In her four collegiate seasons, Rickea Jackson has proven to be one of the top players in the SEC.

Despite her personal success, she hasn't been able to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, though.

Jackson began her career at Mississippi State. While playing as a Bulldog, she was led by three different coaches in a three-year span. This inconsistency led to poor team performances.

After beginning her junior season, Jackson opted out part-way through the year as she explored options as a transfer. Ultimately, the star landed on Tennessee where she'd join a championship hopeful squad.

After a year of averaging 19.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Jackson has now led her new squad to a 4-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

For the Lady Vols' program, this is a yearly tradition as the team has never missed a tournament. However, for Jackson, this is a big step in her span as a college athlete.

"I'm very excited with this being my first tournament and for us to be able to host with this being my first tournament," said Jackson. "I feel like we're going to make a lot of noise and continue to do the great things we're doing. I'm very excited."

While Jackson is dealing with the excitement of playing in the pinnacle event of women's college basketball, she also has to manage the unfamiliarity of the situation.

Jackson has never watched a selection show where her team was picked. She has never played in front of the extremely bright lights of March Madness and dealt with the pressure.

She has previously been a part of big moments, but none as big as this.

However, the senior has looked to a mentor to help her through this. Nobody is more qualified than her coach, Kellie Harper.

As a player, Harper was the point guard for three National Championships from 1996-1998 at Tennessee. As a coach, she took the Lady Vols to the Sweet 16 last season.

These accomplishments make her a great option for Jackson to lean on.

"I don't even know how this stuff works, how it looks," said Jackson. "Me and Coach Kellie (Harper) were talking after practice the other day. I was like, what is this? How does this work? Are we just all in one big place like the SEC Tournament? Do we go places? That's just me not knowing never playing in this tournament."

For Harper, she can sense the excitement of her star player. These moments remind her that not everyone is experienced in the event.

"She's so excited," said Harper. "She was actually asking me about it, kind of some of the details the other day. It did remind me she hasn't done this... It's really cool. She is so excited about this opportunity. You get to see people on television when you're sitting at home. It's different to be a part of it."

For Tennessee to see success in March, it'll need Jackson to settle in. She had no issue with that in the SEC Tournament, though, as she was the driving factor that led the team to a finals appearance.

She and teammate Jordan Horston earned All-Tournament Team honors following the event.

The Lady Vols will open up the NCAA Tournament in Knoxville after earning the right to host. They'll face Saint Louis on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET to kick off their run.

If Tennessee wins, it'll find itself in a match with either Iowa State or Toledo.

A potential matchup with Virginia Tech is down the line in the Sweet 16, as well. The Lady Vols previously lost to the Hokies by three but Jackson was inactive.

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