The women's college basketball season is launching earlier every year. The 2022-23 season opens Monday, but the first week of November was once known for coaches universally lamenting, "We've just got to get a lot better," as they prepped for exhibitions.
Consider 1986-87, when Tennessee won the first of its eight NCAA titles: The Lady Vols started that season Nov. 29. Their perfect season, 1997-98, started Nov. 18. By the time they made their last trip to the women's Final Four, 2007-08, it was Nov. 11.
This year, Tennessee fans were raring to go in August.