GREENVILLE, S.C. — Lady Vols basketball’s SEC Tournament run was short-lived. After just one game, Tennessee lost 76-64 to drop its seventh-straight and 10 of its last 12.
However, the second half saw nearly no minutes for Talaysia Cooper. She started the second half after playing 10 minutes in the first half, but after two waves of substitutions, was pulled with 6:27 to play in the third quarter after a bad pass resulted in a turnover.
Cooper did not return to the game. She finished with four points on 1-for-4 shooting with one rebound, two assists, two steals and the turnover.
After the game, UT head coach Kim Caldwell was asked what the situation was that resulted in Cooper not playing.
“It was a coach’s decision, and we just wanted to give her some air,” Caldwell said. “I think your emotions can get running and just wanted to get her outside and with the staff members, so she could breathe.”
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Cooper earned All-SEC Second-Team nods for her season with Tennessee. This was the second-straight year that she landed an all-conference nod.
Heading into the SEC Tournament, she posted averages of 16.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game. Both her points and assists led the team.
Cooper will have one year of eligibility remaining. However, she is considered a potential WNBA draft pick if she does opt to leave college a season early. She could also return to Tennessee for a final season or enter the transfer portal if that is the route she chooses.
This is her third season with the Lady Vols, but her second on the court. She was forced to sit out for the 2023-24 season after transferring in from South Carolina outside of the transfer portal window. That was the final season of Kellie Harper’s tenure, with Cooper sticking around through the coaching change to Caldwell.
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2 Responses
This is the worst Lady Vols team that I’ve seen in history, the coach isn’t up for the job. Go back back to Division 3 ball the way that you coach!!!!!
Tony… When you have a bunch of freshmen, and you team plays #1,#2,#3,#4,#5,#6,#7,#9,#10 etc… and 4 of those were in 9 days, then you’re gonna struggle. Any coach would struggle with that… Yes, even Pat would have. Lay off Coach Caldwell.