Tennessee opened its season Monday night with a 109-62 win over Duquesne, and Kaylene Smikle set the tone with 31 points in the Lady Vols' first game under Kim Caldwell this year. The final margin was decisive, but Caldwell said the most important stretch came earlier, when Duquesne pushed in the first quarter and tested how Tennessee would respond.
Early adversity, then a quick answer
After the game, Caldwell said Duquesne gave Tennessee a “really, really good punch” in the first quarter. She said she was pleased with how the Lady Vols handled that stretch, especially because she wanted to see how the group would react once the other team made a run. In her view, that response was a needed part of the season opener and a useful early test for a team still settling into the year.
Caldwell also made clear that she expects Duquesne to be competitive in the A10. She described the program as a longtime family connection through Coach Burt and thanked Duquesne for making the trip and playing in the game.
Smikle’s scoring night, and the bigger picture
Smikle’s 31-point performance was the headline, but Caldwell’s comments suggested the outing meant more than just a big scoring total. She said Smikle has been locked in since she saw her on game day, bringing joy and energy to the floor after a long stretch away from playing in a basketball game. Caldwell also said Smikle was especially good in a play where she resisted the urge to keep hunting her own shot and instead found Naomi for a three-pointer.
That moment, Caldwell said, reflected both Smikle’s approach and Tennessee’s culture. She praised Smikle for wanting to make the right play rather than simply focus on how many points she scored, and said the guard showed she wants to be an all-around player. Caldwell added that Smikle can look for her shot more, but also noted that she helps the team in other ways when the shot is not falling.
The performance from Jada Eads was also part of the bigger picture for Tennessee. Caldwell said she would like to see Eads look for her shot more, but also praised her for setting the tempo on both ends of the floor. She said Eads has only been back and cleared for about a month, which gives her a high ceiling as the season moves forward.
For Tennessee, the opener offered more than a big score line. It gave Caldwell a chance to see how her team would handle an early push, while Smikle’s 31 points and the Lady Vols' response provided an encouraging first look at how this group might look under pressure.
