[81alum]

I think Tara was half kidding about Chattanooga.  I think they knew from past seasons that the Mocs are tough at home.

Yes, but only half kidding.  On the other hand, losing both these games is nothing new.

I went back to look at who we scheduled before playing Tennessee in past years.

In 2012 it was South Carolina--not exactly a pushover.  We barely escaped with a win before going on to defeat Tennessee.
In 2010 it was DePaul.  That was a similarly disastrous trip--we lost to DePaul and to Tennessee.  Those, however, were our only two losses before falling to A&M in the semifinals.
In 2008 it was also South Carolina.  That year it was more of a warm-up since South Carolina was just beginning its rebuilding.
In 2006 we went first to Tennessee and then on to Georgia--we lost both games.  Georgia was ranked 8th at the time.
In 2004 we went to Missouri first and won before going to Tennessee and losing.

It seems to me that when Tara has an experienced team she has used this trip to expose them to high level competition and even hardship.  It probably helps her to learn her team's weaknesses early, and it probably helps keep her team from becoming too complacent.  The difference is that when we go on that trip we don't usually have a team that is starting three underclassmen and a new offense.  We may need confidence-building and success as much as we need to have our weaknesses exposed.  In any case, going forward--I'd just as soon not have our weaknesses exposed any more!

[81alum]

I think Tara was half kidding about Chattanooga.  I think they knew from past seasons that the Mocs are tough at home.

Yes, but only half kidding.  On the other hand, losing both these games is nothing new.

I went back to look at who we scheduled before playing Tennessee in past years.

In 2012 it was South Carolina--not exactly a pushover.  We barely escaped with a win before going on to defeat Tennessee.
In 2010 it was DePaul.  That was a similarly disastrous trip--we lost to DePaul and to Tennessee.  Those, however, were our only two losses before falling to A&M in the semifinals.
In 2008 it was also South Carolina.  That year it was more of a warm-up since South Carolina was just beginning its rebuilding.
In 2006 we went first to Tennessee and then on to Georgia--we lost both games.  Georgia was ranked 8th at the time.
In 2004 we went to Missouri first and won before going to Tennessee and losing.

It seems to me that when Tara has an experienced team she has used this trip to expose them to high level competition and even hardship.  It probably helps her to learn her team's weaknesses early, and it probably helps keep her team from becoming too complacent.  The difference is that when we go on that trip we don't usually have a team that is starting three underclassmen and a new offense.  We may need confidence-building and success as much as we need to have our weaknesses exposed.  In any case, going forward--I'd just as soon not have our weaknesses exposed any more!