Lady Vols Basketball Hits Hardcourt for First Time

New NCAA Rules Allow Up To Four Hours of Full Team Practice Before Oct. 14

Head coach Pat Summitt welcomed one new freshman and 10 returning players to the court in Thompson-Boling Arena on Tuesday morning for the Lady Vols' first full-team practice. The session will be one of many during the next few weeks before the season officially begins on Oct. 14.

In previous years, the NCAA did not allow full-team practices to begin until mid-October. Instead, no more than four players could be on the court with coaches at one time and groups were limited to two hours of practice each week during the off-season. The new NCAA rules (17.1.5.2 (E) and 17.1.5.2.3) allow for more than four members of a women's basketball team to practice up to four hours a week during the off-season months of the academic school year.

"The ladies had great energy today," said Summitt. "The communication was key, and I could definitely see an improvement in their physical condition. They had an incredible off-season in the weight room."

The majority of the team remained in Knoxville this summer to attend summer classes, during that time they worked especially hard on conditioning and strength.

Head strength and conditioning coach Heather Mason noticed the difference as well. "I am excited to see them take the intensity they showed me this summer in the weight room onto the court today," said Mason. "They all worked very hard during the off-season, and they showed the results in this morning's practice."

Sidney Spencer, still nursing a knee injury, worked on cardio fitness by riding the exercise bike during the non-controlled types of team exercises.

"Overall they looked good," said head athletic trainer Jenny Moshak. "We're still dealing with some recovering injuries, especially ones that prevent the athletes from full contact, non-controlled exercises. We are working on adjusting from off-court rehab to in-season practices. Sidney still needs to get a bit stronger. She and I have Oct. 14 as a goal date for her to be fully released."

Freshman Lindsey Moss also spent much of today's practice on the sidelines with Moshak and her staff.

"Lindsey has a mild strain of her hamstring," said Moshak. "It's nothing to be overly concerned about at this point, but we want to be conservative nonetheless."

Candace Parker and Alex Fuller, the first two Lady Vol basketball players to be red-shirted during the Pat Summitt era, participated in the full practice. Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood was also healthy throughout the two-hour session.

"We got about a week's worth of work done today," said assistant coach Holly Warlick. "The energy and intensity was outstanding, which was very encouraging. It was also great to see those who were injured last year be able to make a full practice." The practice featured a lot of transition work, as well as baseline and perimeter shooting drills.

"We'll continue to do a lot of teaching and skill work in the next few weeks," said Summitt, "but this already feels more like a veteran team."