The first day of women’s March Madness continues with Tennessee and South Florida tipping off from Columbus. The No. 5 Vols face the No. 12 Bulls in a first-round battle.
Tennessee, which started off hot but finished eighth in the SEC, has something to prove after a rollercoaster of a season. The team has all the pieces, led by Talaysia Cooper and Jewel Spear, but finishing the regular season with two consecutive losses means the Vols have to regroup quick to get their head in the game.
The Bulls aren’t one to be taken lightly, either. They finished the regular season third in the AAC but went on a run in the conference tournament to claim the title and earn their way to the NCAA Tournament. They even recorded a 65-56 victory over Duke in December thanks to a 23-point game from leading scorer Sammie Puisis.
The Tennessee-South Florida matchup is a true meeting between a Blue Blood and an underdog (or in this case, under-bull). The Vols have never missed an NCAA Tournament and have only ever lost two first-round games.
But South Florida is hot and dangerous when they’re on. Take them lightly, and the Vols may be packing to go home.
Here’s what you need to know about Friday’s matchup between Tennessee and South Florida, including broadcast information…
