KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Lady Vols have the talent, depth and experience to defend their national championship successfully in the upcoming basketball season, but a lot depends on chemistry and commitment.
“Two years ago, we didn’t particularly like each other, we didn’t play well together and we didn’t get to a Final Four,” Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt said. “Last year, we had great chemistry.
“What I see right now appears to be something that will be special chemistry, but they are not aware of what it’s like to carry the big old national championship on your back, every possession, every game. Can they live up to it? In my estimation, we have the talent to do so.”
That talent includes four returning starters in junior All-American Candace Parker, senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle, senior point guard Shannon Bobbitt and senior center Nicky Anosike, as well as four freshmen that Summitt believes can contribute immediately.
Parker, everyone’s all-everything Player of the Year, is coming off a summer on the USA Women’s Basketball National Team, in which she improved her already-impressive game and got plenty of advice from long-time WNBA forward Tina Thompson. Among other members of the team were Sue Bird, Katie Smith, Kara Lawson and Diana Taurasi.
“Tina Thompson was instrumental in my development,” Parker said. “Just reiterating for me to remember that I am 6-foot-4, and that although I have the skills to play on the outside and face up and shoot fade-away jump shots, to take what the defense gives you, and if that’s going to the basket every time, make them stop you.
“She showed me a couple different moves and a counter move and helped me out a lot.”
Hornbuckle and Anosike spent the summer playing on the Pan American team that won a gold medal.
As much a catalyst for last season’s national title run as Parker, Hornbuckle has been “by far the strongest leader on the team” in the offseason, Summitt said. “It’s always a challenge to try and blend new players with veterans. Alexis Hornbuckle has done a tremendous job of taking those players aside and going over plays.
“The fact that she’s willing to give to other people and help make this process one that’s not a difficult transition — but something that they can grasp — I’m really pleased with that.”
Anosike’s postseason play and her 16 rebounds in the national championship game against Rutgers realized her potential, and Bobbitt’s improvement is something “I don’t want to mess with,” Summitt said.
In the newcomers, Summitt sees the potential to improve Tennessee’s inside presence as well as compensate for the loss of 3-point shooters Sidney Spencer and Dominique Redding.
Center Kelley Cain, who is from Atlanta, is 6-6 and has what Summitt calls “great size, great hands, great presence on the floor.” Vicki Baugh, a 6-4 forward from Sacramento, Calif., is “impressive just because of her athleticism and her competitive drive.
“I’ve already seen significant improvement in our inside game, which is giving us more depth to shift Candace Parker to the perimeter some and perhaps Alex Fuller as well,” Summitt said.
Guards Angie Bjorklund, from Spokane Valley, Wash., and Sydney Smallbone, of Granger, Ind., should bring fire power to the perimeter.
“Angie Bjorklund has a lot of basketball savvy,” Summitt said. “I like it that she can shoot the 3-ball and put it on the floor, and her composure on the court has really caught our eye and settled our team down in the half court.
“Sidney Smallbone, the same thing. I was playing her at the point and I don’t think she made a shot in three practices, so I put her at the two, and I think she’s very comfortable there.”
Hornbuckle has been working on her perimeter shooting and is much improved, and Alberta Auguste is shooting the ball better, too, Summitt said.
“You always worry about what happens after you win a championship,” Summitt said. “For this team — because it’s the first for any one of the players on the team — this team has demonstrated through practice and in offseason that they like being on the big stage and they are very motivated.”
The Lady Vols, ranked No. 1 in nearly every national preseason poll, will play their first exhibition game in the newly-renovated Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 4, against the USA Senior National Team. Following a second exhibition game against Carson-Newman, Tennessee will open the regular season by hosting UT Chattanooga on Nov. 11.
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