I’m really concerned about how this practice is going to look today. That’s really been my focus.”
Tip-off began at 6:30 p.m. ET and is airing on SECN+.
