Warlick Announces Women's Hoops Schedule

Candace Parker's Jersey Retirement Slated For Jan. 2

After the Southeastern Conference Office unveiled this year's league schedule on Tuesday, Tennessee Head Women's Basketball Coach Holly Warlick announced her team's 2013-14 slate. UT also revealed it will retire Candace Parker's jersey on Jan. 2 prior to the LSU game.

The defending SEC champion Lady Volunteers, who were 27-8 in 2012-13 and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight, will play 18 regular-season games vs. teams that saw postseason action a year ago. That group includes 11 teams that made the NCAA Tournament and five that played in the Women's National Invitation Tournament.

Warlick's squad, which enters the campaign ranked No. 3 in Charlie Creme's espnW 2013-14 preseason top 25, already has four games being televised by the ESPN family of networks, including a pair of "Big Monday" home tilts vs. Notre Dame and Vanderbilt, an "ESPN Sunday" showdown vs. Kentucky and an "ESPN Tip-Off Marathon" match-up at North Carolina. The rest of the TV schedule and remaining start times will be announced at a later date.

Season tickets go on sale starting Tuesday, Sept. 10, and can be purchased by visiting UTTIX.com or calling 1-800-332-VOLS (8657).

Just as it did last season, Tennessee will play its first two contests of the campaign on the road, starting with an in-state foe, followed by an ACC school from a neighboring state.

The Lady Vols will pop the top on the 2013-14 slate in Murfreesboro on Nov. 8 against Middle Tennessee, which the Lady Vols needed overtime to defeat last season, 88-81. A road trip to Chapel Hill comes next, as UT faces a talent-laden North Carolina squad in a contest that is slated to be televised on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. Eastern time on Nov. 11 as part of the 24-hour "ESPN Tip-Off Marathon."

"It's a great schedule for us," Warlick said. "I think it is challenging early, when we open with Middle Tennessee and North Carolina on the road. Middle took us to overtime on our home court last season, and North Carolina is a very talented team. Those are two pretty tough games right off the bat."

The schedule features a trip to the Bahamas for the Junkanoo Jam at Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island over Thanksgiving, UT's first international travel since going to the Virgin Islands in 2010-11, and the much-anticipated recognition of Parker before UT opens its SEC slate vs. the Lady Tigers.

Parker's banner will become the seventh honoring a member of the Lady Vol program, joining head coach emeritus Pat Summitt as well five other players whose jerseys have been retired. That group includes Warlick, Bridgette Gordon, Daedra Charles, Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings.

"Candace just exemplifies what it means to be a Lady Vol," Warlick said. "She plays hard, she's won championships, she's won awards, she's a great role model, she has her degree and she loves this program. She's what a Lady Vol should be.

"She has represented our country and won gold medals, played in Europe, been named MVP, Rookie of the Year and All-Star Game MVP for the WNBA, won NCAA titles, you name it. Through all of that, Candace has never lost sight of where she's come from and how hard the road has been to get there. I think she loves this program as much as anyone can."

In addition to a rigorous 16-contest Southeastern Conference schedule, Tennessee will face 13 non-conference foes, including 2013 NCAA Women's Final Four participant Notre Dame. The Irish women will make a second-straight appearance in Knoxville on Jan. 20 (7 p.m., ESPN2, "Big Monday") after UT already has begun conference play. A trip to perennial power Stanford also is on the calendar for Dec. 21.

Besides having the marquee home match-up vs. the Irish, the Lady Vols will welcome non-conference foes Chattanooga (Nov. 14), Georgia Tech (Nov. 17), Tennessee Tech (Nov. 21) and Oakland (Nov. 24) to Thompson-Boling Arena during the first month of the season and Texas (Dec. 8), Troy (Dec. 14) and Lipscomb (Dec. 29) in month two. Lipscomb is coached by former UT graduate assistant and assistant Greg Brown and joins Oakland and Troy in making first-time appearances on the Tennessee schedule.

The home opener vs. the Mocs features the foe from Warlick's first game as head coach a year ago (an 80-71 UTC win on Nov. 9), while the second home game is against the Yellow Jackets, the team Warlick recorded her first head coaching victory against last Nov. 11.

"It's a solid home schedule for us," Warlick said. "Notre Dame is a great home game for us, and I expect the atmosphere to be incredible in Thompson-Boling Arena for that "Big Monday" game. We also have three of our road opponents from last season, Chattanooga, Georgia Tech and Texas, in Knoxville this year. We know what all three programs are capable of doing.

"We also look forward to renewing our rivalry with Tennessee Tech (first meeting since 1991) and adding Oakland, Troy and Lipscomb to our schedule. We can't express enough how much we enjoy playing in front of our fans, who have helped us lead the nation in attendance 18 times in the past 22 seasons."

After playing Middle Tennessee and North Carolina to open the season, Tennessee won't hit the road again until the Junkanoo Jam. In the Bahamas, the Lady Vols are scheduled to face Virginia in a Thanksgiving Day affair at 2 p.m. ET on Nov. 28. Kansas State and SMU will battle in the other Lucaya Bracket game at 4:15 p.m. ET, with the winners of those contests meeting for the championship at 7 p.m. ET on Nov. 29. The losing teams play for third place earlier that day at 4:45 p.m.

"I'm excited about the Junkanoo Jam," Warlick said. "We were looking for somewhere to go and hadn't been to the Bahamas. Playing Virginia, who we lost to on the road two seasons ago, and facing either Kansas State or SMU (WNIT teams last season) in the second game, we think this will be a good tournament for us to compete and grow as a team.

"When you can take players out of the country to a tropical setting and enjoy that location while also focusing on playing basketball games, it's a great thing to do. It's a competitive tournament, so we're going to be challenged on the court, but we're also going to enjoy being on the island over Thanksgiving."

The next true road contest and the final regular-season non-conference game away from Knoxville takes place on Dec. 21, as the Lady Vols head to California to take on Stanford in Maples Pavilion. UT is 22-8 all-time vs. the Cardinal, but the Big Orange possesses only a 5-6 mark in Maples and has suffered losses in each of its last three trips there.

Following the Lipscomb game on Dec. 29, UT launches into league play. This marks the fifth year of the 16-game SEC schedule for women's basketball and the second with 14 teams. The league slate is a single round robin with one permanent opponent and two random opponents.

The Lady Vols, who went 14-2 in conference play a year ago, will welcome LSU (Jan. 2), Ole Miss (Jan. 9), Florida (Jan. 23), Arkansas (Jan. 30), Vanderbilt (Feb. 10, 9 p.m., "Big Monday"), Kentucky (Feb. 16, 1 p.m., "ESPN Sunday"), Auburn (Feb. 20) and South Carolina (March 2) to Thompson-Boling Arena. UK, USC, VU and LSU all were NCAA participants in 2012-13, while AU, ARK and UF competed in the WNIT.

Tennessee, of course, will have a road trip to Vanderbilt (Jan. 12), its permanent opponent. The Lady Vols also will travel to LSU (Feb. 27) and Ole Miss (Feb. 6), their two random opponents this season. Other SEC road trips include Georgia (Jan. 5), Mississippi State (Jan. 16), Texas A&M (Jan. 26), Alabama (Feb. 2) and Missouri (Feb. 23). UGA and A&M were NCAA teams last season, while Missouri played in the WNIT.

"The SEC is the toughest conference in the country," Warlick said. "We had 11 teams in postseason play last year, so that tells you who you're facing every game. We have two new coaches in the conference who will bring the quality of play up even more, so I don't expect it to get any easier."

Tennessee opens up the 2013-14 campaign with one exhibition contest this season. The Lady Vols once again will play Carson-Newman, hosting the Lady Eagles on Nov. 4 and marking the ninth-straight year the teams have met in the preseason.

Postseason play will begin in Duluth, Ga., where Tennessee will try to win its fourth SEC Tournament title in seven seasons on March 5-9 at The Arena at Gwinnett Center.

While Tennessee has its focus squarely on making the NCAA Final Four in Nashville on April 6 & 8, the available paths to Bridgestone Arena have not been revealed. The NCAA will announce the sites for the First and Second Rounds and Regionals no later than Oct. 1.

"The Final Four is our goal, whether it's in Nashville or New Orleans like it was last season," Warlick said. "We're going to embrace it, because it is special to be there. I hope it gives us more incentive, more motivation to play for a national championship in our home state.

"We're not shying away from it. It's something we are talking about. It's a great opportunity and should be a great motivation for our team this season."

Click here to view the schedule.

Lady Vols' Warlick receives raise, extension

Tennessee coach Holly Warlick has received a one-year contract extension and a $65,000 raise after leading the Lady Vols to a Southeastern Conference regular-season title and a regional final appearance in her debut season.

Tennessee athletic department spokesman Eric Trainer confirmed the extension and raise, which were first reported Tuesday night by the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Warlick's contract now runs through March 2017. The raise increases her total annual pay to $550,000.

Warlick went 27-8 in her first season after taking over for Pat Summitt, who won 1,098 games and eight national titles in 38 seasons at Tennessee. Warlick played for Summitt at Tennessee and worked as her assistant for 27 seasons.

Warlick won the Maggie Dixon Award given annually to the nation's top Division I rookie coach.

Summitt documentary to air July 9

Don't forget that Pat XO, a documentary on Pat Summitt's life, airs July 9 on ESPN.

Two Tennessee Lady Vols pack bags for USA Basketball games

Two Tennessee Lady Vols will see the world this summer courtesy of USA Basketball.

Point guard Ariel Massengale left for Colorado Springs last Tuesday to begin practicing with the U.S. World University Games team. The Games are July 8-15 in Kazan, Russia.

Forward Bashaara Graves, meanwhile, will play for the U19 team in the World Championship for Women July 18-28 in Panevezys, Lithuania. She leaves for Colorado Springs on Monday to begin practice. The team will play a warm-up tournament in the Canary Islands July 12-14 before heading for Lithuania.

Pat Summitt says she’s ‘very, very content’ while attending screening of documentary about her

Pat Summitt says she’s “very, very content” in her new role now that she’s had a year to adjust to life after coaching.

The former Tennessee women’s basketball coach showed no obvious signs of her illness Wednesday during a rare three-minute session with local media at a preview screening of “Pat XO,” a documentary on her life airing July 9 on ESPN.

Summitt stepped down in April 2012, one year after announcing she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. Summitt, whose 1,098 career victories make her the winningest Division I men’s or women’s basketball coach in history, attended most of the Lady Vols’ practices and watched nearly every home game from the stands this past season as head coach emeritus.

“At first, it was different, obviously,” Summitt said. “But you know, I decided I was going to step down and let Holly (Warlick) take care of it. I’m very, very content in my role. Obviously I go to practice with them and all, but I think Holly is doing a great job.”

Summitt received a warm welcome at a downtown Knoxville screening that took place less than two miles from Thompson-Boling Arena, the home floor where she led Tennessee to eight national titles.

She posed for pictures and greeted fans while walking the length of an orange carpet that led to the theater. The invitation-only screening drew 250 people, though dozens more fans and the Tennessee cheerleading squad arrived to celebrate her appearance.

“That’s just Tennessee,” Summitt said of the reception. “That’s what people do. They come out and they support you. I’m just really excited we’re going to have a lot of people her so they can actually see it.”

Summitt has signed on for a second year as head coach emeritus on Warlick’s staff. Tennessee went 27-8 and reached a regional final this past season under Warlick, who played for Summitt and Tennessee and worked as her assistant for 27 seasons.

Her new role also gave Summitt more time to spend watching her son, Tyler, who just completed his first season as an assistant women’s basketball coach at Marquette. Summitt spent part of her session with reporters talking about her son’s “great wedding” that took place in Knoxville earlier this month.

“I was happy for him,” Summitt said. “They’d been wanting that for a long time.”

One of the people attending Wednesday’s preview screening was North Carolina coach Sylvia Hatchell, who flew down from Chapel Hill and left her basketball camp just to catch the movie and support her former graduate school classmate.

“It is the first time I haven’t given out the awards at one of my camps in 27 years, but it’s that important, that special,” Hatchell said. “I’ll do anything for Pat.”

The preview screening occurred on the same day that Tennessee officials formally announced plans to build a plaza on campus honoring Summitt and including a bronze statue of the Hall of Fame coach. The plaza will be privately funded by donations, though athletic director Dave Hart said he was unsure of its exact cost.

Hart said he hoped it would be completed in time to have a dedication ceremony later this year.

“I’m hoping this fall at some point during the middle to late part of the football season we could have a dedication,” Hart said. “A lot of things have to fall into place for us to hit that target, but I’m hopeful that we can find a way to hit that target.”

UT Announces Pat Summitt Plaza

Statue, Plaza To Honor NCAA's All-Time Winningest Coach

From 1974-2012, Pat Summitt built an incomparable legacy as head coach of the Lady Vol basketball program. As a way of saying thank you for all she has meant to the University of Tennessee and the Volunteer State, the UT Athletics Department would like to honor the Hall of Fame coach and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient in a spectacular and lasting way.

Plans call for Pat Summitt Plaza to be built at the corner of Lake Loudoun Boulevard and Phillip Fulmer Way, providing an impressive entry to the campus and greeting fans as they arrive via those avenues for basketball games at Thompson-Boling Arena. The Tennessee Fund is providing the opportunity for all Tennessee fans to pay tribute to the coach with the most victories in NCAA basketball history.

The plaza will serve as a permanent testament to the career of college basketball's greatest coach. A prime entry point for the new Lake Loudoun Boulevard entrance of campus, the area will feature a bronze statue of Coach Summitt and will celebrate the success of the Lady Vol basketball program.

"This is an exciting opportunity to honor, in perpetuity, the coach who is synonymous with the sport of women's basketball," Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Dave Hart said of the legendary Summitt. "Generations to come will enjoy seeing this beautiful statue and plaza named for this exceptional leader, role model and the winningest coach in NCAA basketball history."

Pat Summitt's influence stretches all over the world," WNBA standout, ESPN analyst and former Lady Vol Kara Lawson said. "I'm thrilled the University of Tennessee is honoring a woman who, as a pioneer, champion and catalyst, shaped the women's game. As a former player, I feel fortunate to have learned under the greatest basketball coach in history."

In her 38 seasons as head coach at UT, Summitt guided the Lady Vols to an eye-popping 1,098-208 record and a remarkable winning percentage of .840. Along the way, her teams won eight NCAA championships and 32 combined SEC regular season and tournament titles.

During her tenure, Summitt produced 14 Olympians, 21 WBCA/Kodak/State Farm All-Americans who earned 36 honors and 39 All-SEC players who were recognized a total of 82 times. She also sent 34 of her players to the WNBA, including 15 drafted in the first round and three chosen with the first pick.

The most impressive statistic of Summitt's career, however, is the 100-percent graduation rate for players who completed their eligibility at Tennessee. That figure represents 122 Lady Vols who earned diplomas, including several who obtained master's degrees before leaving Rocky Top.

"This is a well-deserved honor for my coach, mentor and friend," said Holly Warlick, current head coach of the Lady Vols, who played for Summitt from 1976-80 and coached alongside her for 27 years. "She will always be a legend for Tennesseans and others throughout the country."

To support this important project or for more information, please call the Tennessee Fund office at (865) 974-1218, visit patsummittplaza.com, or email info@patsummittplaza.com.

Summitt joins FIBA Hall of Fame

Lady Vols head coach emeritus Pat Summitt has been inducted into the FIBA (International Basketball Federation) Hall of Fame in Switzerland.

The ceremony took place Tuesday in Mies, Switzerland.

Summitt was among six former players, three coaches, two technical officials and a contributor composed the class of 2013.

Coach Holly Warlick attended the induction on Summitt's behalf.

In addition to Summitt, other inductees included Jean-Jacques Conceiçao of Angola, Australia's Andrew Gaze, Paula Gonçalves of Brazil, Serbia's Zoran Slavnic and the USA pair of David Robinson and Teresa Edwards making up the contingent of players. They were joined from the coaching profession by the late John 'Jack' Donohue of Canada and Italy's Cesare Rubini.

Technical officials Valentin Lazarov of Bulgaria and Costas Rigas of Greece, along with contributor Aldo Vitale of Italy, rounded out the impressive list.

"The 2013 Class of the FIBA Hall of Fame is truly a special one," said FIBA Secretary General and International Olympic Committee (IOC) Member Patrick Baumann.

"These are great personalities who have experienced great success on and off the court, but who also stand out for the character they have shown and for the countless efforts they have made to help promote our sport."

"It's a tremendous honor for Coach Summitt," Warlick said. "Obviously, everyone knows about her collegiate career and what she has done. Her international accomplishments as a player and coach are just incredible.

"She played on the first Olympic Team in 1976, and she coached and won a gold medal in 1984 at the Games in Los Angeles. She is an icon, not only in the States, but all over the world. It is a great accomplishment for Coach Summitt, and I was very honored to accept this for her."

Summitt is the ninth coach inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame. She's also a member of the International Women's Sports Hall of Fame, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, Women's Sports Foundation Hall of Fame, National Association for Sport and Physical Education Hall of Fame, Tennessee Women's Hall of Fame, Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame, Greater Knoxville Sports Hall of Fame and Lady Vol Hall of Fame.

Pat Summitt wins Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award from college sports information directors

Former Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt is the winner of the Keith Jackson Eternal Flame Award, an honor given annually by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Tennessee women’s athletic director emeritus Joan Cronan accepted the award on Summitt’s behalf Friday during the sports information directors’ convention.

The award goes to an individual or an organization that has made a lasting contribution to college athletics.

Summitt stepped down as the Tennessee women’s basketball coach in April 2012, one year after announcing she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type. Summitt led Tennessee to eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances in 38 seasons. Her 1,098 career wins are the most by any Division I men’s or women’s basketball coach.

Summitt remains on Tennessee’s staff as head coach emeritus.

Holly Warlick, Geno Auriemma to host hall of fame fund-raiser

Tyler Summitt marries AnDe Ragsdale in Knoxville

Tyler Summitt tied the knot with AnDe Ragsdale in Knoxville on Saturday.

Before the wedding ceremony, Tyler tweeted, "Getting married to the love my life, and better half - AnDe. I can't thank God enough for blessing me with an angel."

According to ESPN, Tyler popped the question to his high school sweetheart in August even though he'd recently undergone an emergency appendectomy.

"He was still able to go on a walk with me," Ragsdale told ESPN. "He had this beautiful Bible made for me, and he read a verse out of it. On the front of it he had engraved, 'Mr. and Mrs. Summitt.' It was perfect - it was simple and sweet, and that's what I love. He was great. . . despite having a really sore abdomen."

Tyler is the only child of iconic women's basketball coach Pat Summitt, who now serves as head coach emeritus for the Lady Vols.

Tennessee fans watch Tyler grow up alongside his mother on the sidelines in Thompson-Boling Arena, eventually playing for the Vols basketball team. One of the most memorable moment was when Pat Summitt held young Tyler in her arms while cutting down the basketball net after the Lady Vols won the 1991 NCAA title.

Following in his mother's footsteps, Tyler is now an assistant coach at Marquette in Milwaukee, embarking on his own career path.

Summitt Chosen for FIBA Hall

Pat Summitt headlines the 2013 FIBA Hall of Fame class.

Summitt, the all-time leader in victories in college basketball, won a silver medal as a player on the 1976 Olympic team and guided the U.S. to gold in 1984. She is one of only two American women to win a medal as both a player and head coach, joining Anne Donovan. Summitt also was the coach of the 1979 world championship team that won America's first gold medal at the event since 1957.

"Pat is a great personality who has experienced great success on and off the court, but who also stands out for the character she has shown and for the countless efforts she has made to help promote our sport," said FIBA secretary general Patrick Baumann.

The induction ceremony will be June 19.

Semeka Randall named new Alabama A&M women's basketball coach

An hour before being introduced as the new women's basketball coach at Alabama A&M, Semeka Randall huddled with several of the team's returning players.

"She told us she was going to throw things at us we've never seen before," guard Brittney Strickland said. "She said as long as we keep an open mind, it'll work."

More than what she said, it was Randall heard that may be most important.

"I don't think I spoke as much as I listened," she said. "They were very vocal, informing me about campus and what I needed to know. It was a breath of fresh air. There was an eagerness there."

Randall, a native of Cleveland, Ohio, had been head coach at Ohio University for five seasons, but was fired March 11. She had a record of 50-103, 22-58 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bobcats were 6-23 last season in what was essentially a lame-duck year after her five-year contract was not given an extension prior to the season.

She had been an assistant coach at Cleveland State (2002-03), Michigan State (2004-07) and West Virginia (2007-08) before taking the Ohio job.

Randall was a two-time All-America at Tennessee under the legendary Pat Summitt and was a member of the Lady Vols' undefeated 1998 national championship team, arguably one of the best teams in women's college history. Or, as Randall will attest, "the best team ever."

Of her decision to go to Tennessee, "Pat recruited me since I was in the eighth grade." Had she not gone to UT, Randall said she'd have signed with UConn. "Either way, I'd have played for two intense people."

She was the 17th pick of the WNBA draft in 2001 and played in the league through the 2004 season.

As for what she'll throw at her players, the Lady Bulldogs will be playing a more aggressive defense, Randall promised.

Alabama A&M has played an ambitious non-conference schedule under her predecessor, Altherias Warmley, who was fired a month ago after 11 seasons on the job. Randall was non-committal about the schedule but noted several vacancies remain.

In a press conference also attended by A&M athletic department staff and a smattering of fans, director of athletics Bryan Hicks called it "an exciting day for Lady Bulldog fans" and called Randall "an outstanding coach (and) is even a better person. She has handled the highest level of success on the brightest stage -- NCAA champion, All-American, professional athlete -- with dignity."

Randall said "I believe I have a story to tell and share with the young women. ... I'm here to build a winning tradition. It's going to take time. It's going to take hard work. Our program will be run in a first-class manner. We will maintain compliance with the NCAA rules. Our student-athletes will have a great experience and we will enjoy this ride."

Kara Lawson Receives Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award

Kara Lawson of the Connecticut Sun is the recipient of the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award in recognition of her outstanding work in the community in 2012, the WNBA announced today. The award recognizes the player whose outreach inspires the community and reflects Staley’s leadership, spirit, charitable efforts, and love for the game.

Lawson was previously recognized for her achievements on and off the court with the 2012 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award.

“Kara Lawson has represented the WNBA admirably and has done a phenomenal job in elevating its name over the course of her career,” said WNBA President Laurel J. Richie. “As evidenced by her efforts on behalf of the Pat Summitt Foundation, Kara is an ambassador and leader for all levels of basketball as well as a role model to girls and women everywhere.”

During the 2012 season, Lawson donated $50 for each three-pointer made to the Pat Summitt Foundation in honor of her collegiate coach. Summitt was diagnosed with early-onset dementia. Lawson, however, inspired by her former coach wanted to do more than donate money; she immersed herself in a cause with the goal of inspiring others. Summitt, the legendary coaching figure who guided the Tennessee women’s basketball program to 1,098 wins and eight national championships, announced she was stepping down from the Lady Vols in April of 2012.

The Pat Summitt Foundation seeks to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s, its causes and help work towards a cure. For 2012, Lawson finished the season with a team-record 74 3-pointers, and her donation was matched by the Connecticut Sun Foundation, the Mohegan Tribe as well as others and fan donations. In total, the three-point campaign raised $32,000. In January of 2013, Lawson was named an honorary co-chair of the Pat Summitt Foundation Advisory Board.

"It’s an honor to pay tribute to Kara Lawson with the Dawn Staley Community Leadership award,” said WNBA Legend and University of South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley. “Her work with the Pat Summitt Foundation shows her commitment to making a lasting difference around the nation about Alzheimer's. Her spirit of compassion has inspired others to get involved in finding a cure for Alzheimer's and honor an icon in sports."

The Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award is presented annually. Each WNBA team nominated one player and a designated committee selected Lawson as the winner. The WNBA will make a $10,000 donation to the Pat Summitt Foundation on behalf of Lawson.

"I'm thrilled to receive the Dawn Staley Community Leadership Award. My relationship with Dawn goes back over 20 years,” said Kara Lawson. “She was the first female basketball player I looked up to and tried to model myself after. She left an indelible impression on the women's game. I've always felt that being mentioned in the same breath as Dawn meant you were doing things the right way. My goal has always been to have a positive impact in my community. In my role with the Pat Summitt Foundation, I have the opportunity to work with a passionate group dedicated to end Alzheimer's. Thank you to Dawn and the WNBA for this prestigious award."

Tennessee to honor Pat Summitt with statue

Legendary Tennessee women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt spent a brisk Monday morning greeting golfers and sharing laughs before her charity golf tournament got under way at the Cherokee Country Club.

“You sure you want a picture with me?” she joked to one group of golfers.

Summitt was all smiles for the charity event, but when her statue is unveiled later this year, it might be more likely to feature her trademark icy stare.

Tennessee plans to unveil a statue of Summitt as early as this fall as part of the renovated streetscape on Lake Loudon Boulevard near the university’s athletic facilities.

Summitt, who officially stepped down from full-time coaching and assumed the title of head coach emeritus last year, has already been honored with a statue at UT Martin, her alma mater.

Soon she’ll have a second statue in Knoxville.

“It’s a very important component of the larger Lake Loudon project,” Dave Hart said. “There’s a natural embankment by Thompson-Boling Arena, and we’re working with architects to find the best place for the statue.”

Hart said the timing of the project is still uncertain, but he hopes it can be completed soon.

“We’re hopeful that by fall the entire project will be completed. I can’t say for certain that the statue will be there by then, but it will be obvious where the plaza and the statue will go,” he said.

Hart said the decision to honor Summitt was a no-brainer.

“It’s very exciting to be able to present this to the greatest coach of all time,” he said.

14 Lady Vols on WNBA preseason rosters

The first preseason contest of the WNBA’s 17th season tips off Thursday night, and 14 University of Tennessee graduates currently are listed on team rosters around the league.

There are 12 teams in the WNBA, and there is at least one Lady Vol playing for eight of them. The only teams that don’t currently have a UT player on the roster are Atlanta, Chicago, Minnesota and San Antonio.

Kamiko Williams, the No. 15 pick in the recent WNBA Draft, has embarked on her professional career with the New York Liberty. The 5-11 product of Clarksville, Tenn. (Northeast H.S.) joins former UT standouts Kelley Cain and Loree Moore in the Big Apple under the direction of head coach and general manager Bill Laimbeer. The former NBA star is in his first year in New York but guided the Detroit Shock to WNBA titles in 2003, 2006 and 2008.

Williams averaged 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists while helping lead the Lady Vols to the 2013 SEC regular season championship and a berth in the NCAA Elite 8. She made the All-Oklahoma City Regional Team because of her play in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 games.

Tamika Catchings, 2012 WNBA Finals MVP, begins her 12th season with the defending WNBA champion Indiana Fever. She is joined on the roster by Shyra Ely-Gash, who missed the 2012 season due to injury. Former Lady Vol assistant Mickie DeMoss is back for her second year on the coaching staff, which is led by Lin Dunn, who earned her master’s degree at Tennessee after attending UT-Martin as an undergrad.

All-WNBA First-Teamer Candace Parker leads Los Angeles into the 2013 campaign, her sixth with the Sparks. Nicky Anosike is once again on the L.A. roster as she enters her sixth season in the league.

Kara Lawson, recipient of the WNBA’s 2012 Kim Perrot Sportsmanship Award, begins her 11th season in the league and is in her third with the Connecticut Sun. Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Alexis Hornbuckle is onboard for her second year with the Mercury and sixth season overall in the league as No. 1 draft pick Brittney Griner makes her pro debut with the squad.

Glory Johnson and Vicki Baugh are back in Tulsa, where draft pick Skylar Diggins added an immediate buzz to the squad. Johnson made the 2012 WNBA All-Rookie Team a year ago, while Baugh was released on May 13 after an injury limited her availability. After sitting out the season, Baugh still is considered a rookie.

In Seattle, Shekinna Stricklen returns for her second year with the Storm. Former Lady Vol assistant Nancy Darsch continues to serve in the same role for the Storm.

Shannon Bobbitt and Michelle Snow are listed on the roster of the Washington Mystics after spending the 2012 season there. Snow is in her 12th year in the WNBA, while Bobbitt is enjoying her fifth season.

The WNBA will open its 17th regular season as part of WNBA Tip-Off 2013 presented by Boost Mobile on Friday, May 24, when Catchings leads the Fever into San Antonio to face the Silver Stars. WNBA Tip-Off 2013 presented by Boost Mobile will feature a total of six games including a nationally televised doubleheader on ESPN2 on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, featuring the Mystics at the Shock (3 p.m. ET) followed by the Sky at the Mercury (5 p.m. ET).

Tyler Summitt interviews for Chattanooga opening

Tyler Summitt has emerged as a candidate to fill the women’s basketball head coaching vacancy at Chattanooga.

The Marquette assistant coach, the son of Tennessee women’s head coach emeritus Pat Summitt, interviewed for the job on Saturday, said a source familiar with the process. The source requested anonymity because the interview hasn’t been made public.

Summitt interviewed with David Blackburn, who was named Chattanooga’s athletics director last month. He came to the school from Tennessee, where he was a senior associate athletics director. Blackburn has coaching openings to fill in both men’s and women’s basketball.

The Lady Mocs’ job opened early last month when Wes Moore left after 15 seasons to become the head coach at North Carolina State. Chattanooga tied a program record with 29 wins last season, including an 80-71 season-opening victory over UT. The Lady Mocs swept the Southern Conference regular season and conference tournament championships before losing to Nebraska in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

The timetable for filling the Lady Mocs opening is not known.

Summitt, a Tennessee graduate, just completed his first season on Marquette’s staff. He interviewed for a coaching opening last month at Coastal Carolina. The job eventually went to Wake Forest assistant Jaida Williams.

Pat Summitt extends contract with Lady Vols another year

The University of Tennessee announced Wednesday that Pat Summitt has extended her contract for a year, and will continue working with the Lady Vols as head coach emeritus.

The 2013-2014 season will be her 40th with the women's basketball program. She served as head coach for 38 seasons and led the team to 1,098 victories.

UT working on new deal for Summitt

While Pat Summitt’s one-year deal with the University of Tennessee concludes on Tuesday, her tenure as head coach emeritus for the women’s basketball program will continue at least for another year.

Negotiations between the university and the Lady Vols coaching legend are ongoing on a new one-year deal. UT spokesperson Jimmy Stanton said Tuesday afternoon that final details were being worked out on the contract.

Summitt stepped into her new role last April after stepping down as the Lady Vols coach after 38 seasons. She completed her final season after announcing in August of 2011 that she had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer’s type.

Pat Summitt's life chronicled in film 'Pat XO'

The story of Pat Summitt's life debuted at the Tribeca Film Festival.

The Hall of Fame coach, who has early onset dementia, was part of the audience Sunday for a screening of the documentary "Pat XO."

Summitt's son, Tyler, is the lead storyteller, spending time with his mother on a couch in their home going through a scrapbook of her life. The film starts from Summitt's earliest days and goes through her retirement from coaching last April.

The filmmakers gave cameras to those who know the Tennessee coach best. Former players Tamika Catchings, Chamique Holdsclaw, Michelle Marciniak and Candace Parker all told stories of their beloved mentor.

The show is part of ESPN Films' Nine for IX documentary series. It will be broadcast July 9.

Randy Smith: Congratulations Geno: But Think Again

Following UConn’s 93-60 win over Louisville Tuesday night in the NCAA Women’s National Championship Game, Huskies Coach Geno Auriemma was quoted as saying, “The fact that I tied Pat Summitt’s record puts you in the category of the greatest women’s basketball coach who ever lived.” The quote came in a story from Associated Press reporter Doug Feinberg, and if that is truly what Geno said, he may have some explaining to do.

“The fact that I tied Pat Summitt’s record,”(8 NCAA Titles) “puts you,”(Meaning Geno himself) “in the category of the greatest women’s basketball coach who ever lived.” Wow…..that’s like Coach “Bear” Bryant claiming he was the king of college football, when he won his 300th career game, or Coach Pat Summitt herself proclaiming she was the greatest basketball coach of all time when she won her 1000th game. But…Coach Bryant didn’t and neither did Pat.

Read the rest of the story.

Catching up with Holly Warlick and Her Lady Vols

After returning from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Convention in New Orleans on Tuesday, Tennessee head coach Holly Warlick took some time to visit with local media members on Wednesday.

Warlick, who was named the 2013 Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year on Monday night in New Orleans, talked about the legacy that Dixon left during her brief time as a head coach and her hope to do justice to the late Army coach, whose last game before her death in April 2006 was against Tennessee in the NCAA First Round.

“I knew Maggie personally and knew what she stood for – hard work and a tremendous love for her players,” Warlick said. “I said at the awards banquet that if I could lead by that example to our players, that would be awesome.

“It was a very humbling award for me. It’s about your players and who you surround yourself with, and I have a great staff. It’s kind of hard for me to get an individual award when I know how much everybody goes and puts into it.

“Maggie was an outstanding coach and better yet an outstanding person. I hope I can live up to those expectations.”

WNBA Draft Approaches For Taber Spani and Kamiko Williams
The WNBA Draft will take place at 8 p.m. on April 15 in Bristol, Conn., at the ESPN Studios. ESPN2 will provide coverage of the first round and will hand off to ESPNU for the second and third rounds, as the draft is televised live during prime time for the first time in the 17th-year history of the league.

Tennessee seniors Taber Spani and Kamiko Williams will wait for their names to be called. A total of 34 Lady Vols have been taken in the WNBA Draft through the years, including 15 in the first round, and Warlick believes these two have earned a chance to be chosen on Monday.

“I think they’ll both be drafted. I think, number one, Kamiko’s stock went up because of how hard she played this year. We saw that in her; it just took a while to get it out of her.

“She’s athletic, she can shoot the three, she’s a great defender, and I think the WNBA is in need of some really strong defenders. I think she’s got a chance.

“I think Taber (will) with her long-range threes and she’s shown the ability to penetrate as well. I think both of those young ladies are going to get looks. They have to go and make the team, but I think they’ll get the opportunity to do that.”

Not Being At The Final Four Is Incentive Enough
UConn tied Tennessee’s total of eight NCAA titles Tuesday night when it defeated Louisville for the 2013 crown. Warlick was asked whether that would serve as a motivating factor for her team as it enters the 2013-14 campaign.

“I think just not being at the Final Four is an incentive in itself. We’ll use that as our motivation.”

A Music City Final Four Beckons
Nashville will serve as the host of the 2014 NCAA Women’s Final Four at Bridgestone Arena on April 6 & 8. With Isabelle Harrison hailing from Music City and Bashaara Graves a product of Clarksville in the mid-state, Warlick said making it to the Final Four in their own backyard will be a big motivator for next year’s team.

“It’s huge. It’s huge for us. It’s been a goal for us (getting to the Final Four). It was a goal for us this year, and we came up short. We’d love to be in a Final Four in our home state; that’s going to be our goal.”

Excited About The Off-Season
Even with the season just completed, Warlick and her staff are anxious to get back on the court and begin preparing for next season. She is excited about the prospects of having all of her players around over the summer.

“I can’t wait. We get our freshmen in this summer. All of our kids are staying this summer. It’s an exciting time to look to the future and rebuild this team. I wish we were starting tomorrow with practice and starting a new season.

“I think we are going to use the time to work on some things, defensively, some ball-handling, fundamental skills we need to work on before we get into team stuff. I am already excited about the new year and excited about our kids coming in.”

Heralded Signing Class
Tennessee has one of the top signing classes in the country coming in for the 2013-14 season. At 6-foot-6, Mercedes Russell was the Gatorade National Player of the Year and the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American game. She’ll be joined by strong, athletic guards in 5-11 Jordan Reynolds and 6-0 Jannah Tucker.

Like Russell, Reynolds posted a points-rebounds double-double in the McDonald’s game in Chicago. Tucker, meanwhile, missed her final prep campaign with a knee injury but was one of the most-heralded players in this year’s high school senior class. Warlick welcomes the trio with open arms.

“All three of them are going to be huge for us. Mercedes Russell is going to give us a tremendous presence inside along with what we have. Jordan Reynolds is going to give us some needed help at the point position. I look forward to her there.

Nobody really knows about Jannah Tucker right now. She got hurt playing with USA Basketball. She’s been on the radar forever and was one of the top eight players in the country as a junior. She didn’t make any of the all-star teams because she sat out the year to rehab her knee.

All three of those will have a major impact for us. They’ll give us depth, they’ll give us some energy, and they are extremely talented young ladies.”

Taking It Slow With Andraya Carter
Freshman Andraya Carter continues to rehab her right shoulder after undergoing surgery on Dec. 13. She has gradually worked her way back into drills and avoids obvious situations where contact could occur.

“She’s been practicing with us. Certain things on her shoulder are every other day, but we’re taking it slow because we don’t have to rush. She looks good, and she’s getting in better shape. We need her. We need her leadership, and we need her to be part of this program on the floor.”

Champions For A Cause
Warlick and LSU coach and former UT player and staff member Nikki Caldwell will be riding their motorcycles again this summer for their Champions for a Cause organization. They raise money and bring awareness to the fight against breast cancer through various events each year.

“We are going to Panama City for their big bike week the first week in May (May 1-6) and trying to raise some money. There’s probably a little bit more awareness (generated) when we ride on motorcycles, so we’re going to continue to do that. We’ll meet up with Nikki (Caldwell) as she comes from Baton Rouge.”

Missouri State hires Kellie Harper as coach

Kellie Harper, fired two weeks ago by North Carolina State, was hired Wednesday as the new women’s basketball coach at Missouri State.

The university said Harper agreed to a five-year contract paying $145,000 annually, plus $60,000 for radio and television shows. The contract also includes performance incentives.

“My first priorities are the team, the staff and our signees,” Harper said. “We’ll get started on those things right away.”

Athletic director Kyle Moats said Harper “comes from a great basketball pedigree, and she is widely regarded as a great tactician.” She played for her father at White County High School in Sparta, Tenn., then was a point guard for three national championship teams under Pat Summitt at Tennessee.

Harper, 35, has a career record of 167-128 in nine seasons. She was 97-65 in five seasons at Western Carolina, making the NCAA Tournament twice and the Women’s NIT twice; and 70-64 in four seasons at North Carolina State, with one NCAA and two WNIT appearances.

North Carolina State fired Harper soon after the end of this past season. Her first team there was 20-14, but she was just 50-50 over the last three seasons, including 16-32 in the ACC.

At Missouri State, she inherits a team that returns nine players next season. Nyla Milleson’s contract was not renewed after the Lady Bears were 14-17 in 2012-13.

Pat Summitt, Magic Johnson and Boo Williams honored by basketball Hall of Fame

The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today that 12-time NBA All-Star and Hall of Famer Earvin Magic Johnson, Hall of Fame Coach Pat Summitt and youth basketball ambassador Boo Williams, have all been named winners of the 2013 Mannie Jackson - Basketball’s Human Spirit Award. The winners will be recognized on September 7th during events leading up to the 2013 Basketball Hall of Fame Enshrinement Ceremonies.

“This year’s winners of the Mannie Jackson – Basketball’s Human Spirit Award have all contributed greatly to the game of basketball and are active members in their community,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Basketball Hall of Fame. “It is an honor to recognize and celebrate these three distinguished humanitarians, all of whom have dedicated their lives to helping others through the game they love.”

The criteria for award winners includes embracing the core values of the game, hard work, striving to improve the community and making a commitment to others. Beyond the game, award winners must reflect the values of Mannie Jackson’s life-long mission to overcome obstacles and challenge the status quo, while taking responsibility for his or her actions and seeking the highest standard of excellence.

Johnson, Summitt and Williams were chosen from a group of nine finalists after nominations were screened by a distinguished selection committee, appointed by the Hall of Fame and Mr. Jackson. Beginning in 2009, the finalists were grouped in three categories, representing the professional, amateur and grassroots levels of basketball.

Previous winners of the award include current NBA players Grant Hill, Chauncey Billups and Samuel Dalembert; former NBA All-Star and Georgetown standout Alonzo Mourning; former Harlem Globetrotter and college basketball All-American Dr. John “Jumpin’ Johnny” Kline; former Georgetown University center and NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo; Philadelphia legend Sonny Hill; former NBA official Ken Hudson; Hall of Famers Bob Lanier, David Robinson, Jim Boeheim and Jim Calhoun; President and CEO of the National Consortium for Academics and Sport, Dr. Richard Lapchick and The V Foundation for Cancer Research.

Representing the Amateur ranks:
Pat Summitt – For nearly four decades, Summitt led the Tennessee Lady Vols program to 16 SEC Championships, eight NCAA titles and seven NCAA Coach of the Year awards. In August 2011, Summitt announced that she was battling with early onset dementia, “Alzheimer’s type.” She finished the 2011-12 season and in November, she revealed the formation of her foundation, the Pat Summitt Foundation Fund with the proceeds going toward cutting-edge research. The Huntington Post named Summitt a 2011 Game Changer – an innovator, leader and role model who is changing the way we look at the world and the way we live. President Barack Obama presented her on April 19, 2012 in the White House with the 2012 Presidential Medal of Freedom award. She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Holly Warlick receives Maggie Dixon award

Tennessee’s Holly Warlick spoke of her first season as the Lady Vols coach last week as if she were in construction.

“I think we’ve laid a foundation,” she said.

The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association honored Warlick’s work Monday night with the Maggie Dixon Division I Rookie Coach of the Year award.

The award was announced at the WBCA convention, which is being held in New Orleans in conjunction with the Women’s Final Four.

In her first season in charge, Warlick led a relatively inexperienced Tennessee team to an SEC regular-season championship and was named the conference coach of the year. UT finished with 27 victories and reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA women’s basketball tournament before losing to Louisville in the Oklahoma City regional final, 86-78.

Monday’s award was given in honor of the late Maggie Dixon, the former Army coach who died in 2006 of heart problems at age 28.

Warlick, a longtime Lady Vols assistant, replaced Pat Summitt last April. The Tennessee coaching legend stepped down after 38 seasons. Warlick has paid tribute to Summitt throughout the season for her mentoring and influence. Summitt has maintained a presence by serving as the Lady Vols head coach emeritus.

Still, Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale said last week in Oklahoma City that she already detects Warlick’s influence on the program.

“I think she’s done an amazing job,” Coale said. “In many ways, it is vintage Tennessee ... All this is Tennessee and has been Tennessee for decades.

“Yet there’s a little something about ’em that’s different, and it’s hard to put a title on. I don’t really know how to even describe it. But there’s a little something different. That’s Holly Warlick. That’s the stamp she’s putting on the program.”

When the coaching change took place last April, Warlick agreed to a four-year deal with a base salary of $485,000. Summitt received a one-year deal in her new role with a salary of $354,375.

When asked last week for comment about whether Warlick’s season warrants a raise and Summitt’s future with the team, UT spokesperson Jimmy Stanton said that both topics would be addressed, “at the appropriate time.”

Lady Vols approach offseason with urgency

When Tennessee’s coaches met with their players last week, they urged the Lady Vols to separate the “off” from “season” when considering the next four-plus months.

Assistant coach Dean Lockwood referred to the time between now and the start of preseason women’s basketball workouts next August as a season in itself. The period has been assigned a different sort of urgency after Tennessee stumbled in the Oklahoma City regional final, losing to Louisville 86-78.

The way in which Tennessee lost — falling behind by 20 points before responding — will linger with coach Holly Warlick.

“I think there was a little bit of jitters,” she said. “We have to get past that. That’s up to us. We thought we prepared them the right way. Apparently we didn’t.”

The players’ mandate involves addressing their individual skills and improving their overall play.

“Where we are right now is not quite good enough; we have to be better,” Lockwood said. “That onus falls on every player.”

In an interview on the News Sentinel’s “Sports Page” radio show last Friday, Lockwood said, “In programs like ours, it’s generally understood, you’re always trying out. You’re always competing. There are no guarantees. There are no assurances.”

Lockwood went on to say, “It’s not cutthroat. At the end of the day, we need all of our players.”

The roll call includes incoming freshmen Mercedes Russell, Jordan Reynolds and Jannah Tucker. They figure to ratchet the competition for roles and playing time.

In Russell’s case, the impact could be dramatic. Although she’s been listed at 6-foot-5, Lockwood said that Russell actually stands at least 6-6. She was the most valuable player of the McDonald’s girls All-American game last Wednesday, scoring 16 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. During her high school career in Springfield, Ore., Russell scored 2,273 points, grabbed 1,642 rebounds and blocked 562 shots.

Warlick said Russell “makes us better in all aspects.”

Lockwood expects UT to experiment with a front line of Russell, 6-3 Isabelle Harrison and 6-2 Bashaara Graves.

“At one point or another, we’re going to look at that group playing together, whether they start or don’t start,” Lockwood said.

Reynolds, a 5-foot-11 guard from Portland, scored 10 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the McDonald’s game. Lockwood described Reynolds as primarily a point guard but with combo-guard skills. She will join Andraya Carter — who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery last December — in the competition at point guard, along with returning starter Ariel Massengale.

“I think it’s going to be very interesting and that’s a very, very good thing,” Lockwood said. “There’s going to be a high level of competition for that position. I think it’s going to be very good for our program.”

Tucker’s profile has been diminished some by a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament suffered last summer. The injury robbed the 6-foot wing player from Randallstown, Md., of her senior season. Still, Lockwood foresees Tucker as someone who will play with “physical strength and toughness” and has the capability to shoot 3-pointers and drive the basket.

All three incoming freshmen, along with the returning players, likely will attend at least one session of summer school. Warlick said that new NCAA guidelines allow a coach to work with up to four players at a time for two hours per week when they are enrolled in summer school.

“I think it’s important for us to have that opportunity,” Warlick said. “It helps us set a tone for what a workout looks like.”

In that sense, they can make the offseason seem more like a season in itself.

Manning giving $500,000 to Summitt Foundation

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning and his wife plan to donate $500,000 to the Pat Summitt Foundation.

Patrick Wade, the director of the Pat Summitt Foundation, confirmed the Mannings' decision Saturday after it was first reported by CBS Sports.

The commitment by Peyton and Ashley Manning represents the largest gift announcement made to the foundation since it was founded in November 2011 to help fight Alzheimer's disease. Manning, who played at Tennessee from 1994-97, is an honorary co-chair of the foundation's advisory board.

Summitt stepped down as the Tennessee women's basketball coach last April after announcing in 2011 she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She went 1,098-208 and won eight national titles in 38 seasons. Summitt remains on Tennessee's staff as head coach emeritus.

Lady Vols look to future after disappointing NCAA loss

Tennessee has served notice it will remain nationally relevant in the
post-Pat Summitt era.

The next step is to become elite again.

After being picked to finish as low as fifth in the Southeastern
Conference, Tennessee won the league's regular-season title. But the
Lady Vols believe they squandered a golden opportunity Tuesday
byfalling 86-78 to Louisville in the Oklahoma City Regional final.

"We thought we had a good year, but we didn't have a great year," said
Tennessee coach Holly Warlick, who replaced Summitt this season after
serving as her assistant for 27 years. "That's just the nature of our
program and expectations, whether you're Pat Summitt or myself, it's
just what we're all about. It's in our blood. It's in our makeup."

Tennessee won consecutive national titles in 2007 and 2008, but the
Lady Vols haven't returned to the Final Four since. That represents
Tennessee's longest Final Four drought since the NCAA started running
the women's tourney in 1982.

Consider it a testament to the standards Summitt set that the Lady
Vols could feel disappointed at the end of a season in which they
outperformed national expectations.

Summitt stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April 2012 after
announcing in 2011 she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type. She
won 1,098 games at Tennessee and led the Lady Vols to eight national
titles and 18 Final Fours.

Warlick took over for Summitt and inherited a roster that didn't
include a single player who had started an NCAA Tournament game last
season.

Tennessee was fourth in the SEC preseason media poll, while the
league's coaches predicted the Lady Vols would finish fifth in the
conference. The Lady Vols were ranked 20th in the preseason Top 25.
After getting stunned by Chattanooga in their season opener, they
dropped to 24th, their lowest ranking since 1985.

"Quite frankly, I was wondering what did I get myself into," Warlick
said. "And the first person I saw (after the Chattanooga game) was
Coach Summitt, and she just assured me things would get better. She
told me that she lost her first game, and I thought, 'Well, you know,
Coach Summitt lost her first game. I'm going to be OK.' "

The Lady Vols also encountered plenty of injuries. Freshman guard
Andraya Carter underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after starting
five of Tennessee's first seven games. Sophomore center Isabelle
Harrison missed 10 games with injuries to her right ankle and both
knees. Sophomore forward Cierra Burdick sat out eight games with a
broken right hand.

Yet the Lady Vols finished 27-8 and reached a regional final for the
third straight season.

The Lady Vols "believed in each other," senior guard Kamiko Williams
said. "Our coaching staff believed in us. And we just stuck together.
It was a family. And we just bonded, and I love that about my
teammates and our coaching staff. Like I told them in the locker room,
I'll take this team over the past three teams I've been on, because
I've never seen so much fight in a group of girls."

Williams and Spani, the Lady Vols' only two seniors, exemplified the
team's tenacity.

Spani briefly fell out of the starting lineup early in the season.
Williams played fewer than 10 minutes in each of Tennessee's first two
games. By the end of the season, they arguably were Tennessee's two
best players.

Wiilliams scored a career-high 18 points in a victory over Texas A&M
that clinched the SEC regular-season title. Spani had 20 second-half
points against Louisville as Tennessee nearly came all the way back
from a 20-point deficit. Each averaged 11.8 points in the NCAA
tournament to tie for the team lead.

"They're tremendous leaders for us this year, and they put their heart
and soul in the whole year," Warlick said.

The Lady Vols return everyone but Kamiko Williams and Taber Spani next
season, including third-team All-America guard Meighan Simmons and SEC
newcomer of the year Bashaara Graves. Tennessee also adds a heralded
group of freshmen that features 6-foot-6 post player Mercedes Russell,
rated by ESPN's Hoop Gurlz recruiting service as the nation's No. 1
prospect in her class.

The way this season ended should give Tennessee plenty of motivation.
Louisville's upset of defending national champion Baylor on Sunday
appeared to give Tennessee a much easier path to the Final Four, but
the Lady Vols couldn't capitalize.

"That's the great thing and the amazing thing about this program,"
Spani said. "No matter what the transition was, no matter what it
looked like, no matter what excuse you might put out, if you're a
young team or not, the bar is the Final Four.

"I think that's what makes this program special. So to come short of
that is disappointing."

Louisville 86, Tennessee 78

One mammoth upset wasn't enough for Shoni Schimmel and plucky Louisville.

Going through two of the sport's powers, the Cardinals are Final Four bound.

Schimmel scored 24 points and Louisville beat second-seeded Tennessee
86-78 Tuesday night to earn the school's second trip to the Final
Four.

Two nights after taking down Brittney Griner and defending national
champion Baylor, the fifth-seeded Cardinals (28-8) built a 20-point
lead and then withstood a second-half comeback by the powerhouse Lady
Vols (27-8) before celebrating another amazing victory.

When it was over, the Cardinals huddled at center court and
celebrated. Tennessee headed home with a third straight loss in the
regional finals, failing to make the Final Four for a fifth straight
year.

"We ruined the entire party," Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. "We're
the ugly ducklings that ruined the party. No one gave us a chance and
we shocked everybody. It's a journey and we're going to continue."

Taber Spani led the Lady Vols with 20 points, and Meighan Simmons and
Kamiko Williams chipped in 12 apiece.

Louisville joined the school's men's team in the Final Four, marking
the 10th time that a program had both teams make it that far. Only
Connecticut has won both titles in the same season, in 2004 .

The Cardinals became only the second No. 5 seed to reach the national
semifinals, joining Southwest Missouri State's 2001 team that featured
guard Jackie Stiles, the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history.

Only seven teams outside of the top four seeds have ever made it to
the Final Four since the NCAA tournament started in 1982.

No team seeded higher than fourth has ever won a game at the Final
Four. But the seemingly impossible hasn't stopped this group of
Cardinals yet.

First, they took down Griner and her Baylor team that had lost just
once in 75 games.

Then, it was the eight-time national champion Lady Volunteers.

"No one wanted to see us beat Baylor and Tennessee and we did both of
those and now we're going to the Final Four," Schimmel said.

Next up is a Sunday showdown in New Orleans against California, the
Spokane regional champion.

The Cardinals' only other Final Four trip was in 2009, ending in a
loss to Big East rival Connecticut in the championship game.

Louisville rode a hefty rebounding advantage and another solid 3-point
shooting outing — especially when compared to Tennessee's 0 for 9
start — to take a 49-29 edge 90 seconds after halftime following
back-to-back 3s from Antonita Slaughter and Schimmel.

That same tandem combined for 12 of the Cardinals' 16 treys, matching
the NCAA tournament record, in an epic upset of Baylor.

Spani finally broke Tennessee's 3-point drought right after that, and
the Lady Vols were able to chip away at the 20-point deficit. Their
full-court pressure, which wasn't tight enough to prevent over-the-top
passes for layup s in the first half, started to be effective.

Tennessee gave up just one basket over an 8-minute span, and Williams'
short jumper at the end of an 18-6 rally got the Lady Vols as close as
68-65 with 4:28 remaining.

Spani missed a 3-pointer from the right wing that would have tied it
on the next possession, and Tennesee's comeback fizzled after that.

Schimmel had a pair of driving layups and sister Jude Schimmel hit a
3-poitner and set up Slaughter for a reverse layup in a 9-3 burst for
Louisville. Even when Meighan Simmons, who started out 1 for 22 in the
two games in Oklahoma City, hit three late 3-pointers, it wasn't
enough for Tennessee.

The Cardinals shouted "Louisville!" at the logo in the middle of the
court in celebration. Spani, a senior, dropped to her knees in tears
at the final buzzer.

Louisville came out firing from long range again and connected four
times in first seven attempts while building an early 21-11 advantage.

Then, it was a sticky 1-3-1 zone defense that propelled Louisville on
an 8-0 run, keeping the Lady Vols scoreless for a 5½ minute stretch,
to expand the lead out to 31-14 after Sherrone Vails' putback with
3:51 to go until halftime.

Just like in the previous round, when a 19-point lead disappeared
before Monique Reid's winning free throws in the final seconds, the
Cardinals had to hang on for dear life at the end.

Meighan Simmons named third-team All-American

Meighan Simmons was honored last month as one of the top women’s basketball players in the SEC.

On Tuesday, Tennessee’s junior guard was recognized as one of the nation’s best. She was named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press.

Simmons was named co-conference player of the year, as voted by the league coaches. She shared the award with Kentucky guard A’dia Mathies, who made AP’s second-team All-America squad.

Simmons was joined on AP’s third team by Texas A&M’s Kelsey Bone, Duke’s Elizabeth Williams, Connecticut’s Stefanie Dolson and Kayla McBride of Notre Dame.

Baylor stars Brittney Griner and Odyssey Sims made the first team along with Notre Dame’s Skylar Diggins, Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike and Delaware’s Elena Delle Donne.

Mathies was joined on the second team by Maryland’s Alyssa Thomas, Connecticut’s Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Penn State’s Maggie Lucas and Duke’s Chelsea Gray.

Tennessee 74, Oklahoma 59

OKLAHOMA CITY -- At the start of her first year as Tennessee's head coach, Holly Warlick could not have envisioned how Kamiko Williams would impact her team on the sport's biggest stage.

On both ends of the court Sunday night, Williams left her imprint to put the Lady Vols one win away from the Final Four.

Williams scored 15 points and led Tennessee's defense against Oklahoma star Aaryn Ellenberg, leading the Lady Vols to a 74-59 victory in the regional semifinals of the NCAA women's tournament.

"She's just taken this team, she's wrapped her arms around this team and said, 'Let's go,' " Warlick said. "At the beginning of the year, if I had to say Kamiko was going to be our leader, I would say no. But our players love her."

In the first half, Williams had 13 points, three assists and two steals as second-seeded Tennessee (27-7) opened a 20-point lead.

She also played the lead role in limiting Ellenberg to a 1-for-11 shooting start that didn't get much better after halftime.

"It's not a secret. I think Kamiko Williams is an extremely talented young lady," Warlick said. "When she puts it all together and she gets a great mindset, she can do just about anything."

Tennessee will face No. 5 seed Louisville on Tuesday night in the round of eight.

The Lady Vols have lost in the regional finals the past two seasons and haven't made it to the Final Four since winning the national title in 2008.

Tennessee also went through an Oklahoma City regional on its way to the championship that season, with Candace Parker leading the way.

Sharane Campbell scored 22 points and Joanna McFarland had 14 for No. 6 seed Oklahoma (24-11), which got an upset to make it to the round of 16, but couldn't capitalize on a friendly home environment in the Oklahoma City regional. McFarland also matched her career best with 16 rebounds.

About 9 minutes into the game, the Sooners were already down by 11 -- having yielded eight straight points -- when starting point guard Morgan Hook was tripped up by Meighan Simmons and hit her head on the way down.

She was helped to the bench by a trainer and sat out the rest of the game with concussion-like symptoms.

"That was one of those where you're like, 'Really? Really? Seriously?' After everything, now we're going to drop another one right here in the Sweet 16?" said Oklahoma coach Sherri Coale, who had managed to guide her team this far despite losing four players to season-ending injuries.

Oklahoma was already down to eight scholarship players after a series of four season-ending injuries, including team captain Whitney Hand's knee surgery. Two volleyball players were brought in at midseason for practice help.

There simply wasn't enough firepower to keep up with the deeper SEC regular-season champs, who got 13 points from Cierre Burdick and 12 apiece from Izzy Harrison and Taber Spani while holding the Sooners to 31 percent shooting.

Oklahoma made just 5 of 29 from 3-point range and got just six points from reserves, compared to 30 for the Lady Vols.

"This team has done incredible things this year in the face of situations where most people would just succumb and say, 'All right, let's get them next time,' " Coale said. "Not these guys."

The Lady Vols dissected Oklahoma's defense early on, getting easy baskets right under the hoop and putting together a 20-3 run to take control while keeping the Sooners' hometown crowd from getting involved.

Williams hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key to get the run going, and her second layup in the stretch pushed Tennessee's advantage to 36-16 with 4:54 to go before the half.

Even when the Sooners were able to force eight straight misses to start the second half, they couldn't dent Tennessee's lead.

Nicole Griffin and Aaryn Ellenberg each had baskets during the Lady Vols' 4½-minute dry spell, but that only got the deficit down to 44-31 before three straight makes pushed it right back up to 19.

The Sooners started the second half 3 for 21 from the field, with Tennessee's lead growing to 63-35.

"We wanted to set the tempo early and dictate to them that we were going to be the ones pressuring, and then we were trying to get them out of their offense because they're a great offensive team when they are able to run their sets," Spani said.

Ellenberg missed 14 of her first 16 shots, including her first seven 3-point attempts. She made a couple of baskets late to finish with 13 points, but had nowhere near the same impact as she did while averaging 24.5 points in the first two rounds of the tournament.

Simmons, Tennessee's leading scorer, was 1 for 15 and had just five points but got much more help.

Harrison also had eight rebounds and three blocks, making her biggest contribution in two injury-plagued months.

She missed nine games in that span, including the SEC tournament, with injuries to both of her knees. Harrison also had eight rebounds and three blocks.

Lady Vols' Simmons emerges as more complete player

Tennessee guard Meighan Simmons has bounced back from a disappointing
sophomore season to emerge as the Southeastern Conference's leading
scorer in her junior year.

Now she wants to become a more consistent defender.

The second-seeded Lady Vols (26-7) need Simmons to deliver a complete
performance Sunday when they face No. 6 seed Oklahoma (24-10) in an
Oklahoma City Regional semifinal matching two of the nation's
highest-scoring teams.

''I've matured a lot on both ends of the floor,'' Simmons said.
''Defense is one of the things I've been trying to focus on. I know at
the next level, they're going to be looking at a lot of things, and
defense is one of those things. When I continue to focus on that, it
makes me become an all-around player. I am an all-around player right
now, but when I put my mind to it, I can do anything.''

Simmons averaged 13.5 points and was the SEC newcomer of the year in
2010-11, but she followed that up by scoring just 11.1 points per game
and shooting 37.5 percent from the floor as a sophomore.

She learned from the experience and improved her numbers across the
board this year.

''I've become more patient,'' Simmons said. ''My freshman year, there
are so many shots I'd take that I think about (now) and watch film
from the last couple of years and I'm like, `Oh my God, what was I
doing?' Now my shots are more within the offense.''

Simmons averages 17.3 points per game and holds a narrow edge over
LSU's Theresa Plaisance (17.0) for the SEC scoring lead. Simmons is
aiming to become the first Lady Vol to top the SEC in scoring since
her favorite player Candace Parker accomplished the feat in
Tennessee's 2008 national championship season.

Her remarkable speed allows Simmons to run up and down the floor with
just about anyone in the country. Simmons comes from an athletic
family and lists former Butkus Award-winning linebacker Aaron Curry
and former NFL linebacker Eric Barton among her cousins. The 5-foot-9
junior from Cibolo, Texas, expects to have 15-20 friends or relatives
watching her in Oklahoma City this weekend.

''She's incredible at putting the ball in the basket,'' sophomore
guard Ariel Massengale said. ''We know whenever we're in crunch time
and need a basket, we can count on her to make that happen for us.''

Although offense comes naturally to Simmons, her defense is a work in progress.

''Meighan is learning the complete game, the total game,'' Tennessee
coach Holly Warlick said. ''We all know she's a scorer. I think she's
had to understand she's got to do different things for us to be
successful. She's becoming a better defender, a better rebounder, and
that's what we need from her.''

Ever since she took over the program last April, Warlick has
emphasized the importance of defense to Simmons. Warlick and her
assistants have reminded Simmons that scoring in bunches won't help
the team if she's giving up an equal number of points on the other end
of the floor.

''It's just holding her accountable, being consistent with her,''
assistant coach Kyra Elzy said. ''Just because you're scoring doesn't
mean you're going to get to stay on the floor if you're not getting it
done on the defensive end. ... I think she's stepped up to the
challenge.''

Tennessee's opening game in the NCAA tournament showed how far Simmons
has come in that regard.

Simmons went on one of her customary scoring spurts Saturday by
reeling off 10 straight Tennessee points during a 15-3 run that put
the Lady Vols ahead for good in an 83-62 victory over Oral Roberts.
This time, her defense created her offense. Simmons made a pair of
steals during the run that led to layups.

''That's a step in the right direction,'' Elzy said. ''Now we just
need it consistently. That's what we're looking for from her every
game.''

They'll definitely need it from her Sunday.

Tennessee's chances of going on its first Final Four run since 2008
could depend on how well Simmons and her teammates defend. Tennessee
averages 77.7 points per game to rank fourth nationally, while
Oklahoma (73.0) ranks 15th.

Oklahoma has averaged 81.5 points in each of its first two NCAA
tournament games. Aaryn Ellenberg has averaged 24.5 points and has
shot a combined 10 of 20 from 3-point range in the first two rounds of
the tournament.

''She's a great player,'' Simmons said. ''She's the head of the snake.
I think if we take her down, we should be fine.''

NC State fires Kellie Jolly Harper after 4 seasons

North Carolina State has fired women's basketball coach Kellie Harper
after four seasons.

The school said Tuesday that the 35-year-old coach wouldn't return
after missing the NCAA tournament for the third straight year. Harper,
a former player under Tennessee's Pat Summitt, was the successor to
late Hall of Famer Kay Yow, who died in 2009 after a long fight with
cancer.

Harper's first team went 20-14, made a surprise run to the Atlantic
Coast Conference tournament final and reached the NCAAs in 2010. But
that season ended up being the high point.

The Wolfpack never reached 20 wins again, going just 50-50 with a
16-32 mark in ACC play and two trips to the WNIT in the past three
seasons.

Harper also struggled to lure difference-making recruits who could
help one of the league's most traditionally successful programs
re-establish itself in a conference now controlled by Duke, Maryland
and North Carolina.

Harper's Wolfpack beat the rival Tar Heels in each of her first two
seasons and upset No. 5 Duke in last season's ACC tournament. But
preseason optimism drained quickly this year when Harper's team
started 0-7 in ACC play. The Wolfpack (17-17) ended the season with a
loss at James Madison in the second round of the WNIT on Sunday, which
wasn't enough for a school that with goals of being a consistent
presence in the top half of the league standings as well as being a
perennial NCAA tournament team.

Michael Lipitz, senior associate athletics director and women's
basketball supervisor, said he and athletic director Debbie Yow met
with Harper on Monday and Tuesday before notifying her she wouldn't
return for the final year of her contract. The school will owe Harper
her base salary - $247,209 - for that final season.

They notified the players of the coaching change Tuesday afternoon.

''It just came down to I think we agree on where we want to go as a
program and what our goals are, but we probably have different visions
on how to achieve those goals,'' Lipitz said.

Harper didn't immediately return a call to her cellphone for comment
Tuesday evening.

Lipitz said the school has no specific timeline for conducting a
national search to find Harper's replacement. Assistant coach Ken
Griffin will lead the program as the interim coach.

Harper came to Raleigh in 2009 after five seasons at Western Carolina,
where she compiled a 97-65 record while leading the Catamounts to two
NCAA tournament bids and a pair of Southern Conference championships.
Harper also played under Summitt as part of Tennessee's three straight
national championship teams from 1996-98.

The decision to hire Harper signaled the school was ready for a fresh
start for a program defined by Kay Yow's success on the court for
three decades and her courage fighting cancer away from it before her
death in January 2009. That decision by then-athletic director Lee
Fowler was a sensitive one for many surrounding the program
considering Yow had hoped that the school would designate longtime
assistant Stephanie Glance as her successor.

Glance - who served as the interim coach after Yow's death - spent a
year as an assistant at Tennessee before becoming head coach at
Illinois State in 2010.

Debbie Yow, Kay's sister, replaced Fowler as N.C. State's athletic
director that same year.

Harper was just the third coach in team history.

Tennessee 68, Creighton 52

Kamiko Williams scored 15 points and Tennessee pulled away in the
second half to beat Creighton 68-52 on Monday night, advancing to the
Oklahoma Regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament.

The second-seeded Lady Vols (26-7), who improved to 52-0 in NCAA
tournament games on their home floor, will play Oklahoma on Sunday.

Tennessee is the only program to play in all 32 women's NCAA
tournaments. The lone time the Lady Vols lost in the first or second
round came when they fell 71-55 to Bowling Green in a 2009
opening-round game.

Alexis Akin-Otiko scored 12 points for No. 10 seed Creighton (25-8),
which was denied its first appearance in a regional semifinal.

Tennessee led 35-31 early in the second half before a 13-0 run broke
the game open. Creighton couldn't cut the margin below nine points the
rest of the way.

The Lady Vols won by silencing Creighton's 3-point attack.

Creighton came in ranked second nationally with just over nine
3-pointers per game, but Tennessee outscored the Bluejays from beyond
the arc. The Lady Vols were 6 of 10 from 3-point range, while the
Bluejays went 4 of 22.

Ariel Massengale, Meighan Simmons and Taber Spani each went 2 of 3
from long range. Massengale scored 11 points for Tennessee, while
Simmons and Spani each added 10.

Tennessee improved its all-time NCAA tournament record to 114-23, a
mark that includes eight national titles and 18 Final Four
appearances. Creighton is 3-5 in NCAA tournament games.

But neither Tennessee's partisan crowd nor the Lady Vols' rich
postseason history intimidated Creighton in the early going.

Creighton briefly led 16-15 midway through a first half that also
featured five ties, the last coming after Creighton center Alyssa
Kamphaus made it 24-24 on a layup with 3:38 left. Tennessee led 35-29
at halftime.

Kamphaus, a 6-foot-3 junior, is Creighton's only player over 6 feet --
Tennessee has six players taller than that -- but the Bluejays
finished the first half with just as many rebounds (16) as Tennessee
and actually outrebounded the Lady Vols 9-7 on the offensive glass.

But the Bluejays couldn't maintain that momentum and missed 11 of
their first 12 shots in the second half.

After McKenzie Fujan's basket cut Tennessee's lead to 35-31 with 17-35
remaining, Tennessee turned up its defensive intensity and broke the
game open.

Spani started the run with a 3-pointer and followed with a steal.
Bashaara Graves delivered a basket in the paint. Williams then made a
steal and passed to Simmons, who threw it back to Simmons for a
fast-break layup. Massengale and Simmons capped the 13-0 spurt by
sinking consecutive 3-pointers.

Tennessee eventually led by as many as 19. Creighton got back into the
game with a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to 59-50 on a pair of Ally
Jensen free throws with 4:42 left, but that's as close as the Bluejays
got the rest of the way.

Tennessee 83, Oral Roberts 62

Meighan Simmons scored 18 points, and the Tennessee Vols defeated Oral
Roberts 83-62 in their first NCAA tournament game of the post-Pat
Summitt era.

The Vols (25-7) got points from all 11 players and improved to 51-0 in
NCAA tournament games on their home floor.

Tennessee is 49-1 in first-round and second-round games, falling to
Ball State in a 2009 opening-round game.

Tennessee advanced to a second-round game against No. 10 seed Creighton.

Mercedes Russell named Gatorade Player of Year

Mercedes Russell, the No. 1 prospect in the espnW HoopGurlz Top 100 for the 2013 class, was named the Gatorade National Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-6 Tennessee recruit finished her high school career at Springfield (Ore.) with 2,273 points, 1,642 rebounds and 562 blocked shots. As a senior, she averaged 25.1 points, 12.3 rebounds, 5.5 blocked shots, 3.9 assists and 2.0 steals per game. She has also won two gold medals with USA Basketball.

Russell, a two-time Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, will play in the McDonald’s All American Games next month in Chicago. She maintained a 3.15 GPA and has volunteered for Oregon Amateur Basketball, the Special Olympics, a community beautification project and an elementary education literacy-outreach program.

Past winners of the Gatorade player of the year include Breanna Stewart (2012), Skylar Diggins (2009), Maya Moore (2007), Candace Parker (2003-04) and Lisa Leslie (1990).

Pat Summitt presented 2013 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s College Basketball Award

Pat Summitt, the all-time winningest coach in NCAA basketball history, can add one more career achievement award to her trophy case.

Summitt, the women’s basketball head coach emeritus at Tennessee, was presented the 2013 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s College Basketball Award on Tuesday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

First given in 1999 to Margaret Wade, the Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s Basketball Award is presented annually to individuals whose extraordinary efforts have made contributions of outstanding significance and have created a long-lasting positive impact on the game of basketball.

The recipients display character, integrity and dignity, and have contributed mightily to the growth, success and viability of basketball. To be eligible, an individual must have been involved with the sport in a capacity related to coaching, broadcasting, college administration or the news media.

Summitt is the only coach in NCAA history with 1,000 victories and holds a career record of 1,098-208. She retired in 2012 after spending her entire 38-year career coaching at the University of Tennessee. During her tenure, Summitt led the Lady Vols to eight NCAA Women’s National Championships and 16 SEC Championships, and was named Naismith Women’s College Coach of the Year five times (1987, 1989, 1994, 1998, 2004). On May 29th, 2012, President Obama presented Summitt with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Selected by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Directors, Summitt was recognized at the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Naismith Awards Banquet.

“If it’s possible to be both proud and humbled at the same time, I am at being named as the winner of the 2013 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women’s College Basketball Award,” Summitt said. “Any award associated with the name Naismith is a special award. I have always enjoyed my association with the Atlanta Tipoff Club and have appreciated all they have done to grow and promote the game of basketball.”

“It’s hard to imagine what women’s college basketball would be today had Pat not been the pioneer that she was,” said Eric Oberman, Atlanta Tipoff Club executive director. “Her contributions, both on and off the court, embody the very meaning of this award and her imprint on the sport will live on forever.”

SEC Awards

Holly Warlick was a unanimous choice as SEC Coach of the Year. Freshman center Bashaara Graves was picked as newcomer of the year on every ballot. Meighan Simmons was a first-team choice.

Warlick stepped into some mighty big shoes at Tennessee. She replaced the winningest coach in college basketball history after Summitt was diagnosed with early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.

The Lady Vols (24-7) didn't miss a beat, romping to another SEC championship and heading into their 32nd straight NCAA tournament as the No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City Regional.

Warlick, a former Tennessee player and longtime Summitt assistant, still leans on her former boss, who remained part of the program as the coach emeritus.

''The whole season has been different, and at times, it's hard,'' Warlick said. ''Other times, it's OK. But I still have her there. She's still around these young ladies. She's still there in spirit and everything else, and she's still a vital part of this team.''

Warlick also was chosen as coach of the year by her SEC colleagues.

''Holly deserves all the credit,'' Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said. ''She's got the hardest job in America. Remember how many people tried to replace John Wooden? They're still trying to replace him. You've got the right person in Holly. She's doing a great job, because Pat Summitt is our John Wooden.''

''I'm just doing what I've been taught to do,'' Warlick said. ''I just wanted to come in, put a stamp on this program and make sure we carried on the tradition.''

The transition was helped along by the arrival of Graves, a 6-foot-2 force in the frontcourt. The freshman averaged 13.8 points (ninth in the SEC) and ranked sixth in rebounding (8.3 per game). Graves made the SEC second team.

''I would like to still consider myself a freshman, but everybody else (does) not,'' Graves said. ''The coaches tell me all the time, `Bashaara, you're not a freshman, so you don't have time to play like a freshman. You can't be out there like a freshman.' I'm not (a freshman) in everybody else's eyes.''

Warlick knew right from the beginning that Graves would play a major role in the post-Summitt era.

''Bashaara showed up ready to work from day one,'' the coach said. ''She has battled inside for us all year and put in a lot of minutes against some very talented players in this league and around the country. You certainly don't find that kind of consistent production from a freshman very often, and it became obvious fairly quickly that she was going to be one of those players for us.''

Lady Vols await first tourney of post-Summitt era

Tennessee will need to produce at least one more surprise in order to earn the program's first Final Four appearance since its 2008 national championship.

The second-seeded Lady Vols (24-7) open the NCAA tournament Saturday on their home floor against No. 15 seed Oral Roberts (18-12). Tennessee is in the Oklahoma City regional that includes defending national champion and No. 1 overall seed Baylor, which beat the Lady Vols in two of the last three NCAA tournaments.

''Of course, I don't know of too many people who would say, `Gosh, I'd love to be in Baylor's bracket,' '' Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said. ''I think everybody in Baylor's bracket would want to be in the others, but it is what it is.''

That puts Tennessee in a position where it has to beat the odds again.

Although Tennessee is the only team that has reached the tournament ever since the NCAA started running it in 1982, this marks the first year Pat Summitt isn't on the bench. Tennessee traditionally has watched the unveiling of the NCAA brackets at Summitt's home, but she was out of town Monday and the Lady Vols instead viewed Monday's selection show from a Neyland Stadium club overlooking the 50-yard line on one side and downtown Knoxville on the other.

''I think this team enjoys the underdog role,'' Warlick said.

That role isn't typical for Tennessee, but this season has been anything but typical.

Summitt announced in 2011 that she had early-onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, and she ended her 38-year coaching tenure last April with 1,098 wins, eight national titles and 18 Final Four appearances. Summitt remains on staff as head coach emeritus, attends most practices and was in the stands for nearly every home game this season.

Not much was expected of these Lady Vols - at least not by Tennessee standards.

Tennessee didn't return a single player who started an NCAA tournament game last year during its run to a regional final. The Lady Vols were ranked 20th in the preseason Top 25. After getting stunned by Chattanooga in their season opener, they dropped to 24th, their lowest ranking since 1985.

Tennessee was picked to end up fifth in the SEC by the league's coaches, while the SEC media had the Lady Vols finishing fourth. Tennessee instead won its 17th regular-season conference title, but lost in the SEC tournament.

''We take it as motivation,'' sophomore forward Cierra Burdick said. ''People have been calling us underdogs all year. They picked us fifth in the SEC. ... We've just proved all these people wrong. It would just make a statement for the season that we've had if we could make a lot of noise in the tournament and make a deep run. It would just be the ultimate conclusion to our season.''

Tennessee also has had to overcome injuries to get to this point.

Freshman guard Andraya Carter underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after starting five of Tennessee's first seven games. Burdick missed eight games with a broken right hand. Sophomore center Isabelle Harrison has sat out nine of Tennessee's last 11 games with an injured left knee that required surgery, though she has returned to practice and hopes to play this weekend.

''This team has surprised a lot of people,'' Warlick said. ''Nothing really fazes us.''

No. 2 Seed in Oklahoma City Region

Tennessee is the No. 2 seed in the Oklahoma City Region. Baylor is the No. 1 seed in the region.

Tennessee will host the first and second games and play on their home floor. The first round match-up will feature the Lady Vols against Oral Roberts. A possible second round match-up would feature the Lady Vols against either (7) Syracuse or (10) Creighton.

(19) Texas A&M 66 - (9) Tennessee 62

When Tennessee led Texas A&M by 10 points midway through the second half, Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick said her players got comfortable.

Courtney Walker and the Aggies got busy.

Walker had back-to-back baskets to start No. 19 Texas A&M's comeback, and Courtney Williams delivered the go-ahead jumper with 33 seconds remaining as the Aggies beat ninth-ranked Tennessee 66-62 in the Southeastern conference semifinals Saturday, ending the Lady Vols' bid for a fourth straight championship.

Taber Spani had a career-high 33 points for top-seeded Tennessee (24-7), the SEC's regular-season champion. The Aggies, the No. 4 seed, are playing in their first SEC tournament.

Meighan Simmons had 10 points for the Lady Vols. No other Tennessee player scored in double figures, but Warlick focused on the Lady Vols' defensive problems.

"It boiled down to us getting stops, and we couldn't get any stops," Warlick said. "Texas A&M was persistent and they hit big shots. We didn't have an answer."

Spani, a senior averaging 10.2 points, made 11 of 13 shots from the field -- including five of six from 3-point range. She set her previous career high with 24 points against Vanderbilt on Jan. 24. It was her only game with 20 or more points in the regular season.

Spani became the first Tennessee player to score 30 points against a conference opponent this season.

"I was just trying to do everything I could to keep us in the game, hopefully with a W," Spani said. "Unfortunately, we came up short."

(9) Tennessee 82, Florida 73

DULUTH, GA — A late rally from Florida left Tennessee coach Holly Warlick thinking the Lady Vols haven't learned how to put a team away.

Meighan Simmons scored 20 points and Tennessee turned back Florida's late run to beat the Gators 82-73 Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southeastern Conference tournament.

No. 9 Tennessee (24-6), the three-time defending champion, has won 10 straight games in the tournament since its loss to Auburn in the 2009 semifinals. Warlick, previously the longtime assistant to Pat Summitt, wasn't satisfied with her first postseason win as coach.

"I think the first 10 minutes we set the tone and then we just get comfortable," Warlick said. "We get a lead and we get comfortable. We've got to have that killer instinct in us and finish the game the way we start the game."

The Lady Vols will face the South Carolina-Texas A&M winner in Saturday's first semifinal.

Tennessee took its biggest lead of 13 points at 17-4, but couldn't put the game away.

"I think on the offensive end we're just talented," said Cierra Burdick, who had 14 points and eight rebounds. "We've got a bunch of people that can score the basketball. ... We've got to continue to pick it up on defense, because offense is not our problem. It's the defensive end."

Sydney Moss led Florida (18-14) with a career-high 22 points. Moss had a steal and basket with 49 seconds remaining to cut Tennessee's lead to 75-69 — the Lady Vols' smallest of the half.

Ariel Massengale and Simmons each made two free throws in the final 43 seconds to help seal the win. Taber Spani missed a one-and-one free throw with 30 seconds remaining, but Jaterra Bonds missed a layup for Florida.

Spani, who had 13 points, made three free throws in the final 16 seconds.

Bonds had 18 points and Carlie Needles scored 12 on four 3-pointers for Florida.

Tennessee edged Florida 78-75 in overtime in Gainesville on Jan. 13, giving the Gators confidence they could win the rematch.

"We didn't come here to play close or make it respectable or with any other expectation except to win," said Florida coach Amanda Butler.

After Moss opened the game with a driving basket for Florida, Tennessee scored the next 12 points and never lost the lead.

The Lady Vols ran on every opportunity, sometimes forcing Florida to foul. Tennessee outscored Florida 23-6 on free throws.

"Tennessee did a great job of getting themselves to the free-throw line and really capitalized on those opportunities," Butler said.

Warlick said she wanted her players to force the tempo with a "make or miss" mentality.

"We wanted a fast-tempo game," Warlick said. "I thought we set the tone early. I thought Florida did a great job of adjusting."

Tennessee closed the regular-season with a loss at Kentucky. Simmons said the renewed emphasis on pushing the tempo was "a major difference" against the Gators.

"We came out a lot more hungry this game," Simmons said. "We had a lot of high energy from the coaches on down."

Moss scored the Gators' first eight points. Florida cut into the Lady Vols' lead when it found more help for Moss — especially from long-range shots. Florida had six 3-pointers in the first half, including three by Needles. A 3-pointer by Lily Svete cut the Lady Vols' lead to 24-22.

Tennessee stretched its advantage to 47-36 at halftime.

Florida got within seven points midway through the second half. Tennessee led 63-56 with 7:23 remaining when Simmons drew her fourth foul on a charge and left the game. The Lady Vols produced an 8-2 run that included two baskets by Burdick, pushing the lead to 71-58.

Simmons returned for the final 2:39 and had a layup with 1:05 remaining after Florida pulled within eight points.

Tennessee won 16 SEC tournaments and eight national championships in 38 seasons with Summitt, who stepped down last April after announcing in 2011 she has early onset dementia. She did not attend the game.

Tennessee's Warlick SEC Women's Coach Of The Year

Tennessee's Holly Warlick is the Southeastern Conference coach of the year after replacing Pat Summitt and leading the Lady Vols to a league regular-season title in her inaugural season, league officials announced Tuesday.

Kentucky's A'dia Mathies and Tennessee's Meighan Simmons are co-players of the year. Tennessee forward Bashaara Graves was selected freshman of the year. South Carolina's Ieasia Walker was named defensive player of the year. Arkansas' Sarah Watkins and Missouri's Morgan Eye shared the 6th Woman of the Year award. Auburn's Blanche Alverson was named the conference's scholar-athlete of the year.

Awards and all-conference teams were chosen by the league's 14 coaches.

First-team all-conference picks included Mathies, Simmons, Graves and Walker plus Georgia's Jasmine Hassell, Kentucky's DeNesha Stallworth, LSU's Theresa Plaisance, Texas A&M's Kelsey Bone and Vanderbilt's Tiffany Clarke.

(10) Kentucky 78, (8) Tennessee 65

Only after A'dia Mathies beat No. 8 Tennessee did the Kentucky senior guard show some sentimentality over playing her final home game with the Wildcats.

She was typically reserved in thanking the sellout crowd at Memorial Coliseum, which witnessed Mathies at her cool and collected best during a second-half run that helped No. 10 Kentucky send her and fellow senior Brittany Henderson out as winners.

Mathies scored 13 of her 16 points in the second half, highlighted by back-to-back 3-pointers during Kentucky's 19-6 run, helping the Wildcats pull away from Tennessee for a 78-65 victory on Sunday.

Simmons led Tennessee with 17 points.

A depleted roster might have been a reason for regular-season champion Tennessee (23-6, 14-2). The Volunteers played without center Isabelle Harrison, who sustained a right knee injury Thursday and is considered week to week.

Point guard Ariel Massengale, who was also questionable with a knee injury, started and finished with five points. Bashaara Graves had 12 points, Cierra Burdick added 11 with 11 rebounds and Taber Spani also had 11 for Tennessee.

There was nothing on the line for the Lady Volunteers, who took care of their most important matter by clinching the SEC on Thursday. But they were concerned about the future of Harrison, who dressed but spent most of the game with an ice pack on her knee. She had already missed six games this season with a left knee injury requiring surgery.

Injuries have been an issue for Tennessee, which lost freshman guard Andraya Carter for the season with a torn labrum on her right shoulder while Burdick missed eight games with a broken bone in her right hand. Kamiko Williams also hurt her right leg in the first half Sunday but returned to play 26 minutes.

"It's just things that we've had to deal with," Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said of the injuries. "It's part of the game. People have to step up, and we didn't step up today."

Legendary Coach Pat Summitt to Speak at Minnesota Alzheimer's Conference

Doctors call it an epidemic and in Minnesota almost 98,000 people are suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

This weekend hundreds of people from across the country are coming to St. Paul to talk about dementia and there will be a special guest on hand to help. Pat Summitt will speak during a conference called "Meeting of the Minds" hosted by the Alzheimer's Association and Mayo Clinic.

Summitt is the winningest college basketball coach of all time, capturing 8 national titles during her 38 year career. In 2011, Summitt announced that doctors at Mayo clinic had diagnosed her with early onset Alzheimer's.

"What courage it takes to step outside of your box that you are used to being in and say, 'I am going through something and it's difficult and I'm going to need help but I'm also going to fight it,'" said Michelle Marciniak, who played for the Lady Vols under Summitt.

Marciniak remembers when her former coach started to change.

"Ok, now we just had a conversation, it was a very intense conversation, it was a great conversation, and then the next morning, she wouldn't remember it. For me, that was the trigger," Marciniak said.

Summitt is not alone. More than half of all Americans know someone with Alzheimer's. Every 68 seconds someone in America develops the disease.

"It's very difficult but it's also something that we're all trying to celebrate her while she's here and while we still have her," Marciniak said.

Dee and Chase Israelson live in Sacramento, California but come to Mayo Clinic several times a year for treatment. They will join more than 1,300 people at the conference Saturday.

"I don't think anyone could say when it started but it was noticeable enough that our adult children were saying, 'Hey something's wrong here,'" Chase Israelson said.

Dee Israelson does not have Alzheimer's but about a year ago she was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment.

"I think it's important for me to plan somewhat for the future but at the same time not to get obsessed with it... If I'm obsessed with it, I'm more apt to go into depression, that would just make it worse," Dee Israelson said.

Summitt speaks at 8:30 Saturday morning at the St. Paul RiverCentre. The conference is sold out.

"If you are going through this with someone, you just have to love them. And you just have to be there. And you may be sitting in a room and it may be absolutely silent and that's ok," Marciniak said.

At the current rate, doctors believe as many as 16 million Americans will have Alzheimer's by 2025.