What's it like to attend a UConn-Tennessee game at Rocky Top? Take a trip into enemy territory
A last look at the Huskies' win in Knoxville last week.
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Recruiting: UConn hosts 2026 post Olivia Vukosa on unofficial visit
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Last week’s Weekly:
A trip into enemy territory
6,194 days had passed since UConn traveled to Knoxville to play in front of a crowd. The Huskies went down to Rocky Top on Jan. 7, 2006 (and lost 89-90) and finally returned on Jan. 26, 2022. UConn’s first trip back happened in 2021 but due to COVID, just over 3,000 fans were allowed into the 21,678-seat Thompson-Boling Arena. It wasn’t a real atmosphere, especially not for this rivalry.
In that span between games, the Huskies had won six national championships. Maya Moore played her entire UConn and WNBA career. Three different presidents took office. The iPhone came out. Twitter, Instagram and Spotify were all started. Neither of Tennessee nor UConn’s youngest commitments were even born yet.
As the Huskies headed down to Knoxville last week, they were doing so in a completely different world than their previous trip in front of fans.
Over that time in Connecticut, the UConn-Tennessee rivalry no longer has the same intensity and anger as before. Not only had the Huskies become the top program in the sport, the Vols weren’t much of a threat anymore. UConn’s rivalry with Notre Dame replaced Tennessee and after Muffett McGraw brought that program down then retired, South Carolina has started to emerge as the Huskies’ top competition.
The two matchups at the XL Center featured the same excitement and anticipation as any other big non-conference matchup, but nothing beyond that. It wasn’t the game on the schedule the way it used to be.
But would that also be the case in Tennessee? That’s thought rattled around my brain as I traveled down to Knoxville for the contest. Did Vols fans have 17 years worth of anger bottled up? Or had the animosity faded in Rocky Top as well? Whatever happened in the game would only have implications on this season. The answer to that question would have further repercussions. Could women’s college basketball be fully past the rivalry that used to define the sport?
***
There was a clear sense of anticipation in Knoxville leading up to tip-off. The first thing my Uber driver said: “Are you in town for the game?” The next day in a bookstore, the owner had a similar question after I looked at a stand with a trio of Pat Summitt books: “Are you a Lady Vols fan?” Around the town, there were plenty of visiting UConn fans — and a handful of Tennessee fans who clearly traveled in for the game.
Thompson-Boling Arena was the site for the battle, the fourth-largest college basketball venue in the nation. From the outside, it doesn’t look like much. Perched on the high banks overlooking the Tennessee River, Thompson-Boling Arena features a nondescript, concrete facade that closer resembles a corporate office or even a Cold War Era nuclear shelter.
Inside is a different story, though. It’s nearly impossible to turn a corner or look somewhere without being reminded of the program history. In the concourse, there’s displays honoring the Vol’s’ All-Americans, Olympians and the like.
Unlike Gampel Pavilion, where the national championship banners are closer to the walls, Tennessee’s hang directly over the court. They feel almost unescapable, as if all the pressure and expectations constantly weigh on the team whenever it takes the floor.
That comes from the fans, too. Throughout the contest, it was obvious they were desperate for something to cheer about. Anytime the slightest thing went right for Tennessee — a defensive stop, a couple baskets in a row — the decibel level inside Thompson-Boling Arena cranked up. The fans came ready to do their part. Unfortunately, the Vols weren’t up for the task.
They fed off that energy in the second quarter and cut UConn’s lead to four at the half but couldn’t keep it close over the final 20 minutes. After Dorka Juhász hit a three to put the Huskies up 17 with three and half minutes to go, the fans started heading to the exits with a sense of resignation. They arrived hoping for more, but left with what they ultimately expected.
So in the end, is the animosity still the same on Tennessee’s end? For the most part, no, not really. There were a few flashes where it felt like the rivalry was back on, though that was produced by the two teams themselves. In terms of the fans, it felt more subdued.
When UConn came out on the floor, there were plenty of boos but nothing overwhelming. As the Huskies’ starters were announced, some fans even clapped. The only real vitriol came out after Geno Auriemma’s name came over the public address. There may not be the bad blood between the current players and teams, but the Vols faithful haven’t forgotten about all the times Auriemma wronged them — whether perceived or real.
That’s shouldn’t take away from the atmosphere, though. It was as electric and intense as any environment in college basketball — men’s or women’s. The fact that the crowd of 13,804 was the most for a Tennessee women’s basketball since February 2015 helped, too.
The sport largely feels like it’s beyond UConn-Tennessee. There’s so many other dominant players, great teams and interesting storylines that one matchup doesn’t draw all the headlines anymore. Still, the series still has more juice than a typical non-conference matchup. Even Auriemma admitted he’d like to keep it going.
“I don’t know that you can ever recreate rivalries the way they used to be,” he said. “It’s a really good team and a great environment. They really appreciate the game here. The fans are great. So I don’t know that it’s what it used to be but it’s still as good if not any other non-conference game that you can play anywhere, in my opinion.”
It’ll never be the same — and that’s okay. With how entertaining UConn’s most recent trip was — even though it ended in an uneventful 17-point win — hopefully its next matchup at Rocky Top won’t take another 16 years.
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Great article - as always Dan-O!
FWIW: Mike, D R & others who are jumping down my throat about Geno's denial that Ines, Amari & Ayanna attend UConn.... I am NOT saying that - at this point in the season Geno should put them in during tight games. Because you're right - they're "deer-in-the-headlights".
What I'm saying is that Geno does not DEVELOP his bench - by; 1. Making it clear that they must contribute in games. and 2. giving them the minutes to do this - starting in November each year.
Your basic self-fulfilling prophecy.
Finally, consider how hard it is to sit for 20, 30, 40 minutes then be asked to fire out and play at 90% or better.