The #4-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (14-1, 1-0 SEC), riding an eight-game winning streak, travels to face unranked Florida (6-10, 0-1 SEC) in the first SEC road game of the year at Gainesville, Fla., on Friday at 7 p.m.
LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE
This is the Lady Vols' 33rd season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 927-178 overall record... Is just 73 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...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 GATORS
In the Florida Gators (6-10, 0-1 SEC) last outing before facing Tennessee, UF's Marshae Dotson scored a career-high 22 points to go along with nine rebounds but it wasn't enough to overcome a significant halftime deficit as the Gators dropped an 89-57 decision to the #14-ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Jan. 4 in Athens, Ga. The Bulldogs ended the first half on a 20-2 run to take a commanding 52-23 halftime lead. Florida sophomore Sha Brooks reached double-figures for the 10th straight game, contributing 10 points, as eight of the nine Gators scored in the game. For Dotson, it was her third career 20-point game, while she also collected a team-high nine rebounds. Georgia capitalized on 22 Florida miscues and scored 23 points off the mistakes. The Gators connected on just 36.4 percent from the field and hit 2-15 three pointers (13%). Georgia controlled the boards 43-39 but both teams tallied 24 points in the paint on the offensive end.
OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK
This week, the Lady Vols return to SEC play traveling to Gainesville to face the Florida Gators (Jan. 11) and then head down to Athens to meet #15 Georgia (Jan. 14) in a TV match-up.
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 9-1 on TV this season.
ON THIS DAY
UT is 8-1 in games played on Jan. 11. The Lady Vols are 5-0 at home, 3-1 on the road and 0-0 on neutral courts. The last time out on Jan. 11, the Lady Vols registered an 61-53 victory at Miss. State, in 2004.
LOOKING BACK
Last year at this time, the Lady Vols were 15-0 and had just defeated Connecticut, 89-80, in Knoxville.
PLAYING 14 RANKED TEAMS
Tennessee will play 14 teams in 16 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 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), West Virginia (.431), Texas (.429); 30%FG: 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), Notre Dame (.407), 30%FG: ODU (.396), West Virginia (.352), Alabama1 (.369), Texas (.308); 20%FG: Louisiana Tech (.295), UT-Martin (.204)
2006-07 WON-LOSS DIFFERENTIAL
Wins: +56 (1), +36 (1), +30 (1), +24 (2), +23 (2), +21 (2), +17 (1), + 16 (1), +15 (1), +9 (1), +6 (1).
Losses: -13 (1)
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.
UPCOMING OPPONENT - GEORGIA
Before facing #4-ranked Tennessee in Athens, Ga., on Jan. 14, #15-ranked Georgia visits Mississippi St. on Jan. 11. The Lady Bulldogs will be looking to get back on the winning track after falling at #6-ranked LSU, 57-55, on Jan. 7. LSU's Sylvia Fowles scored with 54 seconds remaining in the game to give the Lady Tigers the victory. In the final seconds, Georgia had two chances to score. On their first, Janese Hardrick missed a 3-pointer with the shot clock running out. Then after LSU's Allison Hightower missed the front end of a one-and-one, Humphrey missed a driving layup with 3 seconds left. Reserve Christy Marshall led Georgia (13-3, 1-0) with 12 points on the afternoon while Humphrey grabbed eight rebounds.
FLORIDA NOTEBOOK
The Florida Gators (6-10, 0-1 SEC) have enjoyed the last week off with a seven day break between their loss to #15 Georgia on Jan. 4 and the meeting with #4-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 11. The Gators are looking to break a three-game losing streak and will be playing in their SEC home opener.
DATE RANK SITE W/L SCORE
2/8/80 5/nr H W 118-44
11/28/81 2/nr A W 85-73
2/1/82 H W 83-67
1/23/83 8/nr A W 94-62
2/2/83 8/nr H W 70-69
1/8/84 8/nr A W 78-70
1/31/84 9/nr H W 69-49
1/21/85 H W 69-61
2/10/85 A W 83-74
2/2/86 10/nr H W 82-60
1/17/87 2/nr A W 90-72
2/21/88 3/nr H W 108-53
2/18/89 3/nr A W 85-52
2/17/90 4/nr H W 75-42
3/3/90 3/nr N51 W 81-56
1/16/91 4/nr A W 71-70(OT)
2/22/92 2/nr H W 90-69
2/21/93 1/nr A W 88-75
12/18/93 1/nr H W 84-69
2/1/95 2/14 A W 76-69
1/2/96 4/21 H W 87-67
3/3/96 5/18 N65 W 74-63
1/21/97 8/19 A L 62-71
1/10/98 1/12 H W 99-60
1/21/99 1/21 A W 77-64
2/26/99 2/nr N65 W 92-80
2/13/00 2/nr H W 97-78
3/3/00 2/nr N65 W 91-79
2/11/01 2/6 A W 103-73
1/3/02 2/15 A W 88-64
1/31/02 2/12 H W 86-66
1/19/03 5/nr A W 94-53
2/9/03 3/nr H W 79-40
2/19/04 3/nr H W 88-79
2/3/05 5/nr A W 91-82(OT)
2/26/06 5/nr H L 93-95(OT)
FLORIDA SERIES
Tennessee leads the series with Florida, 34-2. UT has gone to overtime with the Gators in the last two meeting. Last season, Florida became the first unranked team to deal the Lady Vols a loss in Thompson-Boling Arena and the second home loss by an unranked team, ever. The other Gator victory came in the 1997 meeting in Gainesville where Florida upended the eventual 1997 NCAA Champs, 71-62. The Gators win last season broke a 12 game winning run by the Lady Vols.
AVERAGE SCORE
The average score of all UT-Florida games is 86.2 (UT) and 65.3 (UF).
SUNSHINE GIRLS
Currently, only one Lady Vol hails from the state of Florida - senior Dominique Redding from Clearwater. Former Lady Vols from Florida include slam-dunk queen Michelle Snow (Pensacola), Lady Vol Hall of Famer Bridgette Gordon (DeLand) and Pam Marr (Winter Park).
FACING THE RANKED
Tennessee faced their seventh ranked opponent of the 2006-07 season in the game at #5-ranked Connecticut. UT is 6-1 in games versus ranked teams out of 15 total contests. Meanwhile Florida will be taking on their fifth ranked opponent in 17 games when they face #4 Tennessee. UF is 0-4 vs. ranked losing to then #18 Cal, #14/12 Rutgers, #16/14 Louisville and #15 Georgia.
TENNESSEE FLORIDA
OVERALL RECORD 14-1 6-10
CONFERENCE RECORD 1-0 0-1
RPI/SOS 1/1 135/49
SCORING 77.3 70.9
SCORING DEFENSE 56.7 71.1
POINT MARGIN +20.5 - 2.0
REBOUNDS 36.9 40.1
OPP. REBOUNDS 33.1 42.6
REBOUND MARGIN + 3.9 - 2.5
FG% .475 .390
OPPONENT FG% .394 .419
THREE POINT FG% .417 .305
OPPONENT 3FG% .338 .312
FT% .729 .712
OPPONENT FT% .657 .644
ASSISTS 16.9 11.4
BLOCKS AVERAGE 6.5 3.4
STEALS AVERAGE 13.4 10.7
OUR LAST MEETING
The Lady Vols closed out the 2005-06 regular season Feb. 26, 2006 with a 95-93 overtime loss to Florida on Senior Day. Candace Parker scored a career-high for the Lady Vols, netting 25 of her 34 points in the second half. Shanna Zolman and Tye'sha Fluker accounted for 44 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists in their last game in Thompson- Boling Arena. Parker, Fluker and Zolman each finished with a double-double. The #5-ranked Lady Vols lost at home to an unranked team for the second time in school history and first time in 22 years. On top of that, Tennessee lost to two unranked teams in one season for the first time since the women's rankings started in 1976. Its first loss to an unranked team this year came at Kentucky, 66-63 on Jan. 26. The Lady Vols (25-4, 11-3 Southeastern Conference) had never lost to an unranked team in Thompson-Boling Arena. Unranked Cincinnati beat then-No. 12 Tennessee 72-69 on Nov. 26, 1984, in the university's old arena, Stokely Athletics Center. It was only the 16th loss for Tennessee in Thompson-Boling Arena. Florida's Brittany Davis scored a career-high 29 points and Sha Brooks added 25 for the Gators (20-7, 8-6). Sarah Lowe added 15 points, seven rebounds, six assists and no turnovers while playing the entire 45 minutes. Florida utilized a full-court press that forced most of Tennessee's season high 28 turnovers and further exposed the loss of point guard Alexis Hornbuckle. Florida had a season-high 20 steals. The Gators grabbed the lead early in the second half and didn't trail again until overtime. But that only lasted 15 seconds. Candace Parker converted a three-point play to put Tennessee ahead 87-84 with 3 minutes left in the extra period. Davis hit her only 3 of the game and then made the second of two free throws on the ensuing possession to give the lead back to Florida, and the Gators held on to win. Florida went up 51-50 on Brooks' 3 with 13:29 left in regulation, starting a 13-0 run. Santos capped it with a 3 that pushed the Gators' lead to 11. The Lady Vols got back in it with a 10-2 run to cut it to 65-64 with 6:46 left. Tennessee cut it to one three more times before Eshe made two free throws with 34.4 seconds left to push it to 81-76. Tennessee led 34-30 at the break but needed Zolman's 3 with 8.4 seconds left to send the game into extra periods. Tennessee out-rebounded Florida 54-38 and shot 49 percent compared to the Gators 40 percent, but turnovers and 63 percent FT-shooting lost the game in the end.
FACING THE UNRANKED
When taking on an unranked opponent such as Florida, 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 552-32 (.947) record when going up against unranked teams. The victory over Old Dominion was Summitt's 550th over an unranked foe.
LAST TIME IN GAINESVILLE
Playing in its first overtime game of the season, the fifth-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols scored 22 points in the extra session to earn a 91-82 victory against Florida at the O'Connell Center on Feb. 3, 2005. With the victory, UT had won 41 consecutive regular-season SEC games. Additionally, the Big Orange improved its all-time record against the Gators to 34-1. Early in the contest, both teams struggled at the offensive end of the floor as they combined to miss on their first 11 attempts. By the second media timeout, Tennessee appeared to have found its rhythm as Shanna Zolman connected on a three-pointer to give UT a six-point lead, 15-9. While UF fought back to even the score at 21 with 7:39 showing, the Lady Vols responded with a 9-0 run, capped by an Alexis Hornbuckle spinning layin, to push the advantage to 30-21. However, the Gators answered with an 8-0 spurt of their own to narrow the gap to just one point before Tennessee finally headed to the locker room clinging to a 34-32 lead. Following the intermission, Florida hung tough and took its first lead of the game, 41-40, after a three-pointer by Tamia Williams. While the teams exchanged the lead on four occasions, the Lady Vols finally put some breathing room between the two teams following a Shyra Ely layup with 9:05 to play to go ahead 56-50. With a little more than three minutes remaining in regulation, UT still held a six-point advantage, 67-61, but scored just two more points as Florida drew even and sent the game to overtime. UF forward Bernice Mosby had a chance to win the game in regulation, but she missed on a running one-hander as the buzzer sounded. In the extra session, Tennessee connected on its first three shot attempts and built a four-point lead just 45 seconds into the frame. UT never relinquished the lead and sealed the victory at the charity stripe, hitting 13-of-15 attempts in OT.
RANDOM UT-UF NOTES
With the upset win over Tennessee in Knoxville last season, Florida reached 20 wins for the first time since the 2000-01 season, and the first time under Carolyn Peck... Peck is also no stranger to the Tennessee sideline...The Jefferson City, Tenn., native and Vanderbilt grad was an assistant with the Lady Vols for the 1994 and 1995 seasons....Coach Peck definitely has some experience in breaking Lady Vol fans' hearts...Prior to the 95-93 overtime win by Florida in Knoxville last season, the first ever by an unranked opponent in Thompson-Boling Arena, Peck pulled the winning trick while at Purdue. On Nov. 15, 1998, Peck's Purdue Boilermakers ended Tennessee's 46-game winning streak with a 78-68 victory in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue would go on to win the 1999 NCAA Championship.
RANDOM QUICK HITTERS AFTER 15 GAMES
For all of its offensive potential, the Lady Vols currently have just two players averaging double-figure scoring, Candace Parker (20.4 ppg) and Sidney Spencer (12.1 ppg)...Alexis Hornbuckle averaged over 10.0 ppg in the first six games of the season and in two of the last five contests...Hornbuckle is averaging 9.3 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 outrebounded in 8 games this season and the last five consecutive contests (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)...Tennessee holds an uncharacteristic and scant 3.9 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 (93-223 three-pointers and 420-884 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 suffered a mini drought in back-to-back games versus West Virginia and at Old Dominion when she didn't hit any threes...After a four-game hiatus from playing a ranked team, the Lady Vols will be facing four ranked teams in its next eight games in the month of January...UT faces: at #5 Connecticut (a 70-64 win), at #15 Georgia, versus #3 Duke and at #14/12 Vanderbilt...January finds the Lady Vols on the road for five tough games and at home for three big match-ups...
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.
PARKER RACING THROUGH THE RECORD BOOKS
Lady Vol sophomore All-American Candace Parker is rapidly racing through the Tennessee record books. Through 51 career games, the Naperville, Ill., native has recorded the following totals: 928 points, 432 rebounds and 127 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.
THE BOOK ON BOBBITT
The scouting report on Lady Vol junior Shannon Bobbitt has undergone some revisions of late. In the last four games, Bobbitt has emerged into more of a scoring role. The diminutive New Yorker has 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.
UT DOGS UCONN
Tennessee's 70-64 victory over #5-ranked Connecticut on Jan. 6, 2007 was the Lady Vols third in a row over the Huskies. The victory also marked Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt's 325th "W" over a ranked team all-time. In the game, Tennessee had a season low 10 miscues on the afternoon -- just four turnovers in the first 25 minutes of the game but had six in the last 15 minutes. Interestingly, UConn had just 13 fouls called on them for the game... seven of which were called on someone who fouled Candace Parker. Individually, Sidney Spencer...reached double figures for the 11th time this season, the 38th time of her career...had a career-high-tying nine rebounds and moved into eighth place in the UT record books for career three-pointers (104); Candace Parker...DUNKED! For the first time on the road against a ranked opponent this season and against the highest ranked opponent in her career. The dunk is the fourth on the season and the sixth in her career. The dunk came after a Sidney Spencer steal found Parker open and alone down the court early in the second stanza. Parker's first basket of the game gave her career-point No. 900...she reached double-figures for the 15th game this season, the 29th time in a row...Collected 30+ points for the second time this season, the third time in her career...had her eighth double-double of the season, the 18th of her career; Alexis Hornbuckle...Extended her streak of games with a steal to 51. She now has at least one steal in 72 of 79 career games...moved into a tie for 21st place in the UT record books for career assists (281); Nicky Anosike...moved into eighth place in the UT record books for career blocks (104) and Shannon Bobbitt...made three consecutive treys in the first half to help the Lady Vols obtain a 12-point halftime lead.
SEC TWOSIES
The SEC plays a 14-game regular season schedule with each team playing everyone in the league once, a natural rival twice and designated rotating teams from the SEC East and West once extra time. The Lady Vols face Vanderbilt twice each season as its natural rival and this year will once again face Georgia and Alabama twice. Last season, Tennessee went 6-0 in these games during the regular season.
UT WINNING STREAKS VS. SEC TEAMS
Alabama, 31 in a row, since 3-23-1984
Arkansas, 12 in row, since 1-1-1998
Auburn, 14 in a row, since 2-14-1998
Georgia, 4 in a row, since 1-31-2005
LSU, 1 in a row, since 3-5-2006
Mississippi, 13 in a row, since 3-2-1996
Mississippi St., 25 in a row, since 2-22-1986
South Carolina, 32 in a row, since 3-7-1980
Vanderbilt, 11 in a row, since 2-16-2002
THE SEC REGULAR SEASON STORY
UT's last SEC win at home: Alabama, 72-36, 1-3-07
UT's last SEC win away: Alabama, 82-65, 2-19-06
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 366-57 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 151-11 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 year. 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 240-33 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 527 polls through the years. Currently, UT has been ranked in 385 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.
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 (375-146).
UT A BIG EAST MEMBER... WELL, JUST FOR 3 GAMES
The Tennessee Lady Vols were a southern extension member of the BIG EAST Conference this season and collected a perfect 3-0 record. UT played West Virginia (Dec. 20, a 66-51 win), Notre Dame (Dec. 30, a 78-54 win) and traveled to #5 Connecticut (Jan. 6, a 70-64 victory). Earlier in the season, Tennessee was an ex officio member of the Pac-10 and finished their slate with a 3-0 record against three ranked teams in consecutive games. UT recorded a stretch of wins over #20/21 UCLA (83-60), at #11 Arizona State (83-74) and against #11 Stanford (77-60), Nov. 16-24.
SLOPPY WIN TO START SEC SLATE
Tennessee and Alabama were the first SEC teams in action to start the 2007 slate and UT walked away with a 72-36 victory. The win gave UT a 38-2 lead in the series with UA, and upped the winning streak to 31 consecutive...The Lady Vols held Bama to just 14 first half points which tied for the ninth-fewest by a UT opponent in program history. It ties the Tides' performance on Jan. 6, 2000 and is the lowest point total reached in an opening period against UT by an SEC team. In the game, Tennessee forced a season high 35 turnovers which generated 28 UT points. Individually, Sidney Spencer... Moved into a tied for 10th place in the UT record books for career three-pointers (101); Candace Parker...Scored in double figures for the 47th time in her career and the 28th time in a row and had a career-high five steals; Alexis Hornbuckle...Extended her streak of games with a steal to 50 and now has 204 career thefts, good for 15th place in the UT record books. Tied a season-best in assists with seven tonight Alberta Auguste...Reached double figure scoring for the third time this season
ALL-TIME OPENING DAY RECORD IN SEC PLAY
The Tennessee Lady Vols have produced a 23-5 opening day record in SEC play dating back to the 1979-80 season. UT is 11-2 in home SEC openers and 12-3 on the road. Georgia (1984 and 1996) and Auburn (1988 and 1989) each ambushed the Lady Vols in two SEC opening games, while Vanderbilt turned the trick in 1990. The Lady Vols have not dropped an SEC opener since 1996 when Georgia escaped with a 94-93 overtime victory in Knoxville on Dec. 8, 1996.
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 287 total fouls have been inflicted on her. In 15 games this season, Parker has drawn 85 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 strip 93 times this season -six times a game. Against UConn, seven of the Huskies total of 13 fouls came while trying to stop Parker.
LADY VOLS IN NCAA STATS
Tennessee appears in a number of categories in the latest NCAA stats (thru 1/7/07). UT ranks fourth in the nation in three-point field goal accuracy, eighth in the nation in field goal accuracy, sixth in blocked shots with 6.5 bpg, eighth in steals with 13.4, 10th in scoring margin at +20.5 ppg, 20th in scoring with 77.3 ppg, and 24th in assists with 16.9 per game. Individually, Sidney Spencer ranks third the nation in three-point field goal accuracy with 52.4 percent, Alexis Hornbuckle is 12th in steals with 3.3 thefts and Candace Parker is 16th nationally with 20.4 ppg and 15th 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 13,038 (117,338/9), 2. Connecticut 11,947 (107,526/9), 3. Texas Tech 10,914 (76,398/7), 4.Oklahoma 9,994 (49,969/5) and 5. New Mexico 9,202 (73,612/8).
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 608 points, 489 rebounds, 104 blocked shots, 137 assists, and 121 steals in 86 career games.
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: 57 points .........at UNC (12/3)
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)
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: 29 points ........at UConn (1/6) and at La Tech (11/28)
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 12 games...
TENNESSEE has led at halftime of 14 games...
TENNESSEE has trailed at halftime of 1 game
TENNESSEE has led in the second half of 14 games...
TENNESSEE has never led in the second half of 1 game...
TENNESSEE has led in rebounding in 7 games...
TENNESSEE has been outrebounded in 8 games (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)...
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 117,338 for a nation-leading average of 13,038.
TRAILED AT HOME FOR JUST SEVEN MINUTES
During the Lady Vols nine 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 360 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 or Alabama.
SUMMITT GETS 927TH WIN
While Texas Tech's Bobby Knight finally reached 880 wins on the men's side, Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt recorded her 927th victory with a 70-64 win over Connecticut on Jan. 6, 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 47 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 15 games of the season. Also listed are UT's opponents this season.
RANK TEAM RPI SOS
1 Tennessee .7518 1-- .6913
3 Duke .6967 15--.5955
4 G. Washington .6915 4-- .6363
6 Stanford .6884 2--.6512
9 LSU .6608 37--.5685
11 Arizona St .6578 23--.5853
12 Vanderbilt .6573 26--.5847
14 MTSU .6544 14--.6016
15 Connecticut .6507 51--.5581
18 North Carolina .6442 109--.5256
19 Georgia .6413 27--.5842
29 Notre Dame .6173 25--.5850
39 Auburn .6048 74--.5471
42 Arkansas .6039 105--.5274
46 Texas .5988 60--.5539
53 Mississippi .5852 112--.5254
55 Chattanooga .5844 70--.5500
79 Old Dominion .5582 18--.5904
81 UCLA .5581 32--.5575
82 West Virginia .5542 67--.5515
83 Alabama .5533 85--.5417
97 Kentucky .5449 205--.4765
104 S. Carolina .5397 135--.5113
106 Mississippi St .5386 166--.4959
109 La Tech .5375 48--.5611
135 Florida .5140 49--.5603
217 UT-Martin .4596 305-.4224
ONE LOSS CAMPAIGNS -- HEADING INTO JANUARY
Traditionally, Tennessee teams take most of its losses in the month of December when Coach Pat Summitt loads up on some tough non-conference opposition to prepare the team for the rigors of the postseason. Last year, the Lady Vols carried an undefeated record into January marking the sixth time the Lady Vols went undefeated in the months of November and December. This year, the team carries one loss into the month of January. Previously, nine other Lady Vol teams have carried one loss all-time into the month of January.
2006-07: 12-1 lost to North Carolina
2003-04: 8-1 lost to Texas
2000-01: 11-1 lost to UConn
1999-00: 9-1 lost to La Tech
1998-99: 10-1 lost to Purdue
1995-96: 10-1 lost to Stanford
1992-93: 7-1 lost to Maryland
1991-92: 6-1 lost to Stanford
1987-88: 7-1 lost to Texas
1986-87: 8-1 lost to Texas
CONFERENCE CALL
In addition to the 14-game Southeastern Conference schedule, Tennessee will take on teams from 10 other conferences this season. The Lady Vols will be doing their best impression as members of the Pac-10 and the BIG EAST facing three opponents from each of those conferences. UT will play two foes from the ACC and one each from the Atlantic 10, Big 12, Colonial, Ohio Valley, Southern, Sun Belt and WAC.
STEALS, STEALS EVERYWHERE
The Pat Summitt mantra of "let your defense start your offense" hasn't fallen on deaf ears with the Lady Vols so far this season. Tennessee has 201 thefts on the year against quality opposition for an average of 13.4 spg. Alexis Hornbuckle is leading the team individually with just under four steals per game.
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 513 of a possible 527 polls. Through the poll released on Jan. 9, the top five team poll rankings are:
1. Pat Summitt, TENNESSEE 513
(missed just 14 polls in entire AP history)
2. Andy Landers, Georgia 405
3. Jody Conradt, Texas 392
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 274-16 (.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 426-40 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.
225 OF 238 AT HOME
UT has won 225 of their last 238 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).
500 GAMES VERSUS 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 3754-146 (.703) versus ranked teams. Last year, Tennessee was 13-3 versus ranked teams.
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 nine games at home. The last time UT lost on the road was on Dec. 3, 2006 at UNC, since then, UT is 3-0 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 then, UT has not played on a neutral court.
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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