The defending 2007 NCAA Champion Tennessee Lady Vols have been predicted as the nation's number one women's basketball team in a majority of the preseason polls.
Lindy's, The Sporting News, Gballmag.com, CBS Sports.com and CSTV.com, all gave Tennessee the top nod, while Athlon's predicted a third place national finish as the only dissenting poll.
In all, the Lady Vols will face 14 teams ranked in the preseason polls headlined by the 2007 Final Four participants Rutgers, North Carolina and LSU, who all face UT on "The Summitt" in the newly renovated Thompson-Boling Arena in Knoxville. Other top 25 teams Tennessee will battle in the coming season include: Georgia, Stanford, Duke, West Virginia, Oklahoma, Texas, DePaul, Auburn, Middle Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Notre Dame. Tennessee opens the 2007-08 season with a pair of exhibition games facing the USA National Team in Knoxville on Nov. 4 and Carson-Newman on Nov. 6. Regular season play cranks up on Nov. 11 against Chattanooga as the 20th anniversary of the Thompson-Boling Arena will be celebrated. The Lady Vols go on the road to Tampa, site of the 2008 Final Four, and will play Oklahoma on Nov. 15. Following that contest, the Lady Vols return home to hang the seventh NCAA Championship banner prior to the Texas game on Nov. 18.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Lady Vols loaded for repeat title run
KNOXVILLE — The Tennessee Lady Vols have the talent, depth and experience to defend their national championship successfully in the upcoming basketball season, but a lot depends on chemistry and commitment.
“Two years ago, we didn’t particularly like each other, we didn’t play well together and we didn’t get to a Final Four,” Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt said. “Last year, we had great chemistry.
“What I see right now appears to be something that will be special chemistry, but they are not aware of what it’s like to carry the big old national championship on your back, every possession, every game. Can they live up to it? In my estimation, we have the talent to do so.”
That talent includes four returning starters in junior All-American Candace Parker, senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle, senior point guard Shannon Bobbitt and senior center Nicky Anosike, as well as four freshmen that Summitt believes can contribute immediately.
Parker, everyone’s all-everything Player of the Year, is coming off a summer on the USA Women’s Basketball National Team, in which she improved her already-impressive game and got plenty of advice from long-time WNBA forward Tina Thompson. Among other members of the team were Sue Bird, Katie Smith, Kara Lawson and Diana Taurasi.
“Tina Thompson was instrumental in my development,” Parker said. “Just reiterating for me to remember that I am 6-foot-4, and that although I have the skills to play on the outside and face up and shoot fade-away jump shots, to take what the defense gives you, and if that’s going to the basket every time, make them stop you.
“She showed me a couple different moves and a counter move and helped me out a lot.”
Hornbuckle and Anosike spent the summer playing on the Pan American team that won a gold medal.
As much a catalyst for last season’s national title run as Parker, Hornbuckle has been “by far the strongest leader on the team” in the offseason, Summitt said. “It’s always a challenge to try and blend new players with veterans. Alexis Hornbuckle has done a tremendous job of taking those players aside and going over plays.
“The fact that she’s willing to give to other people and help make this process one that’s not a difficult transition — but something that they can grasp — I’m really pleased with that.”
Anosike’s postseason play and her 16 rebounds in the national championship game against Rutgers realized her potential, and Bobbitt’s improvement is something “I don’t want to mess with,” Summitt said.
In the newcomers, Summitt sees the potential to improve Tennessee’s inside presence as well as compensate for the loss of 3-point shooters Sidney Spencer and Dominique Redding.
Center Kelley Cain, who is from Atlanta, is 6-6 and has what Summitt calls “great size, great hands, great presence on the floor.” Vicki Baugh, a 6-4 forward from Sacramento, Calif., is “impressive just because of her athleticism and her competitive drive.
“I’ve already seen significant improvement in our inside game, which is giving us more depth to shift Candace Parker to the perimeter some and perhaps Alex Fuller as well,” Summitt said.
Guards Angie Bjorklund, from Spokane Valley, Wash., and Sydney Smallbone, of Granger, Ind., should bring fire power to the perimeter.
“Angie Bjorklund has a lot of basketball savvy,” Summitt said. “I like it that she can shoot the 3-ball and put it on the floor, and her composure on the court has really caught our eye and settled our team down in the half court.
“Sidney Smallbone, the same thing. I was playing her at the point and I don’t think she made a shot in three practices, so I put her at the two, and I think she’s very comfortable there.”
Hornbuckle has been working on her perimeter shooting and is much improved, and Alberta Auguste is shooting the ball better, too, Summitt said.
“You always worry about what happens after you win a championship,” Summitt said. “For this team — because it’s the first for any one of the players on the team — this team has demonstrated through practice and in offseason that they like being on the big stage and they are very motivated.”
The Lady Vols, ranked No. 1 in nearly every national preseason poll, will play their first exhibition game in the newly-renovated Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 4, against the USA Senior National Team. Following a second exhibition game against Carson-Newman, Tennessee will open the regular season by hosting UT Chattanooga on Nov. 11.
“Two years ago, we didn’t particularly like each other, we didn’t play well together and we didn’t get to a Final Four,” Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt said. “Last year, we had great chemistry.
“What I see right now appears to be something that will be special chemistry, but they are not aware of what it’s like to carry the big old national championship on your back, every possession, every game. Can they live up to it? In my estimation, we have the talent to do so.”
That talent includes four returning starters in junior All-American Candace Parker, senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle, senior point guard Shannon Bobbitt and senior center Nicky Anosike, as well as four freshmen that Summitt believes can contribute immediately.
Parker, everyone’s all-everything Player of the Year, is coming off a summer on the USA Women’s Basketball National Team, in which she improved her already-impressive game and got plenty of advice from long-time WNBA forward Tina Thompson. Among other members of the team were Sue Bird, Katie Smith, Kara Lawson and Diana Taurasi.
“Tina Thompson was instrumental in my development,” Parker said. “Just reiterating for me to remember that I am 6-foot-4, and that although I have the skills to play on the outside and face up and shoot fade-away jump shots, to take what the defense gives you, and if that’s going to the basket every time, make them stop you.
“She showed me a couple different moves and a counter move and helped me out a lot.”
Hornbuckle and Anosike spent the summer playing on the Pan American team that won a gold medal.
As much a catalyst for last season’s national title run as Parker, Hornbuckle has been “by far the strongest leader on the team” in the offseason, Summitt said. “It’s always a challenge to try and blend new players with veterans. Alexis Hornbuckle has done a tremendous job of taking those players aside and going over plays.
“The fact that she’s willing to give to other people and help make this process one that’s not a difficult transition — but something that they can grasp — I’m really pleased with that.”
Anosike’s postseason play and her 16 rebounds in the national championship game against Rutgers realized her potential, and Bobbitt’s improvement is something “I don’t want to mess with,” Summitt said.
In the newcomers, Summitt sees the potential to improve Tennessee’s inside presence as well as compensate for the loss of 3-point shooters Sidney Spencer and Dominique Redding.
Center Kelley Cain, who is from Atlanta, is 6-6 and has what Summitt calls “great size, great hands, great presence on the floor.” Vicki Baugh, a 6-4 forward from Sacramento, Calif., is “impressive just because of her athleticism and her competitive drive.
“I’ve already seen significant improvement in our inside game, which is giving us more depth to shift Candace Parker to the perimeter some and perhaps Alex Fuller as well,” Summitt said.
Guards Angie Bjorklund, from Spokane Valley, Wash., and Sydney Smallbone, of Granger, Ind., should bring fire power to the perimeter.
“Angie Bjorklund has a lot of basketball savvy,” Summitt said. “I like it that she can shoot the 3-ball and put it on the floor, and her composure on the court has really caught our eye and settled our team down in the half court.
“Sidney Smallbone, the same thing. I was playing her at the point and I don’t think she made a shot in three practices, so I put her at the two, and I think she’s very comfortable there.”
Hornbuckle has been working on her perimeter shooting and is much improved, and Alberta Auguste is shooting the ball better, too, Summitt said.
“You always worry about what happens after you win a championship,” Summitt said. “For this team — because it’s the first for any one of the players on the team — this team has demonstrated through practice and in offseason that they like being on the big stage and they are very motivated.”
The Lady Vols, ranked No. 1 in nearly every national preseason poll, will play their first exhibition game in the newly-renovated Thompson-Boling Arena on Nov. 4, against the USA Senior National Team. Following a second exhibition game against Carson-Newman, Tennessee will open the regular season by hosting UT Chattanooga on Nov. 11.
Kamiko Williams
The Tennessee Lady Vols also picked up a commitment on Thursday, but it wasn't Webb's Glory Johnson or any player from the Class of 2008. Instead, head coach Pat Summitt got a head start on the Class of 2009.
Clarksville's Kamiko Williams announced she would sign with the Lady Vols in November of 2008. The word came after Williams took an unofficial visit to Knoxville.
A junior at Northeast High School, Williams brings an international flavor to the game after living extensively in Europe while her father served in the United States military.
She earned all-state honors as a sophomore last season, her first in the States. Williams and Dawn Evans, a James Madison freshman the Eagles to their first-ever Class AAA state tournament last season.
Despite the commitment, Williams also said she would still take all of her allowed official visits. Those trips could include Vanderbilt, Florida, North Carolina State, North Carolina and/or Clemson.
Clarksville's Kamiko Williams announced she would sign with the Lady Vols in November of 2008. The word came after Williams took an unofficial visit to Knoxville.
A junior at Northeast High School, Williams brings an international flavor to the game after living extensively in Europe while her father served in the United States military.
She earned all-state honors as a sophomore last season, her first in the States. Williams and Dawn Evans, a James Madison freshman the Eagles to their first-ever Class AAA state tournament last season.
Despite the commitment, Williams also said she would still take all of her allowed official visits. Those trips could include Vanderbilt, Florida, North Carolina State, North Carolina and/or Clemson.
Parker's focus on present
Busy off-season left behind as Lady Vol takes aim at another title
Candace Parker plucked three basketballs off the ball rack and put on a juggling act Thursday afternoon at Stokely Athletics Center.
The Tennessee All-American's performance was a nifty sideshow at the Lady Vols media day. It was not a warm-up for something more daring.
Parker made it clear she wouldn't try anything comparable with her thoughts about USA Basketball, her engagement to Atlanta Hawks player Shelden Williams and her attention to UT hoops.
"No no, no. None of that; none of that,'' Parker said. "It's all about college basketball right now."
No wedding planning. Parker said the wedding date hasn't been set yet. No indication whether this season will turn out to be the redshirt junior's final season at Tennessee either.
"I'm looking at it one day at a time,'' Parker said. "I'd rather leave it at that. If you get caught up in the future, your mind gets to wandering."
It's hard to ignore her future after another successful stint with USA Basketball last month and with the Olympics looming next year. And then there's the impending nuptials as well.
Earlier this week, UT coach Pat Summitt considered Parker's crowded agenda and said, "All indications with where she (Parker) is, the timing of everything, there's obviously a good chance we'll see one more year from Candace."
Regardless, Parker is putting together a strong case for playing in the present. She sidestepped a directive last week advising more rest after playing the five-game Olympic qualifying tournament in Chile and returned to practice on Saturday.
"I think if I'm going to watch practice, I might as well get out there and play,'' she said. "A few more days really weren't going to help me. My knees are fine."
At Thursday's practice, she showed off an improved perimeter jumper, a skill she polished during the summer by shooting with, among other people, her brother Anthony, who plays for the NBA's Toronto Raptors.
"I've been working a lot on my shot this summer,'' she said, "making it more consistent, more reliable."
In effect, Parker was working on the only semblance of a juggling act on her docket for this season. Along with playing at power forward, she will be utilized at small forward.
Parker's dual role will be part of a larger strategy, namely deploying a bigger lineup.
"I think we have a unique opportunity to go big this season,'' Parker said. "I think this team has a unique opportunity to take advantage of some mismatches."
Parker is embracing her expanded duties with a degree of caution. During practice, she'll remind the coaches to get her some reps at the four - hoops vernacular for power forward. On Thursday, she addressed playing both positions by saying, "It's a challenge. I like playing the four."
It's an interesting perspective from someone who, two seasons ago, seemingly couldn't wait to get to the perimeter. She fudged on her 6-foot-5 height so as not to be thought of exclusively as a post player.
It's a more mature perspective, Dean Lockwood said. UT's assistant coach said that he sees a lot less "fluff" in Parker's game. Fewer fade-away jumpers and more ruthless efficiency.
"To me, she's a little more cold-blooded,'' Lockwood said. "She's going to think about how she's going to cut you up. She knows what she's good at. She's going to go right to that."
Parker was awfully good at power forward last season, averaging 19.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and receiving two national player-of-the-year awards - the Wade Trophy and the Wooden Award.
"She knows when things get tight, with her at the four, unless people are coming with double- or triple (teams), there aren't a whole lot of folks who can stop her,'' Lockwood said.
Summitt said Parker's small-forward duty will depend on how games play out. Wherever she's playing, Parker wants to make the most of the opportunity.
"I think one thing I did learn this summer is it doesn't matter how you score, it doesn't matter the way you score, it's doing what the team needs you to do,'' she said. "I know my natural position is the four, but I'm willing to play whatever position my team needs."
Candace Parker plucked three basketballs off the ball rack and put on a juggling act Thursday afternoon at Stokely Athletics Center.
The Tennessee All-American's performance was a nifty sideshow at the Lady Vols media day. It was not a warm-up for something more daring.
Parker made it clear she wouldn't try anything comparable with her thoughts about USA Basketball, her engagement to Atlanta Hawks player Shelden Williams and her attention to UT hoops.
"No no, no. None of that; none of that,'' Parker said. "It's all about college basketball right now."
No wedding planning. Parker said the wedding date hasn't been set yet. No indication whether this season will turn out to be the redshirt junior's final season at Tennessee either.
"I'm looking at it one day at a time,'' Parker said. "I'd rather leave it at that. If you get caught up in the future, your mind gets to wandering."
It's hard to ignore her future after another successful stint with USA Basketball last month and with the Olympics looming next year. And then there's the impending nuptials as well.
Earlier this week, UT coach Pat Summitt considered Parker's crowded agenda and said, "All indications with where she (Parker) is, the timing of everything, there's obviously a good chance we'll see one more year from Candace."
Regardless, Parker is putting together a strong case for playing in the present. She sidestepped a directive last week advising more rest after playing the five-game Olympic qualifying tournament in Chile and returned to practice on Saturday.
"I think if I'm going to watch practice, I might as well get out there and play,'' she said. "A few more days really weren't going to help me. My knees are fine."
At Thursday's practice, she showed off an improved perimeter jumper, a skill she polished during the summer by shooting with, among other people, her brother Anthony, who plays for the NBA's Toronto Raptors.
"I've been working a lot on my shot this summer,'' she said, "making it more consistent, more reliable."
In effect, Parker was working on the only semblance of a juggling act on her docket for this season. Along with playing at power forward, she will be utilized at small forward.
Parker's dual role will be part of a larger strategy, namely deploying a bigger lineup.
"I think we have a unique opportunity to go big this season,'' Parker said. "I think this team has a unique opportunity to take advantage of some mismatches."
Parker is embracing her expanded duties with a degree of caution. During practice, she'll remind the coaches to get her some reps at the four - hoops vernacular for power forward. On Thursday, she addressed playing both positions by saying, "It's a challenge. I like playing the four."
It's an interesting perspective from someone who, two seasons ago, seemingly couldn't wait to get to the perimeter. She fudged on her 6-foot-5 height so as not to be thought of exclusively as a post player.
It's a more mature perspective, Dean Lockwood said. UT's assistant coach said that he sees a lot less "fluff" in Parker's game. Fewer fade-away jumpers and more ruthless efficiency.
"To me, she's a little more cold-blooded,'' Lockwood said. "She's going to think about how she's going to cut you up. She knows what she's good at. She's going to go right to that."
Parker was awfully good at power forward last season, averaging 19.6 points and 9.8 rebounds per game and receiving two national player-of-the-year awards - the Wade Trophy and the Wooden Award.
"She knows when things get tight, with her at the four, unless people are coming with double- or triple (teams), there aren't a whole lot of folks who can stop her,'' Lockwood said.
Summitt said Parker's small-forward duty will depend on how games play out. Wherever she's playing, Parker wants to make the most of the opportunity.
"I think one thing I did learn this summer is it doesn't matter how you score, it doesn't matter the way you score, it's doing what the team needs you to do,'' she said. "I know my natural position is the four, but I'm willing to play whatever position my team needs."
Rehab going well for McMahan
KNOXVILLE — Cait McMahan will be watching from the bench this season as the Tennessee Lady Vols defend their national championship, but that won’t lessen her enthusiasm as a member of the team.
The former Heritage standout and Lady Vol sophomore had knee surgery in June that will keep her on a measured and lengthy rehabilitation during the upcoming basketball season, but she will be at every practice and every game.
“It is frustrating, but there are some people out there that are in much worse situations than I am,” McMahan said on Thursday at Lady Vol Media Day. “I’m watching the girls practice and hitting the weight room and working hard at that, so it’s OK.
“(I plan to be a ) leader, a vocal leader. When coaches get down on players, I want to be there for them and let them know what’s going on.”
McMahan, who averaged 14 minutes a game at backup point guard in her freshman season, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in 2005, and has had recurring problems since then.
“There was a hole in my bone and it had to be refilled,” McMahan said. “The surgery I had before the season was arthroscopic. They were going in to see what was going on. They told me I could either have the surgery then or after the season.”
McMahan chose to play her freshman year.
“It killed me the whole season. I had to miss some practices because of the swelling,” she said.
“Right now I’m doing therapy in the weight room, single-leg stuff. Depending on what my knee looks like, (assistant athletic director for sports medicine) Jenny (Moshak) lets me do other things. Some days she lets me do defensive slides and I do a lot of bouncing.”
McMahan is known for doing a lot of bouncing on the bench, too, and that will continue this season as she works slowly toward being able to run and make cuts again.
“I asked Jenny (about running). It’s either late December or January,” McMahan said. “We’re not pushing it at all because it’s a healing process. But I’m hoping it’ll be January.”
The former Heritage standout and Lady Vol sophomore had knee surgery in June that will keep her on a measured and lengthy rehabilitation during the upcoming basketball season, but she will be at every practice and every game.
“It is frustrating, but there are some people out there that are in much worse situations than I am,” McMahan said on Thursday at Lady Vol Media Day. “I’m watching the girls practice and hitting the weight room and working hard at that, so it’s OK.
“(I plan to be a ) leader, a vocal leader. When coaches get down on players, I want to be there for them and let them know what’s going on.”
McMahan, who averaged 14 minutes a game at backup point guard in her freshman season, tore the anterior cruciate ligament in her knee in 2005, and has had recurring problems since then.
“There was a hole in my bone and it had to be refilled,” McMahan said. “The surgery I had before the season was arthroscopic. They were going in to see what was going on. They told me I could either have the surgery then or after the season.”
McMahan chose to play her freshman year.
“It killed me the whole season. I had to miss some practices because of the swelling,” she said.
“Right now I’m doing therapy in the weight room, single-leg stuff. Depending on what my knee looks like, (assistant athletic director for sports medicine) Jenny (Moshak) lets me do other things. Some days she lets me do defensive slides and I do a lot of bouncing.”
McMahan is known for doing a lot of bouncing on the bench, too, and that will continue this season as she works slowly toward being able to run and make cuts again.
“I asked Jenny (about running). It’s either late December or January,” McMahan said. “We’re not pushing it at all because it’s a healing process. But I’m hoping it’ll be January.”
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt knows teams need perfect chemistry for NCAA title runs
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee coach Pat Summitt knows talent will only get you so far in college basketball.
She's had Lady Vols teams loaded with stars that haven't reached the NCAA Final Four. She's had teams with six and 10 losses win national championships.
"Two years ago, we didn't particularly like each other, we didn't play well together, we didn't get to a Final Four,'' Summitt said Thursday during Tennessee's media day. "Last year, we had great chemistry.''
The Lady Vols are coming off their seventh NCAA title. With Candace Parker and three other starters returning plus a top-notch freshman class, Summitt's team is about as talented as they get.
That won't necessarily translate into another title.
"You always worry about what happens after you've won a championship,'' Summitt said. "I've sat and watched this many times: carrying the big national championship on your back. Every possession, every game, every venue that we go to, it's going to be a challenge for them.
"This is one of the hardest things to do in sports ... to repeat the performance of the national championship.''
In the 1998-99 season, Tennessee followed up three consecutive national titles with a disappointing finish, losing in the Elite Eight. That team boasted the superstar trio of Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall, but players failed to step up in that regional finals game when Holdsclaw went 2-of-18 from the floor in a loss to Duke.
Basketball's winningest coach thinks this year's team is different.
For one thing, the current squad's one national championship humbles in comparison to the three-peat. And rookies Kelley Cain, Angie Bjorklund, Sydney Smallbone and Vicki Baugh will be looking for their own title.
"What I see right now appears to be something that's going to be a special chemistry,'' Summitt said. "Can they live up to it? In my estimation we have the talent to do so.''
The first step in fighting any potential post-championship slump is to train hard in the offseason and practice hard in the preseason, Summit said. She also wants to see a commitment from players to improve daily.
Coach and players all said they've been pleased with the progress so far.
"There's been no signs of slacking off or not working hard,'' Parker said. "This summer we had tremendous work ethic.''
Nicky Anosike said it takes being on the court in a game to really know whether a team's got the right chemistry.
"It's too early to tell,'' she said. "I don't know who rises when there's pressure, who falls. I don't know anyone's tendencies in games, who cracks under pressure. We'll see.''
Cain said she's already comfortable with the veteran players, who she said took the freshmen under their wings, showed them the ropes and advised them what to do on and off the court.
She already seems to be oozing the team spirit that Summitt finds handy in a player.
"I don't think one player outshines the other. It takes the whole team, all 11 of us to win a game and a national championship,'' she said. "I think we're a close-knit team already, and we can only get closer.''
She's had Lady Vols teams loaded with stars that haven't reached the NCAA Final Four. She's had teams with six and 10 losses win national championships.
"Two years ago, we didn't particularly like each other, we didn't play well together, we didn't get to a Final Four,'' Summitt said Thursday during Tennessee's media day. "Last year, we had great chemistry.''
The Lady Vols are coming off their seventh NCAA title. With Candace Parker and three other starters returning plus a top-notch freshman class, Summitt's team is about as talented as they get.
That won't necessarily translate into another title.
"You always worry about what happens after you've won a championship,'' Summitt said. "I've sat and watched this many times: carrying the big national championship on your back. Every possession, every game, every venue that we go to, it's going to be a challenge for them.
"This is one of the hardest things to do in sports ... to repeat the performance of the national championship.''
In the 1998-99 season, Tennessee followed up three consecutive national titles with a disappointing finish, losing in the Elite Eight. That team boasted the superstar trio of Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall, but players failed to step up in that regional finals game when Holdsclaw went 2-of-18 from the floor in a loss to Duke.
Basketball's winningest coach thinks this year's team is different.
For one thing, the current squad's one national championship humbles in comparison to the three-peat. And rookies Kelley Cain, Angie Bjorklund, Sydney Smallbone and Vicki Baugh will be looking for their own title.
"What I see right now appears to be something that's going to be a special chemistry,'' Summitt said. "Can they live up to it? In my estimation we have the talent to do so.''
The first step in fighting any potential post-championship slump is to train hard in the offseason and practice hard in the preseason, Summit said. She also wants to see a commitment from players to improve daily.
Coach and players all said they've been pleased with the progress so far.
"There's been no signs of slacking off or not working hard,'' Parker said. "This summer we had tremendous work ethic.''
Nicky Anosike said it takes being on the court in a game to really know whether a team's got the right chemistry.
"It's too early to tell,'' she said. "I don't know who rises when there's pressure, who falls. I don't know anyone's tendencies in games, who cracks under pressure. We'll see.''
Cain said she's already comfortable with the veteran players, who she said took the freshmen under their wings, showed them the ropes and advised them what to do on and off the court.
She already seems to be oozing the team spirit that Summitt finds handy in a player.
"I don't think one player outshines the other. It takes the whole team, all 11 of us to win a game and a national championship,'' she said. "I think we're a close-knit team already, and we can only get closer.''
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Lady Vols not above questions
Reigning national player of the year Candace Parker returns.
So do three other starters.
They're joined by a top-shelf freshman class.
They're all practicing in the new $16 million Pratt Pavilion.
They will play in renovated Thompson-Boling Arena.
An exclamation mark could punctuate any of these statements related to Tennessee women's basketball. That doesn't mean, however, there aren't questions surrounding the defending national champions. With preseason practice underway, here's five to consider:
Are they sufficiently motivated? The last time the Lady Vols were defending champs (1998-99), they meandered through the season and paid a dear postseason price.
Early clues then were a dreamy-eyed Chamique Holdsclaw yearning for March in October and how blase the players were about the end of their 46-game winning streak, which occurred in the second game.
An early clue this season might come courtesy of strength & conditioning coach Heather Mason, who said the players recorded the most voluntary summer workouts of her five preseasons at UT.
"When we started in (late) August, they weren't a new team,'' Mason said. "The chemistry was really strong."
Mason said that she geared all of her team conditioning drills around the number eight, as in national championships.
"They grasped the idea,'' Mason said and concluded: "This is us."
How will the freshmen help? Last season, Tennessee wasn't a great rebounding team until the postseason. This season, expect a great rebounding effort every time Vicki Baugh reports for duty.
The 6-foot-4 freshman, who has increased her vertical jump by three inches to 28 inches since arriving, has shown uncommon explosiveness around the rim and a nose for the basketball. Such play could turn out to be infectious.
Fellow freshman Kelley Cain actually looks bigger than 6-6, if that's possible. She grew up playing soccer. She was a goalkeeper - a useful apprenticeship for guarding UT's basket.
As for Angie Bjorklund and Sydney Smallbone, if everyone else is doing their thing, they should have their share of open shots.
Overall, these four have the talent and seriousness to create competition and carve out roles for themselves.
What will be the style of play? Tennessee started out last season scoring 83-or-more points in four of its first five games and ended by winning a national championship with a measly 59 points.
The Lady Vols have the defense and rebounding potential to create the kind of explosiveness not seen since the 1997-98 team. But that will require maturity from the rookies and effort from everyone.
It's a worthy quest. UT coach Pat Summitt might have had it in mind when she advised Mason to have the players ready to sit in their defensive stances and run the floor hard.
Who will fill out the starting lineup? Parker, Nicky Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle and Shannon Bobbitt are back from the last opening tip in Cleveland.
While ability will be an obvious consideration for the lone opening, player rotation could be the determining factor.
For example, senior Alberta Auguste has shown enough improvement in the preseason to be considered for the fifth spot. Her presence would give UT a starting five loaded with athleticism. But if she starts, UT doesn't have an experienced defender to sub for Hornbuckle.
Bjorklund might be a better pick for starter No. 5. The obvious reasons are her shooting and her 6-foot stature. Not so obvious is the deployment spreads the player wealth more evenly between starters and substitutes.
Are there any other issues? Not compared to last season when Summitt was coming off an emotionally wrenching offseason and the team was breaking in a new point guard.
Still, the Lady Vols need to develop more depth at the point, maintain their 3-point shooting and determine roles for the newcomers.
Although the leadership should be strong, team cohesion shouldn't be taken for granted, not with the unusual polarity between veterans and freshmen.
Maintaining a common ground ought to be like tending a garden. If they're diligent, it shouldn't be difficult.
Notebook: UT had mandated a break for Parker after she played for the U.S. national team last month. She thought otherwise Saturday and practiced, telling Summitt: "Coach I'm ready."
"It has been two weeks but it's a long season,'' Summitt said. "We'll watch and see."
So do three other starters.
They're joined by a top-shelf freshman class.
They're all practicing in the new $16 million Pratt Pavilion.
They will play in renovated Thompson-Boling Arena.
An exclamation mark could punctuate any of these statements related to Tennessee women's basketball. That doesn't mean, however, there aren't questions surrounding the defending national champions. With preseason practice underway, here's five to consider:
Are they sufficiently motivated? The last time the Lady Vols were defending champs (1998-99), they meandered through the season and paid a dear postseason price.
Early clues then were a dreamy-eyed Chamique Holdsclaw yearning for March in October and how blase the players were about the end of their 46-game winning streak, which occurred in the second game.
An early clue this season might come courtesy of strength & conditioning coach Heather Mason, who said the players recorded the most voluntary summer workouts of her five preseasons at UT.
"When we started in (late) August, they weren't a new team,'' Mason said. "The chemistry was really strong."
Mason said that she geared all of her team conditioning drills around the number eight, as in national championships.
"They grasped the idea,'' Mason said and concluded: "This is us."
How will the freshmen help? Last season, Tennessee wasn't a great rebounding team until the postseason. This season, expect a great rebounding effort every time Vicki Baugh reports for duty.
The 6-foot-4 freshman, who has increased her vertical jump by three inches to 28 inches since arriving, has shown uncommon explosiveness around the rim and a nose for the basketball. Such play could turn out to be infectious.
Fellow freshman Kelley Cain actually looks bigger than 6-6, if that's possible. She grew up playing soccer. She was a goalkeeper - a useful apprenticeship for guarding UT's basket.
As for Angie Bjorklund and Sydney Smallbone, if everyone else is doing their thing, they should have their share of open shots.
Overall, these four have the talent and seriousness to create competition and carve out roles for themselves.
What will be the style of play? Tennessee started out last season scoring 83-or-more points in four of its first five games and ended by winning a national championship with a measly 59 points.
The Lady Vols have the defense and rebounding potential to create the kind of explosiveness not seen since the 1997-98 team. But that will require maturity from the rookies and effort from everyone.
It's a worthy quest. UT coach Pat Summitt might have had it in mind when she advised Mason to have the players ready to sit in their defensive stances and run the floor hard.
Who will fill out the starting lineup? Parker, Nicky Anosike, Alexis Hornbuckle and Shannon Bobbitt are back from the last opening tip in Cleveland.
While ability will be an obvious consideration for the lone opening, player rotation could be the determining factor.
For example, senior Alberta Auguste has shown enough improvement in the preseason to be considered for the fifth spot. Her presence would give UT a starting five loaded with athleticism. But if she starts, UT doesn't have an experienced defender to sub for Hornbuckle.
Bjorklund might be a better pick for starter No. 5. The obvious reasons are her shooting and her 6-foot stature. Not so obvious is the deployment spreads the player wealth more evenly between starters and substitutes.
Are there any other issues? Not compared to last season when Summitt was coming off an emotionally wrenching offseason and the team was breaking in a new point guard.
Still, the Lady Vols need to develop more depth at the point, maintain their 3-point shooting and determine roles for the newcomers.
Although the leadership should be strong, team cohesion shouldn't be taken for granted, not with the unusual polarity between veterans and freshmen.
Maintaining a common ground ought to be like tending a garden. If they're diligent, it shouldn't be difficult.
Notebook: UT had mandated a break for Parker after she played for the U.S. national team last month. She thought otherwise Saturday and practiced, telling Summitt: "Coach I'm ready."
"It has been two weeks but it's a long season,'' Summitt said. "We'll watch and see."
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Lady Vols are a hot item
Tennessee won't be playing to an audience in its practice facility for the time being.
Its renovated arena, on the other hand, might be filled like never before.
As of Friday afternoon, women's basketball season ticket sales stood at 11,381. The total represented a nearly 16 percent increase over last season's sales of 9,855.
"For us to be where we are is phenomenal,'' said Jimmy Delaney, the Lady Vols director of promotions and marketing.
The final total could be a Lady Vols record. The only other season with comparable season ticket sales was 1998-99, when sales were in the 11,000 range. With single-game ticket sales starting this week, UT officials haven't had time to document the final tally from that season, which followed a UT run of three consecutive national championships.
Last season's championship, the seventh in program history, has helped drive this season's sales. It's one of many factors, which include everything from the team's makeup to interest in the arena itself.
"It's not the Thompson-Boling Arena you remember," Delaney said. "I think there's a lot of people who want to get in there and see it and be part of that first season."
Delaney said the ticket-sales drive mentioned all of these factors. The Lady Vols also formulated postcards and sent them to single-game ticket purchasers from last season, converting some of those fans into season-ticket buyers.
Delaney thinks the popularity of the men's team has helped create a synergy regarding ticket sales.
"With Tennessee basketball being so hot, it helps us both,'' Delaney said. "Basketball is on people's minds. It might be men or women."
The start of practice Friday added to the interest and highlighted the $16 million Pratt Pavilion. Until construction is complete, the facility will be the sole domain of the basketball teams and their support staffs.
UT coach Pat Summitt put her team through a 2 1/2-hour workout, stressing "daily improvement" as means of keeping the players' attention on the work at hand.
As for the new facility, Summitt said the acoustics required some adjustment, but she quickly added, "Look I'm not complaining. It's fabulous. It hit two or three times: I can't believe this happened."
Notebook: UT All-American Candace Parker was a spectator Friday. A two-week break has been mandated following her play with the U.S. women's national team at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Chile. Parker might not rejoin team practice until next weekend ... Lady Vols assistant coaches Dean Lockwood and Nikki Caldwell attended a New Jersey Nets practice this week. Lockwood said they brought back three offensive sets that will be implemented.
Its renovated arena, on the other hand, might be filled like never before.
As of Friday afternoon, women's basketball season ticket sales stood at 11,381. The total represented a nearly 16 percent increase over last season's sales of 9,855.
"For us to be where we are is phenomenal,'' said Jimmy Delaney, the Lady Vols director of promotions and marketing.
The final total could be a Lady Vols record. The only other season with comparable season ticket sales was 1998-99, when sales were in the 11,000 range. With single-game ticket sales starting this week, UT officials haven't had time to document the final tally from that season, which followed a UT run of three consecutive national championships.
Last season's championship, the seventh in program history, has helped drive this season's sales. It's one of many factors, which include everything from the team's makeup to interest in the arena itself.
"It's not the Thompson-Boling Arena you remember," Delaney said. "I think there's a lot of people who want to get in there and see it and be part of that first season."
Delaney said the ticket-sales drive mentioned all of these factors. The Lady Vols also formulated postcards and sent them to single-game ticket purchasers from last season, converting some of those fans into season-ticket buyers.
Delaney thinks the popularity of the men's team has helped create a synergy regarding ticket sales.
"With Tennessee basketball being so hot, it helps us both,'' Delaney said. "Basketball is on people's minds. It might be men or women."
The start of practice Friday added to the interest and highlighted the $16 million Pratt Pavilion. Until construction is complete, the facility will be the sole domain of the basketball teams and their support staffs.
UT coach Pat Summitt put her team through a 2 1/2-hour workout, stressing "daily improvement" as means of keeping the players' attention on the work at hand.
As for the new facility, Summitt said the acoustics required some adjustment, but she quickly added, "Look I'm not complaining. It's fabulous. It hit two or three times: I can't believe this happened."
Notebook: UT All-American Candace Parker was a spectator Friday. A two-week break has been mandated following her play with the U.S. women's national team at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Chile. Parker might not rejoin team practice until next weekend ... Lady Vols assistant coaches Dean Lockwood and Nikki Caldwell attended a New Jersey Nets practice this week. Lockwood said they brought back three offensive sets that will be implemented.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Summitt to receive Legends of Coaching honor
Tennessee Women's Basketball Coach Pat Summitt, will be given the John R. Wooden Award's "Legends of Coaching" honor this year, the Award's chairman, Duke Llewellyn, announced today.
Summitt will be honored along with the 2008 Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, college basketball's players of the year, and the Wooden Award All-American teams at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 12, 2008 in a nationally televised event. The "Legends of Coaching" Award was adopted by the Wooden Award Committee in 1999, with the first honor going to Dean Smith of North Carolina.
Summitt, the first women's basketball coach to be honored, is collegiate basketball's all-time winningest coach. In her three decades in orange, Summitt has won 947 games and an unprecedented seven national titles, including the 2007 NCAA crown. Summitt's teams have played in an incredible 26 consecutive NCAA Sweet 16s, and have won 26 Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles, while compiling an all-time record of 947-180 (.820).
Amazingly, all of Summitt's players since 1976 have done two things: Every Lady Vol player who completed her eligibility at Tennessee played in at least one Final Four, and all have graduated. In collegiate basketball history, Summitt trails only Coach Wooden (11) in NCAA team titles.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club, one of the nation's finest and oldest private athletic clubs, has hosted the Wooden Award since its inception in 1977. The most prestigious individual honor in college basketball, the Award was founded by The Club's Senior Vice President Duke Llewellyn, who continues to serve as the its chairman at age 89. The John R. Wooden Award is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his/her university that he/she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include Michael Jordan ('84), Larry Bird ('79), Tim Duncan ('97) and last year's recipients, Candace Parker of Tennessee and Texas' Kevin Durant.
The Award will be televised nationally on CBS. The five male and female finalists will be invited to Los Angeles for the ceremony and all finalists will receive a contribution from The Los Angeles Athletic Club for their university's general scholarship fund. In early January, the midseason top 30 men/20 women will be announced. Tickets for the presentation gala may be obtained by calling The Los Angeles Athletic Club at (213) 625-2211.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club, founded in 1880, is located at 7th and Olive Streets in one of Los Angeles' landmark buildings. The current facility, built in 1912, has 12 stories and more than 150,000 square feet of space including 72 European-style hotel rooms.
Summitt will be honored along with the 2008 Men's and Women's Wooden Award winners, college basketball's players of the year, and the Wooden Award All-American teams at the Los Angeles Athletic Club on April 12, 2008 in a nationally televised event. The "Legends of Coaching" Award was adopted by the Wooden Award Committee in 1999, with the first honor going to Dean Smith of North Carolina.
Summitt, the first women's basketball coach to be honored, is collegiate basketball's all-time winningest coach. In her three decades in orange, Summitt has won 947 games and an unprecedented seven national titles, including the 2007 NCAA crown. Summitt's teams have played in an incredible 26 consecutive NCAA Sweet 16s, and have won 26 Southeastern Conference regular season and tournament titles, while compiling an all-time record of 947-180 (.820).
Amazingly, all of Summitt's players since 1976 have done two things: Every Lady Vol player who completed her eligibility at Tennessee played in at least one Final Four, and all have graduated. In collegiate basketball history, Summitt trails only Coach Wooden (11) in NCAA team titles.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club, one of the nation's finest and oldest private athletic clubs, has hosted the Wooden Award since its inception in 1977. The most prestigious individual honor in college basketball, the Award was founded by The Club's Senior Vice President Duke Llewellyn, who continues to serve as the its chairman at age 89. The John R. Wooden Award is bestowed upon the nation's best player at an institution of higher education who has proven to his/her university that he/she is making progress toward graduation and maintaining a cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include Michael Jordan ('84), Larry Bird ('79), Tim Duncan ('97) and last year's recipients, Candace Parker of Tennessee and Texas' Kevin Durant.
The Award will be televised nationally on CBS. The five male and female finalists will be invited to Los Angeles for the ceremony and all finalists will receive a contribution from The Los Angeles Athletic Club for their university's general scholarship fund. In early January, the midseason top 30 men/20 women will be announced. Tickets for the presentation gala may be obtained by calling The Los Angeles Athletic Club at (213) 625-2211.
The Los Angeles Athletic Club, founded in 1880, is located at 7th and Olive Streets in one of Los Angeles' landmark buildings. The current facility, built in 1912, has 12 stories and more than 150,000 square feet of space including 72 European-style hotel rooms.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The story of two UT coaches
Mention UT in this part of the country and everyone knows you are speaking of the University of Tennessee. Travel farther south and UT means the University of Texas. Add women's basketball to UT and two women coaches enter the picture. For many years before a male coach at the University of Connecticut came on the scene, Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt were the two fierce competitors fans cheered when their teams clashed on the court.
In the August issue of Texas Monthly magazine, a long interview with Jody Conradt appeared. After coaching the UT women's basketball team for 31 years, she has retired. Before coming to the main campus in Austin in 1976 she coached four years at Sam Houston University and then moved to UT Arlington for three years.
After 38 years of coaching college women's basketball, she said she had watched the program go from obscurity to a time when it had lots of visibility. One of the highlights of those years was 1987 when tickets for the Final Four women's tournament for the first time ever were sold-out. To the question of why she was retiring she said, "I thought it would be fun to have my own life back, to control my schedule, to not be in a situation that's so stressful."
Shortly after reading that interview came the news that Pat Summitt was making a change in her life too. After 27 years her marriage was ending in divorce.
Conradt is 11 years older than Summitt but both women found happiness in basketball from their early teens and were stars in high school and college before coaching became their life's work. Both built their successful careers in the state where they were proud native daughters.
In 1986 Texas won the NCAA Division l women's basketball tournament and that season they had the first undefeated season in the history of NCAA women's basketball. Then in 1987 Tennessee was the Division I winner.
Conradt held the record as the winningest coach until Summitt tied with her 788th win in 2001-02. With 880 wins in the 2003-04 season Summitt took that title.
Both women have been honored with similar awards for their excellence as coaches. They have been inducted into many Halls of Fame. Both were in the inaugural class of 26 when the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened in 1999.
Texas didn't make the NCAA tournament for the second straight year last season and Conradt said she wished her career had ended differently. She said, "There's a standard at the University of Texas. Everybody's expectations are that you have to be number one or better. "
The interviewer asked if the pressure at UT was different from the pressure at other schools and even though Conradt answered she didn't think there was any question about that, Tennessee fans wouldn't agree.
Summing up those 38 years of coaching, Conradt said she has seen a negative change in attitude. "Kids used to be excited just to have the opportunity to play. Now I see more of a mentality of entitlement: 'I'm a tremendous athlete, so you owe me this. I should get this because of my talent.'"
Summitt must have seen that same trend at UT but she faces another negative that is just emerging. During 35 years of Title IX the total number of women's intercollegiate teams exploded from 3,495 in 1977 to 8,702 last year. In that same period the number of women coaches has steadily declined.
Title IX gave women athletes many more opportunities but it also made coaching women's teams much more attractive to men. The law explicitly covered the gender ratio of the student population. The system helped the female athletes but failed female coaches.
Lady Vol fans will never fail Pat Summitt.
In the August issue of Texas Monthly magazine, a long interview with Jody Conradt appeared. After coaching the UT women's basketball team for 31 years, she has retired. Before coming to the main campus in Austin in 1976 she coached four years at Sam Houston University and then moved to UT Arlington for three years.
After 38 years of coaching college women's basketball, she said she had watched the program go from obscurity to a time when it had lots of visibility. One of the highlights of those years was 1987 when tickets for the Final Four women's tournament for the first time ever were sold-out. To the question of why she was retiring she said, "I thought it would be fun to have my own life back, to control my schedule, to not be in a situation that's so stressful."
Shortly after reading that interview came the news that Pat Summitt was making a change in her life too. After 27 years her marriage was ending in divorce.
Conradt is 11 years older than Summitt but both women found happiness in basketball from their early teens and were stars in high school and college before coaching became their life's work. Both built their successful careers in the state where they were proud native daughters.
In 1986 Texas won the NCAA Division l women's basketball tournament and that season they had the first undefeated season in the history of NCAA women's basketball. Then in 1987 Tennessee was the Division I winner.
Conradt held the record as the winningest coach until Summitt tied with her 788th win in 2001-02. With 880 wins in the 2003-04 season Summitt took that title.
Both women have been honored with similar awards for their excellence as coaches. They have been inducted into many Halls of Fame. Both were in the inaugural class of 26 when the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame opened in 1999.
Texas didn't make the NCAA tournament for the second straight year last season and Conradt said she wished her career had ended differently. She said, "There's a standard at the University of Texas. Everybody's expectations are that you have to be number one or better. "
The interviewer asked if the pressure at UT was different from the pressure at other schools and even though Conradt answered she didn't think there was any question about that, Tennessee fans wouldn't agree.
Summing up those 38 years of coaching, Conradt said she has seen a negative change in attitude. "Kids used to be excited just to have the opportunity to play. Now I see more of a mentality of entitlement: 'I'm a tremendous athlete, so you owe me this. I should get this because of my talent.'"
Summitt must have seen that same trend at UT but she faces another negative that is just emerging. During 35 years of Title IX the total number of women's intercollegiate teams exploded from 3,495 in 1977 to 8,702 last year. In that same period the number of women coaches has steadily declined.
Title IX gave women athletes many more opportunities but it also made coaching women's teams much more attractive to men. The law explicitly covered the gender ratio of the student population. The system helped the female athletes but failed female coaches.
Lady Vol fans will never fail Pat Summitt.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Tall tale continues for Cain with Lady Vols
Mother plus daughter equals a granddaughter with a real passion for math.
Kelley Cain is the product of basic addition. Or is the generational equation more complicated than that?
"I told my mom many, many years ago, she brainwashed me into believing I loved mathematics'' said Cain's mother, Lynda. "I guess, in turn, Kelley has been brainwashed."
No joking, the affection appears genuine in Kelley, a University of Tennessee women's basketball freshman who wasted no time in wrestling with college calculus.
"I have to study; I guess it's something I like to study,'' she said. "It's just repetition. Most likely I know I'm not going to get it the first time. But if I keep practicing it, I know I'll get it, like basketball."
Fitting that she should connect these two pursuits. The math on Cain the basketball player adds up to 2,017 points, 1,420 rebounds and a role in three state championships at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta. Furthermore, she's grown to a stunning 6-foot-6, tying Vonda Ward as the tallest player in Lady Vols history.
UT coach Pat Summitt has considered the human skyline Cain is joining at Tennessee. Teammate Candace Parker stands 6-5. Nicky Anosike and Vicki Baugh are 6-4. Amid all these high-rise Lady Vols, Cain still stands out.
"For her to look as physically imposing here ... you notice her right off,'' Summitt said. "She has a tremendous presence in the post."
Cain has grown accustomed to an unobstructed view and enjoys it. She'll see your tall joke, and raise you a couple of shortie quips.
She casually mentioned in a conversation that her twin older brothers, Douglas and James, are 5-11 at best. There's a family photo in the Cain household that captures the siblings at the same size. Kelley was 7 years old. Since then she's left her brothers to field such questions as "Are you sure that's your little sister?"
"They think it's cool now,'' she said.
Imagine how cool it was for Cain on her recruiting visit to Duke, when 6-7 Alison Bales of the Blue Devils clued her in on a Web site featuring shoes for someone who wears a size 15. Cain can slip into a pair of three-inch heels and become 6-9.
"Don't ask me why they'd make a shoe that size with three-inch heels,'' she said. "I don't know why."
Maybe it's better not to ask. Just value your good fortune, like that day in the third grade when she sat down at a desk at school that actually fit her.
"Maybe they adjusted it or something,'' Cain said. "but I remember being happy."
Summitt remembers being in the third grade, too. And being tall. And being skinny. And being called "bonehead."
"I was the tallest girl in school and it bothered me,'' Summitt said. "I was self-conscious about it until I got to college.''
All experiences considered, Cain's comfort and self-assurance shouldn't be taken for granted. Lynda thinks her daughter benefitted from watching her 6-6 1/2 father, Harold, and noticing the attention the former football player at Clemson received in public.
Harold played a big role in Cain's basketball growth, educating Lynda, who admits to not having an athletic bone in her body, in the time investment required.
Stephanie Dunn, Cain's coach at St. Pius X, has her own theory.
"I think only a mother can make you OK with that,'' Dunn said of Cain's height.
Dunn might be right because it definitely wasn't OK for Cain to slouch. Lynda, who works for IBM, made that abundantly clear, to the point of Kelley awarding the mandate pet-peeve status.
"She had a thing about hunching over,'' Kelley said. " 'I don't want you to have a humpback before a certain age.' She always told me to sit up straight, stand tall and be proud."
Cain is reminded of her mother's influence in many ways. Whenever she notices someone else's grammar, Cain recalls mom stressing that she and her brothers speak correctly.
Mom was equally unwavering about homework. After Cain suffered a cracked right kneecap on a Friday night during her sophomore year at St. Pius X, she came to school on Monday with all of her assignments finished. So her knee was hurt. Cain figured her mom was thinking: There's nothing wrong with your hands or your brain.
Mom also took her children with her regularly to a homeless shelter to serve meals and interact with the patrons as part of their church's community outreach.
"Some of them were college graduates,'' Lynda said. "They'd run into some hard times.
"I think that impressed upon my kids that it could happen to anyone."
Cain said the experience afforded her a greater appreciation for everything she has. Like working an equation, you might not get it the first time, but it all adds up.
Sit down for awhile with someone less fortunate. Then stand up - very tall and proud.
Kelley Cain is the product of basic addition. Or is the generational equation more complicated than that?
"I told my mom many, many years ago, she brainwashed me into believing I loved mathematics'' said Cain's mother, Lynda. "I guess, in turn, Kelley has been brainwashed."
No joking, the affection appears genuine in Kelley, a University of Tennessee women's basketball freshman who wasted no time in wrestling with college calculus.
"I have to study; I guess it's something I like to study,'' she said. "It's just repetition. Most likely I know I'm not going to get it the first time. But if I keep practicing it, I know I'll get it, like basketball."
Fitting that she should connect these two pursuits. The math on Cain the basketball player adds up to 2,017 points, 1,420 rebounds and a role in three state championships at St. Pius X High School in Atlanta. Furthermore, she's grown to a stunning 6-foot-6, tying Vonda Ward as the tallest player in Lady Vols history.
UT coach Pat Summitt has considered the human skyline Cain is joining at Tennessee. Teammate Candace Parker stands 6-5. Nicky Anosike and Vicki Baugh are 6-4. Amid all these high-rise Lady Vols, Cain still stands out.
"For her to look as physically imposing here ... you notice her right off,'' Summitt said. "She has a tremendous presence in the post."
Cain has grown accustomed to an unobstructed view and enjoys it. She'll see your tall joke, and raise you a couple of shortie quips.
She casually mentioned in a conversation that her twin older brothers, Douglas and James, are 5-11 at best. There's a family photo in the Cain household that captures the siblings at the same size. Kelley was 7 years old. Since then she's left her brothers to field such questions as "Are you sure that's your little sister?"
"They think it's cool now,'' she said.
Imagine how cool it was for Cain on her recruiting visit to Duke, when 6-7 Alison Bales of the Blue Devils clued her in on a Web site featuring shoes for someone who wears a size 15. Cain can slip into a pair of three-inch heels and become 6-9.
"Don't ask me why they'd make a shoe that size with three-inch heels,'' she said. "I don't know why."
Maybe it's better not to ask. Just value your good fortune, like that day in the third grade when she sat down at a desk at school that actually fit her.
"Maybe they adjusted it or something,'' Cain said. "but I remember being happy."
Summitt remembers being in the third grade, too. And being tall. And being skinny. And being called "bonehead."
"I was the tallest girl in school and it bothered me,'' Summitt said. "I was self-conscious about it until I got to college.''
All experiences considered, Cain's comfort and self-assurance shouldn't be taken for granted. Lynda thinks her daughter benefitted from watching her 6-6 1/2 father, Harold, and noticing the attention the former football player at Clemson received in public.
Harold played a big role in Cain's basketball growth, educating Lynda, who admits to not having an athletic bone in her body, in the time investment required.
Stephanie Dunn, Cain's coach at St. Pius X, has her own theory.
"I think only a mother can make you OK with that,'' Dunn said of Cain's height.
Dunn might be right because it definitely wasn't OK for Cain to slouch. Lynda, who works for IBM, made that abundantly clear, to the point of Kelley awarding the mandate pet-peeve status.
"She had a thing about hunching over,'' Kelley said. " 'I don't want you to have a humpback before a certain age.' She always told me to sit up straight, stand tall and be proud."
Cain is reminded of her mother's influence in many ways. Whenever she notices someone else's grammar, Cain recalls mom stressing that she and her brothers speak correctly.
Mom was equally unwavering about homework. After Cain suffered a cracked right kneecap on a Friday night during her sophomore year at St. Pius X, she came to school on Monday with all of her assignments finished. So her knee was hurt. Cain figured her mom was thinking: There's nothing wrong with your hands or your brain.
Mom also took her children with her regularly to a homeless shelter to serve meals and interact with the patrons as part of their church's community outreach.
"Some of them were college graduates,'' Lynda said. "They'd run into some hard times.
"I think that impressed upon my kids that it could happen to anyone."
Cain said the experience afforded her a greater appreciation for everything she has. Like working an equation, you might not get it the first time, but it all adds up.
Sit down for awhile with someone less fortunate. Then stand up - very tall and proud.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Summitt says Auriemma knew reasons
UConn coach was told in May why UT canceled series
The Tennessee-Connecticut women's basketball series might be over, but the rivalry between UConn coach Geno Auriemma and UT's Pat Summitt isn't.
Auriemma offered his first published comments about Tennessee's decision to end the regular-season series between the two schools Monday in a copyrighted story in the Hartford Courant. He indicated there were a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Summitt's reasons for the decision.
Summitt fired back later Monday, offering her most telling comments since it became known in June that the series was ending after a 13-season run. Summitt said that she and Auriemma had a telephone conversation in May and that she made her reasons for cancelling the series clear to him.
"Clearly Geno knows why I canceled the series,'' said Summitt, who said that she spoke with Auriemma in late May, shortly before attending the SEC spring meetings in Sandestin, Fla. "I made it very clear to him in a phone conversation. I wanted to make sure I had a conversation with Geno and explained very specifically why I canceled the series.
"I chose to tell Geno because I felt it was something I needed to tell him, not to share it with the rest of the world."
Summitt did not offer any further specifics regarding her reasons. The decision is believed to revolve around the recruitment of highly regarded prospect Maya Moore, who signed with the Huskies and is beginning her freshman year at the school. The frosty relationship between the two coaches also was thought to be a factor.
Summitt said that the Lady Vols made no allegations surrounding former UConn stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird offering Moore, then a high school junior in suburban Atlanta, a ride to the 2006 Naismith Award presentation in Atlanta. This originally was reported in the Courant. A source told the newspaper that Connecticut had to produce documents proving Taurasi's and Bird's whereabouts in April, 2006. Both players were overseas, playing for a Russian team in the European championships.
Summitt said her first knowledge of the allegation was when the Courant story was reprinted in the July 7 edition of the News Sentinel.
"I didn't know what they were talking about,'' Summitt said. "I knew nothing about that until I read it in the Sentinel. That had nothing to do with my decision."
Tennessee versus Connecticut began as a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on July 16, 1995. The teams' last meeting was Tennessee's 70-64 victory in Hartford on Jan. 6.
Last spring, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association voted the game the greatest women's basketball rivalry.
The Tennessee-Connecticut women's basketball series might be over, but the rivalry between UConn coach Geno Auriemma and UT's Pat Summitt isn't.
Auriemma offered his first published comments about Tennessee's decision to end the regular-season series between the two schools Monday in a copyrighted story in the Hartford Courant. He indicated there were a lot of unanswered questions surrounding Summitt's reasons for the decision.
Summitt fired back later Monday, offering her most telling comments since it became known in June that the series was ending after a 13-season run. Summitt said that she and Auriemma had a telephone conversation in May and that she made her reasons for cancelling the series clear to him.
"Clearly Geno knows why I canceled the series,'' said Summitt, who said that she spoke with Auriemma in late May, shortly before attending the SEC spring meetings in Sandestin, Fla. "I made it very clear to him in a phone conversation. I wanted to make sure I had a conversation with Geno and explained very specifically why I canceled the series.
"I chose to tell Geno because I felt it was something I needed to tell him, not to share it with the rest of the world."
Summitt did not offer any further specifics regarding her reasons. The decision is believed to revolve around the recruitment of highly regarded prospect Maya Moore, who signed with the Huskies and is beginning her freshman year at the school. The frosty relationship between the two coaches also was thought to be a factor.
Summitt said that the Lady Vols made no allegations surrounding former UConn stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird offering Moore, then a high school junior in suburban Atlanta, a ride to the 2006 Naismith Award presentation in Atlanta. This originally was reported in the Courant. A source told the newspaper that Connecticut had to produce documents proving Taurasi's and Bird's whereabouts in April, 2006. Both players were overseas, playing for a Russian team in the European championships.
Summitt said her first knowledge of the allegation was when the Courant story was reprinted in the July 7 edition of the News Sentinel.
"I didn't know what they were talking about,'' Summitt said. "I knew nothing about that until I read it in the Sentinel. That had nothing to do with my decision."
Tennessee versus Connecticut began as a No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup on July 16, 1995. The teams' last meeting was Tennessee's 70-64 victory in Hartford on Jan. 6.
Last spring, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association voted the game the greatest women's basketball rivalry.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Saturday, September 22, 2007
President Bush lauds Lady Vols' history of championship success
WASHINGTON - It's not every day that the Marine Corps band strikes up a lively rendition of "Rocky Top" on the White House lawn.
Then again, it's not every day that the Lady Vols are in town.
President Bush welcomed coach Pat Summitt and the Tennessee women's basketball team to the White House on Friday and congratulated them on their national championship victory last spring.
"This team is upholding a long-time tradition for Tennessee women's basketball," Bush said during a ceremony on the South Lawn.
The president called Summitt a "soon-to-be, if not already, Hall of Fame coach" and noted that the 2007 championship is the Lady Vols' seventh national title under her leadership. Summitt already has been inducted to both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville and the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
The Lady Vols were one of eight championship teams from across the country that were honored.
"It is really a lot of fun to be with people who set high standards and work hard to achieve goals, which you've done," Bush said. "You've come from different schools, different sports, but you deserve to be called champion."
Before the official ceremony, Coach Summitt and the entire team met privately with the president inside the White House. Players posed for a team photo with the president and presented him with a couple of gifts.
Dominique Redding, a senior forward who has since graduated, gave him a basketball signed by the coaches and members of the championship team. Another graduated senior, Sidney Spencer, presented Bush with two navy blue jackets - one for him and another for First Lady Laura Bush.
"He was really a nice guy, just laid-back, just a genuine person," Spencer said. "He actually dribbled the ball. He kind of bounced it."
And about those jackets? "He said it does get cold in the White House," Spencer said.
The event marked the seventh time in two decades that the Lady Vols have been invited to the White House.
Earlier Friday, the team was honored during a luncheon at the Library of Congress.
"It's really an honor to be able to a cap off the season with a visit" to Washington, Spencer said.
Notebook: Redding said that she is preparing to head overseas and play professionally in Portugal.
Then again, it's not every day that the Lady Vols are in town.
President Bush welcomed coach Pat Summitt and the Tennessee women's basketball team to the White House on Friday and congratulated them on their national championship victory last spring.
"This team is upholding a long-time tradition for Tennessee women's basketball," Bush said during a ceremony on the South Lawn.
The president called Summitt a "soon-to-be, if not already, Hall of Fame coach" and noted that the 2007 championship is the Lady Vols' seventh national title under her leadership. Summitt already has been inducted to both the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville and the Naismith Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.
The Lady Vols were one of eight championship teams from across the country that were honored.
"It is really a lot of fun to be with people who set high standards and work hard to achieve goals, which you've done," Bush said. "You've come from different schools, different sports, but you deserve to be called champion."
Before the official ceremony, Coach Summitt and the entire team met privately with the president inside the White House. Players posed for a team photo with the president and presented him with a couple of gifts.
Dominique Redding, a senior forward who has since graduated, gave him a basketball signed by the coaches and members of the championship team. Another graduated senior, Sidney Spencer, presented Bush with two navy blue jackets - one for him and another for First Lady Laura Bush.
"He was really a nice guy, just laid-back, just a genuine person," Spencer said. "He actually dribbled the ball. He kind of bounced it."
And about those jackets? "He said it does get cold in the White House," Spencer said.
The event marked the seventh time in two decades that the Lady Vols have been invited to the White House.
Earlier Friday, the team was honored during a luncheon at the Library of Congress.
"It's really an honor to be able to a cap off the season with a visit" to Washington, Spencer said.
Notebook: Redding said that she is preparing to head overseas and play professionally in Portugal.
U.S. women’s basketball in transition period heading into Olympic qualifier
NEW YORK — It’s a new era for U.S. women’s basketball, with veteran mainstays Teresa Edwards, Yolanda Griffith and Dawn Staley all gone.
The U.S. will be looking for new leaders while they try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics by winning the FIBA Americas tournament Sept. 26-30.
Because of a loss in the 2006 World Championships, the United States found itself in an unfamiliar position, having to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Games, which were boycotted.
“There is clearly a changing of the guard going on with the departure of Teresa, Dawn and Sheryl (Swoopes),” USA basketball president Val Ackerman said. “It’s all part of the process. We think we have some terrific young players coming into the mix. Some of the players from 2004 who were new to the Olympics are becoming leaders: Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Tina Thompson.”
The dominance of the U.S. women’s teams over the last decade with three Olympic gold medals and two World Championships to their credit can easily be attributed to the long-term dedication of veteran players such as Lisa Leslie, Staley, Edwards and Thompson.
“The positive things in the past we’ve had so many veteran players who have stayed on and played,” said Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who led the U.S. team to the gold in 1984. “It’s been a tremendous commitment on their behalf. We have some very talented, but young players that are going to have to step up and grow up in a hurry.”
Thompson was the only player at the last World Championships who had started before in a major international competition. Bird, Catchings and Taurasi were all on the 2004 Olympic team, but were primarily role players.
The inexperience showed in the 75-68 loss to Russia in the World Championships semifinals.
“We had a younger team in Brazil than in previous years,” Bird said recently at training camp. “Maybe it was our time to have a learning experience. I would have rather had a gold medal with the learning experience, but I know that we will be very focused and sharp from now on.”
Bird and the other guards still benefit from Staley’s knowledge. She has stayed involved with the program as an assistant coach and has been able to provide a unique perspective to the guards not only as a coach, but as someone who has won three gold medals as a player.
“She’s been invaluable to us,” Kara Lawson said. “She can tell you what you’re doing wrong as a coach, but also as someone who has played the position.”
Edwards was around training camp to impart her wisdom on the new players, but playing a game of horse against Staley was as close as she got to the court. Don’t bother asking Staley who won.
“I think with the loss of so many veterans, it concerns USA basketball,” said Summitt, a member of the selection committee.
One veteran who is still playing is Leslie. She won’t be at the FIBA Americas tournament as she is still getting into shape after giving birth to a daughter in June. She has been working hard and hopes to join the team for an eight-game college tour beginning Oct. 31.
“She hasn’t passed the torch on yet,” U.S. coach Anne Donovan said. “We look forward to her rejoining the program and being back because she is one of our players. Having a player on the floor that has done what she has done is really important.”
While the team may be in a state of flux, the future definitely looks bright. The United States went 22-0 this summer in international tournaments, capturing the Pan American Games, the Under-19 World Championships and the Under-21 World title.
College stars Candace Parker, Candice Wiggins and Courtney Paris are headed to Chile for the qualifying tournament. LSU senior Sylvia Fowles participated in the first part of training camp and looked dominant in the post.
“It’s an exciting time,” USA Basketball executive Renee Brown said. “I can remember in 1995-96 when we had Teresa Edwards and Katrina McClain, they passed the torch to Lisa, Dawn and Sheryl. The beauty of USA basketball is all these girls have grown up wanting to play for the USA team.”
Parker and Wiggins were in elementary school when they had their first taste of U.S. women’s basketball, watching the team play in 1996. Wiggins even got to serve as a ball girl when the team came to her hometown.
“We talked about it a lot, us being 10, 11 years old,” Parker said. “The team coming around on its tour with Sheryl and Dawn. Now it’s really exciting to be here and a part of it.”
The college players have already left a lasting impression. Wiggins scored 18 points in the first exhibition game against Australia. Parker scored 13 of her 23 points in a key spurt Wednesday night to help the U.S. hold off the Aussies in an exhibition rematch.
"Those young ones are the future,” Staley said. “They have a chance down the road to carry the torch the same way that Lisa, Teresa and I did.”
If somehow the U.S. doesn’t win the tournament in Chile, there is a last-chance Olympic qualifier next June. Just don’t mention that to Donovan, who won two Olympic gold medals as a player in 1984 and 1988.
“It is a must win,” Donovan said of the FIBA Americas tournament. “This is all we’re focused on. There is no Beijing if we don’t win in Chile.”
The U.S. will be looking for new leaders while they try to qualify for the 2008 Olympics by winning the FIBA Americas tournament Sept. 26-30.
Because of a loss in the 2006 World Championships, the United States found itself in an unfamiliar position, having to qualify for the Olympics for the first time since the 1980 Moscow Games, which were boycotted.
“There is clearly a changing of the guard going on with the departure of Teresa, Dawn and Sheryl (Swoopes),” USA basketball president Val Ackerman said. “It’s all part of the process. We think we have some terrific young players coming into the mix. Some of the players from 2004 who were new to the Olympics are becoming leaders: Sue Bird, Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, DeLisha Milton-Jones, Tina Thompson.”
The dominance of the U.S. women’s teams over the last decade with three Olympic gold medals and two World Championships to their credit can easily be attributed to the long-term dedication of veteran players such as Lisa Leslie, Staley, Edwards and Thompson.
“The positive things in the past we’ve had so many veteran players who have stayed on and played,” said Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who led the U.S. team to the gold in 1984. “It’s been a tremendous commitment on their behalf. We have some very talented, but young players that are going to have to step up and grow up in a hurry.”
Thompson was the only player at the last World Championships who had started before in a major international competition. Bird, Catchings and Taurasi were all on the 2004 Olympic team, but were primarily role players.
The inexperience showed in the 75-68 loss to Russia in the World Championships semifinals.
“We had a younger team in Brazil than in previous years,” Bird said recently at training camp. “Maybe it was our time to have a learning experience. I would have rather had a gold medal with the learning experience, but I know that we will be very focused and sharp from now on.”
Bird and the other guards still benefit from Staley’s knowledge. She has stayed involved with the program as an assistant coach and has been able to provide a unique perspective to the guards not only as a coach, but as someone who has won three gold medals as a player.
“She’s been invaluable to us,” Kara Lawson said. “She can tell you what you’re doing wrong as a coach, but also as someone who has played the position.”
Edwards was around training camp to impart her wisdom on the new players, but playing a game of horse against Staley was as close as she got to the court. Don’t bother asking Staley who won.
“I think with the loss of so many veterans, it concerns USA basketball,” said Summitt, a member of the selection committee.
One veteran who is still playing is Leslie. She won’t be at the FIBA Americas tournament as she is still getting into shape after giving birth to a daughter in June. She has been working hard and hopes to join the team for an eight-game college tour beginning Oct. 31.
“She hasn’t passed the torch on yet,” U.S. coach Anne Donovan said. “We look forward to her rejoining the program and being back because she is one of our players. Having a player on the floor that has done what she has done is really important.”
While the team may be in a state of flux, the future definitely looks bright. The United States went 22-0 this summer in international tournaments, capturing the Pan American Games, the Under-19 World Championships and the Under-21 World title.
College stars Candace Parker, Candice Wiggins and Courtney Paris are headed to Chile for the qualifying tournament. LSU senior Sylvia Fowles participated in the first part of training camp and looked dominant in the post.
“It’s an exciting time,” USA Basketball executive Renee Brown said. “I can remember in 1995-96 when we had Teresa Edwards and Katrina McClain, they passed the torch to Lisa, Dawn and Sheryl. The beauty of USA basketball is all these girls have grown up wanting to play for the USA team.”
Parker and Wiggins were in elementary school when they had their first taste of U.S. women’s basketball, watching the team play in 1996. Wiggins even got to serve as a ball girl when the team came to her hometown.
“We talked about it a lot, us being 10, 11 years old,” Parker said. “The team coming around on its tour with Sheryl and Dawn. Now it’s really exciting to be here and a part of it.”
The college players have already left a lasting impression. Wiggins scored 18 points in the first exhibition game against Australia. Parker scored 13 of her 23 points in a key spurt Wednesday night to help the U.S. hold off the Aussies in an exhibition rematch.
"Those young ones are the future,” Staley said. “They have a chance down the road to carry the torch the same way that Lisa, Teresa and I did.”
If somehow the U.S. doesn’t win the tournament in Chile, there is a last-chance Olympic qualifier next June. Just don’t mention that to Donovan, who won two Olympic gold medals as a player in 1984 and 1988.
“It is a must win,” Donovan said of the FIBA Americas tournament. “This is all we’re focused on. There is no Beijing if we don’t win in Chile.”
Friday, September 14, 2007
Road-weary Lady Vols coaches happy to be home
It's a journey that began nearly two weeks ago.
Lady Vols assistant coaches Holly Warlick and Nikki Caldwell strapped on their helmets and hopped on their motorcycles for a long, long journey.
They began in California and took off for Knoxville, all in an effort to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and treatment.
"It was huge," Warlick said. "Each rally we went to go bigger and better and more people, so I think it served its purpose."
Finally, 11 days and 3,100 miles later, Warlick and Caldwell returned to Knoxville for a homecoming celebration in Market Square.
"We were road-weary, probably about five days into the ride, but we got our second wind to get us back home, but I'm telling ya, when we crossed the state line, and we saw the sign that said, Tennessee Welcomes You, we all put our fists in the air, and we were just like, wow, we're finally edging our way and getting home," Caldwell said. "It's been an unbelievable experience. We've raised a lot of awareness and hopefully a lot of money to beat this deadly disease."
Along with friends, fans and some Lady Vols players, head coaches Pat Summitt and Bruce Pearl took the stage for a special tribute.
They joined in with the ChillBillies to sing "Mustang Sally."
Then, Summit got in a dig or two.
"We missed them a lot, so much that we've replaced them," Summitt joked. "We hired a couple of people last week. But I think y'all will like them, OK."
"I'll be a professional motorcycle rider, I guess," Warlick said. "We'll find out. We hope we'll get our jobs back tomorrow."
Lady Vols assistant coaches Holly Warlick and Nikki Caldwell strapped on their helmets and hopped on their motorcycles for a long, long journey.
They began in California and took off for Knoxville, all in an effort to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research and treatment.
"It was huge," Warlick said. "Each rally we went to go bigger and better and more people, so I think it served its purpose."
Finally, 11 days and 3,100 miles later, Warlick and Caldwell returned to Knoxville for a homecoming celebration in Market Square.
"We were road-weary, probably about five days into the ride, but we got our second wind to get us back home, but I'm telling ya, when we crossed the state line, and we saw the sign that said, Tennessee Welcomes You, we all put our fists in the air, and we were just like, wow, we're finally edging our way and getting home," Caldwell said. "It's been an unbelievable experience. We've raised a lot of awareness and hopefully a lot of money to beat this deadly disease."
Along with friends, fans and some Lady Vols players, head coaches Pat Summitt and Bruce Pearl took the stage for a special tribute.
They joined in with the ChillBillies to sing "Mustang Sally."
Then, Summit got in a dig or two.
"We missed them a lot, so much that we've replaced them," Summitt joked. "We hired a couple of people last week. But I think y'all will like them, OK."
"I'll be a professional motorcycle rider, I guess," Warlick said. "We'll find out. We hope we'll get our jobs back tomorrow."
Saturday, September 08, 2007
Ending UConn series allows other rivalries to develop, Summitt says
NEW YORK -- It's been three months since Pat Summitt decided to end the annual series between Connecticut and Tennessee that has been a staple in women's basketball for years.
The Hall of Fame coach finally talked about her decision as she was watching the U.S. women's basketball team train in New York on Saturday.
"I didn't think this was going to hurt women's basketball," Summitt said. "I haven't had the feeling that the whole nation's going to miss it. I think Tennessee fans and Connecticut fans and a lot of basketball fans look forward to that game because of the rivalry and the length of it and the type of competitive games we've had over the years."
Connecticut had signed a contract to extend the annual game through the 2008-09 season, but Tennessee declined to extend the series.
Summitt doesn't see that decision changing anytime soon.
"I'd never say never, but I wouldn't think so," she said.
Now, the only way UConn and Tennessee will play again is if they meet in the NCAA Tournament.
"That would bring a lot of attention, wouldn't you think?" Summitt said.
Connecticut leads the series 13-9, although Tennessee has won the last three meetings, including a 70-64 victory in January that featured a dunk by Lady Vols star Candace Parker. Tennessee went on to win the national championship last season.
Summitt feels the end of the game will give other rivalries a chance to develop.
"The fact that the television networks would seek our games every year is somewhat unfortunate," Summitt said. "I do think, in terms of this season, that the (women's) game can expand. I know for us, we're playing Oklahoma, which I think would get some good exposure."
The games against the Huskies have always drawn national television exposure and featured some of the nation's best players such as Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi for Connecticut and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Nikki McCray for Tennessee.
The teams first met on Jan. 16, 1995, when Connecticut beat No. 1 Tennessee 77-66. The Huskies completed their undefeated season with a win over the Lady Vols in the title game.
The Hall of Fame coach finally talked about her decision as she was watching the U.S. women's basketball team train in New York on Saturday.
"I didn't think this was going to hurt women's basketball," Summitt said. "I haven't had the feeling that the whole nation's going to miss it. I think Tennessee fans and Connecticut fans and a lot of basketball fans look forward to that game because of the rivalry and the length of it and the type of competitive games we've had over the years."
Connecticut had signed a contract to extend the annual game through the 2008-09 season, but Tennessee declined to extend the series.
Summitt doesn't see that decision changing anytime soon.
"I'd never say never, but I wouldn't think so," she said.
Now, the only way UConn and Tennessee will play again is if they meet in the NCAA Tournament.
"That would bring a lot of attention, wouldn't you think?" Summitt said.
Connecticut leads the series 13-9, although Tennessee has won the last three meetings, including a 70-64 victory in January that featured a dunk by Lady Vols star Candace Parker. Tennessee went on to win the national championship last season.
Summitt feels the end of the game will give other rivalries a chance to develop.
"The fact that the television networks would seek our games every year is somewhat unfortunate," Summitt said. "I do think, in terms of this season, that the (women's) game can expand. I know for us, we're playing Oklahoma, which I think would get some good exposure."
The games against the Huskies have always drawn national television exposure and featured some of the nation's best players such as Rebecca Lobo, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi for Connecticut and Chamique Holdsclaw, Tamika Catchings and Nikki McCray for Tennessee.
The teams first met on Jan. 16, 1995, when Connecticut beat No. 1 Tennessee 77-66. The Huskies completed their undefeated season with a win over the Lady Vols in the title game.
Two matriarchs of women's basketball stop by practice
NEW YORK – Pat Summitt and Kay Yow have been involved with USA Basketball for a long time. When they speak, it's worth taking the time to listen.
The two legendary coaches stopped by practice Saturday morning for an up close and personal look at the current USA group.
“I think it's great you have Anne Donovan (as coach),” said Yow, who led the USA team to the Olympic gold medal in 1988. “She played for me at the World University Games, the Goodwill Games and the Olympics.
“I think we're in good hands with a very experienced group of coaches. ... I'm hopeful this is going to be a really good team.”
Donovan, who also played for Summitt on the 1984 team that won its first Olympic gold, was happy to have the two legendary coaches at practice.
“It was fantastic. They are both mentors of mine,” she said. “I enjoyed being a player under both of them with their completely different styles. My coaching philosophy is modeled as a player under all the coaches I played for. It's great having them here and I hope to get some feedback from them.”
Yow, who is still battling cancer that forced her to miss much of North Carolina State's season before the team made a run in the NCAA tournament, is feeling better.
“I'm on a different treatment plan which allows me to have so much more energy,” Yow said. “I still have some issues, but it's nothing like the hard chemo I had during the season.”
Summitt, who was on her way back from the basketball hall of fame induction ceremonies in Springfield, Mass., is a member of the USA Basketball senior national committee. She is excited about the possibilities of the team now forming.
“We have a lot of great young players,” Summitt said. “Just looking at this group we have some very talented, but young, players who are going to have to step up and grow up in a hurry.”
The two legendary coaches stopped by practice Saturday morning for an up close and personal look at the current USA group.
“I think it's great you have Anne Donovan (as coach),” said Yow, who led the USA team to the Olympic gold medal in 1988. “She played for me at the World University Games, the Goodwill Games and the Olympics.
“I think we're in good hands with a very experienced group of coaches. ... I'm hopeful this is going to be a really good team.”
Donovan, who also played for Summitt on the 1984 team that won its first Olympic gold, was happy to have the two legendary coaches at practice.
“It was fantastic. They are both mentors of mine,” she said. “I enjoyed being a player under both of them with their completely different styles. My coaching philosophy is modeled as a player under all the coaches I played for. It's great having them here and I hope to get some feedback from them.”
Yow, who is still battling cancer that forced her to miss much of North Carolina State's season before the team made a run in the NCAA tournament, is feeling better.
“I'm on a different treatment plan which allows me to have so much more energy,” Yow said. “I still have some issues, but it's nothing like the hard chemo I had during the season.”
Summitt, who was on her way back from the basketball hall of fame induction ceremonies in Springfield, Mass., is a member of the USA Basketball senior national committee. She is excited about the possibilities of the team now forming.
“We have a lot of great young players,” Summitt said. “Just looking at this group we have some very talented, but young, players who are going to have to step up and grow up in a hurry.”
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Indiana's Tamika Catchings has torn Achilles' tendon surgically repaired
INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana Fever forward Tamika Catchings had surgery Wednesday to repair a torn Achilles' tendon in her right foot.
The Fever said Catchings was resting at her Indianapolis home after the surgery by Dr. Dan Lehman.
''It was a complete tear of her Achilles','' Lehman said in a team statement. ''It was successfully repaired and everything went well.''
Catchings, a U.S. Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star, was injured during Monday's Eastern Conference finals loss at Detroit. She collapsed to the floor during the final minute of the first half and was taken from the floor in a wheelchair.
The Fever said she will probably take six to nine months to recover.
Catchings finished fourth in league MVP voting announced Wednesday despite missing the final 13 games of the regular season after suffering a partial tear of the plantar fascia in her left foot. In 21 regular-season games, she averaged 16.9 points and had career-best figures of 9.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists - leading the Fever in each category for a sixth straight season.
The Fever said Catchings was resting at her Indianapolis home after the surgery by Dr. Dan Lehman.
''It was a complete tear of her Achilles','' Lehman said in a team statement. ''It was successfully repaired and everything went well.''
Catchings, a U.S. Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star, was injured during Monday's Eastern Conference finals loss at Detroit. She collapsed to the floor during the final minute of the first half and was taken from the floor in a wheelchair.
The Fever said she will probably take six to nine months to recover.
Catchings finished fourth in league MVP voting announced Wednesday despite missing the final 13 games of the regular season after suffering a partial tear of the plantar fascia in her left foot. In 21 regular-season games, she averaged 16.9 points and had career-best figures of 9.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists - leading the Fever in each category for a sixth straight season.
Catchings To Undergo Surgery Wednesday
INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Olympic gold medalist and five-time WNBA All-Star forward Tamika Catchings will undergo surgery on Wednesday, Sept. 5, to repair a torn Achilles tendon sustained during the second quarter of Monday night’s Eastern Conference Finals loss in Detroit.
Catchings collapsed to the floor with 43.2 seconds remaining in the first half. She was taken from the floor in a wheelchair, and flew back to Indianapolis late Monday night with team physician Dr. David Harsha.
Surgery will be performed by Dr. Dan Lehman, affiliated with St.Vincent Sports Medicine, and Orthopedics of Indianapolis. Catchings’ anticipated recovery time following surgery is between six and nine months.
A top candidate for WNBA MVP honors through the first half of the 2007 season, Catchings missed the final 13 games of the regular season after sustaining a partial tear of the plantar fascia in her left foot. She made a successful return to the court just in time for the first round of the WNBA Playoffs, averaging 19.7 points and 15.3 rebounds in a 2-1 first-round series win over Connecticut. Catchings posted double-doubles in all three games of the series. Her 46 rebounds were a WNBA record for a 3-game playoff series, and her 20 rebounds in Game 1 of the series, her first game back from injury, was the second-best playoff figure ever.
In 21 games, she finished the regular season with an average of 16.9 points, and career-best figures of 9.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. She topped the WNBA with 3.1 steals per contest and led the Fever in scoring, rebounds, steals and assists for a sixth straight season. With Catchings in the lineup, Indiana raced to a 16-4 record to begin the year – the best 20-game mark in Eastern Conference history.
The Fever finished the regular season 21-13 for a third consecutive year, becoming the first Eastern Conference team ever to boast three straight 20-win seasons. The Fever outlasted Connecticut to advance to the Eastern Finals for the second time in three seasons, but after winning Game 1 of the best-of-three series against Detroit, lost Games 2 and 3.
Catchings collapsed to the floor with 43.2 seconds remaining in the first half. She was taken from the floor in a wheelchair, and flew back to Indianapolis late Monday night with team physician Dr. David Harsha.
Surgery will be performed by Dr. Dan Lehman, affiliated with St.Vincent Sports Medicine, and Orthopedics of Indianapolis. Catchings’ anticipated recovery time following surgery is between six and nine months.
A top candidate for WNBA MVP honors through the first half of the 2007 season, Catchings missed the final 13 games of the regular season after sustaining a partial tear of the plantar fascia in her left foot. She made a successful return to the court just in time for the first round of the WNBA Playoffs, averaging 19.7 points and 15.3 rebounds in a 2-1 first-round series win over Connecticut. Catchings posted double-doubles in all three games of the series. Her 46 rebounds were a WNBA record for a 3-game playoff series, and her 20 rebounds in Game 1 of the series, her first game back from injury, was the second-best playoff figure ever.
In 21 games, she finished the regular season with an average of 16.9 points, and career-best figures of 9.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game. She topped the WNBA with 3.1 steals per contest and led the Fever in scoring, rebounds, steals and assists for a sixth straight season. With Catchings in the lineup, Indiana raced to a 16-4 record to begin the year – the best 20-game mark in Eastern Conference history.
The Fever finished the regular season 21-13 for a third consecutive year, becoming the first Eastern Conference team ever to boast three straight 20-win seasons. The Fever outlasted Connecticut to advance to the Eastern Finals for the second time in three seasons, but after winning Game 1 of the best-of-three series against Detroit, lost Games 2 and 3.
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