BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Texas point guard Rori Harmon spent a game-high 37 minutes on the court in the Longhorns’ Sweet 16 victory over No. 5 Tennessee on Saturday. These minutes weren’t like the typical 29.5 she averages. This game, she was in motion nearly the entire time, breaking the Lady Volunteers’ full-court press.
Tennessee uses a unique defensive strategy, full-court pressing for all 40 minutes. Head coach Kim Caldwell subs her entire court out about every two minutes, keeping them fresh to run back and forth.
“I’m gonna take that personal,” said Harmon, a senior. “You think you can press us? Then we’re gonna get layups and shove it down your throat.”
Harmon, who missed the 2023-24 season due to an ACL tear and still wears a knee brace while playing, demonstrated her court vision against the Lady Vols’ press, drawing in defenders and creating pockets of space for her own teammates. It also helped make the 37 minutes of running in the 67-59 win a little more bearable.
“If I’m able to take the eyes of the defense and bring them with me, and it allows my team to get freed up in the press like they did, it gives me a little break,” Harmon said. “It’s almost a blessing in disguise.”
At the start of the second half, Caldwell waited only 50 seconds before subbing in a new five. Eleven players appeared on the court for Tennessee, averaging 18.09 minutes.
Texas rotated in eight players, two of whom contributed less than 10 minutes.
Harmon leads the Longhorns with 6 assists per game and logged a game-high 4 against the Lady Vols, adding 8 points and 4 rebounds. A Houston native recruited by head coach Vic Schaefer in 2021, she has been his eyes and ears on the court for three seasons.
“I’m a better coach, better father, better husband because I’ve been around her every day,” Schaefer said. “There’s some comfort when you are a head coach knowing that that’s the engine, that’s who is running your group, your team.”
Olivia Noni is a student in the University of Georgia's Sports Media Certificate program.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas basketball's Rori Harmon had this response to Lady Vols' press
