KNOXVILLE — Pat Summitt thinks her six sophomore Tennessee Lady Volunteers learned an important lesson last season after being a part of the program's worst finish last season.
"I would say all of our sophomores understand that they can't just step out there, put on the big orange uniform and win. That's a good thing," the coach said.
Now the team must prove that the lesson learned is enough to put No. 8 Tennessee back on an NCAA championship path after making its first-ever first-round exit from the tournament in March.
After coaching the youngest team she'd ever fielded last year, Summitt added three new faces to her lineup for 2009-10. Only one of them — 6-foot-1 guard Taber Spani — ranked among the top 20 recruits in the nation.
The Lady Vols claim that even without a game-changer like Candace Parker in the lineup, they'll be better. They say they're working harder this year and better understand what it takes to win.
After the 71-55 loss to Ball State in the opening round of the NCAA tournament, Summitt held a sort of spring training for the Lady Vols. She told them they could either commit to working hard in the offseason or don't come back.
"I think this team just thought they could all come together," she said. "They had a lot of high school All-Americans, and it was just going to happen. It doesn't happen. You make things happen."
The message got through.
Strength and conditioning coach Heather Mason, who's already known for her demanding training style, said the team worked harder than any in her seven years with Tennessee had ever worked in the offseason.
Junior guard Angie Bjorklund, who with the most playing experience is the team's elder, said all the players worked out as a team every single day, despite the workouts being optional.
"Coach always says championships are won in the offseason. If that's the case, we have a good shot because we worked hard this summer," the Spokane Valley, Wash., native said.
Bjorklund says the sophomores will be improved just by being a year older. She had her own struggles as a freshman, going through a slump after New Year's, but became one of the team leaders and top scorers as a sophomore.
Sophomore point guard Briana Bass agrees. She's got a better sense of how to manage her time as a student-athlete and what to expect on the team.
"It's all about getting that year under your belt. You understand the system and how things work around here," the 5-foot-2 Indianapolis, Ind., native said.
Spani and her fellow freshmen, Faith Dupree and Kamiko Williams, have been working hard too. Spani said the three of them understand the commitment they have to make to avoid the kind of experience last year's freshman class went through.
"I'm a blue-collar worker. I come from that kind of family," Spani said. "Hard work is natural for me, and I love it. I was drawn to Heather Mason and the offseason stuff and the conditioning. I think that's what help makes championship teams."
Summitt knows that hard work, a few new players and a new attitude won't automatically translate into more success. The Southeastern Conference is better this season, and there's more parity in women's basketball across the nation.
The Lady Vols will be tested early and often. They open at home against No. 7 Baylor, which features top recruit Brittney Griner. They'll also face six other teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 25 — all before Christmas.
Still, the Hall of Fame coach knows she and her players have done the best they could do in the offseason. That gives her a little hope, for now.
"I just will tell you I have a different comfort level now than a year ago," she said.
No comments:
Post a Comment