The #4-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (17-1, 4-0 SEC), riding an 11-game winning streak, play host to ACC rival and #1-ranked Duke (19-0, 5-0 ACC) in a "Big Monday" match-up on ESPN2 in Knoxville on Monday at 7 p.m.
The Lady Vols' current winning streak started after ACC power, #2-ranked North Carolina beat Tennessee, 70-57, in Chapel Hill on Dec. 3, 2006.
LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE
This is the Lady Vols' 33rd season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 930-178 overall record... Is just 70 wins away from a remarkable 1,000 career victories...Collected her 900th coaching win with a 80-68 decision over #19-ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, 2006... She passed Dean Smith (879 wins) for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 victory over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005 ...Her 2005-06 squad advanced to the NCAA Elite 8...Finished with a 31-5 overall record and were the SEC Tournament Champions...
This season, UT returned six letterwinners, welcomed a senior manager turned player, two junior college transfers and a pair of rookies...The 2006-07 season marks the Lady Vol debut for former senior manager #10 Elizabeth Curry, JC transfers #00 Shannon Bobbitt and #33 Alberta Auguste...True freshman, #2 Cait McMahan, a 5-4 guard from Maryville, Tenn., and #34 Nicci Moats, a 6-2 forward from Daleville, Va., also see their first action in the Orange and White this season.
THE 4-1-1 ON THE BLUE DEVILS
In the final tune-up before the game at #4-ranked Tennessee, the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils (19-0, 5-0 ACC) traveled to Raleigh, N.C. in its first game as the newly crowned #1 team and came away with a 65-51 victory over the N.C. State Wolfpack on Jan. 18. Duke shook off a slow start, used a 27-8 run to take command and remained one of two unbeaten teams in both the country and the conference. The Wolfpack led 26-22 with about four minutes left before halftime when Duke rookie Brittany Mitch rallied the Blue Devils. She scored eight consecutive points, opening the spurt with a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired. Next, her three-point play put the Blue Devils ahead to stay, and she added a steal and a layup seconds later to extend the lead to 30-26. She finished with 10 points on the night and was joined by Lindsey Harding with 10, also. Duke shot 43 percent for the game and was outrebounded by State, 41-37.
OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
This week, the Lady Vols have a split SEC schedule and step out of conference play for one last time during the regular season. On Jan. 22, #1-ranked Duke visits Knoxville for a "Big Monday" meeting on ESPN2. UT then hits the road traveling to #14/11 Vanderbilt on Thurs. Jan. 25, and then to Alabama on Sun., Jan. 28.
LADY VOLS ON TV
A record 21 Lady Vol regular season games are slated for national/regional television this season. Five non-televised games will be available as streaming video with voice-over from Mickey Dearstone on utladyvols.com. UT is 10-1 on TV this season.
ON THIS DAY
UT is 8-1 in games played on Jan. 22. The Lady Vols are 4-0 at home, 4-1 on the road and 0-0 on neutral courts. The last time out on Jan. 22, the Lady Vols registered a 79-54 victory over Vanderbilt in Knoxville in 2004.
LOOKING BACK
Last year at this time, the Lady Vols were 18-0 and had just defeated Vanderbilt, 80-68, in Nashville.
PLAYING 15 RANKED TEAMS
Tennessee will play 15 teams in 17 games and five of the nation's top 10 teams who have been ranked at some point this season in the AP and USA TODAY ESPN polls: North Carolina, Duke, UConn, Georgia, LSU, Stanford, Arizona St., Vanderbilt, Kentucky, Arkansas, UCLA, George Washington, Texas Mississippi and Middle Tennessee. All have been ranked or are currently ranked.
UT'S OFFENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES
In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the field: 50%FG: Chattanooga (.579), MTSU (.565), Arizona St. (.548), UCLA (.531), ODU/UT-Martin (.509), Stanford (.500); 40%FG: Louisiana Tech (.483), GWU (.482), Alabama1 (.464), Florida (.442), West Virginia (.431), Texas (.429); 30%FG: Georgia1 (.396), Miss. St. (.395), Notre Dame (.381), UConn (.371), North Carolina (.362)
DEEE ----- FENSE
In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the field: 50%FG: none, 40%FG: GWU (.472), Arizona St. (.469), Stanford (.456), MTSU (.453), UCLA (.451), North Carolina (.444), UConn (.433), Chattanooga (.431), Miss. State (.409), Notre Dame (.407), 30%FG: ODU (.396), West Virginia (.352), Alabama1 (.369), Florida (.345), Georgia1 (.319), Texas (.308); 20%FG: Louisiana Tech (.295), UT-Martin (.204)
2006-07 WON-LOSS DIFFERENTIAL
Wins: +56 (1), +36 (1), +30 (1), +29 (1), +24 (2), +23 (2), +22 (1), +21 (2), +17 (1), + 16 (1), +15 (1), +11 (1), +9 (1), +6 (1).
Losses: -13 (1)
UPCOMING OPPONENT - AT VANDERBILT
The #14/11 Vanderbilt Commodores dropped a tough 83-71 decision to the #16-ranked Georgia Lady Bulldogs in Athens on Jan. 18. Georgia exacted a measure of revenge bouncing back from a 52-41 loss to Tennessee four days earlier. VU, who was forced to fly on game day due to mechanical problems, turns right back around on Saturday to go to the Peachtree State. Vanderbilt faces Georgia Tech on Sunday, Jan. 21, at the Gwinnett Center in Duluth, Ga. -- site of the 2007 Southeastern Conference Tournament. Against Georgia, Christina Wirth led Vanderbilt (16-3, 3-2) with 16 points. Merideth Marsh, Caroline Williams and Carla Thomas each added 12 points, but couldn't keep the Commodores from falling to 2-2 against ranked teams. Vandy, led by Williams' nine points on three 3-pointers, led 30-29 at halftime. The "Dores pulled within 50-46 before Georgia pulled away with its 10-0 run for a 60-46 lead with 6:42 left to play.
LOOKING FOR A CROWDED HOUSE VERSUS DUKE
Tennessee's last two meetings at Duke produced advance sold-out crowds which is not hard to do when 9,314 seats are at a premium at Cameron Indoor. The Blue Devils have played in Knoxville once resulting in a 59-57 upset victory for Duke on Dec. 2, 2004 in front of 11,459 fans.
DUKE NOTEBOOK
The Tennessee Lady Vols will entertain the newly #1-ranked Duke Blue Devils (19-0 overall, 5-0 ACC) on Monday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 in a "Big Monday" meeting. The then #3-ranked Blue Devils upset top-ranked Maryland, 81-62, at a sold out Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 13. The ACC juggernaut now hits the road for three straight games traveling to N.C. State (Jan. 18, a 65-51 win), at #4-ranked Tennessee (Jan. 22) and at Florida State (Jan. 25). The Blue Devils are stingy on the defensive end giving up just 47.0 points a game and holding opponents to 30 percent shooting. Maryland is the only team that has scored more than 54 points against a tough Duke defense.
DATE RANK SITE W/L SCORE
12/6/98 3/16 N86 W 74-60
3/22/99 2/10 N25 L 63-69
12/27/01 2/9 N100 W 89-68
11/24/02 2/1 N104 L 55-76
4/6/03 4/2 N108 W 66-56
1/24/04 2/1 A W 72-69
12/2/04 4/10 H L 57-59
1/23/06 1/2 A L 53-75
DUKE HELD SERVE
After five meetings on neutral courts, Tennessee and Duke agreed to the home-and-home series started in 2004 at Duke. In the first on-campus game at Duke, played in front of a sold-out crowd at Cameron, #2 Tennessee upset #1-ranked Duke, 72-69. In the 2004-05 season, Duke returned the favor in Knoxville defeating UT, 59-57. Last year, the home team finally "held serve" when #2-ranked Duke knocked off top-ranked Tennessee, 75-53. The neutral courts in the key represent: N86-Disney Holiday Classic, Lake Buena Vista, Fla.; N25-NCAA East Regional Finals, Greensboro Coliseum N.C; N100-ACC/SEC Shoot -Out, Phillips Arena, Atlanta, Ga.; N104-Jimmy V Classic at RBC Center, Raleigh, N.C., and N108-2003 NCAA Final Four Semifinals, Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Ga.
THE SERIES WITH DUKE
This marks the ninth meeting between the two schools dating back to the 1998-99 season. The two teams alternated wins and losses through the first five games. Tennessee defeated Duke, 74-60, in the 1998 Disney Holiday Classic played in Orlando, Fla. on Dec. 8. The Blue Devils exacted their revenge later in the year during the NCAA East Regional Final with a 69-63 victory on Mar. 23, 1999, to advance to their first-ever Final Four. The Duke victory also ended Tennessee's quest for its fourth straight national title and the brilliant careers of Chamique Holdsclaw and Kellie Jolly. UT took a one-game lead in the series with an 89-68 win on Dec. 27, 2001 during the ACC/SEC Shootout in Atlanta, Ga. In 2002, Duke evened the score at the Jimmy V Classic, 76-55, and then UT rattled off a two-game lead in the series with a 66-56 win in the 2003 NCAA Final Four semi's in Atlanta, Ga., and the upset win at #1 Duke in 2004, 72-69. Duke snapped that short winning streak with a two-point victory in Knoxville (59-57) on Dec. 2, 2004 and followed with a win in Durham last season, 75-53.
AVERAGE SCORE
The average score of a Tennessee vs. Duke game is Duke 66.5 and Tennessee 66.1 - a scant 0.4 differential. When Tennessee defeats Duke, the average score is 75.2 to 63.2 -- +12.0 for the Lady Vols. When Duke defeats Tennessee, the average score has been 69.8 to 57.0 -- +12.8 for the Blue Devils.
TENNESSEE DUKE
OVERALL RECORD 17-1 19-0
CONFERENCE RECORD 4-0 5-0
RPI/SOS 1/1 2/4
SCORING 75.8 77.7
SCORING DEFENSE 55.2 47.0
POINT MARGIN +20.6 +30.7
REBOUNDS 37.7 43.7
OPP. REBOUNDS 33.6 33.6
REBOUND MARGIN + 3.1 +10.1
FG% .463 .463
OPPONENT FG% .388 .303
THREE POINT FG% .399 .329
OPPONENT 3FG% .318 .242
FT% .708 .751
OPPONENT FT% .677 .658
ASSISTS 16.8 17.9
BLOCKS AVERAGE 6.3 7.6
STEALS AVERAGE 13.2 13.1
TURNOVER AVERAGE 16.6 16.2
OUR LAST MEETING
Top-ranked Tennessee fell to #2-ranked Duke, 75-53, on Jan. 23, 2006, in Durham, N.C. in the 39th meeting of one vs. two (according to the Associated Press). For the Lady Vols, it was the 21st time in a one-two match-up - the most of any school in the nation. Duke's advance sold-out crowd (9,314) was raucous, enthusiastic and at times, the "Cameron Crazies" tended toward the vulgar end of the cheering spectrum. On the evening, just six players scored for the Lady Vols (18-1), and their total of 53 points were a season low. UT was coming off an emotional, come-from-behind victory over instate rival Vanderbilt that gave Coach Pat Summitt win number 900. Against Duke, UT never got out of the starting blocks and the Blue Devils, which took the lead for good midway through the first half, pulled away and never looked back. Candace Parker, Tennessee's All-American freshman, had 17 points, five assists and three blocks, but she got little help. Leading scorer Shanna Zolman was held without a point, only the third time in 2005-06 she failed to reach double figures. The Lady Vols shot 45 percent, missed all but two of their 10 free throws and had 22 turnovers. Duke's Lindsey Harding keyed a 14-4 run soon after halftime with two free throws and a jumper from the baseline, and Abby Waner swished a 3-pointer to make it 46-31. UT's Sidney Spencer made two 3s to momentarily halt the Blue Devils' momentum, but Waner responded with a 3 to restore control. Spencer had 11 points for the Lady Vols, and Alexis Hornbuckle added 10. In its first loss of the year, UT got out-rebounded 33-26 and trailed by seven at the break. Harding dominated on both ends of the court, finishing with 15 points, four assists and eight steals to help the Blue Devils. Harding was one of five Duke players in double figures as Monique Currie had 13 points and Mistie Williams, Abby Waner and Chante Black all scored 10.
UT-DUKE FACING THE RANKED
Tennessee will face their ninth ranked opponent of the 2006-07 season in the game against top-ranked Duke. UT is 7-1 in games versus ranked teams out of 18 total contests. Meanwhile Duke will be taking on their seventh ranked opponent in 20 games when they face #4 Tennessee. Duke is 6-0 vs. ranked teams having defeated then #19/17 Rutgers (85-45), #11 Vanderbilt (69-48), #22 Texas (80-52), #25/21 Bowling Green (55-46), #22 Pitt (72-51), and #1 Maryland (81-62).
DUKE'S FIRST TRIP TO TBA
Facing off against its second top-10 opponent of the season, the #4/5-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols fell to the #10/9-ranked Duke Blue Devils, 59-57, before a crowd of 11,459 at Thompson-Boling Arena on Dec. 2, 2004. At the time, Duke became just the seventh team in 17 years to defeat UT at TBA, and it was just the 14th loss at home since 1987 for the Lady Vols. Neither team was particularly efficient offensively early in the contest, as DU led by two, 6-4, at the first media timeout. The Big Orange pulled to within one, 12-11, following a 14-foot jumper by Shyra Ely, but the Blue Devils answered with a 6-0 spurt to lead by seven with just more than 10 minutes remaining in the opening session. UT would respond, however, with a 9-2 run, capped by another Ely jumper to even the score at 21, as the teams would go to the locker room with the count knotted at 23. Following the intermission, the Orange and White quickly built a six-point advantage, 33-27, after a Shanna Zolman layup off an assist by Loree Moore. Duke would narrow the gap and reclaim the lead, 37-36, at the 12:09 mark when Jessica Foley connected on her second three-pointer in less than a minute span. With neither team able to take more than a three-point lead during the remaining 12 minutes, Tennessee found itself with possession of the ball and down by two points with less than 30 seconds to play. Following a UT timeout with 7.2 seconds showing on the clock, the Lady Vols had one last shot when Zolman attempted a contested 17-footer from the left baseline but missed as the buzzer sounded, sealing Duke's first victory in Knoxville. On the night, UT shot just 28 percent (21-75) from the floor, marking the first time a Tennessee squad has shot less than 30 percent since Dec. 4, 1983 versus Minnesota (28.5 percent). Additionally, the Lady Vols were out-rebounded 53-42.
VERSUS THE ACC
Tennessee is 77-15 (.864) all-time versus 11 teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference. UT's last match-up with an ACC team came on Dec. 3, 2006, when the Lady Vols were defeated 70-57 by North Carolina. Currently, UT is on a three-game losing streak to the ACC with back-to-back losses to UNC (twice) and Duke. Tennessee's last win over an ACC opponent was on Nov. 26, 2005, with a 80-75 victory over #10-ranked Maryland at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands. The only ACC squad to accumulate four wins over UT is Duke (4-4), while UNC (UT leads, 12-3), Maryland (UT leads, 10-3) and N.C. State (UT leads, 12-3) have registered three victories. UT has an 11-1 mark vs. Clemson and Virginia and is undefeated against BC (3-0), Florida State (2-0), Georgia Tech (3-0), Virginia Tech (7-0) and Wake Forest (2-0).
TOP UT PLAYERS VS. DUKE
Best for UT in points versus the Blue Devils is sophomore Candace Parker with 17.0 ppg-shooting at a 63% clip from the field. She also grabs 5.0 rpg versus the Blue Devils. Sidney Spencer adds 8.0 ppg while Alexis Hornbuckle chips in 6.0 ppg against Duke.
WHEN THE LADY VOLS FACE THE NATION'S TOP-RANKED TEAM
Tennessee has faced the nation's top-ranked team 41 times in games dating back to the 1976-77 season. The Lady Vols have notched 14 upset victories over the #1-ranked team and fallen in defeat 27 times. There have been some memorable upset wins...Tennessee's first upset win over a number one ranked team in school history also produced the first crowd of over 10,000 fans to see the Lady Vols play. UT was ranked third when they upset #1-ranked LSU, 86-68, on Feb. 6, 1978 at home in Stokely Athletics Center. Another memorable win was when unranked Tennessee was struggling along at 11-7 when the Lady Vols upset Old Dominion, 67-64, in Norfolk on Jan. 25, 1985. It was ODU's only loss on the season as they later won the 1985 NCAA Championship. One of the more unlikely upsets occurred when the Lady Vols were ranked 10th in the nation and knocked off #1-ranked and undefeated Connecticut, 91-81, in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship game in Iowa City on Mar. 24, 1997. Tennessee went on the win the 1997 NCAA title with a gaudy 29-10 record. In the 38th meeting between the Associated Press' number one and number two teams, the #2 Tennessee Lady Vols came away victorious with a 72-69 triumph over top-ranked Duke before a raucous sell-out crowd of 9,314 at Cameron Indoor Stadium on Jan. 24, 2004. Unaware that she had blown out her ACL, UT's Loree Moore returned to the floor and hit a decisive 3-pointer to put the Lady Vols up by nine, 60-51, with less than four minutes remaining. The Blue Devils managed to cut the margin to just two with 24 seconds left, but UT connected on its last seven free throws to hold on for the three-point victory.
Tennessee has a 2-8 record when facing the #1-ranked team at home. The Lady Vols last home victory over a #1 team was 11 years ago to the day when #4-ranked Tennessee upended top-ranked Louisiana Tech, 77-72, on Jan. 22, 1996.
THE SEC REGULAR SEASON STORY
UT's last SEC win at home: Miss. State, 73-44, 1-18-07
UT's last SEC win away: Georgia, 52-41, 1-14-07
UT's last SEC loss at home: Florida, 95-93 OT, 2-26-06
UT's last SEC loss away: Kentucky, 66-63, 1-26-06
AGAINST THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Tennessee owns a 369-57 record all-time record vs. 12 teams from the Southeastern Conference. The Lady Vols maintain a winning record against every team in the SEC.
UT IS AMAZING AT HOME VERSUS THE SEC
Since Tennessee began contesting games with Southeastern Conference opponents, the Lady Vols have produced a 152-11 record in all games played at home. Only six SEC teams have ever managed a victory over the Lady Vols in Knoxville - Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss. Georgia has won three games on UT's turf while Auburn, Kentucky and Ole Miss have registered two wins each and LSU and Florida one win. Georgia was the only team to defeat UT at home in the 1990s - the Lady Bulldogs turned the trick in 1991 and 1996. LSU and Florida are the only SEC teams to defeat UT at home in the 21st century.
WOW--13 SEASONS OF AT LEAST 10 SEC VICTORIES
In the win over Alabama on Feb. 19, 2006, Tennessee claimed its 10th SEC victory of the 2005-06 season. The Lady Vols have now registered double-digit victories in conference play an incredible 13 times. Since the 1991-92 season when SEC play expanded, the Lady Vols have won at least 10 games in the following years: 1992-10 wins, 1993-11 wins, 1994-11 wins, 1995-11 wins, 1998-14 wins, 1999-13 wins, 2000-13 wins, 2001- 14 wins, 2002- 13 wins, 2003- 14 wins, 2004-14 wins, 2005- 13 wins and 2006-11 wins.
SPOILED, I TELL YOU
Prior to last season, it had been nine years since the Lady Vols dropped three SEC league games during a season. In the 1996-97 HBO documentary campaign of "The Cinderella Season: The Lady Vols Fight Back," Tennessee went 8-4 in the SEC. All-time in 25 years of league play, Tennessee has lost two or more SEC games just seven times. Conversely, the Lady Vols have tallied seven perfect league campaigns in SEC play.
SEC LEAGUE PLAY
UT owns a league best record of 243-33 against all SEC teams dating back to the 1982-83 season.
THIS IS AMAZING
From 1980-1997, the Lady Vols claimed a total of six SEC regular season titles in 17 years. From 1998-2004, Tennessee captured seven consecutive SEC regular season crowns producing an amazing 109-4 record. UT's only league losses were to Vandy, Georgia and LSU (twice) during this stretch.
AP POLL NOTES
This is the 31st year of the Associated Press women's basketball rankings. The first Associated Press poll released of the 2005-06 season marked the 500th all-time poll. Since the poll was started in 1976, UT has failed to appear in just 14 of the total of 528 polls through the years. Currently, UT has been ranked in 386 consecutive polls. Since the 1986-87 season, the Lady Vols have been in the top 10 for all but one poll. UT is the only team to have been ranked every year for the last 31 years of the poll. UT has appeared at least once per season over the poll's history.
LADY VOLS EXTEND STREAK TO 26
The victory over Mississippi State on Jan. 18th was the Lady Vols 26th consecutive over the Lady Bulldogs. UT produced the win without the services of sophomore All-American Candace Parker who was battling a respiratory illness and was pulled from the line-up prior to tip-off. It marked the first time in Parker's Lady Vol career that she didn't start or play in a game following her redshirt rookie year. In her absence, four UT players registered double digit scoring and Nicky Anosike chipped in with a double-digit rebounding night to lead UT to the win. Individually, Alexis Hornbuckle...-extended her streak of games with a steal to 54. She now has at least one steal in 75 of 82 career games. Scored in double figures for the third straight game, the eighth time this season and the 40th time of her career. She moved past Debbie Groover (295) and Bridgette Gordon (296) and into 18th place in the UT record books for career assists (297); Alex Fuller...Got her first career star and reached double figures for the fourth time this season... her 12 points marked a career-high in SEC contests. Additionally, her three steals and 36 minutes of playing time were both personal bests; Shannon Bobbitt...Scored in double figures for the fourth time this season... her 13 points were a career high for SEC contests. She also grabbed a personal best in rebounds (4); Sidney Spencer...Scored in double figures for the 13th time this season, the 40th time of her career and matched a season high in assists (3); Cait McMahan...Continued her physical play this season, drawing two charges in the first half alone; Alberta Auguste...Tied a personal best with six rebounds; Dominique Redding... Grabbed a season-high four rebounds and Nicky Anosike...Grabbed 10 rebounds for the 11th double-digit boards total of her career.
SMOKEY TOOK A BITE OUT OF THE GEORGIA LADY 'DAWGS
If you had been watching the sports ticker on Sunday, Jan. 14 and saw the Tennessee 52, Georgia 41 score roll by, your first thought might have been, "it's halftime." Not so. Tennessee's 52-point tally for the game tied the fifth fewest points in UT history. The Lady Vols 25 first half points tied the fewest by UT this season (UT scored just 25 points at North Carolina). Defensively, Georgia's 41 points were the fewest scored by a Lady Bulldog team since 1974. Individually, Sidney Spencer...Eclipsed the 400-rebound plateau for her career; Candace Parker...Extended her streak of games in double figures to 31, despite the fact that she did not score until the clock read 1:39 left in the first half, when she connected on both free throw attempts. Her first field goal came at 12:15 left in the second half...She tied a season high in assists (4); Nicky Anosike...Grabbed her 500th career rebound (502 total), becoming the 33rd Lady Vol of all time to eclipse that mark. Scored in double figures for the fourth time this season, the 18th time of her career; Alexis Hornbuckle...Extended her streak of games with a steal to 53. She has made at least one steal in 74 of 81 career games. Scored in double figures for the seventh time this season, the 29th time in her career; Alex Fuller... grabbed a career-high-tying eight rebounds.
NO MUSICAL CHAIRS THIS SEASON
Tennessee Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has utilized just three line-ups this season. She probably would have stayed with just one line-up (Candace Parker, Sidney Spencer, Nicky Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle and Shannon Bobbitt) if junior college transfer Bobbitt hadn't missed the game at Louisiana Tech on Nov. 28 to take a test and Parker hadn't fallen ill prior to the Mississippi State game on Jan. 18. Rookie Cait McMahan started in place of Bobbitt for the La Tech game while Parker was replaced by Alex Fuller for the Miss. State contest. Using essentially one line-up is a far cry from previous seasons. Last year, Summitt employed seven different combinations with Candace Parker as the only common denominator in 36 games. In 2004-05, Summitt utilized 10 different looks with no player starting all 35 games. UT's line-up saw four different looks in 2003-04 with Shyra Ely and Ashley Robinson starting 35 games. In 2002-03, three starting line-ups were used as Gwen Jackson, Kara Lawson and Loree Moore were constants in the 38 game schedule.
LUCY, YOU GOT SOME X-PLAIN' TO DO
UT Coach Pat Summitt's teams have always been noted for tough defense and board play. Kudos to the 2006-07 team for tough defensive play thus far - holding the opposition to just 55.2 ppg. However, the current squad needs to hang their collective heads in shame for being the worst rebounding team in Lady Vol history. Currently at 37.7 rebounds per game, this team has dipped below the 2005-06 squad who earned the "worst" moniker last season managing just 39.4 rpg in 36 games - breaking a 28-year old record (1977-78 squad who managed just 39.7 rpg in 31 contests).
PARKER RACING THROUGH THE RECORD BOOKS
Lady Vol sophomore All-American Candace Parker is rapidly racing through the Tennessee record books. Through 53 career games, the Naperville, Ill., native has recorded the following totals: 957 points, 446 rebounds and 132 blocks, ranking sixth all-time in the latter category. When she reaches the 1,000-point plateau, she will become just the 29th Lady Vol ever to do so. If she does it before her 57th career game, she will be the fastest Pat Summitt-coached player to amass 1,000 tallies. Chamique Holdsclaw did so in 57 games and Tamika Catchings in 58. Parker's upcoming games: #54 Duke, #55 at Vanderbilt and #56 at Alabama.
LADY VOLS: THE BEST AND THE WORST OF 2006-07
MOST POINTS BY TENNESSEE IN A GAME:1 02 points ....vs. Chattanooga (11/12)
LEAST POINTS BY TENNESSEE IN A GAME: 52 points .........at Georgia (1/14)
MOST POINTS BY AN OPPONENT IN A GAME: 74 points ....at Arizona St. (11/19)
LEAST POINTS BY AN OPPONENT IN A GAME: 29 points ...... vs. UT-Martin (12/5)
BIGGEST TENNESSEE LEAD:
57 points............85-28 vs. UT-Marin (12-5)
BIGGEST TENNESSEE DEFICIT:
15 points .............55-70 at UNC (12/3)
BIGGEST TENNESSEE LEAD IN A LOSS: 5 points.....9-4 at UNC (12/3)
BIGGEST TENNESSEE DEFICIT IN A WIN: 6 points ......13-7 vs. MTSU (11/26)
BIGGEST TENNESSEE HALFTIME LEAD: 30 points.....43-13 vs. UT-Martin (12-5)
BIGGEST TENNESSEE HALFTIME DEFICIT: 5 points...25-30 at UNC (12/3)
BEST TENNESSEE 1ST HALF FG%:
.636 (21-33) ....... vs. MTSU (11/26)
WORST TENNESSEE 1ST HALF FG%:
.314(11-35) ............. at Texas (12/17)
BEST TENNESSEE 2ND HALF FG%:
.609 (14-23) .............. vs. Stanford (11/24)
WORST TENNESSEE 2ND HALF FG%:
.345 (10-29) ........... at UConn (1/6)
MOST POINTS BY TENNESSEE IN 1ST HALF: 59 points ......vs. Chattanooga (11/12)
LEAST POINTS BY TENNESSEE IN 1ST HALF: 25 points . at UNC (12/3) & UGA (1/14)
MOST POINTS BY OPPONENT IN 1ST HALF: 38 points.......at Arizona St. (11/19)
LEAST POINTS BY OPPONENT IN 1ST HALF: 13 points ..... vs. UT-Martin (12-5)
MOST POINTS BY TENNESSEE IN 2ND HALF: 49 points .....vs. Notre Dame(12/30)
LEAST POINTS BY TENNESSEE IN 2ND HALF: 27 points ........at Georgia (1/14) MOST POINTS BY OPPONENT IN 2ND HALF: 41 points .........vs. Chattanooga (11/12)
LEAST POINTS BY OPPONENT IN 2ND HALF: 16 points ........vs. UT-Martin (12-5)
TENNESSEE has led in the first half of every game ...
TENNESSEE has never trailed in the first half of 15 games...
TENNESSEE has led at halftime of 17 ngames...
TENNESSEE has trailed at halftime of 1 game
TENNESSEE has led in the second half of 17 games...
TENNESSEE has never led in the second half of 1 game...
TENNESSEE has led in rebounding in 9 games...
TENNESSEE has been outrebounded in 9 games (36-33 at Georgia, 44-40 vs. UConn, 34-32 vs. Alabama, 40-39 vs. Notre Dame, 34-30 at ODU, 38-36 vs. WVU, 43-33 at UNC, 46-37 at La Tech and 37-27 vs. Chattanooga)...
LADY VOLS BY DOUBLE DIGITS
Points
Season Career
Candace Parker 17 50
Sidney Spencer 13 40
Alexis Hornbuckle 8 40
Nicky Anosike 4 16
Alex Fuller 4 4
Shannon Bobbitt 4 4
Alberta Auguste 3 3
Dominique Redding 2 5
Rebounds
Season Career
Candace Parker 8 20
Nicky Anosike 2 7
Alexis Hornbuckle 0 2
Assists
Season Career
Alexis Hornbuckle 1 1
Double-Doubles
Season Career
Candace Parker 18 18
Nicky Anosike 1 4
Alexis Hornbuckle 1 3
18-GAME ANALYSIS
For all of its offensive potential, the Lady Vols currently have just two players averaging double-figure scoring, Candace Parker (19.7 ppg) and Sidney Spencer (12.5 ppg)...Alexis Hornbuckle averaged over 10.0 ppg in the first six games of the season and in five of the last eight contests...Hornbuckle is averaging 9.7 ppg currently...Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has been on the warpath regarding the team's rebounding prowess of late - or lack thereof... UT has been out rebounded in 9 games this season. Georgia out rebounded UT, 36-33, after Tennessee out-boarded Florida, 46-42, to break a streak of being outrebounded in five consecutive contests ...Tennessee holds an uncharacteristic and scant 4.1 rebounding advantage over the its foes...Year-in and year-out, UT teams are usually noted for pounding the ball in the paint for the majority of its points...Times, they are a'changing ... This season, one-fourth of Tennessee's makes and attempts have come from three-point range (111-278 treys and 505-1090 for all shots)...Senior Sidney Spencer has led the nation for a majority of the season with a gaudy shooting percentage between 52% and 65% from three-point land...The 6'3" senior forward is a tough match-up and has found ways to get herself open for good looks at the trey - Spencer is a nation-leading .519 this week from three-point land.
FACING THE UNRANKED
When taking on an unranked opponent such as Mississippi State, the odds have typically tipped in Tennessee's favor. In her 33 years at the helm of the Lady Vols, UT head coach Pat Summitt has fashioned a 554-32 (.947) record when going up against unranked teams. The victory over Old Dominion was Summitt's 550th over an unranked foe.
PARKER'S A FOUL MAGNET
Lady Vol sophomore All-American Candace Parker has been a foul magnet in 2006-07. With all of the double and triple-teaming she has seen this season, 25 percent of the opponent's 320 total fouls have been inflicted on her. In 17 games this season, Parker has drawn 94 fouls. In the game against Notre Dame, she was fouled 10 times by the Irish, eclipsing nine fouls whistled against players from Arizona State, Stanford and North Carolina. To date, Parker has visited the charity stripe 101 times this season - about six times a game. Against UConn, seven of the Huskies total of 13 fouls came while trying to stop Parker.
UT IS 'DUNK U'
Tennessee Lady Vol sophomore Candace Parker leads a group of five women who have dunked in a collegiate women's basketball game. Parker, with six career dunks, ranks ahead of former Lady Vol Michelle Snow (1998-2002) who recorded three dunks during her career at Tennessee.
Candace Parker, Tennessee (6)
Jan. 6, 2007: at Connecticut
Dec. 20, 2006: vs. West Virginia
Nov. 24, 2006: vs. Stanford
Nov. 12, 2006: vs. Chattanooga
March 19, 2005: vs. Army*
March 19, 2005: vs. Army*
Michelle Snow, Tennessee (3)
Nov. 25, 2000: vs. Illinois (at Maui)
Jan. 23, 2001: at Vanderbilt
Jan. 17, 2002: at South Carolina
Georgeann Wells, West Virginia (2)
Dec. 21, 1984: vs. Charleston (W.Va.)
Dec. 29, 1984: vs. Xavier
Sancho Lyttle, Houston (1)
Nov. 21, 2003: vs. Gonzaga (at Iowa)
Charlotte Smith, North Carolina (1)
Dec. 4, 1994: vs. North Carolina A&T
* NCAA Tournament, first round
TRAILED AT HOME FOR JUST SEVEN MINUTES
During the Lady Vols 10 home contests, they have trailed their opponent on the scoreboard just seven times for a total of 7:02. Tennessee has been tied or ahead 97.8% of the time (3:12:58 of 400 minutes), including every second of play in the second half of each game. The largest deficit for UT was six points (13-7) against Middle Tennessee State on Nov. 26. Tennessee fell behind against UCLA (:10), Stanford (2:10), MTSU (4:18) and West Virginia (:24), but never trailed against Chattanooga, UT-Martin, George Washington, Notre Dame, Alabama or Mississippi State.
LADY VOL STREAKS
The last time the Lady Vols lost at home was against Florida, 95-93 OT on Feb. 26, 2006 -- since then, UT has won 10 games at home. The last time UT lost on the road was on Dec. 3, 2006 at UNC, since then, UT is 5-0 on the road. The last time the Lady Vols lost on a neutral court was against North Carolina, 75-63, in the NCAA Elite 8 game on Mar. 28, 2006. Since that time, UT has not played on a neutral court.
WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER
Tennessee leads the SEC in number of games versus ranked opponents. UT has played eight ranked opponents this season and will face #1 ranked Duke on Jan. 22. Georgia has faced six ranked teams while Florida and Mississippi State have played five. LSU, Vanderbilt and South Carolina have played four ranked teams; Mississippi and Kentucky have taken on three ranked opponents. Auburn and Arkansas have played two ranked teams on the season and Alabama has faced one.
OVER 500 GAMES VS. RANKED
Tennessee's game versus #13 Georgia on Feb. 16, 2006 was the Lady Vols' 500th all-time versus a ranked team since the inception of the polls in 1976. UT is an amazing 376-146 (.703) versus ranked teams. This season, UT is 7-1 in ranked meetings. Last year, Tennessee was 13-3 versus ranked teams.
PARKER EARNS SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lady Vol sophomore All-American Candace Parker earned SEC Co-Player of the Week honors for her performances against Alabama and #5-ranked Connecticut (week of Jan. 1-7). She shared the accolade with Mississippi's Armintie Price. Against Alabama on Jan. 3, Parker picked off a career-best five steals. She also added 15 points, five rebounds and five blocks; all in a limited 24 minutes of playing time. Tennessee took its 31st consecutive win against the Tide with the 72-36 routing. On Jan. 6, the Lady Vols defeated #5-ranked Connecticut, 70-64. In the victory, Parker was named the CBS and Lady Vol player of the game for her 30 points, 12 rebounds, six blocks and four assists in her first 40-minute game of the season. One of the many 6-4 sophomore's highlights was a dunk early in the second half to put UT up by 16. Parker previously captured player of the week honors on Nov. 20 and Nov. 27 of this season.
LADY VOLS CHOMPED ON THE GATOR'S TAIL THIS TIME
Last season, unranked Florida spoiled Tennessee's senior day with a 95-93 OT win in Knoxville. The loss also probably cost the team a #1 seed in the 2006 NCAA Tournament. On Jan. 11, UT took care of business in "The Swamp" hanging a 80-58 loss on the Gators. Tennessee jumped out to a 25-0 lead before Florida scored with 12:20 left on the clock in the first half. It was the second longest opening drought by a UT opponent this season. Tennessee-Martin did not score until the clock read 11:44 and Tennessee had an 18-0 lead. In the bad news department, the 41.7 percent from the foul line was UT's worst mark this season as UT was a dismal 5-12 from the charity stripe. Individually there were some real bright spots: Sidney Spencer...scored in double figures for the 12th time this season, the 39th time of her career; tallied a career-high-tying 21 points; made four of her first five three-point attempts... finished the game 5-of-7 from beyond the arc; her five treys tied a career high and tied for the ninth-most in a game by a Lady Vol; Alexis Hornbuckle...extended her streak of games with a steal to 52...Earned season and SEC career highs in rebounds (9) and assists (10)...Moved into 20th place in the UT record books for career assists (290)...Moved past Mary Ostrowski and into 14th place in the UT record books for career steals (209)...Earned her first career double-double in assists (10) and points (10); Candace Parker...Scored in double figures for the 30th straight game Cait McMahan...Tied a career-high with seven points and Alex Fuller...Eight rebounds matched her career-best.
HORNBUCKLE HEARTBREAKER
Junior Alexis Hornbuckle missed out on her first career triple-double in the game versus Florida on Jan. 11, 2007. Hornbuckle tallied 10 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds in 29 minutes of action. At the end of the game, her teammates were encouraging her to grab one final board after Hornbuckle dished out her 10th assist with 27 seconds to go. Hornbuckle just missed a triple-double a year ago in the game against Connecticut in Knoxville on Jan. 7. 2006. She grabbed 14 rebounds, scored 10 points and dished nine assists.
HOPE TO DO BETTER IN THE SEC SLATE THIS SEASON
The Tennessee Lady Vols hope to turn in a better showing in the Southeastern Conference regular season slate in 2006-07. Last season, UT lost an uncharacteristic three games in the SEC - at Kentucky (66-63), at home to LSU (72-69) and Florida (95-93 OT). Eight points separated UT from a perfect 14-0 mark to a nine-season low 11-3 SEC record. In fact, from the 1997-98 season until the 2004-05 campaign, Tennessee lost a total of four SEC games in the regular season.
THE BOOK ON BOBBITT
The scouting report on Lady Vol junior Shannon Bobbitt has undergone some revisions of late. In a four-game stretch (ODU to UConn), Bobbitt emerged into more of a scoring role. The diminutive New Yorker averaged 11.8 ppg, 44% FG, 60% three-pointers, 100% from the free throw line in contests against Old Dominion, Notre Dame, Alabama and #5-ranked Connecticut. Against the Irish, Bobbitt connected for a career high 17 points. In the win over UConn, Bobbitt drilled three treys in the opening stanza.
375TH WIN OVER A RANKED TEAM IN GAME VS. UCONN
Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt collected her 375th all-time win over a ranked team when #4-ranked Tennessee defeated #5-ranked Connecticut on Jan. 6. Summitt has a ridiculous 72 percent winning percentage in ranked games (376-146).
LADY VOLS IN NCAA STATS
Tennessee appears in a number of categories in the latest NCAA stats (thru 1/16/07). UT ranks fourth in the nation in three-point field goal accuracy, 13th in the nation in field goal accuracy, seventh in blocked shots with 6.4 bpg, seventh in steals with 13.3, 11th in scoring margin at +20.1 ppg, 20th in scoring with 75.9 ppg, and 28th in assists with 16.5 per game. Individually, Sidney Spencer ranks first the nation in three-point field goal accuracy with 53.5 percent, Alexis Hornbuckle is 12th in steals with 3.4 thefts and Candace Parker is 19th nationally with 19.7 ppg and 17th in 2.7 blocks per game.
UT LEADS IN HOME ATTENDANCE
Tennessee, once again, leads the NCAA women's basketball attendance race. UT easily passed the 100,000 mark in home attendance before the new year with 19,092 versus Notre Dame. The current attendance standings: 1.Tennessee 13,222 (132,219/10), 2. Connecticut 11,526 (126,790/11), 3. Texas Tech 10,823 (86,583/8), 4.Oklahoma 9,994 (49,969/5) and 5. New Mexico 9,118 (82,066/9).
ELITE COMPANY FOR BIG NICK
Junior post Nicky Anosike has moved into an elite Lady Vol club. "Big Nick" has joined Tennessee greats Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings as the only Lady Vols all-time to accumulate at least 500+ points, 400+ rebounds, 80+ blocked shots, 100+ assists and 100+ steals. The mobile 6-4 Anosike has generated 633 points, 512 rebounds, 106 blocked shots, 141 assists, and 123 steals in 89 career games.
ALREADY BYPASSED 100,000 IN HOME ATTENDANCE
The Tennessee Lady Vols have eclipsed 100,000 in home attendance for the 13th consecutive season and the earliest in program history. Through nine home games, UT has recorded a total attendance of 132,219 for a nation-leading average of 13,222.
SUMMITT GETS 930TH WIN
While Texas Tech's Bobby Knight finally reached 880 wins on the men's side, Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt recorded her 930th victory with a 73-44 win over Miss. State on Jan. 18, 2007. Summitt recorded her 880th win, passing North Carolina's Dean Smith on Mar. 22, 2005 with a 75-54 victory over Purdue in the NCAA Tournament. Summitt has registered 50 wins since then. Summitt is a season and a half of wins ahead of Coach Knight.
SURPRISE! UT IS #1 IN SOS/RPI
I know it is a huge surprise but the Tennessee Lady Vols hold a large percentile advantage in both the Ratings Percentage Index and the Strength of Schedule through the first 18 games of the season. Also listed are UT's opponents this season.
RANK TEAM RPI SOS
1. TENNESSEE 0.7394 1 0.6711
2 Duke 0.7170 4 0.6227
5. Stanford 0.6793 2 0.6280
8. G. Washington 0.6647 16 0.5921
9. North Carolina 0.6604 71 0.5473
12. Vanderbilt 0.6528 18 0.5898
13. Arizona St 0.6523 37 0.5715
14. LSU 0.6517 41 0.5707
15. Connecticut 0.6505 36 0.5732
16. Georgia 0.6477 14 0.6004
17. MTSU 0.6447 29 0.5790
28. Texas 0.6149 28 0.5792
31. Mississippi 0.6113 68 0.5483
33. Arkansas 0.6083 108 0.5278
36. Auburn 0.6053 61 0.5571
39. Notre Dame 0.6039 44 0.5699
52. Old Dominion 0.5884 15 0.5970
65. West Virginia 0.5731 55 0.5605
72. Chattanooga 0.5699 84 0.5377
88. Kentucky 0.5547 135 0.5115
91. UCLA 0.5524 23 0.5866
93. Mississippi St 0.5495 70 0.5474
96. South Carolina 0.5457 93 0.5346
105. Alabama 0.5361 69 0.5481
115. Florida 0.5295 13 0.6007
129. La Tech 0.5208 72 0.5463
219. UT-Martin 0.4609 310 0.4185
TENNESSEE TOPS AP ALL-TIME
The Tennessee Lady Vols are the top-ranked team in the history of the Top 25 rankings in the Associated Press poll. The poll, now in its 31st season, has found Pat Summitt's Tennessee Lady Vols ranked in 514 of a possible 528 polls. Through the poll released on Jan. 16, the top five team poll rankings are:
1. Pat Summitt, TENNESSEE 514
(missed just 14 polls in entire AP history)
2. Andy Landers, Georgia 406
3. Jody Conradt, Texas 393
4. C.Vivian Stringer (Cheyney, Iowa, Rutgers) 349
5. Rene Portland (St. Joseph, Penn St.) 336
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA
WELCOME TO "THE SUMMITT"
The playing court in the Thompson-Boling Arena on the University of Tennessee campus donned a new look for the 2005-06 season. After Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt passed Dean Smith for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 win over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005, UT named the TBA court, "The Summitt." The floor had a complete overhaul with permanent logos of both the Lady Vols and Vols painted directly in front of the scorer's table; the free throw lanes were painted orange with "SEC" reversed out; the giant jump circle/mid-court TENNESSEE was given a new brighter color scheme, and "The Summitt," Coach Summitt's actual signature adorns the sidelines opposite the team benches.
ON OUR WAY TO 300 WINS
Tennessee recorded its 200th win in Thompson-Boling Arena when the Lady Vols defeated the University of Southern California on Nov. 18, 2001, 106-66. UT has now amassed a 275-16 (.943) record since the Orange and White moved into the Thompson-Boling Arena to start the 1987-88 season 19-years ago. Along the way, the Lady Vols have produced nine flawless home records in 1988-89 (15-0), 1991-92 (14-0), 1992-93 (13-0), 1993-94 (15-0), 1994-95 (15-0), 1997-98 (16-0), 1998-99 (14-0), 2000-01 (15-0) and 2002-03 (16-0). UT also registered an NCAA record 69-game home court-winning streak from Feb. 1, 1991 thru Jan. 2, 1996.
JUST 16 LOSSES
The Tennessee Lady Vols rarely lose at home. In fact, since moving to the Thompson-Boling Arena for the 1987-88 campaign, UT has lost two games in one season just six times. UT lost two games in TBA during the inaugural 1987-88 campaign, 1996-97, 1999-00, 2001-02, 2003-04 and the 2005-06 seasons. The 16 all-time losses at Thompson-Boling Arena have come at the hands of just nine teams: Florida (2006), LSU (2006), Duke (2004), Connecticut (2004, 2002, 2000, 1996), Louisiana Tech (1999, 1989), Georgia (1996, 1991), Texas (2003, 2002, 1987), Stanford (1996) and Auburn (1988).
HOME SWEET HOME -- 400th HOME WIN
The victory over Georgia on Jan. 31, 2005, was the Lady Vols 400th home win since Pat Summitt took over as head coach in 1974. Summitt has won 91.4 percent of all home games in 33 years producing a 427-40 overall record. Home losses (in the Summitt era) include: six in Alumni Gym from 1974-76; 18 in Stokely Athletics Center from 1976-87; and 16 in Thompson-Boling Arena since 1987.
226 OF 239 AT HOME
UT has won 226 of their last 239 games in Thompson-Boling Arena dating back to 2-1-91. UT's 13 losses during this time have been to Florida, LSU, Duke, Louisiana Tech, UConn (four times), Stanford, Texas (three times) and Georgia (OT).
LAST LOSS TO AN UNRANKED TEAM?
Florida became the second unranked team in the 2005-06 season to knock off the Lady Vols, when they won 95-93 OT on Feb. 26, 2006. Exactly one month earlier, unranked Kentucky turned the trick with a 66-63 win over #1/3-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 26, 2006 at Rupp Arena. Previously, it had been four years since an unranked team upset the Lady Vols. So before Florida and Kentucky had their way with UT, when was the last time Tennessee lost to an unranked team? That would have been to LSU on Mar. 2, 2002 at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. LSU had been in and out of the Top 25 polls in late January and February. Prior to that, UT's last loss to an unranked team was five years previous (to the day) losing to Auburn on Mar. 2, 1997 at the SEC Tournament.
100 POINT GAMES
Since 1974, the Lady Vols have gone over the century mark 72 times. Last season, UT eclipsed 100 points in two games - Princeton, 107 and #16/18 Texas, 102. The 1987-88 team hit triple digits in seven games to lead the NCAA.
IN OVERTIME
The Lady Vols are 24-13 all-time in overtime games. The most OT games in a year was tied in 2003-04 with four as the Lady Vols went 3-1 in overtime losing to Georgia, 68-66, and defeating Auburn, 68-61, DePaul, 96-89, and Stanford, 70-66. It tied the mark set in 1996-97, when the Lady Vols were 3-1 in overtime contests losing to Georgia, 94-93, and defeating Texas, 68-65, Vanderbilt, 92-79 and LSU, 100-99. UT's 22 points in the OT against Florida (2-3-05), was the most ever scored by the Lady Vols in a single overtime. UT's most recent OT affair was a 95-93 loss to Florida on 2-26-06.
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