Spencer: "Lady Vols Are A Work In Progress"

Spencer: "Lady Vols Are A Work In Progress"

When Tennessee Lady Vol senior forward Sidney Spencer was asked about the prospects of her 2006-07 basketball team, she responded by stating that the team was "a work in progress, but nobody should push us aside."

Of course, with five newcomers on the roster this season including the first two junior college transfers (forward Alberta Auguste and 5'2" point guard Shannon Bobbitt) in almost three decades combined with the task of replacing five players from last season - Tye'sha Fluker and Shanna Zolman to graduation and the decisions by Sybil Dosty, Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood and Lindsey Moss to transfer to other universities, the Lady Vols will indeed have a different look when the team makes their season debut Wednesday night hosting Carson-Newman College in an exhibition game at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Nevertheless, the off season changes didn't prevent the Lady Vols from being a unanimous choice to win the Southeastern Conference championship during last week's media gathering in Birmingham.

It was also no surprise that sophomore All-American Candace Parker, the youngest member of Team USA that won the bronze medal at the recent world championships, was unanimously acclaimed the Player of the Year.

After the season ended in a loss to eventual national runner-up North Carolina at March's Cleveland Regional Final, Spencer and her remaining teammates - fellow senior Dominique Redding, juniors Nicky Anosike and second team All-SEC selection Alexis Hornbuckle as well as Parker and her classmate Alex Fuller wasted little time in preparing for the upcoming season.

From informal practices in April, gym workouts in June and pickup games in July that sometimes included members of the men's team, the ladies held each other accountable for being prepared for the official workouts that began earlier this month.

Spencer, the 6'3" forward from Hoover, Ala., who established herself as a Lady Vol sharpshooter last season with her career high 21 point performances against heated rival Connecticut and conference foe Louisiana State, revealed that UT coach Pat Summitt has conducted practices a bit differently this go-around.

"She wants us to pay attention to details," Spencer said. "We have been working on game situations instead of drills. We haven't done a lot of that in the past, but now I think we are going to be a couple of steps ahead defensively."

Spencer has a warning for Lady Vol opponents who were at wit's end last season on how to cope with Parker who rewrote the NCAA and Tennessee record books by becoming the first female to perform two slam-dunks in a tournament game, scoring in double figures in 33 of 36 games and placing 13th in all-time UT career blocks with 86 for starters.

"She's improved on her turnaround jump shot and that was something she really wanted to work on," Spencer stated.

"I definitely would not want to play against her. I am so glad she's on my team," she added.

Spencer is also excited about the additions of Bobbitt ("She is quick and I like her leadership and communication") and Auguste ("A great defender") as well as freshmen Cait McMahan from Maryville's Heritage High and Nicci Moats along with senior walk-on Elizabeth Curry, who was head manager last season.

Bobbitt, who joins the Lady Vols from Trinity Valley Community College in Athens, Tex., was the 2006 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Junior/Community College Player of the Year and a Kodak All-American.

She averaged 7.53 assists per game to rank third in the nation with a total of 211 and averaged 16.4 points per game in leading Trinity Valley to a 30-2 record.

Auguste, a 5'11" guard/forward, was the nation's second leading NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) scorer averaging 23.6 points per game at Central Florida Community College in Ocala and third in steals with an average of just over five per outing.

McMahan, who is currently sidelined for an unannounced period due to recent knee surgery, scored a record 2,315 points in her career at Heritage while racking up numerous national, state and district honors.

Despite having knee surgery during her senior season at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville, Virginia, the 6'2" Moats averaged 15.4 points and 11.3 rebounds throughout her playing days.

Spencer is ready for her final season as a Lady Vol, but said that while she will miss the presence of her best friend Zolman on the court, she also knows that the newlywed is nearby for advice.

"Having her at my access has been being a phone call or a short drive away," she said.

"It's been good to see how I've grown with her and to be now applying it by myself. She has helped me so much."

Spencer also has the greatest praise for her head coach Summitt, the legend who will be starting her 33rd season at the Lady Vol helm on the court named in her honor.

"She has taught me what it means to be a real woman of character. On the court you learn all the aspects of being a great team player and what it means to have communication, discipline and accountability. Off the court, she has taught us to be respected women and that is something I cherish."

However, when all is said and done, Spencer, who wears jersey number one and is a devout Christian who traveled to Belize, Brazil and the Dominican Republic this summer, knows her priorities.

"The most important thing I have learned is that it is not all about basketball and winning," she said. "It's about me playing for God and basketball is a platform for Him."