BRISTOL, Connecticut - Pat Summitt's championship drought entered a new realm in 2004-05.
No longer was Geno Auriemma's Connecticut squad stealing the crown from the other bench. There were no Southeastern Conference rivals getting in the way. And for the fifth straight time, a 30-win campaign failed to yield a trophy.
Despite becoming the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, passing former North Carolina men's coach Dean Smith late last season, Summitt's mastery of the women's field was put on hold for the seventh straight time, while unheralded Baylor came out of nowhere to claim the crown.
The 53-year-old Summitt has not lost her edge, only an ability to win the big one since her sixth career title and third in a row in a remarkable 1998 campaign. Since that 39-0 run with what may be the greatest women's team of all time, she has lost three times in the title game and twice in the semifinals.
The Lady Vols have lost to the eventual champion or runner-up six of the seven title-less seasons, often making them the team to beat in order to have a chance at later glory. This season, Summitt's squad again may be the gateway for club's seeking the promised land, if not the champs themselves.
"What happened last year is history," Summitt said of her team's mindset heading into the season. "It's more about us getting ready to play a quality opponent."
The Lady Vols are young but loaded, and finally graced with the presence of Candace Parker, perhaps the most decorated high school player of all time.
Along with fellow 6-3 forward Alex Fuller, Parker redshirted her freshman season after a pair of surgeries on her left knee, and early results on her progress are astounding.
Parker, well-known for being awarded the title at the McDonald's high school dunk contest in 2004, scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Tennessee to a win in her debut and added 14 and nine rebounds in another victory the following day.
"She's had a great offseason," Summitt said of Parker. "While the injury is not something any of us were excited about a year ago, I think she's stronger, both mentally and physically."
Parker, Fuller, fellow recruit Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood and standout frontliner Sidney Spencer all missed some or the entire season with injury, making Summitt's 30-win campaign a remarkable feat and giving her plenty to build on in 2005-06.
Shanna Zolman, a spectacular outside shooting threat and the club's top returning scorer, teams in the backcourt with Alexis Hornbuckle, who averaged 8.6 points and led the Lady Vols in assists (110) and steals (64) last season.
Up front, Summitt will lean heavily on 6-5 senior Tye'sha Fluker and sophomore Nicky Anosike.
"Tye'sha and Shanna were ready to be in the leadership role," Summitt said. "Shanna is fairly soft-spoken, not quite as expressive, but she leads in her own way and in a very effective manner. (Fluker) has provided valuable leadership and teaching to post players."
With enough guidance from her limited upperclassmen, Summitt has enough to be successful with the nation's most talented crew of youngsters. Whether or not they can handle the pressure late in the season will go a long way toward Summitt's chances at a seventh career title.
Baylor, whose win over an equally surprising Michigan State squad in the last April's championship game marked a potential shift away from the perennial powers, will be in the mix again with Player of the Year candidate Sophia Young.
Young teamed with since-departed Steffanie Blackmon in a formidable tandem last season, combining to average nearly 34 points. Now the undeniable star, Young will get more looks and should be among the nation's leading scorers, along with Louisiana State's Seimone Augustus, the 2005 National Player of the Year.
Augustus averaged 20.1 points and 4.6 rebounds to lead the Lady Tigers to their second consecutive Final Four. They opened No. 3 in the national rankings, a slot below Duke, the team LSU knocked off in the Elite Eight.
With three solid seniors - Monique Currie, Lindsey Harding and Mistie Williams - in their starting lineup, the Blue Devils are eyeing a run at their first national crown.
No comments:
Post a Comment