Lady Vols release 2008-09 schedule

The players come and go, but Tennessee’s women’s basketball schedule stays the same — tough.

The Lady Vols return only one starter from the 2008 national champion team, but coach Pat Summitt didn’t lighten the load on the road to the 2009 NCAA tournament.

Besides the usual Who’s Who list, UT’s schedule includes two former Lady Vols bringing teams to Thompson-Boling Arena, where they well be welcomed warmly — until tip-off.

Stanford, Texas, Duke, LSU and Rutgers headline the familiar marquee names on the two-time defending national champion’s 2008-09 schedule released Tuesday.

As for why first-time opponent San Francisco pops up on opening night (Nov. 15), look to the bench. Tanya Haave, a 1980s star and member of the Lady Vols Hall of Fame, is making her head-coaching debut.

Kellie Jolly Harper, point guard during the 1996-98 NCAA three-peat, brings her fifth Western Carolina team to Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 25.

Fourteen opponents come from last year’s NCAA tournament bracket.

“I’m thrilled that we’ll be playing 17 home games (counting two exhibitions) in our arena,’’ Summitt said. “Our young team will certainly benefit from playing in front of our great fans.’’

Anjie Bjorklund is the only returning starter and even she was coming off the bench behind Alberta Auguste during the NCAA tournament run.

The roster includes seven freshmen, four sophomores and senior Alex Fuller.

One of the home games will be Stanford on Dec. 21, a rematch of UT’s 64-48 victory in the 2008 NCAA tournament title game. The Cardinal was one of two teams to beat Tennessee last season, a 73-69 overtime decision in December.

Duke, DePaul, Louisiana Tech, Virginia and MTSU also come to Knoxville.

Key non-conference road games are at George Washington, Texas, Old Dominion and Rutgers.

The Lady Vols also play Oklahoma in Oklahoma City on ESPN2’s Feb. 2 “Big Monday” package. The other “Big Monday” game is Duke on Feb. 16.

A Dec. 30 road trip to Gonzaga in Spokane, Wash., is a first for the program.

Tennessee plays UT-Chattanooga on its home floor for the first time since 2004.

The 14-game SEC slate includes two games each against Vanderbilt, Kentucky and Mississippi State. Tennessee plays the other eight league teams once apiece.

The SEC opener is Jan. 8 at home against Kentucky. The Lady Vols travel to LSU — which beat them 78-62 in Knoxville last year — on Feb. 26.

“Once again this year, the SEC, from top to bottom, will be as strong as it has ever been,’’ Summitt said.

“We’ve had an infusion of some new coaches making a tough league even tougher.’’

Dawn Staley is the new coach at South Carolina. Wendell Hudson takes over at Alabama.

The SEC Tournament moves to North Little Rock, Ark., March 5-8.

NCAA tournament games begin March 21. McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga is among the first-round sites.

The four regionals are: Raleigh, N.C.; Berkeley, Calif.; Oklahoma City; Trenton, N.J.

The Final Four is April 5-7 in St. Louis.

2008-09 TENNESSEE LADY VOL BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

as of July 29, 2008

DATE OPPONENT SITE TV TIME

THURS., NOV. 6 CARSON-NEWMAN (EXH) KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

SUN., NOV. 9 LOVE & BASKETBALL (EXH) KNOXVILLE 3 p.m.

SAT., NOV. 15 SAN FRANCISCO KNOXVILLE 2 p.m.

MON., NOV. 17 VIRGINIA KNOXVILLE 7:00 p.m.

FRI., NOV. 21 at Chattanooga Chattanooga 7 p.m.

SUN., NOV. 23 LOUISIANA TECH KNOXVILLE 3 p.m.

TUES., NOV. 25 WESTERN CAROLINA KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

SUN., NOV. 30 DEPAUL KNOXVILLE 3 p.m.

TUES., DEC. 2 at George Washington Washington, D.C. 7 p.m.

THURS., DEC. 11 MIDDLE TENNESSEE KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

SUN., DEC. 14 at Texas Austin, Texas FSN TBA p.m. CT

THURS., DEC. 18 at Old Dominion Norfolk, VA 7 p.m.

SUN., DEC. 21 STANFORD KNOXVILLE ESPN2 7 p.m.

TUES., DEC. 30 at Gonzaga Spokane, WA 7 p.m. PT

SAT., JAN. 3 at Rutgers Piscataway, NJ CBS Noon

THURS., JAN. 8 KENTUCKY KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

SUN., JAN. 11 at Vanderbilt Nashville 2 p.m. CT

THURS., JAN. 15 at Mississippi State Starkville, MS 7 p.m. CT

SUN., JAN. 18 SOUTH CAROLINA KNOXVILLE 3 p.m.

THURS., JAN. 22 at Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 7 p.m. CT

SUN., JAN. 25 at Auburn Auburn, AL 2 p.m. CT

THURS., JAN. 29 MISSISSIPPI KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

MON. FEB. 2 vs. Oklahoma (“Big Monday”) Oklahoma City, OK ESPN2 6:30 p.m. CT

THURS., FEB. 5 GEORGIA KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

SUN., FEB. 8 at Florida Gainesville, FL 2 p.m.

THURS., FEB. 12 ALABAMA KNOXVILLE 7 p.m.

MON. FEB. 16 DUKE (“Big Monday”) KNOXVILLE ESPN2 7:30 p.m.

THURS., FEB. 19 at Kentucky Lexington, KY 7 p.m.

SUN., FEB. 22 MISSISSIPPI STATE KNOXVILLE 3 p.m.

THURS., FEB. 26 at LSU Baton Rouge, LA 7 p.m. CT

SUN., MAR. 1 VANDERBILT KNOXVILLE ESPN2 7 p.m.

Thurs.-Sun., Mar. 5-8 SEC Tournament N. Little Rock. AR

Thurs., Mar. 5 SEC Tournament N. Little Rock, AR FOX

Fri., Mar. 6 SEC Tournament N. Little Rock, AR FOX

Sun., Mar. 8 SEC Championship Game N. Little Rock, AR ESPN2

Sat.-Tues., Mar. 21-24 NCAA Tournament (1st & 2nd Rounds) Campus sites* ESPN/ESPN2

*(Eight pre-determined sites: First- and Second-Rounds: The Pit/Bob King Court, Albuquerque, N.M. Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, La.; E.A. Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, Ky.; McKenzie Arena, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Comcast Center, College Park, Md.; Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio; Arena at Gwinnett, Duluth, Ga.; Jack Breslin Student Events Center, East Lansing, Mich.; Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, Iowa; United Spirit Arena, Lubbock, Texas; Joyce Center, Notre Dame, Ind.; Galen Center, Los Angeles, Calif.; Louis Brown Athletic Center, Piscataway, N.J.; Cox Arena, San Diego, Calif.; Bank of America Arena, Seattle, Wash.; Harry A. Gampel Pavilion, Storrs, Conn.)

Sat.-Tues., Mar. 28-31 NCAA Tournament (Regional) ESPN/ESPN2

Raleigh Regional (3/28 & 3/30): RBC Center, Raleigh, N.C.; Berkeley Regional (3/28 & 3/30): Haas Pavilion Berkeley, Calif.; Oklahoma City Regional (3/29 & 3/31): Ford Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Trenton Regional (3/29 & 3/31): Sovereign Bank Arena, Trenton, N.J.

Sun. & Tues., Apr. 5 & 7 NCAA Final Four (Scottrade Center) St. Louis, Mo. ESPN

ALL TIMES, DATES AND TELEVISION SCHEDULES ARE TENTATIVE AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE

Pat Summitt reports son’s debit card stolen, used in Knoxville

If you are going to steal something in Blount County, taking a debit card belonging to the son of Lady Vols head basketball coach Pat Summitt probably isn’t the best idea. And using it, four times, is equally ill advised.

But according to an Alcoa police report released today, that is exactly what Summitt told police happened.

According to the report, Summitt contacted police at 1:03 p.m. Tuesday to report that three debit cards, $60 in cash and an Apple iPod — all belonging to her 17-year-old son — were taken from a vehicle parked in front of her River Trace Lane home in Alcoa.

Summitt reportedly told officers that just before midnight she heard a “thump-like sound” outside her residence and went outside to investigate. She did not see anything and went back inside, the report said. She reported hearing a vehicle leave the area soon after she was back in her residence.

Once on the scene, officers spoke with the 17-year-old, who said he left his wallet in the parked the car at about 10:30 a.m. on Monday and did not notice it had been disturbed until noon the following day when was leaving to eat lunch with a friend.

The wallet was apparently left by the thief in the vehicle, but the cash and three debit cards were removed.

Officers reported it did not appear forced was used to gain entry into the vehicle and there was no evidence left by the suspect at the scene.

By the time officers had been notified of the theft, Summitt’s son reported the cards had been used four times in Knoxville — at a Kroger and Walgreens on Kingston Pike, and a Fav-O-Rite Market and Kenjo on Chapman Highway.

A sergeant with the Knoxville Police Department was contacted by Alcoa officers, “and he offered to assist by recovering the surveillance videos and the debit cards,” the Alcoa report said.

When contacted by The Daily Times today, no information was available from the Knoxville Police Department on the case, including any arrests or charges that had been filed or may be pending.

The incident is currently under investigation.

Parker wins two ESPY Awards; Summitt named top coach

Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press

WNBA player Candace Parker accepts the award for best female athlete at the ESPYs Awards on Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Candace Parker won two trophies at the ESPY Awards and Pat Summitt showed she can take on the professional coaches Wednesday night in Los Angeles.

Parker was selected female athlete of the year and female college athlete of the year. She led Tennessee to its second consecutive NCAA national championship before becoming the WNBA’s No. 1 draft pick and going to the Los Angeles Sparks.

“I’m just excited I got to meet David Beckham,” said Parker, who received her trophy from the English superstar. “I grew up playing soccer, so I love David Beckham. I was thinking, ‘Don’t trip, don’t trip.’ He’s truly an inspiration.”

Summitt, who won her eighth NCAA championship as coach of the Lady Vols, was named coach-manager of the year. Also nominated was Terry Francona of Boston Red Sox, Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants and Doc Rivers of the Boston Celtics,

The Lady Vols also won an ESPY for top women’s collegiate team.

The ESPY Awards will be televised Sunday at 9 p.m. on ESPN.

Tamika Catchings, Kara Lawson, DeLisha Milton-Jones Round Out 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Women’s Basketball Roster

July 10, 2008

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A pair of Olympic gold medalists, Tamika Catchings (Indiana Fever) and DeLisha Milton-Jones (Los Angeles Sparks), along with Kara Lawson (Sacramento Monarchs), were named today by USA Basketball to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. The trio round out the official 12-member USA roster that will head to Beijing in hopes of defending the USA’s string of three consecutive Olympic gold medals. Selections were made by the USA Basketball Women’s Senior National Team Committee, chaired by WNBA chief of basketball operations and player relations Reneé Brown.

“The committee had a difficult time with these final three names because of the level of talent in our pool,” said Brown. “However, ultimately we feel that the experience and leadership that we've added to the team in Tamika Catchings, DeLisha Milton-Jones and Kara Lawson are the final pieces to this puzzle. Tamika and DeLisha both know what it takes to be Olympic champions and will help this team defensively. Kara is a tremendous team player who made the most of her opportunities during the FIBA Americas Championship and over the past year has proven herself as a member of this team.”

“I’m thrilled that Tamika, DeLisha and Kara have been added to the team,” said USA head coach Anne Donovan, a three-time Olympian. “Tamika is such a complete player and a tenacious defender who will add much to our already strong Olympic team. DeLisha’s international and Olympic experience is sure to further fortify our inside game. I’m also pleased with the addition of Kara Lawson. Kara’s extensive experience training with the national team these last several years has made her a perfect selection for our team. She understands the game and her teammates so well that it’s like having another coach on the floor. All three of these athletes, along with the rest of the team, are comfortable with each other on the court, and know the system that we plan to utilize in Beijing. I’m excited about getting this team together at the end of this month and really focusing on our goal, which of course, is winning the gold medal.”

The first nine members were named to the U.S. squad on May 31, 2008, and include three-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Leslie (Los Angeles Sparks); two-time Olympic gold medalist Katie Smith (Detroit Shock); 2004 Olympic gold medalists Sue Bird (Seattle Storm), Diana Taurasi (Phoenix Mercury) and Tina Thompson (Houston Comets); and Seimone Augustus (Minnesota Lynx), Sylvia Fowles (Chicago Sky), Candace Parker (Los Angeles Sparks) and Cappie Pondexter (Phoenix Mercury), who will participate in their first Olympic Games this summer.

A 2004 Olympic and 2002 World Championship gold medalist, Catchings was named to her first USA Basketball team in 1996 while still in high school. She has also helped U.S. teams capture gold medals at the 2002 Opals World Challenge, 1998 R. William Jones Cup and 1997 FIBA Junior World Championship, silver at the 1997 COPABA Junior World Championship Qualifying Tournament and bronze at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. She last donned a USA Basketball jersey during the USA Women’s National Team’s 2007 Tour of Italy and helped the U.S. post a 4-0 slate, while averaging team highs of 12.8 ppg. and 9.0 rpg.

Lawson, who has plenty of international experience, will be participating in her first Olympic Games this summer. Added to the 2007-08 USA National Team roster on Sept. 7, 2007, she helped the United States capture the gold medal and its Olympic berth at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. Lawson’s first foray into the international game came a decade ago as a member of the 1998 USA World Youth Games Team that returned with the bronze medal. She returned in 2001 to claim gold as a member of the USA World University Games Team and also won a silver medal with the USA Select Team that competed in the 2007 FIBA World League Tournament.

No stranger to USA Basketball, Milton-Jones has helped USA teams capture gold at eight tournaments, including the 2000 Olympic Games and 1998 and 2002 FIBA World Championship. She was also a member of the 2006 USA World Championship Team and earned gold at the 2002 Opals World Challenge, 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup, 1997 World University Games and the 1994 U.S. Olympic Festival. Additionally, Milton-Jones was slated to compete in the 2004 Olympics, but injured her knee and was unable to compete.

FIBA conducted the draw to determine the Olympic preliminary round pools and schedule on April 26 in Beijing. The U.S. women were selected for Group B, as were host China, Czech Republic, Mali, New Zealand and Spain; while Group A features 2006 FIBA world champion Australia, Belarus, Brazil, Latvia, Russia and South Korea.

Olympic women’s basketball competition will be held Aug. 9-23. Preliminary play is scheduled for August 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17; quarterfinal action takes place Aug. 19; semifinal play is slated for Aug. 21; and the women’s finals will be held Aug. 23.

The U.S. Women’s Olympic Team opens Aug. 9 versus the Czech Republic, and next faces host China on Aug. 11, Mali on Aug. 13 and Spain on Aug. 15. The U.S. finishes off its preliminary play Aug. 17 against New Zealand.

The defending Olympic champs, the USA women in fact will be vying for a fourth consecutive Olympic gold. Since women’s basketball was officially staged at the 1976 Olympics, the Americans have collected a record five gold medals, one silver and one bronze medal, while compiling a 42-3 (.933) overall record in seven Olympic appearances (the United States chose not to participate in the 1980 Olympic Games).

The 2007-08 USA Basketball Women’s National Team participated in six different training camps, while the USA Select Team, featuring members of the USA National Team, competed in the 2007 FIBA World League Tournament. During the team’s training the USA compiled a 25-2 mark against nine different national teams and five professional club teams, earned the gold medal at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship and the silver medal at the 2008 Good Luck Beijing Tournament. Additionally, the USA Select Team posted a 3-2 slate, brought home the silver medal from the 2007 FIBA World League Tournament and notched victories against a pair of Russia’s top professional teams and the defending Australia WNBL champs.

Donovan is being assisted on the sidelines by Mike Thibault, head coach of the WNBA Connecticut Sun and collegiate head coaches Gail Goestenkors of the University of Texas and the University of South Carolina’s Dawn Staley.

In addition to Brown, the USA Basketball Women’s Senior National Team Committee includes: athlete representatives Jennifer Azzi, a 1996 U.S. Olympic Team member, and Teresa Edwards, a five-time Olympian; New York Liberty President and General Manager Carol Blazejowski, Minnesota Lynx Chief Operating Officer Roger Griffith, Indiana Fever Chief Operating Officer and General Manager Kelly Krauskopf and Los Angeles Sparks General Manager Penny Toler serve as the WNBA representatives on the Committee; while University of Tennessee head coach Pat Summitt is the NCAA representative.

USA Basketball is the national governing body responsible for men’s and women’s basketball in the United States and is responsible for representing the USA in international competitions.

The selected players will be nominated to the United States Olympic Committee to participate in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.