This is Tennessee in a nutshell for the last decade (including the Parker years)... Playing down to opponents, especially in away games. Does this loss show an giant need for improvement in coaches preparation and player performance? Yes. Does it define how good this team is and will be? No. Isabelle makes us a final four contender. She is one of the best centers, if not the best, in the country. Jannah, when she finally gets going, is poised to be another go to and the coaching staff has mentioned that. No excuses to lose to a team like UTC but I think we'll be just fine.
The top teams are seemingly having very bad games more often this year. Maryland just lost to Washington State (a solid team but a team that got waxed at home by Nebraska). Stanford has lost twice to two very good teams but also was taken to the wire by a New Mexico team that isn't even close to being as good as Chattanooga. But they didn't have Thompson for that game either. South Carolina had to rally to beat USC and Syracuse and Texas A&M has looked unimpressive in close games with UT Pan American and Prairie View A&M albeit without Courtney Williams. Duke also had a tough battle at a mediocre Old Dominion.
The loss was embarrassing but Tennessee is better than that game and will show it down the stretch.