Pat Summitt/Lady Vols News

Maggie Dixon Classic lineup released

2009-07-07T21:22:00.002-04:00

NEW YORK -- Pat Summitt, C. Vivian Stringer, and a 6-foot-7 freshman phenom highlight the fourth annual Maggie Dixon Classic.

The women's doubleheader will be played Dec. 13 at Madison Square Garden.

The two Hall of Fame coaches will meet for the seventh straight year when Tennessee and Rutgers will play in one game. Baylor and freshman star Brittney Griner will face Boston College in the other contest.

The last two meetings between the Lady Vols and Scarlet Knights were thrillers. Tennessee beat Rutgers on a controversial finish two years ago in Knoxville and last season, the Scarlet Knights built a 20-point halftime lead only to see it evaporate as the Lady Vols completed the biggest comeback in school history to win 55-51.

The two teams played once before at Madison Square Garden. Tennessee won 68-54 in 1999.

Baylor will be making its first appearance at MSG. The Lady Bears finished fifth in the final Top 25 poll before losing in the regional semifinals to Louisville. Griner made a name for herself in high school with her highlight-reel dunks and blocked shots.

Boston College is in its second year under coach Sylvia Crawley. She led them to the semifinals of the WNIT last season.

It's the third straight season that the Scarlet Knights will play in the Classic named for the former Army women's coach. Last season Rutgers routed Army and Connecticut beat Penn State in front of nearly 9,500 fans.

Maggie Dixon died April 6, 2006, of arrhythmia, probably caused by an enlarged heart. Her death came three weeks after her first season as a head coach, a performance that won the admiration of the academy and all of college basketball.

The inaugural Maggie Dixon Classic was held at Army in 2006 -- a men's and women's doubleheader. Pitt's men's team -- coached by Maggie's brother Jamie, beat Western Michigan and Ohio State routed Army.

Parker Practices

2009-06-30T20:15:00.000-04:00

Candace Parker returned to practice today.

10 Questions for Candace Parker

2009-06-26T22:33:00.001-04:00

1. Do you think women's basketball is catching on with the masses? James Fields SAN BERNARDINO, CALIF.

I think it is catching on. It's the fastest-growing sport in America. I think a lot of guys are learning to respect our game as well. Our women's Olympic team is going for its fifth gold medal in 2012.

2. When do you think the salaries of female basketball players will begin to approach the salaries of male players? Anne Kenefic JAMESTOWN, N.Y.

I look at it this way: the WNBA is 13 years young. I think eventually women will get to that point, maybe in my daughter's generation, where their salaries will be similar to men's. But we're still starting off, like, where the NBA was back in the 1950s. (See pictures of Parker's career.)

3. Do you think they should create coed-league sports on a professional level? Luke Denker, BELTON, MO.

I don't think it's necessary. I think it's neat that women play our game. Obviously, the strength of men--I really don't feel like we could play in a professional league with them. I think it's great that young girls have the WNBA to look up to now.

4. How are you doing with your new daughter? Has your coach at Tennessee, Pat Summitt, started recruiting her yet? Brenda Goodman JOHNSON CITY, TENN.

When I first told Coach Summitt that I was pregnant, she was like, Where can we send the papers? I had to remind her that my husband [Minnesota Timberwolves forward Shelden Williams] went to Duke, so he's pushing for her to go there. But I'm doing great. My baby is the joy in my life. Obviously, I'm suffering from lack of sleep, but it truly is a blessing to be a mother.

5. How hard is it coming back to the WNBA after a pregnancy? Emily Johnston MARYVILLE, TENN.

My teammates have done it. Tina Thompson came back the same season she delivered her son. Lisa Leslie waited a year. They're still at the top of their game. I don't think it's going to be easy, by any means, but I think it's possible to come back better than I was. I understand my body a lot more. I focus a lot more on stretching and taking care of myself.

6. How do you feel you have impacted women's sports, and what do you believe is your responsibility to young women coming up in sports? Hernan Gonzalez ORLANDO, FLA.

I don't know if I've necessarily done it, but my goal is to allow girls the same opportunities that I had. I was literally in the first generation that could look up to female athletes as role models. I was a humongous Mia Hamm fan. I wanted to be a soccer player until I was in the eighth grade. She was my role model. That's what I hope to be.

7. My 10-year-old daughter Hannah has aspirations of playing college ball. What is your advice for her? Rob Swiger, GALAX, VA.

Go out there and play against guys. That's what I did growing up. I have two older brothers who beat me up and made me tough, and I love them for it. I would always play against them because they were bigger and faster and stronger, and it makes you tougher.

8. Would you ever sign to play in the NBA? Warren Spencer MANTECA, CALIF.

Sure.

9. Growing up playing basketball, did you ever have to deal with negative or sexist comments? Minnesa Khan, JAMAICA, N.Y.

I never really had to. When I would go to the park, maybe initially they would be like, She's a girl, she can't play. But then the next time, they were picking me first for their team. Let your actions speak for themselves. Don't worry about what everybody else is saying. Just concentrate on playing basketball and embrace being a woman and being in sports.

10. Do you ever play your husband one on one? Dan Sutin, TORONTO

Shelden and I don't play because we are so competitive, we would probably hurt each other.

Summitt will be featured Fever guest

2009-06-25T12:42:00.003-04:00

University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt will be the featured guest for the Indiana Fever's Inspiring Women Night on July 30 when they play Connecticut.

Things you may not know about Pat Summitt

2009-06-07T13:22:00.003-04:00

The YWCA has chosen the eight women who will be named Lifetime Achievement honorees at its 25th annual Tribute to Women event on Aug. 20. They are all women who've led the way on their individual career paths:

Donna Cobble, the first woman on a number of local community boards and the first female chair of both the Greater Knoxville Chamber of Commerce and the United Way campaign;

Pam Fansler, the first female East Market President of First Tennessee Bank;

Sarah Moore Greene, longtime educator and first black member of the Knoxville City Board of Education;

Debra London, first female president of a major East Tennessee medical center, now Mercy Health Partners;

Barbara Reid, first black associate dean of the University of Tennessee's College of Nursing;

Mintha Roach, first female CEO of the Knoxville Utilities Board;

Liane Russell, a retired ORNL scientist and a leading researcher; and

Pat Summitt, the most winning coach in NCAA basketball history.

Things you may not know about Pat Summitt, head coach of the Lady Vols basketball team

Education? BS in physical education, University of Tennessee Martin, 1974; MS in physical education, UT Knoxville, 1975

First job? Head women's basketball coach, UT Knoxville

Mentor? Billie Moore, my Olympics coach in 1976

When I was a kid I wanted to be? A basketball player

Book I learned a lot from? The Bible

Philosophy of life? Treat others the way you want to be treated

If I didn't have my current position I'd be? A teacher

Someone I admire I've not met? Celine Dion

My greatest strength? Teaching skills

My greatest weakness? Over-scheduling

Introvert/extrovert? Extrovert

A good day is? A day at the beach

A bad day is? A rainy day at the beach

One habit I'd recommend to others? Exercise

Is caffeine a must? Not necessarily … but have at least one cup a day

Favorite time of day? Sunset

I eat at my desk? Rarely

Favorite work clothes? Sweats

Last vacation? Kona, Hawaii, August 2008

What makes a good boss? Someone who allows you to manage your own program

What makes a good employee? Loyalty and someone who possesses an excellent work ethic

Hardest part of my job? Losing a game

Favorite part of my job? Teaching on the court

A goal I've yet to accomplish? Nine national championships

Most important skill one needs to be successful? Great communication skills

US Congress honors Pat Summitt

2009-06-04T23:09:00.000-04:00

There are very few honors Coach Pat Summitt hasn't already won, but when you win more than 1000 games, the accolades keep pouring in.

Today, the U. S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by Tennessee Congressman John Duncan to recognize Summitt's accomplishments.

The release from Congressman Duncan's office reads:

The House of Representatives today unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.) congratulating Pat Summitt for achieving her 1000th victory as the University of Tennessee's Lady Vols Head Basketball Coach.

The remarkable accomplishment of 1000th wins appropriately occurred when the Lady Vols beat Southeastern Conference rival the University of Georgia Lady Bulldogs on February 5, 2009.
Coach Summitt is the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, men's or women's, in any division. Her teams have brought eight national titles to the university and hold the best NCAA tournament record, men's or women's, at 104-20. The Lady Vols have not had a losing season since Coach Summitt took the reigns in 1974.

Aside from winning on the basketball court, Coach Pat Summitt has the rare distinction of an exceptional 100 percent graduation rate for her players. Every athlete who has completed her eligibility at UT has graduated or is working toward the requirements for graduation.

"I have known Coach Summitt for many years and could not be prouder of her and what she has done for the University of Tennessee," said Duncan. "While she has produced exceptional athletes, many of whom have gone on to coach or play in the WNBA, she prides herself on the academic and personal achievements of her players. The dedication and hard work of Coach Summitt, her assistants, support staff, and, of course, players have made the Lady Vols an extraordinary organization."
Coach Summitt's career record stands at an impressive 1005-193 (.840).

Congressman John Duncan

Summitt receives honorary doctorate degree

2009-05-19T23:32:00.003-04:00

Dolly Parton isn't the only famous East Tennessee woman getting a Doctorate this year; Pat Summitt is now "Dr. Pat" after getting her honorary Doctorate from the U.S. Sports Academy.

Here is the University of Tennessee's release on the honor:

University of Tennessee Lady Vol Basketball Head Coach Pat Summitt was presented with an Honorary Doctorate from the United States Sports Academy on Tuesday, May 19.

Summitt, who has won more games than any coach in college basketball, accepted her award during a presentation ceremony on the Academy's campus.

The Lady Vols coach developed a passion for basketball as a young child and continued playing through college at the University of Tennessee-Martin. In 1973, Summitt made her first U.S. National Team, winning a silver medal at the World University Games in the Soviet Union. She played on the gold-medal-winning team in the 1975 Pan American Games and brought home the silver while serving as co-captain of the 1976 Olympic Team. The next year, Summitt won two gold medals with the U.S. World Junior Team and was awarded another gold medal as coach of the U.S. Olympic Team in 1984.

While a graduate student at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Summitt was offered the position of the team's head coach at age 22.

Over the past 35 seasons as the Lady Volunteers Head Coach, Summitt has kept her elite program in the winner's circle, earning her 1,000th victory as a head coach during the 2008-2009 season. With 1,005 collegiate wins and 63 international wins, Coach Summitt has produced an unbelievable overall record of 1,068 wins.

Summitt, inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000, has led the Lady Vols to eight National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles, as well as winning three straight titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998 becoming the first team ever to accomplish this in NCAA women's basketball championship history. The Lady Vols also have 27 Southeastern Conference (SEC) tournament and regular season championships, plus 28 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Tournament.

Coach Summitt has produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans and 72 All-SEC performers. She has also turned out 43 professional players representing the American Basketball League (ABL), Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) and various overseas teams.

Along with the success on the court, Summitt's student-athletes have achieved a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee. She is also the author of two books, has both the University of Tennessee-Martin and the University of Tennessee basketball courts named for her, as well as having her high school gym bear her name.

Finally at peace, Holdsclaw returns to the WNBA

2009-05-16T00:08:00.003-04:00

ATLANTA - Chamique Holdsclaw has polished off the crab cakes and onion rings at Ted Turner's downtown restaurant when a fellow diner notices a tattoo on the inside of her wrist.

"Freedom,'' she says, holding up her arm proudly.

She got the tattoo shortly after "retiring'' from the WNBA, a tumultuous time in her life when she was called everything from star to selfish to head case.

"It's like my own personal freedom,'' Holdsclaw explained. "I'm going to do what I want to do, and I'm going to feel good about it. It's very personal to me.''

These days, she can't stop smiling. Like a beaming bride about to walk down the aisle, Holdsclaw is filled with a sort of bubbling-over joy that hasn't always come so easily to someone who grew up in the projects of New York City, watched her mother nearly kill herself with the bottle, battled depression after the death of the beloved grandmother who raised her, and never quite felt comfortable being the face of women's basketball.

"I'm really,'' Holdsclaw said, pausing as though she couldn't believe what was about to roll off her tongue, "excited. I don't think I've ever said that before.''

After suddenly retiring from the WNBA two years ago, a move she shockingly announced just a few weeks into the season but without much of an explanation, Holdsclaw is ready for a comeback. Her body feels good. Her mind is even better. At 31, she wants to play this game on her terms.

"This is like a new beginning for me,'' said Holdsclaw, who signed a three-year contract with the Atlanta Dream. "I'm just going to go out there and have some fun. I really mean that.''

---

For those who may have forgotten, Holdsclaw was the 1990s version of Candace Parker, an enormously gifted player who was supposed to have the sort of crossover appeal the women's game so badly needed in those early days of the WNBA.

A four-time All-American at Tennessee, Holdsclaw led the Lady Vols to three straight national championships and an astonishing 134-17 record. She was the leading scorer and rebounder in Southeastern Conference history, collected the Sullivan Award as America's top amateur athlete, and was hailed by many as the greatest women's player ever - before she had even collected a paycheck.

In 1999, Holdsclaw was selected first overall in the WNBA draft by the Washington Mystics, a struggling team in desperate need of some star power. The hype-o-meter went off the charts when she became the first female to appear on the cover of SLAM magazine, posing in a New York Knicks jersey and leading to an inevitable question: Was she actually good enough to play in the NBA?

In retrospect, Holdsclaw could have done without all the hoopla.

"Some people looked at it as me being stuck up. I wasn't,'' she said during an hourlong interview with The Associated Press. "I just wanted to chill. I'm sorry, but this is the way I am. Since I was a young kid, I've been this way. I never wanted to be the center of attention. That's just the way it is.''

Holdsclaw was forced to put up a wall during her formative years growing up in the Astoria section of Queens. Her father had mental health problems. Her mother was an alcoholic.

"I was so embarrassed,'' she said. "The kids would make fun of me. They would make fun of my mom. They would be saying, 'Why is your mom like that?' It made me almost like an introvert. I was always fun to be around, but a part of me kind of went into my little box.''

Still, to those on the outside, Holdsclaw appeared to be leading a charmed life. She was named rookie of the year. She started in the very first WNBA All-Star Game. She played on the U.S. team that won gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

But trouble was brewing. The Mystics changed coaches constantly and never had much success, other than a run to the Eastern Conference finals in 2002. The following year, even as Holdsclaw was averaging 20.5 points and 10.9 rebounds per game, Washington slumped to last in the East with a 9-25 record.

Then, her grandmother died suddenly from a heart attack. She was only 63.

Holdsclaw was devastated.

"I think it would have been different if I was kind of prepared for it,'' she said.

In July 2004, Holdsclaw failed to show up for the Mystics' game against Charlotte. She came back for one game, then sat out the rest of the season - including the playoffs. Everyone was baffled. Holdsclaw would only rule out the most obvious possibilities: pregnancy, addiction, illness.

After the season, Holdsclaw finally revealed she was clinically depressed. Until then, she had been too ashamed to discuss her problems publicly, but felt a need to defend herself when she heard what others were speculating.

"That (stuff) was kind of insulting,'' Holdsclaw said. "I'm supposed to be this enigma, this head case. But people don't know me. I know that everything I do, there's a reason behind it. The thing that was bad, the hardest part, was the whole D.C. thing. That's where people were able to point a finger at me. I was kind of embarrassed about the whole situation.''

Dr. Don Malone of the Cleveland Clinic has studied depression and other health-related issues in sports. He said high-level athletes can be especially vulnerable to mental illness.

"Athletes are used to working through things,'' Malone said. "If you have an injury, you rehab it and get over it. When you have a problem, you're expected to just buck up and get through it. Typically, coaches, media and other people are not the most understanding people in the world. They'll say to an athlete, 'You've got everything. What do you have to be depressed about?' But depression is an illness. It's not only for people without money. It happens to everybody, in any circumstances. It needs to be treated the same way in an athlete as any individual.''

---

Holdsclaw sought treatment for her depression and got her life back in order. But the story doesn't end there.

After being traded by the Mystics, Holdsclaw had two fulfilling seasons with the Los Angeles Sparks. Then her knees began hurting. None of the doctors could find a problem, which led to whispers that she was merely faking the whole thing because she didn't want to play point guard.

Suddenly, Holdsclaw walked again.

"What I got from people who were close to the whole thing was, I was being a punk, I was being soft,'' she said. "But I felt in that situation, I walked away with my head held high. I felt like I communicated.''

It was hard to find anyone else taking Holdsclaw's side. She came across as a selfish, pampered athlete who would abandon her teammates at the drop of a hat when things didn't go her way.

Holdsclaw will admit that she was looking out for herself in Los Angeles, but only because she felt no one else was. Unlike their NBA counterparts, the top women's players often make the bulk of their money overseas. She was worried about losing a much more lucrative European contract if she played on bum knees.

After leaving the Sparks, Holdsclaw said she was finally diagnosed with chronic tendinitis. She underwent a new procedure known as "platelet-rich plasma,'' in which a person's own blood is used to treat the injury.

"It was painful as hell,'' she said. "Oh my God. They're basically pumping the tendon with blood. The pressure! Oh my God. I almost collapsed there one time.''

Once Holdsclaw fully recovered from the treatment, though, she felt like a new player. She carried on her career in Poland, her retirement only applicable to this side of the Atlantic.

"I had to get used to it - the language, the culture. There's a lot of differences,'' Holdsclaw said. "But once I got into the swing of things, it was great. It was peaceful. You don't understand the language, so you don't understand any criticism. You're just going out there and playing. And they're loving you because you're an American.''

Three years ago, she moved to Atlanta. Last summer, the city landed a WNBA franchise. When Holdsclaw began showing up at Philips Arena to watch the expansion Dream, it was only natural that coach Marynell Meadors put 2 and 2 together.

"Everyone knows Chamique,'' Meadors said. "I would go up and talk to her, welcome her to the games, and she would say, 'You need some finishers. I'm a finisher.' So I told her, 'Let me know when you're ready to put on an Atlanta Dream uniform.'''

Holdsclaw wasn't quite ready to return, but the Dream began making plans in case she changed her mind. Meadors, also the team's general manager, worked out a deal with the Sparks to acquire Holdsclaw's rights.

"She's one of the greatest players ever,'' Meadors said. "She needs to be in our league, whether it's on our floor or someone else's floor.''

After another season in Poland, Holdsclaw decided it was time to come out of retirement in America.

"I talked to her from time to time and she texted me frequently,'' said Pat Summitt, Holdsclaw's coach at Tennessee. "I think that she missed the game. I think she's excited.''

Holdsclaw said she would not have returned with any team but Atlanta, where she'll be surrounded by an extensive support group. She's got her friends. She's got family in Alabama. Summitt is right up the road in Knoxville.

Though no one will ever replace her grandmother, Holdsclaw's mother has reclaimed a prominent place in her life. They're more like sisters than parent and child.

"My sophomore year of college, my grandmother told me, 'I'm not always going to be there,''' Holdsclaw remembered. "I had gone three or four years without ever telling my mother I loved her. I was so upset by what she put us through. But when my grandmother told me that, I finally talked to my mother. I told her, 'I love you.' I still remember it. We were on the phone. My voice cracked. From that day forth, I accepted her back into my life.''

The Dream can't wait to accept Holdsclaw, even though she is coming off arthroscopic surgery after injuring her right knee in Poland. The team started its first season with 17 straight losses and finished 4-30. Meadors gutted the roster and brought in newcomers such as Sancho Lyttle, Nikki Teasley, Michelle Snow and No. 1 overall draft pick Angel McCoughtry.

But Holdsclaw figures to be the center of attention. Meadors isn't worried about her walking out again.

"She has grown tremendously,'' the coach said. "I know she's dealt with all the issues she had. She talked to me about every one of them. She matured, she handled them and she moved on. Now, she's in a better state of mind.

"I think this is the first time in her life,'' Meadors added, "that she's really, really, really been happy.''

WNBA star Parker gives birth to baby girl

2009-05-13T23:19:00.005-04:00

NEW YORK — Los Angeles Sparks star Candace Parker has given birth to a baby girl, Lailaa Nicole Williams.

It is the first child for the WNBA’s reigning MVP and rookie of the year and husband Shelden Williams of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Goodwin Sports Management announced the baby girl was born in Los Angeles on Wednesday. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces and was 20 inches long.

“Shelden and I are thrilled,” Parker said in a release. “This is such a life changing moment for us, we feel blessed to have a healthy and beautiful baby girl.”

Parker averaged 18.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last season. She was also on the U.S. team that won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

Parker plans to rejoin the Sparks once she gets the OK from her doctor. The WNBA season begins June 6.

Fever’s Catchings to receive award for youth work

2009-05-13T23:18:00.002-04:00

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings will receive the Rev. Charles Williams Award on June 28 for her work with youngsters in Indianapolis.

The award is named for the late president of Indiana Black Expo and is presented each year by that group in conjunction with the Indiana Sports Corp. as part of the Pathfinder Awards Banquet and Youthlinks Indiana charity golf tournament.

Golfer Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara, and NCAA president Myles Brand also will receive Pathfinder awards.

Catchings has worked with youngsters through her Catch the Stars Foundation and has given more than $25,000 in scholarships to area students.

A Day of 1000 Stories

2009-05-03T22:17:00.004-04:00

Pat Summitt usually gives the orders.

For Sunday, the "Day of 1,000 Stories" at the Tennessee Theatre, she was on the receiving end: Be there at noon and wear something orange.

The Tennessee women's basketball coach didn't ask any questions. She took a seat on the left side of the stage and thoroughly enjoyed an afternoon devoted to celebrating her career and her 1,000th career coaching victory. The milestone was achieved with a 73-43 victory over Georgia on Feb. 5. Summitt couldn't have asked for a better day.

"As coaches you don't really stop and reflect,'' Summitt said. "You're always worried about the next day or the next practice or the next game. It was very touching."

UT officials went to great lengths to surround Summitt with family and friends and adorn the stage with numerous props, including the program's eight national championship trophies.

"I thought what could we do," Lady Vols athletic director Joan Cronan said, "and it's hard to think of something to do for somebody who has everything and for something this significant.

"To me, everybody here is a part of history."

The stars of the tribute were Lady Vols past and present, who represented the entirety of Summitt's 35-year coaching career. But they had some stiff competition.

For example, Old Dominion coach Wendy Larry joked about visiting the sanitation department and a corrections facility in search of something orange to wear. She settled for a department store but left the price tags intact.

"I'm here to represent all the coaches who are in awe of what you've done,'' Larry told Summitt.

There also were poignant outtakes from a yet-to-be-released DVD chronicling Summitt's life. In one of the snippets, Summitt revealed the personal achievement that means the most to her is the birth of her son, Tyler, who's about to graduate from Webb School and will be attending UT next year.

"As much as I've taught him, he's probably taught me even more,'' Summitt says during the documentary.

The players, though, brought the day's theme to life, parading to the stage in two shifts to share their stories. Dianne Brady Fetzer was one of several players in attendance from Summitt's first team (1974-75). Some were wearing T-shirts inscribed with "First Win."

Brady Fetzer recalled discussing defense with Summitt on a van ride home from a road game.

"Me telling Pat what defense to play is like telling Moses how to part the Red Sea,'' Brady Fetzer said.

She also remembered being so intent on following Summitt's instructions that the former point guard forgot to pass on an inbounds play, dribbling instead.

"She said she knew at that moment that she had me,'' Brady Fetzer said.

Several former players collaborated on recounting a middle-of-the-night practice after returning from a road loss at Vanderbilt. Karla Horton Douglas capped it with the rest of the story, saying the players piled into Dawn Marsh's car afterward and went to Krispy Kreme.

Summitt finished another story that recalled Trish Roberts giving a one-finger salute to the fans at Ole Miss after fouling out of a game. Summitt said afterward that Roberts had been the victim of a racial epithet.

Kellie Jolly Harper, the new coach at North Carolina State, was among the second wave of storytellers, as was departing senior Alex Fuller, who will be a graduate assistant at Kansas next season.

Former point guard Michelle Marciniak spoke directly to the current Lady Vols in attendance, who had a 22-11 season that ended in March with a program first: a first-round NCAA tournament loss to Ball State.

"It's going to be H-E-double toothpicks, but you're going to win a national championship," Marciniak said.

Guard Shekinna Stricklen, the lone current player on the stage, spoke directly to Summitt. She walked over to her, went down on one knee and said. "I'm coming to you begging: can we please have our locker room back?' "

Perhaps Stricklen thought she'd catch her coach at a moment of weakness. Think again. The story of last year's team being banished from the locker room will be continued - at least for awhile.

"I have thought about it,'' Summitt said. "I'm going to wait and see how they start practice this fall. They're going to have to show our staff that they've learned and they are going to be invested."

Family, friends celebrate Summitt's 1,000-plus wins

2009-05-03T22:14:00.003-04:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Pat Summitt’s stone-cold, intense stare was talked about often, but noticeably absent from her face on a day when she was honored.

Smiles and occasional moments of blushing were the expressions of the day Sunday for college basketball’s all-time winningest coach.

The University of Tennessee hosted “Pat Summitt’s Day of 1,000 Stories” at the Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville.

For more than two hours, Summitt found herself surrounded by past and present players, along with family and friends, to relive some of her 1,005 career victories at Tennessee.

“It’s all about family, friends and us coming together toward a common cause,” Summitt said. “To do something very good to make a difference in this world for young women. It’s huge.”

It also was another chance for the 56-year-old icon of women’s basketball to reiterate she’s far from finished.

If anything, the frustration of a 22-11 record in 2008-2009 — including an unprecedented first-round exit for the Lady Vols from the NCAA Tournament — has fueled Summitt’s passion.

“I’ve been on a mission and I’m going to stay on that mission,” she said. “I’m going to continue to recruit, inspire and teach at the highest level.”

To the outside world, Summitt has nothing more to prove.

She has powered Tennessee to eight national championships and a career record of 1,005-193 in her 35-year tenure with the Lady Vols.

Summitt reached 1,000 victories with a 73-43 romp past Georgia on Feb. 5 on the Thompson-Boling Arena floor that now bears her name “The Summitt.”

It was then that Tennessee women’s athletic director Joan Cronan began planning Sunday’s celebration.

“Today’s a special day because we’re not only honoring someone who has made great accomplishments,” Cronan said, “but we’re honoring someone who has made a difference in all of our lives.”

Summitt’s first victory came when she was barely older than some of her players, a 1975 win against Middle Tennessee State University.

Since then, Tennessee has made 28 NCAA Tournament appearances and won a combined 27 SEC Tournament and regular-season titles.

Assistant coach Holly Warlick and former assistant Nikki Caldwell — now head coach at UCLA — acted as the early emcees.

Caldwell pretended she was Summitt getting a call from President Barack Obama and being put on hold.

“This man better hurry up,” Caldwell said. “I’ve got things to do.”

Past players didn’t talk nearly as much about championships as they did the fear they had when Summitt’s well-documented temper was aimed in their direction.

Apparently, 3 a.m. practice sessions after particularly ugly losses were the norm back in the days prior to NCAA restrictions on practice time per week.

After one particular loss to Vanderbilt, Summitt told her players they were not to talk the entire three-hour ride home. There also wouldn’t be any post-game dinner that night.

“She told us we weren’t allowed to eat because we might choke on it,” former guard Shelley Sexton-Collier said. “We got back to Knoxville, watched film of the game we’d just lost, and Pat said we had two minutes to get our uniforms back on and get out on the practice floor.

“We finally finished up about 4:30 that morning and it was made clear to us we would all be at our 7:50 a.m. classes.”

Player after player related similar stories. Player after player each finished their times with the microphone thanking Summitt for their life lessons learned.

Summitt becomes an honorary girl scout

2009-04-28T23:18:00.002-04:00

Pat Summitt is many things: mother, coach, legend, representative of the State of Tennessee.

But until Tuesday, she'd never been a girl scout.

That all changed when the Tanasi Girl Scout Council made Summitt an honorary scout at its Women of Achievement Gala, held at the Knoxville Convention Center.

Assistant coach Holly Warlick, who was a girl scout as a young girl, bestowed the honorary sash upon Summitt, who also spoke to the group of supporters. Summitt challenged the donors to show as much commitment in their giving as she asked her team to show on the basketball court.

"I think it's so important that we give back tonight, because that's how we can all make a small difference," Summitt said. "Hopefully when we all come together, we'll make a very large difference."

The supporters were also treated to a rousing speech by former girl scout Jennifer Wilson, who reached the highest level of scouting and is graduating from The University of Tennessee this spring and headed to graduate school, with the goal of working in higher education administration.

Wilson encouraged the supporters to contribute by showing a news story by Volunteer TV's Mike McCarthy. The story highlight the efforts of a Dandridge girl scout troop, which raised enough money selling cookies to open a food pantry.

Geno takes shot at UT. So what?!?

2009-04-20T12:09:00.000-04:00

Geno Auriemma sure knows how to stir up Tennessee Lady Vol fans. Auriemma is the head coach of the UConn women's basketball team, and recently "took a shot" at The University of Tennessee.

UConn just completed a perfect season, 39-0, and claimed its sixth national championship. During a celebration parade, Auriemma said “The one thing that we get a kick out of, all of us, is that whenever we have these parades, the doctor’s offices in Tennessee are filled with people who get sick.” And boy, the Big Orange has hit the fan.

Sports message boards are filled with numerous fan responses, comments like " NO CLASS!!" and "classless jerk" or "This guy has a "little man's complex." While those responses may be accurate descriptions of the man (you decide), it doesn't change the fact that I AGREE with Geno! I'll be the first to admit that running the table and finishing 39-0 is one heck of an accomplishment. As a Lady Vol fan though, it DOES make me sick. Anytime the biggest rival of your favorite team wins it all, it SHOULD make you cringe.

Here is what everyone seems to be missing. Look beyond Auriemma's comment and consider that even during a championship celebration, the Lady Vols were still on Geno's mind! Thank you for the compliment! Thank you for understanding that even though your team finished the season at number one, UConn's women's basketball program is still second (in many ways) to the Lady Vols.

Do you really think when the Lady Vols win their next championship, Pat Summitt will have a reference to UConn during the celebration?!? Neither do I.

Report: NC State hires Harper

2009-04-15T23:55:00.001-04:00

RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina State has chosen Western Carolina's Kellie Harper to replace Hall of Famer Kay Yow as the Wolfpack's women's basketball coach, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The search committee will forward Harper's name to the university's board of trustees for approval at its meeting later this week. The person spoke on condition on anonymity because an official announcement had not yet been made, though the school has scheduled a news conference for Thursday afternoon to announce the hiring of a new coach.

Harper has spent the past five seasons at Western Carolina, compiling a 97-65 record while leading the Catamounts to two NCAA tournament bids and a pair of Southern Conference championships. Harper also played under Pat Summitt as part of Tennessee's three straight national championship teams from 1996-98.

This year, Harper led Western Carolina -- located about 300 miles west of the Raleigh campus in the North Carolina mountains -- to a 21-12 record and an appearance in the first round of the NCAAs.

While NC State has long been one of the more successful programs in the Atlantic Coast Conference, it slid in recent years while nearby rivals Duke and North Carolina became annual fixtures among the nation's elite. The decision to hire Harper, who turns 32 on May 3, apparently signals that athletic director Lee Fowler was ready for a fresh start for a program defined by Yow's success on the court for the past three decades and her courage in fighting cancer away from it.

Harper will become just the third coach in team history. Robert "Peanut" Doak spent one season as coach in 1974-75 before Yow's arrival.

The decision will be a sensitive one for many surrounding the program. Yow, who died in January after a long fight against the disease, had hoped that the school would designate longtime assistant Stephanie Glance as her successor, but Fowler said the school had to conduct a thorough search for a replacement.

Glance served as the interim coach when Yow took leave from the team in January, guiding the team to a 13-17 record and keeping the players together through an emotionally wrenching stretch that included Yow's funeral, burial and a campus tribute ceremony during the heart of the ACC season. She also guided the Wolfpack when Yow was forced to step away for health reasons during the 2004-05 and 2006-07 seasons.

Glance, an assistant to Yow for 15 seasons, interviewed with Fowler for several hours in late March. She did not immediately return a call for comment Wednesday.

Yow was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987 but coached the U.S. Olympic team to the gold medal the next year. She was 737-344 in 38 seasons as a coach -- 34 with the Wolfpack and four with Elon -- and won four ACC tournament titles, earned 20 NCAA tournament bids and reached the Final Four in 1998 at NC State.

She was also inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2002, while the school dedicated "Kay Yow Court" in Reynolds Coliseum in 2007.

But for many fans, Yow was best defined by her unwavering resolve while fighting cancer after it first recurred during the 2004-05 season. She raised awareness and money for research and stayed with her team through the debilitating effects of the disease and chemotherapy treatments.

Summitt honored in St. Louis with RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Victory Club Award

2009-04-07T15:09:00.000-04:00

ST. LOUIS, MO--- University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt was honored today for her 1,000th career coaching victory at the RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA National Coach of the Year Award Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis Riverfront Grand Ballroom, St. Louis, Mo.

This event is part of the WBCA National Convention, held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women's Final Four®.

The RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Victory Club Award is presented to each WBCA-member head coach who achieves career wins of 200, 300, 400, 500 or more, in 100 victory increments on both the collegiate and high school levels.

Summitt picked up her 1,000th coaching win on Feb. 5, 2009, with a 73-43 win over the Georgia Lady Bulldogs in Knoxville. Georgia coach Andy Landers was also honored today with 800 coaching wins. Summitt recently concluded her 35th season at the helm of the Lady Vols with 1,005 victories.

“Whether Russell Athletic is supporting the WBCA or developing the newest, innovative women’s team uniform, our company remains steadfast in its’ commitment to women’s sports," said Catherine Gammon, Sr. Director of Sponsorships, Russell Athletic. “Russell Athletic is proud to honor the WBCA Victory Club award winners. The dedication of these coaches continues to make a difference in the lives of young student-athletes."

In addition to Summitt, a number of accomplished coaches were honored as well.

2009 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA Victory Club Award Recipients (500-1,000 wins):

Name School Victory # Victory Date

Pat Summitt Univ. of Tennessee 1000 2/5/2009

Sylvia Hatchell Univ. of North Carolina 800 1/11/2009

Andy Landers Univ. of Georgia 800 1/15/2009

Richard Lauer Christway Academy 800 1/16/2009

Robin Selvig Univ. of Montana 700 11/26/2008

Mike Strong Univ. of Scranton 700 1/25/2009

Colby Tilley Kennesaw State 700 1/22/2009

Gywn Young Copiah-Lincoln CC 700 12/13/2008

Lonnie Kruse Sterling College 600 1/24/2009

Dave Stricklin Umpqua CC 600 1/7/2009

Andy Yosinoff Emmanuel College 600 12/9/2008

Mike Durbin College of St. Benedict 500 12/10/2008

Debbie Jackson Nimitz Senior H.S. 500 2/6/2009

Doug Lechtenberger John Foster Dulles HS 500 2/5/2008

Connie Tilley St. Norbert College 500 1/28/2009

Glenn Wilkes, Jr. Rollins College 500 1/10/2009

Ann Lee Williams Minnesota State C&T 500 1/17/2009

Nancy Wilson College of Charleston 500 2/16/2009

*38 coaches other coaches were honored for wins 200-400. Some of the 2008 victories did not get recognized last year and were carried over to this year’s list.

Summitt recipient of WNBA award

2009-04-07T15:06:00.001-04:00

Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt on Tuesday was named the recipient of the WNBA Inspiring Coach Award and will be honored at a later date during the league's upcoming season.

The award was given to Summitt in recognition of her profound impact on female athletes and her demonstrated commitment, passion and dedication to work, family and community, the league said in a statement.

The WNBA introduced the award in 2007 to honor coaches who have positively influenced athletes in various capacities and whose achievements leave an indelible mark on sports as a whole.

"We are absolutely thrilled to honor Pat Summitt for all of her professional accomplishments," WNBA president Donna Orender said in the statement. "On the court, she is an extraordinary coach who has won eight NCAA championships and now holds the all-time record for most wins in NCAA history.

"But what is more important is that she leads with her heart and soul. Her commitment and dedication to the development of women's sports and her passion for inspiring young athletes to achieve their dreams has been a source of inspiration to us all."

Pat buys Geno's tie

2009-04-07T15:04:00.001-04:00

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt outbid others to purchase one of Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma's ties for $1,000 at a Friday auction to benefit the Kay Yow cancer research fund.

"She's going home and put voodoo pins in it," joked Auriemma, playing on their testy relationship.

During the bidding, host Debbie Antonelli showed pictures she had had taken of prominent players and coaches with the tie. When a shot of Summitt holding the tie while Tennessee assistant Holly Warlick swung at it with a baseball bat was shown, Auriemma commented from the stage: "That's probably the only thing they hit all year."

Lady Vols Shekinna Stricklen named U.S. Basketball Writers Association Freshman of the Year

2009-04-02T00:37:00.000-04:00

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association (USBWA) named Tennessee freshman cager Shekinna Stricklen its national Freshman of the Year on Wednesday. Stricklen becomes the first Lady Vol to earn the prestigious honor from the USBWA.

Stricklen started in all 32 games she played in as a rookie and led the Lady Vols with 13.3 ppg, 3.0 apg and was second on the team with 5.9 rpg this season. Stricklen, along with classmate Glory Johnson, became the 11th and 12th Lady Vols to start their first career game in the Orange and White.

“I am very excited and honored to have been named the Freshman of the Year,” said Stricklen. “I want to thank my teammates and coaches for pushing me every day to be the best I could be. Without them, I could not have achieved such an incredible award.

“I am extremely blessed to be able to play basketball at Tennessee, as it has always been my dream,” commented Stricklen. “There are so many great players in women’s collegiate hoops that this is truly a special honor.”

Stricklen was selected to the Second Team All-Southeastern Conference and was a unanimous selection to the All-SEC Freshman Team. The Morrilton, Ark., native scored in double-digits 21 times, including four games in which she scored at least 20 points. Stricklen twice earned SEC Freshman of the Week. The first league accolade came after she led Tennessee past No. 3/4-ranked Stanford with 25 points, including eight of UT’s 11 overtime points. Stricklen was again honored by the conference after averaging 14 points and 8.5 rebounds in a pair of road wins over Gonzaga and No. 15/14-ranked Rutgers. Against the Scarlet Knights, she scored 13 of her team-high 16 points and grabbed six of her game-high 11 rebounds in the second half to lead a 23-point comeback victory.

“I am truly excited for Shekinna as she is very deserving of being named the USBWA Freshman of the Year,” said Head Coach Pat Summitt. “She works incredibly hard every day and her development through the year was excellent. I cannot imagine us not having her this season as her offensive skill set was incredibly important to our success.

“She is determined to get better and I am very glad we have her at Tennessee,” added Summitt.

UT to Host 'Pat Summitt's Night of 1,000 Stories' May 3rd

2009-03-30T23:17:00.002-04:00

Purchase Tickets - Beginning April 1.
Purchase Tickets from the Tennessee Theatre
Tennessee Theatre Box Office - (865) 684-1200
Tickets Unlimited - (865) 656-4444

On February 5, 2009, Pat Summitt won her 1,000 basketball game. To celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, the University of Tennessee Athletic Department will host "Pat Summitt's Night of 1,000 Stories" at the Tennessee Theatre in downtown Knoxville on Sunday, May 3.

"Pat has meant so much to so many," said Joan Cronan, women's athletic director. "This is a great opportunity for us to pay tribute to her for everything she has accomplished for the University of Tennessee and collegiate basketball."

The event will feature appearances by former players and colleagues of Summitt's and include a sneak peak of the Vol Network's documentary on Pat Summitt.

Summitt became the winningest coach in college basketball on March 22, 2005, passing Dean Smith who had 879 career wins. During Summitt's tenure, the Lady Vols have won eight NCAA titles, as well as 27 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships. Tennessee has made an unprecedented 26 consecutive appearances in the NCAA Sweet 16 and produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans named to 32 teams, and 69 All-SEC performers. Along with the success on the court, Summitt's student-athletes have tremendous productivity in the classroom. Coach Summitt has a 100 percent graduation rate for all Lady Vols who have completed their eligibility at Tennessee.

Tickets to the event will range from $50 - $100 each and go on sale April 1 at the Tennessee Theatre and Tickets Unlimited.

Summitt continues working

2009-03-27T11:47:00.001-04:00

Tennessee coach Pat Summitt continues to pound into her Lady Volunteers that they have a lot of work to do before next season.

She didn't think they got the message when she held practice on Tuesday following their 71-55 first-round loss Sunday to Ball State in the NCAA tournament, so they worked some more on Wednesday.

Summitt held a team meeting Tuesday with her players and spent two hours working with the Lady Vols (22-11) on basketball drills. On Wednesday, the players worked out with strength and conditioning coach Heather Mason.

"I thought our first workout, I wasn't really that excited about it because I just didn't think that they were really into it," Summitt said. "After working out with Heather, they seemed really committed, really enthusiastic."

Summitt is taking advantage of a rule that allows coaches eight hours of work — two hours devoted to basketball skills and the rest to strength and conditioning — with their players through April 15.

It's not the first time she's made her players practice after their season ended.

"We just haven't done it this early," Summitt said Thursday. "My thought process is to take advantage of the time. We've got to get a lot better."

Summitt doesn't expect it to end with Wednesday's workout, but it will be on the Lady Vols to stay committed and enthusiastic about improving their game through the offseason.

The coaches may work with the players in groups of four during the summer, but Summitt expects the Lady Vols to spend their own time in the gym shooting or playing pickup with one another.

She didn't see that enough from the seven freshmen on her squad this season.

"Being young is one thing. What we've dealt with was people just coming to practice and not coming to work on their game outside of practice," Summitt said. "I think the message is loud and clear: if you want to be a successful all you've got to do is go over and work on your game."

Summitt said during the team meeting she asked each of her players if they were "in or out" for next season's squad. She asked them to write down what they thought could be done to make the team and each player more competitive and what got in the way of each player performing her best.

"I asked them, 'How many of you are invested in the team?' They all were like, 'Yes.' I went one by one and asked them. Everybody said, 'We want to go to work. We want be here,"' she said.

Alexis Hornbuckle Assists with Workout

2009-03-26T23:17:00.001-04:00

Being a player didn't prevent Alexis Hornbuckle from sounding like a coach Thursday afternoon.

The day after returning from playing in Turkey, the former Tennessee standout assisted UT with its women's basketball workout at Pratt Pavilion.

"Older people helped me,'' she said, "so I'm just trying to return the favor."

The program's all-time steals leader, who played a key part in back-to-back national championships, was doling out advice. When asked if the current Lady Vols were receptive, Hornbuckle said, "Some of them, we'll work on it."

Thursday's session was the second basketball-related workout following Tennessee's 71-55 loss to Ball State in the NCAA tournament. The ripple effect from Sunday night's setback, Tennessee's first loss in a first-round game, felt like a shock wave when it reached Hornbuckle overseas.

"I wanted to throw my computer,'' she said. "I just wanted to throw it somewhere. I was just surprised. I was upset."

The workouts also have created a stir with some internet chatter, fueled by conflicting NCAA bylaws, speculating whether these sessions are within the rules. UT coach Pat Summitt said that Todd Dooley, the Lady Vols assistant athletic director for compliance and operations, has fielded phone calls on the matter.

"We're not going to break any rules,'' Summitt said. "So we had to get what we could do and that's what we did. That's why we're doing what we're doing now."

Summitt said that she has taken phone calls from coaches at Texas, Georgia and Duke and assumed that these schools are at least considering a similar approach.

If anything, Summitt felt compelled to further explain these workouts to the players, especially after their energy level was relatively low Tuesday.

"I think part of it was they were down,'' she said. "They just lost. Obviously they were a little wounded. And maybe I didn't do a good job of explaining why we're here. It's to get better."

Summitt reiterated that final thought to the Lady Vols after their conditioning workout Wednesday.

"The point I wanted to make to them is this is not punishment," said Summitt, who was happier with Thursday's workout. "It's an opportunity for us to go back in the gym and look at the skill work that's going to benefit us the most."

Hornbuckle, who is beginning to train for her second season with the WNBA defending champion Detroit Shock, made some points herself on Thursday. She gave an earful to freshman forward Glory Johnson, who was struggling with some fatigue.

"Glory has so much athleticism and so much potential but you have to get that laziness out of her,'' Hornbuckle said. "That lackadaisical attitude, you have to get that out of her."

As for the team in general, Hornbuckle advised: "They have to be tough and ready to play the whole time. They don't have that. It comes in spurts. It comes and goes."

Notebook: Freshman forward Amber Gray suffered a left shoulder injury Thursday and will be examined. ... Tennessee's 41.3 field goal percentage, its 837 field goals and its 249 steals were all-time season lows. ... Before losing to three unranked teams this season, UT had lost to 32 unranked teams in 34 seasons. ... The Lady Vols finished with a program-worst 4-8 record against ranked teams.

Lady Vols Practice

2009-03-25T00:03:00.001-04:00

Although Tennessee is out of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament, the Lady Vols were back on the court Tuesday afternoon. Their presence at Pratt Pavilion spoke volumes about the state of the program.

“This to me says at Tennessee we’re not going to accept losing in the first round game and go home and go on spring break; No,’’ UT coach Pat Summitt said.

According to the coaches, NCAA rules allow eight hours of work with the team until April 15. Two hours can be allotted for basketball-specific work, which was the case Tuesday. The other six hours are devoted to strength and conditioning.

Assistant coach Dean Lockwood said after April 15, coaches can work with the team only in groups of four players or less.

Tuesday’s workout followed a team meeting Monday after the Lady Vols returned from Bowling Green, Ky. — the site of their 71-55 loss to Ball State on Sunday night. It was the first first-round loss in program history and one of the most stunning results in tournament history.

Summitt said that she asked the players during the meeting whether they planned to stay.

“We went around the table and I said ‘you in or out. We need to know,’” Summitt said. “I told them if you want to leave now’s the time ... We’re getting ready to raise the bar on the expectations we have on the court and in all your strength and conditioning work.”

All of the players were present Tuesday. Departing senior Alex Fuller didn’t need to attend. Still, she showed up and pitched in as a practice player.

“She’s about as lost and confused as the coaches right now,’’ Summitt said. “She doesn’t know what to do with her time right now.”

Summitt thinks that the time spent with UT strength and conditioning coach Heather Mason in the coming weeks should help identify the true competitors among the players.

“It’s going to really challenge this team physically and mentally,’’ Summitt said, “and they need that because we don’t have the mental toughness. We don’t have the competitive drive on every play. We don’t. That’s my biggest concern for this team moving forward. How many of these people really will compete all the time.”

After using 12 different starting lineups this season, Summitt already is sorting out next season’s starting five. She told the team that Angie Bjorklund will report for the opening tip. So will Vicki Baugh and Kelley Cain, provided they overcome their knee problems and are healthy.

Cain still was distraught on Monday about not being able to play during the second half Sunday night after her surgically repaired right knee acted up.

“She felt like she was letting the team down,’’ Summitt said. “She doesn’t need to beat herself up.”

As for the remaining starting spots, Summitt told the players: “We’ve got two spots open. Start working.”

In the wake of Sunday night’s loss, Summitt said that she’s heard from several former players, primarily via text messages. Unlike the Ball State outcome, their response was predictable.

“They were shocked; they were angry,’’ Summitt said. “They’re mad about this. They said this doesn’t look like a Tennessee team. I share their feelings.”

But she’s the only one in charge of the cleanup, which has begun in earnest.

“Disappointed in myself, disappointed in the team,’’ Summitt said. “We let a lot of people down.”

Tennessee's fate tied to offseason improvement

2009-03-23T17:43:00.002-04:00

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The hopes of Tennessee fans are that next season something good comes out of the miserable one they just endured.

Yes, Tennessee’s storied women’s basketball team won 22 games, but the Lady Vols lost 11—the most since 1976. They didn’t win a conference title and after a first-round exit from the NCAA tournament, the team fell short of even Pat Summitt lowered expectations.

And with no Candace Parker or Chamique Holdsclaw waiting in the wings to lead Tennessee back to prominence, it is up to the current players.

“All I can hope is that it will be a motivation,” Summitt said of Tennessee’s 71-55 NCAA tournament loss to Ball State on Sunday. “We are only graduating one senior and it’s all about what this team decides to do in the offseason.”

Summitt was forced to replace all five starters from last year’s national championship squad, including the player of the year in Parker. After signing a freshman class that included five McDonald’s high school All-Americans, the Lady Vols were expected to struggle this season, but to eventually be competing with the nation’s elite programs again.

That was before losing redshirt sophomore point guard Cait McMahan to a career-ending knee injury and sophomore post player Vicki Baugh to season-ending knee injury. Their absence left the team with one senior and two sophomores to help lead a bench full of freshmen.

Sophomore guard Angie Bjorklund brought the only starting experience to the lineup, and only one freshman, guard Shekinna Stricklen, performed consistently up to Summitt’s expectations. The pair led the team in scoring with a combined 25.6 points per game.

“Angie Bjorklund has had a very good year for us. She’s a special player. Shekinna has grown a lot,” Summitt said. “I’ve counted on her a lot and for the most part been pleased with what she’s done, and these two ladies need to step up and provide leadership for us next year.”

She’s signed three incoming freshmen, though only 6-foot-1 high school All-American guard Taber Spani ranks among the top 30 recruits in the nation as the third-best guard.

There’s still a chance for more of the soon-to-be sophomores to step up. Summitt often praised Glory Johnson for being the most physical member of the squad despite her inconsistent play. Guard Alicia Manning could provide another deep threat for the Lady Vols with more accurate shooting.

Tennessee also needs Baugh and post Kelley Cain, who struggled all season with a nagging knee injury, to be healthy for 2009-10. The team played its best with one of the two on the floor, drawing attention in the paint and opening up space on the perimeter for Bjorklund and Stricklen.

Summitt was clear about her frustrations with the young players throughout the season: they didn’t play with passion, they struggled with defense like few Tennessee teams have and they often looked lost on the court, she said.

Summitt challenged them by making them launder their own practice jerseys and taking away their locker room privileges. She threatened to make them walk home from away games a few times too.

But the Lady Vols remained as inconsistent at the end of the season as they were at the beginning.

Summitt said she thought they turned a corner during the Southeastern Conference tournament. They didn’t win, but they seemed to grasp how dedicated they needed to be to succeed during the postseason.

If that was the case, it didn’t last long.

The 12th seeded Cardinals made the No. 5 seeded Lady Vols (22-11) look like amateurs. They were smaller but faster. They shot more accurately and as the Lady Vols unraveled, Ball State looked more poised.

The team representing the sport’s legendary program lost to a team making its first appearance in the NCAA tournament. If that wasn’t enough, it was Tennessee’s first loss in either a first or second round game.

“This hopefully down the road will be a valuable lesson for them,” Summitt said.

Notes and Quotes

2009-03-23T00:32:00.002-04:00

2009 NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
March 22, 2009

Game #2 (5) Tennessee vs. (12) Ball State
Post Game Notes

Tennessee Lady Vols Notes

Loss breaks Tennessee's streak of 12 straight wins in NCAA Tournament play - the Lady Vols won the NCAA National Championship in both 2007 and 2008

Tennessee, a participant in every NCAA Women's Championship Tournament (all 28 of them), was a perfect 21-0 in first/opening round games, dating back to 1982, before tonight.

Eight of Tennessee's 11 losses have come at the hands of nationally ranked teams; the other two included a 10-point loss at Kentucky and a two-point loss at LSU ... Ball State has not been nationally ranked all season.

16-point differential equaled UT's widest margin of loss this season (a 16-point setback at Vanderbilt on Jan. 11.

Scoring output (55 points) second lowest of the season (lost 62-54 to Duke at home on Feb. 16).

Ball State Cardinals Notes

Ball State's only win of season against a team in NCAA Tournament field

Ball State's only win over a nationally ranked team this season (in only other contest against a nationally ranked team, the Cardinals dropped an 82-51 decision at Louisville

With this victory, Ball State is 18-2 when leading at the half (led UT 29-28 at the intermission)

Ball State is now 19-0 this season when holding its opponents to 70 points or less

Ball State's second win on Diddle Arena floor this season; the Cardinals defeated tourney host Western Kentucky 72-71 in overtime in Diddle Arena on Dec. 20

Ball State has now won 12 games in a row and is 19-2 since Jan. 4.

Eighth time this season - including the last 4 games in a row â€“ that Ball State has held its opposition to 55 points or less.

Tournament Notes

Game matched women's college basketball's all-time winningest coach (Pat Summitt - 1,005-192) against Ball State's rookie coach Kelly Packard (now 26-8 in his first season as a college head coach)

Game was also a matchup of a school with a record 104 wins in its participation in a record 28 NCAA Tournaments (every one - all 28 - since 1982) - Tennessee - against a school making its first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament -- Ball State.

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
March 22, 2009

Game #2 (5) Tennessee vs. (12) Ball State
Post Game Quotes

Tennessee Quotes

Head Coach Pat Summitt

Opening Statement:
"Obviously our team and our coaching staff are very disappointed. I thought we had good preparation and that our team was ready to play. I think Ball State really put us on our heels early and for whatever reason we were not committed to defending the way we needed to defend. Porsche Green did a tremendous job. This team is very well coached. I think Kelly has done a super job. They play with a great deal of confidence and a lot of freedom. I thought we were tentative and maybe uptight. You have to give credit where credit is due and that's to this Ball State basketball team. They had a lot more toughness than we did. They beat us to loose balls and they made shots. They played well together. We had a lot of empty possessions. Our
post was 9-of-12 and you combine that with 14-for-41 from the perimeter. Obviously we have been very fortunate at Tennessee to have advanced to the Sweet 16 and this is the first time we haven't done that. Our hope is that it will be motivation. We only graduate one senior. It is all about what this team decides to do in the offseason. Angie has had a big year for us. She is a special player. Shekinna has grown a lot. I have counted on her a lot. I've for the most part been pleased with what she has done. These two young ladies need to step up and provide leadership for us next year. Tonight was a night where Ball State was better than Tennessee and I wish them well."

Angie Bjorklund, G/F, Sophomore, #5

On cutting the lead to eight late in the game:
"Throughout the game you cannot think you don't have a chance. We were trying our best to come back and fight through it, but obviously it was too late."

On handling Ball State's guards defensively:
"Their guards did an awesome job. We were trying to switch to steal. That was our game-plan in the second half. Sometimes we switched and had some mismatches with a post on a guard. At the same time that's not an excuse. You have to defend no matter what."

Shekinna Stricklen, G/F, Freshman, #40

On cutting the lead:
"You just can't give up, no matter what. You always have to continue to work hard and hopefully you can get a turnaround. We weren't able to get enough turnarounds."

On making adjustments without Kelly:
"That was a big loss for us when Kelly wasn't able to come back in during the second half. In the first half she was really killing. When she couldn't go in the second half, we just had to move a lot on offense. That was a big loss for us."

NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament
March 22, 2009

Game #2 (5) Tennessee vs. (12) Ball State
Post Game Quotes

Ball State Quotes

Head Coach Kelly Packard

Opening Statement:
"Our entire program obviously wants to start with the awe that we came in with yesterday for Tennessee. We did come in with awe and with complete respect for their tradition, legacy and everything that Tennessee is. Right on the heels of that, this was an accomplishment by a
group of people with great heart that came in here respectfully of an opponent but had some real healthy, classy pride in our own talent. That is all I wanted today. I wanted us to play with class. I wanted us to play with character and I wanted us to finish no matter the outcome the same way these young ladies have represented themselves and Ball State University the entire season. It is okay to be in awe of an incredible, worthy opponent."

On what she is feeling:
"Pride and pride in these young women. I just think of watching them grow and build something so special. That has been all the fun for me, the fact that we are pretty darn skilled and have a lot of fun together is awesome. To put it all together, we put competitiveness at a really high level against an opponent that you can only dream of playing. To get to go out and do what they just did, it's going to take us a really long time to get our minds around the accomplishment that they have been able to achieve."

On defeating Tennessee:
"We were obviously really concerned about the mismatch from a height standpoint. We really expected a physical game. We do things as coaches that we think strategically will address the size issue but you can't. After that, I think that the biggest thing that I saw was the implementation of the scout strategy that we gave them. On top of that, it's not something that you see on a stat sheet, its desire, will and belief in one another. I think as they started to see some success that it bred confidence. I think the biggest factor that I saw was sheer will. We got outrebounded strongly so I think that you have to look at other categories to see where we made a difference. I told them all along that our offensive execution and the number of screens that we could set knowing that team that is full of freshmen that haven't had to defend screens for a long time, that that would be our best thing. Then we could see how mature they have gotten so far this year."

Kiley Jarrett, G, Senior, #12

On the margin of victory:
"This is just unbelievable. Tennessee is a great team. I would be lying to you if I told you I thought it would be a 16 point victory. They are a great team and I'm not going to take anything away from them, but we were just confident coming into this game and we knew what we
could do. It hasn't hit me yet. It is just unbelievable."

On preparing for Tennessee:
"We knew that they were going to be physical from the tip. You can't prepare for that in practice. You can play against your scout guys in practice but you can't simulate how physical they are going to play. We knew it was going to be physical from the tip and we just had to
execute our plays. I think it worked pretty well for us tonight."

Porchia Green, G, Senior, #3

On scoring:
"Pat Summit gave us a compliment about our great screening action and we just used that to the best of our ability. Screening is what gets you open and helps you execute. We knew it was going to be a tough game and there are no words to describe the basketball tradition at Tennessee but we came out and gave it our all and played to the best of our ability. We stayed focused and stuck to the scouting report and we ended up with a good outcome."

On what she prayed for during the game:
"I pray all the time. I say that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and I prayed for our team. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us and he answered my prayer tonight."

Emily Maggert, F, Sophomore, #41

On Tennessee's Kelley Cain leaving the game:
"Once one tall girl came out another one came in. They just kept bringing big girls in and we just had to keep pushing them back and boxing out."