With a perfect 8-0 record and a game that took everyone by surprise, Tennessee’s Lady Vols just made basketball history. And not just any history, it’s the kind that leaves even the pros stunned. Over the weekend, they delivered a jaw-dropping 139-59 performance against North Carolina Central, a game that will go down as one of the most standout displays in NCAA basketball. But it looks like fans aren’t exactly throwing a parade for this achievement. But why? 

After all, they didn’t just win; they obliterated records. The team sank 30 three-pointers in a single game. This wasn’t just a school record or an SEC record; it smashed the NCAA record for the most threes in a game by any team—men’s, women’s, NBA, or WNBA. 

To put this into perspective, the NBA, which has been around for nearly 75 years (founded in 1946 following the merger of the BAA and NBL), has never seen a single team hit this many threes in one game. The previous NCAA record was a measly 28 threes by Western Illinois. 

Moreover, the Lady Vols also put up 139 points, the highest in both school and SEC history. It’s not every day you witness something that’s never been done in any basketball league, at any level, anywhere. Breaking records that stood for years (or never even existed in the first place) is no small feat. 

Samara Spencer, the team’s star of the night, led the way with 33 points, including a school-record nine three-pointers. She wasn’t alone, though. Nine players hit at least one three, and three players nailed five or more. “I mean, (athletic director) Mr. Danny (White) brought Coach Kim here to break records,” Spencer said. “So I feel like it’s kind of inevitable for us to be breaking records. I didn’t think it would happen so soon… but I’m glad it happened now.”

However, amidst all this, fans aren’t exactly thrilled. Some argue that such a mismatch doesn’t deserve the hype, calling the game more of a lopsided exhibition than a historic achievement.

Shooting stars or shooting too much? Fans react to Tennessee Lady Vols historic night

This night was bound to spark a mix of awe and criticism. “No class running up the score,” one user wrote. By the first quarter, Tennessee was already up by more than 20 points, and fans argued there was no need to keep piling it on against a team that was clearly outmatched. 

It’s the classic debate: should a team ease up once the game is in the bag, or should they play to their full potential no matter what? For some, continuing to push hard in such a lopsided game felt like poor sportsmanship. Others would say records don’t get broken by holding back.

“Sheesh, they had an easy day,” another said. This one hits the nail on the head. Tennessee was 30-for-63 from beyond the arc, and in the second quarter alone, they outscored NC Central 36-8. At no point did the Lady Vols have to hustle or claw their way to victory—it was smooth sailing from start to finish. 

Continuing the string, a third opined, “If they did this against a decent team, it would be meaningful. Against a cupcake, it’s meaningless.” Ouch! But we know that NC Central isn’t exactly a powerhouse. They’re winless this season, sitting at 0-12, and no one expected them to put up much of a fight. The closest they’ve come to competing with a ranked team was a brief first-quarter spark against LSU, trailing 26-18 before the game slipped away. 

“Why are they shooting threes up 50 against a winless team?” a fan said. Tennessee shot 47.6% from deep compared to NC Central’s 33.3%, and their overall field goal percentage was a whopping 52.2%. Sure, that’s phenomenal shooting, but at some point, you’ve got to ask—was it really necessary to keep firing threes with such a big lead?

A fifth threw a challenge, saying, “Let’s see you do that in January against South Carolina.” Now, this is something fans are waiting for. The Lady Vols have a highly anticipated matchup against South Carolina on January 28, 2025. The Gamecocks are ranked third with a solid 9-1 record, and they’re not the kind of team to roll over.

 If Tennessee can keep up the momentum against a juggernaut like SC, then no one will question their dominance. But, all in all, love it or hate it, the Lady Vols’ performance has sparked a debate that will be talked about for years to come—for all the right and wrong reasons.