Lady Vol Quotes On Media Day

LADY VOL HEAD COACH Pat Summitt

General comments on the Team: "Right now, I think our team is just making that needed improvement. That's what you want to do. Just make a little bit of progress each day. We had a good scrimmage on Sunday. That was the first time we put different combinations on the floor. We learned a lot, so it was good. Some of it wasn't all that impressive, but it gives us a gauge of where we are and what we need to do. We'll go back today and try to really tighten up our transition defense. Playing against practice squads was great experience because they really pushed the tempo on us and really spread the floor, so that was challenging. I thought that for the most part, we did some good things offensively. Our defense has to get a lot better. Rebounding in particular. We were very inconsistent on the boards. I like the quickness of our team. Shannon Bobbitt has really done an outstanding job of coming in, being vocal and being a leader, and just being a take-charge person. With Cait out right now, that is really important. Alexis [Hornbuckle] is going to back up Shannon at the head point guard position. She'll obviously be starting in the number two spot. That gives us two good point guards that understand how to push tempo and can also bring some pressure for us defensively."

On the starting lineup this year: "I would say our starting five would obviously be Shannon and Alexis in the backcourt, [Candace] Parker and [Nicky] Anosike inside and [Sidney] Spencer at the three. I think the good combination there with the three-four-five is that you have Parker who can play on the wing. Spencer looked great at the four. I think we have some options there in terms of how we play offensively and defensively. I like Sidney at the four. Obviously, Candace is a three, four, and five. She can play multiple positions, so I think that gives us a good front line look."

On Cait McMahan's progress: "She's doing great. You don't ever have to worry about her working hard. You would be more concerned that she would over train and that is something she has to be very mindful of. She has been great in her rehab. Jenny Moshak went with her for her check-up today and she is right on schedule. We don't want to try to push her to get ready for these exhibition games, but hopefully she will be ready for our opener against Chattanooga. "

On Parker: "I think Candace has been much more assertive at both ends, and defensively that would be huge for us. I think this team has the chemistry early. They know that they are going to face some adversity. I do think Candace is providing a better example in her play on both ends of the floor. With her experience with the World Championship Team, she has gotten a lot better. She has every reason to have tremendous confidence, and I think that filters throughout our team."

On defense: "We'll definitely hit defense hard and stay on it. This team has the speed and quickness to be very disruptive with their defense. It has to be a priority. With Shannon and Alberta [Auguste], I think the look of our team has changed defensively. In my opinion, Alex Fuller is the most improved basketball player and she's going to help us more defensively this year because she's a lot more mobile and wider on her feet. Again, you have to give her credit for the off-season she's had. You take that look and then, obviously with Candace and Nicky, we cover a lot of ground. We are just a quicker basketball team. I like the speed and the quickness because with that you can do a lot more things defensively and be a lot more creative and hopefully create more opportunities."

On the team's speed last year: "What we saw at the end of last season wasn't something I would describe as speed. I think we knew we were handicapped with Alexis' wrist. Shanna had to play the point and Candace had to play out of position and run the point as well. We just didn't have the overall speed. But you have to give this team credit for what they accomplished having to really adjust our philosophy from how we would like to play the game to how we needed to play the game to be successful. That is what great teams should do. Adjust when they have to adjust. When I look back, I think it was outstanding that they could go down and win that Southeastern Conference tournament. That was a tough run for us. I thought that really gave us some momentum going into postseason. We didn't exactly play the way we wanted to play. We couldn't extend our defense. We had to be a lot more creative in the half court, both offensively and defensively. "

On Parker as a team leader: "I definitely think Candace will step up. She has been more vocal in practice. I think she has certainly demonstrated what she can do on the floor, but I think she can also influence her teammates with just staying in touch with them. Whether it's from the bench or on the court, she certainly provides that kind of leadership. It brings a lot of stability to our basketball team. I think she and Shannon have really connected, which is a good thing. "

On Parker's Summer Experience: "I think, without question, Candace came back more confident in her game, more assertive and more physical in the paint. She had always been one to initiate contact. It's great to see her really post up and get on the block. It's tough for anyone to defend her one-on-one inside. She's going to draw a lot of double-team situations. She can really pass well out of that. In the college game, I would expect her to be double-teamed a tremendous amount in the post."

On the team's attitude this year versus last year: "I'll say this about the team's attitude, I think that the off-season pretty much told the tale about how they responded to not going to a Final Four. They got in the gym and worked really hard as a basketball team. That's when you win championships. This team really got a lot of workouts, took a lot of time to play pick-up and worked on their offensive skills. I thought that was a good indication that they will not take a Final Four for granted. We had been to four consecutive. Sidney and Dominique [Redding] didn't know what it was like not to go until we got beat in the Regional Finals last year. I think that really opened our eyes. There is no guarantee that it is going to happen every year. You have to make it happen. Your plan of attack should be to get better in the off-season."

On the pressure on Parker as a freshman last year: "I thought Candace handled it very well. You hope great players want to be in that position. Clearly, Candace wants to be in that position. She wants to be the go-to player. She's not a player that is going to do anything but step up. I like having a player like that. When you have one on your team, it really gives you an opportunity to make everyone around you better because of the attention she'll receive. Just like late in the SEC Championship game, there was no doubt she wanted that ball. When she came to the huddle I knew she wanted the ball. Obviously, she made the big shot at the end."

On the concern for Candace over the summer: "You're always concerned. When they go away for the summer you are concerned about the injuries and when they come you're concerned about them "hitting the wall," so to speak. That is why we gave her the time off. Candace is the type of player who loves the game and will take time off, but doesn't want to take a lot of time off. Just because of how she approaches the game, I feel good about where she is right now. I feel good about her going through this season and being challenged, but still being motivated. "

On the junior college transfers: "I think Shannon Bobbitt has been really impressive in her willingness to take on a vocal leadership role for our team. She always takes responsibility for what happens on the floor whether it's her fault or not. She is a true point guard. I have seen enough to know that we're going to be able to score more points in transition and off of our defense because of her presence. Same goes for Alberta Auguste. Alberta's the type of player that likes to play defense and has an aggressive mindset on the offensive end. I think the two of them have made a big difference already in what we want to do in terms of our defensive scheme and up-tempo basketball. I'm excited about what both Alberta and Shannon bring to our team. It's going to be a different look for us from a year ago just in terms of the pace of the game and the way we extend our defense and get after people and hopefully generate offense off of our defense."

SENIOR Elizabeth Curry

On the transition from a manager to a player: "It is obviously two different worlds, but at the same time it's something I got to see the last few years. I definitely respect the girls coming into it. I know the work they put in, but now I get to see it from a different side. It's definitely a challenge, but I'm excited. I'm looking forward to whatever the team and coach asks of me."

On the thought of playing for the Lady Vols when choosing to come to UT: "I had thought about it when I was in junior high school, but when I was in high school I was looking into Division III schools. I looked at UT for pre-veterinary medicine or basketball, but definitely from just the manager's standpoint."

On being a Lady Vol: "It's a dream come true, but it's a dream I hadn't thought about and hadn't seen. I am definitely excited and it's going to be a fun challenge."

SENIOR Dominique Redding

On taking on a leadership role as a senior: "Obviously I'm in a leadership position. I just have to go out there and work hard everyday to set a good example. My personal goal this season is to play real hard. The last three years I have underachieved in my eyes. I had a great summer working out, so I just want to go out and prove to myself that I can play. My goal for this team this season is to win every game; just play each game one game at a time and not to look ahead. I've learned not to take anything for granted. I have learned a lot."

SENIOR Sidney Spencer

On being a senior: "Being a senior is different because I'm looked to more as a leader and to serve in that role. I have more responsibility off the court as well. I have to make sure I know when practice is, and stuff like that, so I can help my teammates do the things we all need to do to be successful. I'm just trying to lead by example and go hard every play in practice to prepare for the season."

On missing the 2006 Final Four and how it will affect the attitude of the team this season: "Well, from the get-go this season we have to focus on taking each game one game at a time. We can't overlook any team, not that we do anyway, because a loss here or there can have a great effect in our conference and in who appears in our NCAA bracket to get to the Final Four. Every game matters, and we need to make sure we go out and take care of business each and every time."

On the newcomers: "Something we were missing last year was a true point guard. Alexis is awesome, but should be allowed to create more as a shooting guard. Having Shannon and Cait come in frees her up more to do just that. They've both done really well being the quarterback of our team. They all are always watching film and trying to get better. Alberta brings great effort, gets to the rim, rebounds well and gets steals. Nicci will be a great 3-4 player and provides us with a versatile presence at that position."

JUNIOR Nicky Anosike

On her expanded role after the graduation of Tye'sha Fluker: "We definitely miss Tye, she was getting 10 points and several boards a game. I know I need to pick up the slack and pick up where she left off. Hopefully I can do a little more. I had the defense going last year, but if I could just find the offense, I think I could help the team out a whole lot."

On how she feels going into the season: "I feel good. I feel like I'm in great shape. Last year I felt like I was in pretty good shape too, but I think I was able to work on more of my individual game this summer. Last summer I played international ball and didn't get a chance to do that as much."

On the areas she has worked on the most: "Definitely my face-up game and extending my range as far as my jump shot, and just working on getting as many easy points as I can. Basically that means free throws and easy layups, stuff like that."

On the increased speed of the team: "We definitely added some speed and quickness on the perimeter. That's definitely going to change the tempo. It's going to change my role. Last year I had to step out and guard on the perimeter. We have other people who can do that now. It's definitely going to change our style of play."

JUNIOR Alberta Auguste

On preparing for the season: "Over the summer, I did a lot of conditioning. I came here in June and took some summer classes. I worked out with the other transfer, Shannon Bobbitt, and Alexis Hornbuckle. I'm just ready for it now. I feel like I put a lot work into conditioning so now its time to play basketball."

On a game she is particularly excited about: "I really don't care about who we play or in what month. It doesn't really matter to me, I'm just ready. I take it one game at a time. "

On team chemistry: "The team chemistry is good. We get along with each other really well. We just have to bring it on the court. Off the court we have good chemistry and on the court we have good chemistry. We just gel together. If we keep it like that through the season, we won't have any problems this year."

JUNIOR Shannon Bobbitt

On the upcoming season: "I'm definitely excited about this year. Being a junior college transfer, it is definitely an honor for me to be here. I'm looking forward to every single game that we play, starting on Wednesday. This year, we are going to have quickness and speed so we will have a chance to win it all. "

On being a Lady Vol: "I'm playing at one of the top programs and playing for Pat [Summitt]. That shows that there is a great future for me."

On preparing: "We've been communicating with each other on and off the court, getting familiar with each other, forming a bond. We've just been enjoying each other. The chemistry is great. Everyone plays their own type of style, but everyone gives whatever they can to the whole team. We're going to be great."

On the preseason rankings: "I really don't care about being the underdog as long as we finish on top."

JUNIOR Alexis Hornbuckle

On the change in her role with the increased speed on the team: "I think we've got a lot more quickness across the board with Shannon and Bird. Their quickness and tenacity is going to help us a lot. I'm a little bit happier to be playing on the wing. It's challenging being a point guard for Pat Summitt. But at the same time, it brings so much character out of you that you didn't even know was a part of you. It helps you out in many ways, but the wing position is my natural position. I like playing the wing because I can get out and run. I don't have to worry about coming to the ball necessarily. I'm looking forward to seeing how different of a player I am this year."

On playing point guard for Tennessee: "It puts you in check because you have to think about every move. At point guard for Pat Summitt, you are the floor coach. So everything that happens falls back on you whether it's your fault or not. You have to be mentally tough and prepared to take it. It's constructive criticism, but at the same time, if you're not used to it, it could easily break you down."

On what the team learned last season: "We definitely learned that nothing is guaranteed. I know when I was younger, you'd always say, `Oh, Tennessee's automatically going to be in the Final Four.' Last year put everything into perspective as far as knowing that you have to work for everything you want. I think this year we took that into consideration in the summer and especially in the preseason, just getting in the gym and working on individual games and trying to pull everybody together as a team."

On avoiding overconfidence: "It's not that we walked on the floor knowing that the win is guaranteed, we knew we had to go out there and work for it. But in the end, no matter how we played, we might have thought we were going to come out on top. This year, we know that we can't take possessions off, we can't have that mentality."

On her wrist: "My wrist is doing pretty well. It doesn't quite feel the same, but I can go out there and play without a brace. Sometimes if I fall wrong or if a ball is thrown too hard and I catch it a certain way, it stings a little bit. But it will be interesting to see how it holds up throughout the season."

SOPHOMORE Candace Parker

On the end of last season: "Our goal is to win a national championship. We definitely had a great team. One thing I learned from last year is that every possession and every game is important."

On working hard in the off-season: "Training has been in the back of our mind since we lost to North Carolina. We've been working on putting up shots, working on our positions and putting ourselves in game situations."

On the work-out routine with the U.S. team: "I learned a lot. (Former Lady Vol Tamika) Catchings and I used to go lift. International games are a lot more physical."

SOPHOMORE Alex Fuller

Thoughts on the upcoming season: "I'm really excited about this season. I think we're a quicker team this year, so we'll be able to push the ball more. I like playing with the newcomers."

On the newcomers: "Shannon and (Alberta) bring quickness, they're both quick guards that like to push the ball. Nicci is a body inside and a good rebounder. Cait is a leader at the point, and she is very physical."

On working hard during the offseason: "I was here for a month, but I did most of my offseason work at home. I didn't really have a set plan. I just shot a lot, played some pick-up games. It's made me feel more comfortable with my shot, and it has me comfortable handling the ball and doing things that I'm not used to doing."

FRESHMAN Cait McMahan

On how she feels going into the season: "(The knee) is doing great. I'm ready to go for the season. I am very excited. It's probably the most excited I've ever been to play basketball in my life."

On being a Lady Vol: "It means a lot for me to be a Lady Vol. It means even more to me because I grew up so close to UT."

On the biggest surprise so far at UT: "It's taken a lot of effort to get used to the speed difference. It's a tough adjustment going from high school to college, but I'm getting used to it."

FRESHMAN Nicci Moats

On college life: "It has been a very big adjustment. I was really home sick at first but it's really been great. The team and coaches have really helped me feel comfortable down here. I think the biggest adjustment has been the pace of the game because the last game I played was a high school game. Playing in college at a big school was probably the biggest adjustment."

On being on a team with a legendary coach: "I love it. It's been my dream, and right now, I am honored to be on this team."

On what she has learned since being at UT: "I've learned a lot of mental things. A lot of the little things, like rebounding and boxing out, I've just realized are a big part of the game. I'm not just focusing on scoring and the points."

On her strengths as a player: "I definitely think rebounding will be a big thing for me, using my size. I know that is one of the reasons the coaches recruited me and hopefully I can just live up to my expectations and potential."

On being at Tennessee: "At first, I was intimidated by a big school, but then once I came down here, I was so comfortable with the fans and just the support that you have. I think I will play so much better with the loud fans and crowds, so I am excited."