Tennessee freshman guard Andraya Carter will undergo season-ending surgery on her right shoulder Thursday, limiting the 13th-ranked Lady Vols’ backcourt depth as they enter the toughest portion of their schedule.
Carter hurt her shoulder initially Nov. 18 in a 79-67 victory at Miami. She hurt her shoulder again and was helped off the court Nov 28 in an 88-81 overtime victory over Middle Tennessee. When she returned to action Dec. 2 in a 102-57 triumph over North Carolina, Carter aggravated the injury.
The 5-foot-9 guard had injured the same shoulder late in her senior season at Buford (Ga.) High School.
“She hurt it in high school, and it just kept popping out,” Tennessee coach Holly Warlick said.
Warlick said Carter was given the option of continuing to play and hoping the injury didn’t get worse. Carter and her family chose to have surgery.
“I think it’s the best decision,” Warlick said. “I didn’t tell her one way or another. I wanted them to make the best decision, but I totally understand it.”
Carter had been averaging 5.3 points and 20.6 minutes per game. She started each of Tennessee’s first five games before coming off the bench in the last two contests.
Warlick said the Lady Vols plan to seek a medical redshirt for Carter.
Her injury comes as Tennessee (6-1) begins a demanding stretch of games against No. 18 Texas, No. 3 Baylor and No. 1 Stanford. The stretch starts Sunday at Texas.
“She’s a great leader,” Warlick said. “It’s going to hurt us as far as our depth. We may not be able to run as much as we have been because we could sub people in and out.”
Carter’s injury creates some uncertainty behind starting point guard Ariel Massengale.
This could create an expanded role for senior Kamiko Williams, who has averaged 5.1 points and 15 minutes per game this season. Junior Meighan Simmons, the Vols’ leading scorer and first-team shooting guard, also can help out at point guard.
“We’re going to have to do it by committee,” Warlick said. “I hate it for Ariel. I think Andraya helped Ariel kind of relax and think, ‘You know, I don’t have to do this by myself.’ It’s going to be great for Andraya to stick around and be around Ariel and make sure she gives support watching the games and when (Massengale) comes off the court. Guards are going to have to step up.”
Thursday, December 13, 2012
Pat Summitt receives Naismith contributor award
Pat Summitt is the recipient of the 2013 Naismith Outstanding Contributor to Women's College Basketball Award, an honor given annually by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.
The award goes each year to an individual who made contributions of outstanding significance and created a long-lasting positive impact on women's college basketball. Anyone eligible for consideration must have been involved with the sport in a capacity related to coaching, broadcasting, college administration or the media.
Summitt stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April after announcing last year that she had early onset dementia, though she remains on staff as head coach emeritus.
Summitt led Tennessee to eight national titles in her 38-year tenure. Her 1,098-208 career record makes her the winningest Division I men's or women's college basketball coach in history.
The award goes each year to an individual who made contributions of outstanding significance and created a long-lasting positive impact on women's college basketball. Anyone eligible for consideration must have been involved with the sport in a capacity related to coaching, broadcasting, college administration or the media.
Summitt stepped down as Tennessee's coach in April after announcing last year that she had early onset dementia, though she remains on staff as head coach emeritus.
Summitt led Tennessee to eight national titles in her 38-year tenure. Her 1,098-208 career record makes her the winningest Division I men's or women's college basketball coach in history.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Tyler Summitt takes family legacy to Marquette
When Marquette coach Terri Mitchell picked up the phone to talk with Tyler Summitt about the opening on her staff, it figured to be little more than a courtesy call.
Mitchell knew his pedigree -- who didn't? The son of Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, who won eight national titles and more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball in 38 years at Tennessee, Tyler Summitt has been around the game longer than some veteran coaches. But he was just finishing his senior year at Tennessee and, now 22, was barely older than many of the Marquette players.
Forty-five minutes later, Mitchell had asked Summitt to come to Marquette for an interview. By the end of the interview, he had the job.
"From the second I started asking him questions, he was on it. Just his philosophy, his passion," Mitchell said. "Coming from Tennessee, watching his mom, all the national championships -- he's embraced all that knowledge and said, `How can I translate that into Marquette being a championship program? I will bring a championship environment every day because that's all I know.'
"He's going to be a star in our profession."
Tyler Summitt was hired at Marquette in April, the very day his mother stepped down at Tennessee. She had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, in May 2011, a month shy of her 59th birthday.
Marquette is hosting a "We Back Pat" night to raise Alzheimer's awareness Saturday, when it hosts Toledo. Pat Summitt plans to be there.
Because Tyler Summitt is so close to his mom, leaving Knoxville wasn't easy. But Pat Summitt remains in good health -- whenever Tyler Summitt calls, she's usually just finishing a workout or doing one of the many memory quizzes or puzzles she has on her iPad -- and she encouraged him to go.
"She's prepared me for this and she knows I'm prepared and she believes in me and she's taught me so much," Tyler Summitt said. "So it's fun to go and be doing kind of what she's taught me to do and doing things the right way and mentoring young athletes while she's right there watching.
"I think a part of her philosophy is living on in me, so I hope that I can continue to make her proud."
Basketball has been part of Tyler Summitt's life for, well, forever. While other kids were playing video games after school, he was hanging out at Tennessee practices. Instead of going to sleepovers or parties on weekends, he was taking road trips with the Lady Vols.
Some kids might rebel, seeking as different a career path as possible. But Summitt was captivated, never once considering doing anything else with his life.
"Basketball," he said, "is just part of me."
He was coaching basketball camps when he was in high school, and served as a student-assistant for the Lady Vols as a freshman. A walk-on at Tennessee his last two years, he coached AAU teams in his free time. When his mom watched game film, he'd pull up a seat and watch with her.
"Eventually, he saw everything I was seeing," Pat Summitt said in an email. "I knew he had a gift to coach."
Tyler Summitt was like a sponge with anyone he came in contact with -- his mother; Billie Moore, the Hall of Famer who was Pat Summitt's Olympic coach; John Wooden; Bruce Pearl and Cuonzo Martin, both of whom Tyler Summitt played for at Tennessee. He made notes of everything he learned, and has them stored on his computer.
Not just Xs and Os, either, but tips on leadership and building chemistry, ideas for dealing with discipline issues and on and on.
"You name a topic, bam! He can go in and start looking at ideas," Mitchell said.
Though technically Summitt is responsible for Marquette's guards, the position he played, Mitchell has always encouraged her assistants to jump in wherever they feel they can contribute and Summitt is no different. He's an active voice at practice, and doesn't hesitate to suggest plays or drills. If he's got thoughts on offense, defense, transition, she wants to hear them.
"She has that trust and that's something so great about her, she puts people in their strengths and lets them spread their wings," Summitt said. "I don't think my assistant's role is like 99 percent of other assistants in the nation because she's given me so much freedom."
But Summitt has earned that, Mitchell said.
"Some coaches, as they come up through the ranks, think things are owed to them. You have to work at it. You've got to work for the corner office," she said. "But he's the complete opposite. He's worked his tail off. So much so that I need to get him to relax."
Summitt is well aware of the impact his mother had on the women's game -- on all of women's sports, really. Pat Summitt's Lady Vols were the first women's team to go mainstream, and others -- in basketball and beyond -- soon followed. There's not a day that goes by without someone emailing or calling Tyler Summitt to tell him about meeting his mom, getting her autograph or just seeing her at a game.
"I realize the impact she's had. But I don't think I'll ever fully grasp the multitude of what she's done," he said.
He does, though, have greater admiration for the way she did it.
Yes, Pat Summitt won more games than any other coach, male or female, finishing with a 1,098-208 record at Tennessee. But it was the relationships she built with her players, the time she made for her family, the lessons she taught that could be carried from the court into every other corner of life, that stuck most with her son.
"There are countless opportunities for a coach to be power-hungry and get a `win-at-all-costs' attitude, and she never did that," Tyler Summitt said. "As competitive as she was, she resisted that. She always did things the right way. She always treated people the right way. She always put the relationships of her players first. And she always put discipline above winning.
"Focus on what you can control, do things the right way, be honest and open and communicate -- there's been those principles that aren't written down, but they're a part of me and a part of her," he added.
And they're helped sustain both mother and son since May 2011, when Pat Summitt was diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, a month shy of her 59th birthday.
Pat Summitt has always been brutally honest -- her glare is legendary -- so going public with her diagnosis was never a question, Tyler Summitt said. She established the Pat Summitt Foundation to raise awareness and funding of Alzheimer's research, and became the public face of what, until now, has been a disease suffered mostly in private.
More than 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association, 200,000 of whom are under 65.
"It's not something people talk about as easily as cancer, AIDS, heart disease," said Angela Geiger, the chief strategy officer for the Alzheimer's Association. "Having a public figure like Pat come forward and say, `I noticed the signs, I sought out a diagnosis,' really helps change the conversation."
The "We Back Pat" campaign has spread across the country -- and across sports. Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams made Summitt the "12th Titan" for the season opener, and Trevor Bayne had "We Back Pat" painted on his car for a Nationwide race at Bristol in August.
"It's just more awareness. There can't be enough," Tyler Summitt said. "People seeing, `Hey, this isn't stopping her, it doesn't have to stop me or my loved one.'
"(This disease) will have as much power as you give it," he added. "You can take its power away by, one, being open like mom was. And then, two, living your life."
Mitchell knew his pedigree -- who didn't? The son of Hall of Fame coach Pat Summitt, who won eight national titles and more games than anyone else in NCAA college basketball in 38 years at Tennessee, Tyler Summitt has been around the game longer than some veteran coaches. But he was just finishing his senior year at Tennessee and, now 22, was barely older than many of the Marquette players.
Forty-five minutes later, Mitchell had asked Summitt to come to Marquette for an interview. By the end of the interview, he had the job.
"From the second I started asking him questions, he was on it. Just his philosophy, his passion," Mitchell said. "Coming from Tennessee, watching his mom, all the national championships -- he's embraced all that knowledge and said, `How can I translate that into Marquette being a championship program? I will bring a championship environment every day because that's all I know.'
"He's going to be a star in our profession."
Tyler Summitt was hired at Marquette in April, the very day his mother stepped down at Tennessee. She had been diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, in May 2011, a month shy of her 59th birthday.
Marquette is hosting a "We Back Pat" night to raise Alzheimer's awareness Saturday, when it hosts Toledo. Pat Summitt plans to be there.
Because Tyler Summitt is so close to his mom, leaving Knoxville wasn't easy. But Pat Summitt remains in good health -- whenever Tyler Summitt calls, she's usually just finishing a workout or doing one of the many memory quizzes or puzzles she has on her iPad -- and she encouraged him to go.
"She's prepared me for this and she knows I'm prepared and she believes in me and she's taught me so much," Tyler Summitt said. "So it's fun to go and be doing kind of what she's taught me to do and doing things the right way and mentoring young athletes while she's right there watching.
"I think a part of her philosophy is living on in me, so I hope that I can continue to make her proud."
Basketball has been part of Tyler Summitt's life for, well, forever. While other kids were playing video games after school, he was hanging out at Tennessee practices. Instead of going to sleepovers or parties on weekends, he was taking road trips with the Lady Vols.
Some kids might rebel, seeking as different a career path as possible. But Summitt was captivated, never once considering doing anything else with his life.
"Basketball," he said, "is just part of me."
He was coaching basketball camps when he was in high school, and served as a student-assistant for the Lady Vols as a freshman. A walk-on at Tennessee his last two years, he coached AAU teams in his free time. When his mom watched game film, he'd pull up a seat and watch with her.
"Eventually, he saw everything I was seeing," Pat Summitt said in an email. "I knew he had a gift to coach."
Tyler Summitt was like a sponge with anyone he came in contact with -- his mother; Billie Moore, the Hall of Famer who was Pat Summitt's Olympic coach; John Wooden; Bruce Pearl and Cuonzo Martin, both of whom Tyler Summitt played for at Tennessee. He made notes of everything he learned, and has them stored on his computer.
Not just Xs and Os, either, but tips on leadership and building chemistry, ideas for dealing with discipline issues and on and on.
"You name a topic, bam! He can go in and start looking at ideas," Mitchell said.
Though technically Summitt is responsible for Marquette's guards, the position he played, Mitchell has always encouraged her assistants to jump in wherever they feel they can contribute and Summitt is no different. He's an active voice at practice, and doesn't hesitate to suggest plays or drills. If he's got thoughts on offense, defense, transition, she wants to hear them.
"She has that trust and that's something so great about her, she puts people in their strengths and lets them spread their wings," Summitt said. "I don't think my assistant's role is like 99 percent of other assistants in the nation because she's given me so much freedom."
But Summitt has earned that, Mitchell said.
"Some coaches, as they come up through the ranks, think things are owed to them. You have to work at it. You've got to work for the corner office," she said. "But he's the complete opposite. He's worked his tail off. So much so that I need to get him to relax."
Summitt is well aware of the impact his mother had on the women's game -- on all of women's sports, really. Pat Summitt's Lady Vols were the first women's team to go mainstream, and others -- in basketball and beyond -- soon followed. There's not a day that goes by without someone emailing or calling Tyler Summitt to tell him about meeting his mom, getting her autograph or just seeing her at a game.
"I realize the impact she's had. But I don't think I'll ever fully grasp the multitude of what she's done," he said.
He does, though, have greater admiration for the way she did it.
Yes, Pat Summitt won more games than any other coach, male or female, finishing with a 1,098-208 record at Tennessee. But it was the relationships she built with her players, the time she made for her family, the lessons she taught that could be carried from the court into every other corner of life, that stuck most with her son.
"There are countless opportunities for a coach to be power-hungry and get a `win-at-all-costs' attitude, and she never did that," Tyler Summitt said. "As competitive as she was, she resisted that. She always did things the right way. She always treated people the right way. She always put the relationships of her players first. And she always put discipline above winning.
"Focus on what you can control, do things the right way, be honest and open and communicate -- there's been those principles that aren't written down, but they're a part of me and a part of her," he added.
And they're helped sustain both mother and son since May 2011, when Pat Summitt was diagnosed with early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type, a month shy of her 59th birthday.
Pat Summitt has always been brutally honest -- her glare is legendary -- so going public with her diagnosis was never a question, Tyler Summitt said. She established the Pat Summitt Foundation to raise awareness and funding of Alzheimer's research, and became the public face of what, until now, has been a disease suffered mostly in private.
More than 5.4 million Americans are living with Alzheimer's, according to the Alzheimer's Association, 200,000 of whom are under 65.
"It's not something people talk about as easily as cancer, AIDS, heart disease," said Angela Geiger, the chief strategy officer for the Alzheimer's Association. "Having a public figure like Pat come forward and say, `I noticed the signs, I sought out a diagnosis,' really helps change the conversation."
The "We Back Pat" campaign has spread across the country -- and across sports. Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams made Summitt the "12th Titan" for the season opener, and Trevor Bayne had "We Back Pat" painted on his car for a Nationwide race at Bristol in August.
"It's just more awareness. There can't be enough," Tyler Summitt said. "People seeing, `Hey, this isn't stopping her, it doesn't have to stop me or my loved one.'
"(This disease) will have as much power as you give it," he added. "You can take its power away by, one, being open like mom was. And then, two, living your life."
Thursday, December 06, 2012
AARP Presents Pat Summitt with the 2012 Andrus Award
AARP today announced that Pat Summitt has been selected as the recipient of the 2012 AARP Andrus Award. The Andrus Award, named after AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus, is given in recognition of those who embody the organization's goal of bringing lifetimes of experience and leadership to serve all generations.
Ms. Summitt, who in her 38-year coaching career led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols to more than 1,000 wins, retired at the end of the 2012 season after courageously announcing her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease. She currently serves as Head Coach Emeritus of the Lady Vols.
AARP selected Ms. Summitt as this year's Andrus Award recipient for the incredible work she has done through the Pat Summitt Foundation. The Foundation, which was formed in 2011, gives grants to nonprofits that perform cutting-edge research into the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and provide support services to patients, their families, and their caregivers.
"The Andrus Award is presented only to those remarkable individuals whose efforts and achievements have effected enormous positive social change," said AARP CEO A. Barry Rand. "AARP is proud to pay tribute to Pat Summitt and her accomplishments. We commend Ms. Summitt and her Foundation for their commitment to raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease and providing caregiving support for families. Ms. Summitt embodies the very spirit of service that is at the core of AARP's mission."
Past recipients of the Andrus Award include Maya Angelou, Tom Brokaw, Norman Lear and General Colin L. Powell. AARP will present the award to Ms. Summitt at a dinner held in her honor on Thursday, December 6 th at The Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Ms. Summitt, who in her 38-year coaching career led the University of Tennessee Lady Vols to more than 1,000 wins, retired at the end of the 2012 season after courageously announcing her diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's disease. She currently serves as Head Coach Emeritus of the Lady Vols.
AARP selected Ms. Summitt as this year's Andrus Award recipient for the incredible work she has done through the Pat Summitt Foundation. The Foundation, which was formed in 2011, gives grants to nonprofits that perform cutting-edge research into the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's disease and provide support services to patients, their families, and their caregivers.
"The Andrus Award is presented only to those remarkable individuals whose efforts and achievements have effected enormous positive social change," said AARP CEO A. Barry Rand. "AARP is proud to pay tribute to Pat Summitt and her accomplishments. We commend Ms. Summitt and her Foundation for their commitment to raising awareness of Alzheimer's disease and providing caregiving support for families. Ms. Summitt embodies the very spirit of service that is at the core of AARP's mission."
Past recipients of the Andrus Award include Maya Angelou, Tom Brokaw, Norman Lear and General Colin L. Powell. AARP will present the award to Ms. Summitt at a dinner held in her honor on Thursday, December 6 th at The Newseum in Washington, D.C.
Sunday, December 02, 2012
No. 16 Lady Vols rip No. 22 North Carolina 102-57
Meighan Simmons scored a career-high 33 points and exceeded the 1,000-point mark for her career Sunday as No. 16 Tennessee trounced No. 22 North Carolina 102-57 for its sixth consecutive victory.
Simmons shot 12-of-22, including 9-of-11 in the first half. The junior guard scored her 1,000th career point by sinking a pair of free throws with 11:44 left in the first half, becoming the 37th Lady Vol to reach that plateau.
Isabelle Harrison added a career-high 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds for the Lady Vols (6-1). Cierra Burdick scored 15 points, Bashaara Graves had 11 points and Taber Spani added 10 points.
Xylina McDaniel scored 19 points and Waltiea Rolle added 13 points for North Carolina (7-1). The Tar Heels had been allowing only 54.3 points per game and hadn't given up more than 64 points in any of their seven wins.
Simmons shot 12-of-22, including 9-of-11 in the first half. The junior guard scored her 1,000th career point by sinking a pair of free throws with 11:44 left in the first half, becoming the 37th Lady Vol to reach that plateau.
Isabelle Harrison added a career-high 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds for the Lady Vols (6-1). Cierra Burdick scored 15 points, Bashaara Graves had 11 points and Taber Spani added 10 points.
Xylina McDaniel scored 19 points and Waltiea Rolle added 13 points for North Carolina (7-1). The Tar Heels had been allowing only 54.3 points per game and hadn't given up more than 64 points in any of their seven wins.
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Freshman Graves emerges as force for Lady Vols
As Tennessee begins a new era in women's basketball, perhaps it's only fitting that a freshman is leading the way.
The emergence of freshman forward Bashaara Graves has helped the 16th-ranked Lady Vols win five consecutive games in Holly Warlick's debut season as coach. Graves headed into the weekend as the Southeastern Conference's third-leading scorer (15.8) and sixth-leading rebounder (7.8). No other freshman ranked among the conference's top 18 scorers or top 14 rebounders.
Graves' rapid rise hasn't surprised anyone at Tennessee.
Her coaches and teammates knew all along she'd be a major factor. Even Graves herself believed she could contribute right away. She remembered what Warlick told each of the freshmen before the season.
''She basically told us that we don't have time to be freshmen, which is understandable because we're a younger team,'' Graves said. ''Being freshmen, we don't have that option. We had to come in and make an impact immediately.''
Tennessee (5-1) needs Graves to continue making an impact as it enters the toughest portion of its schedule. The Lady Vols host No. 22 North Carolina (7-0) on Sunday in the first of four consecutive games against currently ranked teams. After taking two weeks off, Tennessee travels to No. 13 Texas on Dec. 16 and No. 3 Baylor on Dec. 18 before hosting top-ranked Stanford on Dec. 22.
The 6-foot-2 freshman seems ready for the challenge.
Graves had just finished the second game of her career - an 18-point, 12-rebound performance in a 71-54 victory at Georgia Tech - when sophomore forward Cierra Burdick referred to her as a ''beast.'' Junior guard Meighan Simmons calls Graves a ''silent assassin'' because the freshman doesn't talk much but delivers big performances. Simmons also says Graves is ''like another Glory,'' which may be the greatest compliment of all.
Glory Johnson closed her Tennessee career last season with 1,218 career rebounds, the second-highest total in school history. She averaged 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds as the SEC defensive player of the year in her senior year. Johnson went to the Tulsa Shock with the fourth overall pick in the most recent WNBA draft. By comparing Graves to Johnson, Simmons is letting the freshman understand her extraordinary potential.
''It just reminds (her), 'You can be an All-American just like Glory Johnson was,' '' Simmons said.
That's quite a responsibility to place on a newcomer, but the Lady Vols believe Graves has the personality and the game to handle it.
Graves certainly has backed up her teammates' faith in her so far. She recorded her second double-double Wednesday by collecting 15 points and 12 rebounds in an 88-81 overtime triumph over Middle Tennessee.
''Bashaara is a workhorse,'' Warlick said. ''She's old-school. She works hard she works on every possession. She competes. She's not the tallest. She's not the fastest. She just gets it done.''
That's apparent from Graves' consistency.
Graves isn't the typical newcomer who offers glimpses of potential while also making freshman mistakes. Graves instead has the steady approach of a senior. She has scored in double figures in every game and hasn't wilted under pressure.
''She's just one of those girls who doesn't speak as much, but she does put her best foot forward and gives 100 percent every day, whether it be a workout with (associate strength coach) Heather (Mason), in the classroom, on the floor or off the floor,'' Simmons said.
Graves adopted that work ethic long before she arrived in Knoxville.
The former Clarksville (Tenn.) High star developed into one of the nation's top five recruits in her class by constantly working to get better. She adopted a well-rounded game by focusing on rebounding and passing as much as scoring. Early in her high school career, Graves even began eating and opening doors with her left hand in an attempt to feel equally comfortable with both hands each time she stepped on the court.
''She's just one of those kids who's always looking for ways to better herself,'' Clarksville coach Brian Rush said. ''She has such a competitive nature on the court. She always wants to win in the worst way.''
She also wants to represent her home-state team in the best way possible. During the Lady Vols' 2008 national championship season, Graves watched just about every game that was televised. She remained committed to Tennessee even after former coach Pat Summitt announced last year she had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
''I always wanted to be a Lady Vol,'' Graves said. ''Even if Pat wasn't here, you're still a Lady Vol. You still carry on her tradition. It makes it even better because I committed under her, so I continue the tradition with her. Holly's a great coach and I (am playing for) Holly, but I'm still carrying on the tradition.
''I'm still part of the legacy.''
The emergence of freshman forward Bashaara Graves has helped the 16th-ranked Lady Vols win five consecutive games in Holly Warlick's debut season as coach. Graves headed into the weekend as the Southeastern Conference's third-leading scorer (15.8) and sixth-leading rebounder (7.8). No other freshman ranked among the conference's top 18 scorers or top 14 rebounders.
Graves' rapid rise hasn't surprised anyone at Tennessee.
Her coaches and teammates knew all along she'd be a major factor. Even Graves herself believed she could contribute right away. She remembered what Warlick told each of the freshmen before the season.
''She basically told us that we don't have time to be freshmen, which is understandable because we're a younger team,'' Graves said. ''Being freshmen, we don't have that option. We had to come in and make an impact immediately.''
Tennessee (5-1) needs Graves to continue making an impact as it enters the toughest portion of its schedule. The Lady Vols host No. 22 North Carolina (7-0) on Sunday in the first of four consecutive games against currently ranked teams. After taking two weeks off, Tennessee travels to No. 13 Texas on Dec. 16 and No. 3 Baylor on Dec. 18 before hosting top-ranked Stanford on Dec. 22.
The 6-foot-2 freshman seems ready for the challenge.
Graves had just finished the second game of her career - an 18-point, 12-rebound performance in a 71-54 victory at Georgia Tech - when sophomore forward Cierra Burdick referred to her as a ''beast.'' Junior guard Meighan Simmons calls Graves a ''silent assassin'' because the freshman doesn't talk much but delivers big performances. Simmons also says Graves is ''like another Glory,'' which may be the greatest compliment of all.
Glory Johnson closed her Tennessee career last season with 1,218 career rebounds, the second-highest total in school history. She averaged 14.2 points and 9.9 rebounds as the SEC defensive player of the year in her senior year. Johnson went to the Tulsa Shock with the fourth overall pick in the most recent WNBA draft. By comparing Graves to Johnson, Simmons is letting the freshman understand her extraordinary potential.
''It just reminds (her), 'You can be an All-American just like Glory Johnson was,' '' Simmons said.
That's quite a responsibility to place on a newcomer, but the Lady Vols believe Graves has the personality and the game to handle it.
Graves certainly has backed up her teammates' faith in her so far. She recorded her second double-double Wednesday by collecting 15 points and 12 rebounds in an 88-81 overtime triumph over Middle Tennessee.
''Bashaara is a workhorse,'' Warlick said. ''She's old-school. She works hard she works on every possession. She competes. She's not the tallest. She's not the fastest. She just gets it done.''
That's apparent from Graves' consistency.
Graves isn't the typical newcomer who offers glimpses of potential while also making freshman mistakes. Graves instead has the steady approach of a senior. She has scored in double figures in every game and hasn't wilted under pressure.
''She's just one of those girls who doesn't speak as much, but she does put her best foot forward and gives 100 percent every day, whether it be a workout with (associate strength coach) Heather (Mason), in the classroom, on the floor or off the floor,'' Simmons said.
Graves adopted that work ethic long before she arrived in Knoxville.
The former Clarksville (Tenn.) High star developed into one of the nation's top five recruits in her class by constantly working to get better. She adopted a well-rounded game by focusing on rebounding and passing as much as scoring. Early in her high school career, Graves even began eating and opening doors with her left hand in an attempt to feel equally comfortable with both hands each time she stepped on the court.
''She's just one of those kids who's always looking for ways to better herself,'' Clarksville coach Brian Rush said. ''She has such a competitive nature on the court. She always wants to win in the worst way.''
She also wants to represent her home-state team in the best way possible. During the Lady Vols' 2008 national championship season, Graves watched just about every game that was televised. She remained committed to Tennessee even after former coach Pat Summitt announced last year she had been diagnosed with early-onset dementia.
''I always wanted to be a Lady Vol,'' Graves said. ''Even if Pat wasn't here, you're still a Lady Vol. You still carry on her tradition. It makes it even better because I committed under her, so I continue the tradition with her. Holly's a great coach and I (am playing for) Holly, but I'm still carrying on the tradition.
''I'm still part of the legacy.''
Friday, November 30, 2012
Marquette to Host `We Back Pat' Night on Dec. 15
Join the Marquette women's basketball team and legendary coach Pat Summitt on Saturday, Dec. 15 when the Golden Eagles host Toledo at 7 p.m. for `We Back Pat' night in support of the Pat Summitt Foundation.
Marquette will begin selling `We Back Pat' t-shirts at the Fordham game on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. The price of a t-shirt is $15, which includes a general admission ticket to `We Back Pat' night on Dec. 15.
The Golden Eagles will be selling wristbands and giving out information about Alzheimer's and early onset dementia at the Toledo game. All proceeds will go to the Pat Summitt Foundation.
MU's assistant coach, Tyler Summitt, will be speaking at halftime and be joined by his mother, Pat Summitt, who will be in attendance.
For more information on the Pat Summitt foundation visit www.patsummitt.org
Marquette will begin selling `We Back Pat' t-shirts at the Fordham game on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. The price of a t-shirt is $15, which includes a general admission ticket to `We Back Pat' night on Dec. 15.
The Golden Eagles will be selling wristbands and giving out information about Alzheimer's and early onset dementia at the Toledo game. All proceeds will go to the Pat Summitt Foundation.
MU's assistant coach, Tyler Summitt, will be speaking at halftime and be joined by his mother, Pat Summitt, who will be in attendance.
For more information on the Pat Summitt foundation visit www.patsummitt.org
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
No. 16 Tennessee outlasts Middle Tenn. 88-81 in OT
Bashaara Graves recorded a double-double and reserve guard Kamiko Williams made several huge plays down the stretch Wednesday night as No. 16 Tennessee erased an 11-point, second-half deficit in an 88-81 overtime victory over Middle Tennessee.
Middle Tennessee (4-2) had forced overtime on Icelyn Elie's 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. Elie led all scorers with 21 points.
The Blue Raiders were seeking their first victory over the Lady Vols in 20 attempts and had lost 82-43 to Tennessee last year, but their poor history in this rivalry certainly didn't bother them for most of the game.
After trailing all night, Tennessee finally took its first lead at 64-63 when Williams got a steal and made a 10-footer with 4:26 left. Williams added a 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation and made a steal and drew a charge in overtime.
Once the Blue Raiders tied the game at the end of regulation, Tennessee used its depth to wear down a Middle Tennessee team that barely substituted all night and was playing its third overtime game of the season. Middle Tennessee's Elie, Ebony Rowe and Korni Jones each played all 45 minutes. Starting point guard Shanice Cason also had played the entire game before fouling out in overtime.
Meghan Simmons scored 19 points for Tennessee (5-1). Graves collected 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Ariel Massengale also scored 15 points.
Rowe recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds for Middle Tennessee. Laken Leonard added 17 points while shooting 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and Cason tallied 13 points.
The contest was Middle Tennessee's fourth in a five-game road trip that will require the Blue Raiders to travel 5,000 miles. Middle Tennessee had lost 69-63 at Iowa in overtime and had beaten Tennessee Tech 65-59 in overtime and Louisiana-Lafayette 72-45 in the three games leading up to this one. The Blue Raiders next play Saturday at South Dakota State.
Tennessee will carry a five-game winning streak into the toughest portion of its schedule. The Lady Vols host No. 22 North Carolina on Sunday, then take two weeks off before playing at No. 13 Texas on Dec. 16 and at No. 3 Baylor on Dec. 18. Tennessee returns home to face No. 1 Stanford on Dec. 22.
Middle Tennessee (4-2) had forced overtime on Icelyn Elie's 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in regulation. Elie led all scorers with 21 points.
The Blue Raiders were seeking their first victory over the Lady Vols in 20 attempts and had lost 82-43 to Tennessee last year, but their poor history in this rivalry certainly didn't bother them for most of the game.
After trailing all night, Tennessee finally took its first lead at 64-63 when Williams got a steal and made a 10-footer with 4:26 left. Williams added a 3-pointer in the final minute of regulation and made a steal and drew a charge in overtime.
Once the Blue Raiders tied the game at the end of regulation, Tennessee used its depth to wear down a Middle Tennessee team that barely substituted all night and was playing its third overtime game of the season. Middle Tennessee's Elie, Ebony Rowe and Korni Jones each played all 45 minutes. Starting point guard Shanice Cason also had played the entire game before fouling out in overtime.
Meghan Simmons scored 19 points for Tennessee (5-1). Graves collected 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Ariel Massengale also scored 15 points.
Rowe recorded 19 points and 12 rebounds for Middle Tennessee. Laken Leonard added 17 points while shooting 5-of-8 from 3-point range, and Cason tallied 13 points.
The contest was Middle Tennessee's fourth in a five-game road trip that will require the Blue Raiders to travel 5,000 miles. Middle Tennessee had lost 69-63 at Iowa in overtime and had beaten Tennessee Tech 65-59 in overtime and Louisiana-Lafayette 72-45 in the three games leading up to this one. The Blue Raiders next play Saturday at South Dakota State.
Tennessee will carry a five-game winning streak into the toughest portion of its schedule. The Lady Vols host No. 22 North Carolina on Sunday, then take two weeks off before playing at No. 13 Texas on Dec. 16 and at No. 3 Baylor on Dec. 18. Tennessee returns home to face No. 1 Stanford on Dec. 22.
Sunday, November 25, 2012
No. 20 Tennessee trounces Alcorn State 90-37
Meighan Simmons scored 12 points and five of her teammates also reached double figures Sunday as No. 20 Tennessee defeated Alcorn State 90-37 in Lady Braves coach Tonya Edwards' return to her alma mater.
Edwards played on Tennessee's first two national championship teams in 1987 and 1989. She was named the most outstanding player of the 1987 Final Four. The Alcorn State coach received a loud ovation from the Thompson-Boling Arena crowd during pregame introductions.
Tennessee has won four straight games since opening the season with an 80-71 loss at Chattanooga in Warlick's head coaching debut.
Bashaara Graves, Isabelle Harrison, Jasmine Jones, Nia Moore and Taber Spani scored 10 points each for Tennessee (4-1). Tierro Frost scored a team-high nine points for Alcorn State (0-4).
Tennessee never trailed and put the game out of reach by going on a 17-0 run that started in the final minute of the first half and lasted through the first four minutes of the second half.
The Lady Volunteers showed they still have plenty of room for improvement as they get ready to host Middle Tennessee on Wednesday and No. 25 North Carolina next Sunday.
Tennessee committed 19 turnovers and only outrebounded the winless Lady Braves 38-35 after heading into the game with a plus-9 rebound margin.
But the Lady Volunteers also shot 55.7 percent, including 61.8 percent in the second half. The performances of Spani and Jones provide particular reason for optimism.
Spani, one of two seniors on the Lady Volunteers' roster, entered the season with 57 career starts to rank second on the team. But she fell out of the starting lineup after struggling against Chattanooga and had averaged just 4.8 points and 19.5 minutes through the Lady Volunteers' first four games.
She showed signs of turning the corner last week by shooting 3-of-5 and scoring nine points in a 79-67 victory at Miami. Spani continued her progress Sunday by shooting 4-of-5 and scoring 10 points, even though she didn't take a single shot in the second half. She reached double figures for the first time since a 14-point performance in an 85-64 rout of UCLA on Dec. 17.
Spani made 15 starts for the Lady Vols last season and averaged 12.2 points through her first nine games that year before a knee injury limited her effectiveness the rest of the way.
Jones, a promising 6-foot-2 freshman forward, bounced back in a big way Sunday after picking up four fouls in only three scoreless minutes against Miami. Jones reached double figures for the first time in her young career and also pulled down seven rebounds.
Edwards played on Tennessee's first two national championship teams in 1987 and 1989. She was named the most outstanding player of the 1987 Final Four. The Alcorn State coach received a loud ovation from the Thompson-Boling Arena crowd during pregame introductions.
Tennessee has won four straight games since opening the season with an 80-71 loss at Chattanooga in Warlick's head coaching debut.
Bashaara Graves, Isabelle Harrison, Jasmine Jones, Nia Moore and Taber Spani scored 10 points each for Tennessee (4-1). Tierro Frost scored a team-high nine points for Alcorn State (0-4).
Tennessee never trailed and put the game out of reach by going on a 17-0 run that started in the final minute of the first half and lasted through the first four minutes of the second half.
The Lady Volunteers showed they still have plenty of room for improvement as they get ready to host Middle Tennessee on Wednesday and No. 25 North Carolina next Sunday.
Tennessee committed 19 turnovers and only outrebounded the winless Lady Braves 38-35 after heading into the game with a plus-9 rebound margin.
But the Lady Volunteers also shot 55.7 percent, including 61.8 percent in the second half. The performances of Spani and Jones provide particular reason for optimism.
Spani, one of two seniors on the Lady Volunteers' roster, entered the season with 57 career starts to rank second on the team. But she fell out of the starting lineup after struggling against Chattanooga and had averaged just 4.8 points and 19.5 minutes through the Lady Volunteers' first four games.
She showed signs of turning the corner last week by shooting 3-of-5 and scoring nine points in a 79-67 victory at Miami. Spani continued her progress Sunday by shooting 4-of-5 and scoring 10 points, even though she didn't take a single shot in the second half. She reached double figures for the first time since a 14-point performance in an 85-64 rout of UCLA on Dec. 17.
Spani made 15 starts for the Lady Vols last season and averaged 12.2 points through her first nine games that year before a knee injury limited her effectiveness the rest of the way.
Jones, a promising 6-foot-2 freshman forward, bounced back in a big way Sunday after picking up four fouls in only three scoreless minutes against Miami. Jones reached double figures for the first time in her young career and also pulled down seven rebounds.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
No. 24 Tennessee 79, No. 23 Miami 67
One basket into the second half, Tennessee had a stunning 27-point lead over Miami.
The Lady Vols nearly wasted it all before snapping the Hurricanes' 41-game home winning streak.
Bashaara Graves scored 20 points, Andraya Carter added 16 and No. 24 Tennessee held on to top No. 23 Miami 79-67 on Sunday, becoming the first road team to win on the Hurricanes' home floor since Feb. 21, 2010.
''We didn't want to lose the lead the way we did, but we finished with a 'W,''' said Tennessee's Cierra Burdick, who had 10 rebounds. ''And that's what matters. This was a big-time win against a big-time opponent, on the road, so I'm nothing but proud of my team.''
Ariel Massengale added 14 points and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line for the Lady Vols (3-1).
Tennessee shot 42 percent, compared with only 32 percent by the Hurricanes.
The Lady Vols nearly wasted it all before snapping the Hurricanes' 41-game home winning streak.
Bashaara Graves scored 20 points, Andraya Carter added 16 and No. 24 Tennessee held on to top No. 23 Miami 79-67 on Sunday, becoming the first road team to win on the Hurricanes' home floor since Feb. 21, 2010.
''We didn't want to lose the lead the way we did, but we finished with a 'W,''' said Tennessee's Cierra Burdick, who had 10 rebounds. ''And that's what matters. This was a big-time win against a big-time opponent, on the road, so I'm nothing but proud of my team.''
Ariel Massengale added 14 points and was a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line for the Lady Vols (3-1).
Tennessee shot 42 percent, compared with only 32 percent by the Hurricanes.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
All About Holly Warlick's first signing class
Holly Warlick's first signing class as the Lady Vols Head Coach has a very Pat Summitt-like feel to it.
Warlick's three players are rated the second best signing class in the nation for 2013, and the best in the SEC.
6-6 Mercedes Russell was a major acquisition for Warlick. Russell is the top ranked high school player in the country according to many recruiting services.
Here is more on the Lady Vols recruiting class from the University of Tennessee:
With Pat Summitt stepping away from the head coaching position last spring and her long-time assistant Holly Warlick taking the reins, the Lady Volunteer coaching staff has insisted that the standard and pursuit of excellence has not changed. Their reminder that the torch has carefully been passed can be seen repeatedly in the Twitter hash tag #StillTennessee.
Warlick and company have proven on the recruiting front that things are very much operating on the same level in Knoxville, as the Big Orange women pulled in their typically-impressive haul during the early signing period. The first-year skipper and her staff received National Letters of Intent from the No. 1, No. 8 and No. 42 players on the 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100. Blue Star Basketball has the same players rated No. 2, No. 4 and No. 53, while Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report tabs them No. 1, No. 5 and No. 16 for the highest cumulative scores yet.
Olson has Tennessee ranked with the No. 2 recruiting class in the land with that trio of signees, coming in behind only North Carolina with four top-20 signees. Kentucky, at No. 8, is the only other SEC school in Olson's top 10. Blue Star Basketball regards UT's class as the sixth-best for 2013.
Signing with the Lady Vols on Wednesday, as expected, was versatile 6-foot-6 post Mercedes Russell of Springfield, Ore. (Springfield H.S.). Russell is rated No. 1 by HoopGurlz/ESPNU and No. 2 by Blue Star Basketball, making her the highest-ranked signee by Tennessee since Candace Parker inked in 2004. She averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks a game last season and is a two-time Oregon Class 5A Player of the Year.
"We had three signees," Warlick said. "Mercedes Russell, 6-6, a young lady from Springfield, Ore. Number one player in the country. She is just so versatile, plays inside, can handle the ball and is a huge sign for us."
The Lady Vols also picked up the No. 8 player by HoopGurlz/ESPNU, No. 4 by Blue Star and No. 5 by Olson in Jannah Tucker on Wednesday. A 6-0 guard from Randallstown, Md., and New Town High School, Tucker averaged 30 points per game as a junior and 26.2 as a sophomore. The class of 2013's fifth-ranked guard was the first player in this signing period to commit to UT in the Holly Warlick era.
"Jannah Tucker is out of Maryland," Warlick said. "Athletic combo guard, great knowledge, great skills and is a huge sign for us."
Tennessee's third signee is 5-11 guard Jordan Reynolds of Portland Ore./Central Catholic High School. Reynolds, whose paperwork was certified on Friday, is rated No. 42 by HoopGurlz/ESPNU, No. 53 by Blue Star and No. 16 by Olson. She was the Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year last season, averaging 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 4.9 steals per contest. She is rated the No. 10 guard in the country by ESPNU and a four-star recruit by that organization.
"Jordan Reynolds - point guard out of Oregon," Warlick continued. "Quick, tall, fast. Sees the whole floor, knows the game. Another huge sign for us."
This class, which hasn't been assigned a final rank by HoopGurlz/ESPNU, comes on the heels of the No. 5 class in 2012 (No. 5 Bashaara Graves, No. 21 Andraya Carter, No. 39 Jasmine Jones, NR Jasmine Phillips, NR Nia Moore) and the No. 3 group in 2011 (No. 3 Cierra Burdick, No. 4 Ariel Massengale, No. 29 Isabelle Harrison).
"We had three big, big signees, and I'm excited about all of them," Warlick said. "They all bring so much to our program. We signed a post player, point guard and a 2-3 player. All three are athletic. All three can play the game, know the game and we're all thrilled about it."
MERCEDES RUSSELL
6-6 * Post
Springfield, Ore./Springfield H.S.
• Ranked No. 1 on 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100
• Rated as a five-star recruit on that list
• Rated No. 1 by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
• Rated No. 2 by Blue Star Basketball
• Oregon Class 5A Player of the Year (2011, 2012)
• Averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks and five assists per game as a junior
• Produced 24.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and five blocks per contest as a sophomore
• Led Springfield H.S. to back-to-back 5A state titles (2011, 2012)
• Won gold medal with USA Basketball in August at the 2012 FIBA Women's U17 World Championships, with former Lady Vol Jill Rankin Schneider as her head coach
• Also helped U16 squad to 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, teaming with fellow Tennessee signee Jannah Tucker under the tutelage of coach Rankin Schneider
• Played AAU basketball with Jordan Reynolds on Team Concept
• Russell's heroine is former Lady Vol and current Los Angeles Sparks WNBA player Candace Parker
• Russell's size, skill and ball-handling ability have been compared to that of Parker
• She is the top-rated player to sign with Tennessee since Parker in 2004
• Committed to Tennessee on Oct. 30
JANNAH TUCKER
6-0 * Guard
Randallstown, Md./New Town H.S.
• Ranked No. 8 on 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100
• Rated as a five-star recruit on that list
• Fifth ranked guard in the nation's 2013 class
• Rated No. 4 by Blue Star Basketball
• Rated No. 5 by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
• Baltimore Sun All-State First Team (2011) and All-Metro (2011).
• Averaged 30 points per game as a junior at New Town High School
• Set school single-game record with 39 points vs. Southside Academy (2010-11)
• Sophomore year numbers included 26.2 ppg., 12.0 rpg., 8.0 spg. and 6.1 apg.
• Played freshman season at Western High School, where she averaged 11.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg., and 2.5 apg. in helping her team to the 3A state title game
• Was first high school player to commit to UT during the Holly Warlick era
• Noted as a pure scorer and consistent shooter from three-point range
• Played up a year on 2012 U18 FIBA Americas U18 Championship Team, teaming with current Lady Vol Bashaara Graves to win a gold medal
• Also won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA Americas U16 Championships, teaming with fellow Lady Vol signee Mercedes Russell under USA head coach and former Lady Vol Jill Rankin Schneider
• Comes from a basketball family, including father Robert, who played collegiately at Richmond and Loyola College and sister Amirah, who played at Maryland-Baltimore County.
• Committed to Tennessee on June 18, 2012
JORDAN REYNOLDS
5-11 * Guard
Portland, Ore./Central Catholic H.S.
• Ranked No. 42 on 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100
• Rated as a four-star recruit on that list
• 10th-ranked guard in the nation's 2013 class
• Rated No. 16 by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
• Rated No. 53 by Blue Star Basketball
• Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year as a junior (2012)
• Averaged 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 4.9 steals per contest as a junior at Portland Central Catholic
• Reynolds averaged 21.5 points in the last 13 games for the Rams, leading them to the Class 6A semifinals last season
• Transferred to CCHS after playing previously at Jefferson High School
• Reynolds was an Oregon Class 5A All-State Second Team selection as a sophomore (2010)
• Played AAU basketball with Mercedes Russell on Team Concept
• Committed to Tennessee on Nov. 2, 2012
Warlick's three players are rated the second best signing class in the nation for 2013, and the best in the SEC.
6-6 Mercedes Russell was a major acquisition for Warlick. Russell is the top ranked high school player in the country according to many recruiting services.
Here is more on the Lady Vols recruiting class from the University of Tennessee:
With Pat Summitt stepping away from the head coaching position last spring and her long-time assistant Holly Warlick taking the reins, the Lady Volunteer coaching staff has insisted that the standard and pursuit of excellence has not changed. Their reminder that the torch has carefully been passed can be seen repeatedly in the Twitter hash tag #StillTennessee.
Warlick and company have proven on the recruiting front that things are very much operating on the same level in Knoxville, as the Big Orange women pulled in their typically-impressive haul during the early signing period. The first-year skipper and her staff received National Letters of Intent from the No. 1, No. 8 and No. 42 players on the 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100. Blue Star Basketball has the same players rated No. 2, No. 4 and No. 53, while Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report tabs them No. 1, No. 5 and No. 16 for the highest cumulative scores yet.
Olson has Tennessee ranked with the No. 2 recruiting class in the land with that trio of signees, coming in behind only North Carolina with four top-20 signees. Kentucky, at No. 8, is the only other SEC school in Olson's top 10. Blue Star Basketball regards UT's class as the sixth-best for 2013.
Signing with the Lady Vols on Wednesday, as expected, was versatile 6-foot-6 post Mercedes Russell of Springfield, Ore. (Springfield H.S.). Russell is rated No. 1 by HoopGurlz/ESPNU and No. 2 by Blue Star Basketball, making her the highest-ranked signee by Tennessee since Candace Parker inked in 2004. She averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds and five blocks a game last season and is a two-time Oregon Class 5A Player of the Year.
"We had three signees," Warlick said. "Mercedes Russell, 6-6, a young lady from Springfield, Ore. Number one player in the country. She is just so versatile, plays inside, can handle the ball and is a huge sign for us."
The Lady Vols also picked up the No. 8 player by HoopGurlz/ESPNU, No. 4 by Blue Star and No. 5 by Olson in Jannah Tucker on Wednesday. A 6-0 guard from Randallstown, Md., and New Town High School, Tucker averaged 30 points per game as a junior and 26.2 as a sophomore. The class of 2013's fifth-ranked guard was the first player in this signing period to commit to UT in the Holly Warlick era.
"Jannah Tucker is out of Maryland," Warlick said. "Athletic combo guard, great knowledge, great skills and is a huge sign for us."
Tennessee's third signee is 5-11 guard Jordan Reynolds of Portland Ore./Central Catholic High School. Reynolds, whose paperwork was certified on Friday, is rated No. 42 by HoopGurlz/ESPNU, No. 53 by Blue Star and No. 16 by Olson. She was the Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year last season, averaging 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 4.9 steals per contest. She is rated the No. 10 guard in the country by ESPNU and a four-star recruit by that organization.
"Jordan Reynolds - point guard out of Oregon," Warlick continued. "Quick, tall, fast. Sees the whole floor, knows the game. Another huge sign for us."
This class, which hasn't been assigned a final rank by HoopGurlz/ESPNU, comes on the heels of the No. 5 class in 2012 (No. 5 Bashaara Graves, No. 21 Andraya Carter, No. 39 Jasmine Jones, NR Jasmine Phillips, NR Nia Moore) and the No. 3 group in 2011 (No. 3 Cierra Burdick, No. 4 Ariel Massengale, No. 29 Isabelle Harrison).
"We had three big, big signees, and I'm excited about all of them," Warlick said. "They all bring so much to our program. We signed a post player, point guard and a 2-3 player. All three are athletic. All three can play the game, know the game and we're all thrilled about it."
MERCEDES RUSSELL
6-6 * Post
Springfield, Ore./Springfield H.S.
• Ranked No. 1 on 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100
• Rated as a five-star recruit on that list
• Rated No. 1 by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
• Rated No. 2 by Blue Star Basketball
• Oregon Class 5A Player of the Year (2011, 2012)
• Averaged 26 points, 15 rebounds, six blocks and five assists per game as a junior
• Produced 24.5 points, 15.0 rebounds and five blocks per contest as a sophomore
• Led Springfield H.S. to back-to-back 5A state titles (2011, 2012)
• Won gold medal with USA Basketball in August at the 2012 FIBA Women's U17 World Championships, with former Lady Vol Jill Rankin Schneider as her head coach
• Also helped U16 squad to 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, teaming with fellow Tennessee signee Jannah Tucker under the tutelage of coach Rankin Schneider
• Played AAU basketball with Jordan Reynolds on Team Concept
• Russell's heroine is former Lady Vol and current Los Angeles Sparks WNBA player Candace Parker
• Russell's size, skill and ball-handling ability have been compared to that of Parker
• She is the top-rated player to sign with Tennessee since Parker in 2004
• Committed to Tennessee on Oct. 30
JANNAH TUCKER
6-0 * Guard
Randallstown, Md./New Town H.S.
• Ranked No. 8 on 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100
• Rated as a five-star recruit on that list
• Fifth ranked guard in the nation's 2013 class
• Rated No. 4 by Blue Star Basketball
• Rated No. 5 by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
• Baltimore Sun All-State First Team (2011) and All-Metro (2011).
• Averaged 30 points per game as a junior at New Town High School
• Set school single-game record with 39 points vs. Southside Academy (2010-11)
• Sophomore year numbers included 26.2 ppg., 12.0 rpg., 8.0 spg. and 6.1 apg.
• Played freshman season at Western High School, where she averaged 11.3 ppg., 4.7 rpg., and 2.5 apg. in helping her team to the 3A state title game
• Was first high school player to commit to UT during the Holly Warlick era
• Noted as a pure scorer and consistent shooter from three-point range
• Played up a year on 2012 U18 FIBA Americas U18 Championship Team, teaming with current Lady Vol Bashaara Graves to win a gold medal
• Also won a gold medal with Team USA at the FIBA Americas U16 Championships, teaming with fellow Lady Vol signee Mercedes Russell under USA head coach and former Lady Vol Jill Rankin Schneider
• Comes from a basketball family, including father Robert, who played collegiately at Richmond and Loyola College and sister Amirah, who played at Maryland-Baltimore County.
• Committed to Tennessee on June 18, 2012
JORDAN REYNOLDS
5-11 * Guard
Portland, Ore./Central Catholic H.S.
• Ranked No. 42 on 2013 HoopGurlz Recruiting Rankings - ESPNU 100
• Rated as a four-star recruit on that list
• 10th-ranked guard in the nation's 2013 class
• Rated No. 16 by Dan Olson Collegiate Girls Basketball Report
• Rated No. 53 by Blue Star Basketball
• Oregon Class 6A Player of the Year as a junior (2012)
• Averaged 18.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, five assists and 4.9 steals per contest as a junior at Portland Central Catholic
• Reynolds averaged 21.5 points in the last 13 games for the Rams, leading them to the Class 6A semifinals last season
• Transferred to CCHS after playing previously at Jefferson High School
• Reynolds was an Oregon Class 5A All-State Second Team selection as a sophomore (2010)
• Played AAU basketball with Mercedes Russell on Team Concept
• Committed to Tennessee on Nov. 2, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Chamique Holdsclaw Arrested
Former WNBA star Chamique Holdsclaw has turned herself into police after an alleged domestic incident.
Holdsclaw, who played in the WNBA for 12 seasons after four years playing for the University of Tennessee Lady Vols, got into a fight with ex-girlfriend Jennifer Lacy, who is also a WNBA player.
According to the incident report, Holdsclaw found Lacy working out at her Atlanta church around noon Tuesday. She asked Lacy for her keys so she could put something in the car.
When Lacy left the church, she reported smelling gasoline in her 2010 Range Rover. She said she noticed Holdsclaw following her and called a friend because she was scared.
When Lacy arrived at her friend’s house, she said Holdsclaw smashed her driver’s side and rear passenger windows with a baseball bat. She then stuck a pistol into the rear driver’s side window, shooting across the SUV at the other door, before speeding away.
Lacy was still in the driver’s seat when Holdsclaw fired the gun, but was not injured. Police recovered a spent 9 mm shell casing from the vehicle.
Holdsclaw is being charged with aggravated assault, reckless conduct and second-degree criminal damage to property. She was jailed in Fulton County, Georgia, on $10,000 bond.
Twenty-nine-year-old Jennifer Lacy, who currently plays for the Tulsa Shock, played for the Atlanta Dream with Holdsclaw in 2009.
The 35-year-old Holdsclaw helped the University of Tennessee win three consecutive national championships from 1996 to 1998. She is a six-time WNBA All-Star and Olympic gold medalist. She initially retired in 2007 before returning to play for the Dream in 2009.
In her biography, Breaking Through: Beating The Odds Shot after Shot, Holdsclaw revealed her battle with depression while she was playing in the WNBA. She wrote that she attempted suicide while playing for the Los Angeles Sparks in 2006.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
No. 24 Lady Vols 101, Rice 48
Meighan Simmons scored 22 points to lead four Lady Vols in double figures Thursday night as No. 24 Tennessee trounced Rice 101-48 in the first home game of the post-Pat Summitt era.
Bashaara Graves added 18 points for Tennessee. Isabelle Harrison scored 16 points with 12 rebounds, and Kamiko Williams added 12 points.
Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight national titles in 38 seasons, stepped down in April after announcing last year she has early-onset dementia. She watched Thursday's game from a midcourt seat as the Lady Vols delivered the type of dominant performance they produced so often during her tenure.
Since getting stunned 80-71 at Chattanooga in Holly Warlick's head coaching debut, the Lady Vols (2-1) have had two straight one-sided victories. Tennessee followed up the Chattanooga game Sunday by winning 71-54 at Georgia Tech, which was ranked 22nd at the time.
Tennessee led 45-27 at halftime and ran away from Rice in the final 20 minutes. The Vols went on an 11-0 run early in the second half and reeled off 16 consecutive points later in the game. Simmons scored 15 points in the first eight minutes of the second half, and the Lady Vols shot 65.7 percent (23 of 35) after the intermission.
After shooting 9-of-14 to start the game, Rice went 9-of-43 the rest of the way. Rice was helpless once Tennessee turned up its defensive intensity.
Tennessee outscored Rice 32-0 on points off turnovers and 20-0 on fast-break points. The Lady Vols dished out 24 assists and committed only seven turnovers, while Rice had 22 turnovers and only four assists.
Bashaara Graves added 18 points for Tennessee. Isabelle Harrison scored 16 points with 12 rebounds, and Kamiko Williams added 12 points.
Summitt, who led the Lady Vols to eight national titles in 38 seasons, stepped down in April after announcing last year she has early-onset dementia. She watched Thursday's game from a midcourt seat as the Lady Vols delivered the type of dominant performance they produced so often during her tenure.
Since getting stunned 80-71 at Chattanooga in Holly Warlick's head coaching debut, the Lady Vols (2-1) have had two straight one-sided victories. Tennessee followed up the Chattanooga game Sunday by winning 71-54 at Georgia Tech, which was ranked 22nd at the time.
Tennessee led 45-27 at halftime and ran away from Rice in the final 20 minutes. The Vols went on an 11-0 run early in the second half and reeled off 16 consecutive points later in the game. Simmons scored 15 points in the first eight minutes of the second half, and the Lady Vols shot 65.7 percent (23 of 35) after the intermission.
After shooting 9-of-14 to start the game, Rice went 9-of-43 the rest of the way. Rice was helpless once Tennessee turned up its defensive intensity.
Tennessee outscored Rice 32-0 on points off turnovers and 20-0 on fast-break points. The Lady Vols dished out 24 assists and committed only seven turnovers, while Rice had 22 turnovers and only four assists.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Fans Petition NCAA for the Pat Summitt Championship Trophy
Megan Netland, a Lady Vols fan in Minneapolis, is petitioning the NCAA to name the Women's College Basketball Championship Trophy after Pat Summitt.
More than 1,000 people have already signed the petition, but a few thousand more signatures are needed. Please consider signing the petition today.
More than 1,000 people have already signed the petition, but a few thousand more signatures are needed. Please consider signing the petition today.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Tyler Summitt making his mark at Marquette
Tyler Summitt grew up with a basketball, celebrating championships, and meeting presidents.
As the son of the legendary Pat Summitt, Tyler grew up in front of thousands and thousands of orange-crazed fans.
If you could see the younger Summitt today, you'd see that he's all grown up.
"That's not loud enough! There's 4,000 people in those stands," Summitt barked out to his players during a practice, reinforcing the need for his team to communicate better.
Now 22 years old, Summitt is in his first college coaching job. He accepted a position at Marquette University in April.
It's a completely new life for Summitt, one he's still adjusting too.
"It's different not to have orange on," Summitt said.
The toughest part?
Summitt says, it's being so far away from the two women most important to him: his legendary mom and his fiance, whom he proposed to in September.
What's not so tough, Summitt says, is worrying about those who feel he landed a division one position because of the famous last name.
"It doesn't matter what I do in my career. I could be 70 years old and still coaching and people will say, 'Oh, he's just being successful because of his last name.' There's gonna be critics. My mom always told me to just have a thick skin. And if I'm confident it doesn't matter what the critics say."
Terri Mitchell is the head coach at Marquette. Tyler believes she had no intentions of hiring of him, that she simply called him as a courtesy to Pat Summitt.
But once Tyler was on the phone, landing the job was a slam dunk.
"He has said many things to me, but this one thing has stood out," Mitchell said.
"He said, 'there's only one environment I know. It's a championship environment and I will bring that to practice and to work and to games every single day.' He has absolutely delivered on that promise."
Mitchell has been the head coach at Marquette for 17 years. She knows the importance of surrounding herself with capable assistants. With Summitt, she recognized a unique quality.
"He may be young in years, but he is not young in his thought process," she continued. "He is not young in being a coach. His mom is the greatest living basketball coach ever, and he embraced that."
Leaving home is never easy. Now, imagine you're 21 years old and offered a job 640 miles away from home. A job ten hours from your mom. A mom that's battling a horrible disease. This was the decision facing Summitt. As it turns out, the young coach says it wasn't a difficult one to make.
"If my mom was struggling in her health and going downhill, I wouldn't have left. But she's not," Summitt said with a smile.
"Anybody that's seen her lately knows that she's fine. Nothing is getting worse. She has a great support circle in Knoxville. I felt comfortable going away."
And now at Marquette, Summitt is making his presence felt, and doing so with a coaching style that resembles his famous mom's. One filled with passion, intensity, and in constant pursuit of perfection.
"He's very demanding," Marquette freshman guard Brooklyn Pumroy said.
"He knows what it takes. He focuses on the little things."
And if you don't focus on the little things, then don't expect to find yourself on his court. Summitt will routinely snap "get off!" when a player doesn't show effort or focus during a drill.
"If you don't hold them accountable, nothing else matters," Summitt said.
"I'm not here to be their friend. I told them that. I said, 'there's 11,000 students at Marquette that can be your friend. I'm not your friend. I'm your coach.' I'm here to make them better."
And he's here making his first step.
Another women's basketball season has tipped off, and for a 39th straight year, a Summitt takes to the court.
As the son of the legendary Pat Summitt, Tyler grew up in front of thousands and thousands of orange-crazed fans.
If you could see the younger Summitt today, you'd see that he's all grown up.
"That's not loud enough! There's 4,000 people in those stands," Summitt barked out to his players during a practice, reinforcing the need for his team to communicate better.
Now 22 years old, Summitt is in his first college coaching job. He accepted a position at Marquette University in April.
It's a completely new life for Summitt, one he's still adjusting too.
"It's different not to have orange on," Summitt said.
The toughest part?
Summitt says, it's being so far away from the two women most important to him: his legendary mom and his fiance, whom he proposed to in September.
What's not so tough, Summitt says, is worrying about those who feel he landed a division one position because of the famous last name.
"It doesn't matter what I do in my career. I could be 70 years old and still coaching and people will say, 'Oh, he's just being successful because of his last name.' There's gonna be critics. My mom always told me to just have a thick skin. And if I'm confident it doesn't matter what the critics say."
Terri Mitchell is the head coach at Marquette. Tyler believes she had no intentions of hiring of him, that she simply called him as a courtesy to Pat Summitt.
But once Tyler was on the phone, landing the job was a slam dunk.
"He has said many things to me, but this one thing has stood out," Mitchell said.
"He said, 'there's only one environment I know. It's a championship environment and I will bring that to practice and to work and to games every single day.' He has absolutely delivered on that promise."
Mitchell has been the head coach at Marquette for 17 years. She knows the importance of surrounding herself with capable assistants. With Summitt, she recognized a unique quality.
"He may be young in years, but he is not young in his thought process," she continued. "He is not young in being a coach. His mom is the greatest living basketball coach ever, and he embraced that."
Leaving home is never easy. Now, imagine you're 21 years old and offered a job 640 miles away from home. A job ten hours from your mom. A mom that's battling a horrible disease. This was the decision facing Summitt. As it turns out, the young coach says it wasn't a difficult one to make.
"If my mom was struggling in her health and going downhill, I wouldn't have left. But she's not," Summitt said with a smile.
"Anybody that's seen her lately knows that she's fine. Nothing is getting worse. She has a great support circle in Knoxville. I felt comfortable going away."
And now at Marquette, Summitt is making his presence felt, and doing so with a coaching style that resembles his famous mom's. One filled with passion, intensity, and in constant pursuit of perfection.
"He's very demanding," Marquette freshman guard Brooklyn Pumroy said.
"He knows what it takes. He focuses on the little things."
And if you don't focus on the little things, then don't expect to find yourself on his court. Summitt will routinely snap "get off!" when a player doesn't show effort or focus during a drill.
"If you don't hold them accountable, nothing else matters," Summitt said.
"I'm not here to be their friend. I told them that. I said, 'there's 11,000 students at Marquette that can be your friend. I'm not your friend. I'm your coach.' I'm here to make them better."
And he's here making his first step.
Another women's basketball season has tipped off, and for a 39th straight year, a Summitt takes to the court.
Graves Named SEC Freshman of the Week
Freshman of the Week
Bashaara Graves • Tennessee
Forward/Center • Clarksville, Tenn.
• Through two games, Graves leads Tennessee in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (10.0), averaging a double-double.
• Getting her first career start on the road at Georgia Tech on Sunday, Graves helped UT topple the #22/20 Yellow Jackets, 71-54, as GT played its first-ever game in McCamish Pavilion.
• Became the 20th freshman in Lady Vol history to record a double-double, producing team-leading and career-high totals of 18 points and 12 rebounds (seven of them offensive) in 27 minutes as Tennessee improved to 1-1 on the season.
• Her early play was key to UT getting off to a good start, as she had totaled 14 points and eight boards in 16 first-half minutes, hitting seven of 12 shots from the field.
• Graves also added four steals and helped the Big Orange employ an effective 2-3 zone that led to a 45-30 halftime lead and 24-point second-half advantage over a program that went to the Sweet 16 last season.
• In her college debut, Graves came off the bench to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes of play in the loss to Chattanooga on Friday night.
Bashaara Graves • Tennessee
Forward/Center • Clarksville, Tenn.
• Through two games, Graves leads Tennessee in scoring (16.0) and rebounding (10.0), averaging a double-double.
• Getting her first career start on the road at Georgia Tech on Sunday, Graves helped UT topple the #22/20 Yellow Jackets, 71-54, as GT played its first-ever game in McCamish Pavilion.
• Became the 20th freshman in Lady Vol history to record a double-double, producing team-leading and career-high totals of 18 points and 12 rebounds (seven of them offensive) in 27 minutes as Tennessee improved to 1-1 on the season.
• Her early play was key to UT getting off to a good start, as she had totaled 14 points and eight boards in 16 first-half minutes, hitting seven of 12 shots from the field.
• Graves also added four steals and helped the Big Orange employ an effective 2-3 zone that led to a 45-30 halftime lead and 24-point second-half advantage over a program that went to the Sweet 16 last season.
• In her college debut, Graves came off the bench to finish with 14 points and eight rebounds in 29 minutes of play in the loss to Chattanooga on Friday night.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
No. 20 Lady Vols defeat No. 22 Georgia Tech 71-54
Bashaara Graves scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds Sunday, and fellow Tennessee forward Cierra Burdick added 16 points as the No. 20 Lady Volunteers beat No. 22 Georgia Tech 71-54 to spoil the Yellow Jackets' debut in McCamish Pavilion.
The Yellow Jackets (0-1) trailed 45-30 at halftime before starting the second half with a 13-0 run. The Lady Vols (1-1) bettered that with an 18-0 knockout streak to even their record in their second game since legendary coach Pat Summitt stepped down.
Junior Tyaunna Marshall scored 18 and Dawnn Maye added 12 for Georgia Tech in its new on-campus arena.
The second game of the post-Summitt era went a lot better for Tennessee than the first.
Tennessee lost 80-71 Friday at Chattanooga after the Mocs broke a halftime tie with a 52-point second half in which they shot 56.3 percent. The Lady Vols had 26 turnovers and just six assists in that game.
Sunday, the Lady Vols had 17 of each, and it was the Yellow Jackets who were loose with the ball in their first game. Tech had 20 turnovers and just eight assists.
Summitt, who announced last year that she has early-onset dementia before stepping down in April, sat five rows behind the Tennessee bench at the game with Chattanooga, but was not at Georgia Tech.
Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick, who played for Summitt and then was an assistant for her for 27 seasons, said after the Chattanooga game that her inexperienced team did not yet appreciate the importance of playing earnest defense.
Without a starter back from the team that lost an NCAA regional final to eventual national champion Baylor last spring, Tennessee defended more passionately at Georgia Tech.
The Lady Vols also dominated the paint in the first half. They led 45-30 at intermission on the strength of 15 points by Burdick and 14 points and eight rebounds from Graves.
Georgia Tech starting power forward Danielle Hamilton-Carter and starting center Nariah Taylor, meanwhile, were each scoreless in the first half without attempting a shot.
The Yellow Jackets, however, rallied furiously at the start of the second half. Marshall got to the rim for seven points during their 13-0 run, and Maye's layup with 15:25 remaining pulled Georgia Tech within 45-43.
Then, the Lady Vols snapped back to life.
A jumper by Jasmine Jones ended Tennessee's scoreless streak a minute later and started an 18-0 run for the visitors.
When Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph called for a timeout with 9 minutes left, the Lady Vols led 60-43 after Ariel Massengale's layup off of Tennessee's ninth steal of the game.
The Yellow Jackets to that point had seen Marshall, Maye and Wallace - two returning starters and a sophomore who become a starter late last season and then made 19 3-point shots in Tech's three NCAA tournament games - take 40 of their team's first 51 shots and score 38 of the first 43 points.
When Hamilton-Carter scored from point-blank range with 6:46 left in the game, that ended a scoreless streak of 8:38, but the Jackets trailed 63-45.
The Yellow Jackets (0-1) trailed 45-30 at halftime before starting the second half with a 13-0 run. The Lady Vols (1-1) bettered that with an 18-0 knockout streak to even their record in their second game since legendary coach Pat Summitt stepped down.
Junior Tyaunna Marshall scored 18 and Dawnn Maye added 12 for Georgia Tech in its new on-campus arena.
The second game of the post-Summitt era went a lot better for Tennessee than the first.
Tennessee lost 80-71 Friday at Chattanooga after the Mocs broke a halftime tie with a 52-point second half in which they shot 56.3 percent. The Lady Vols had 26 turnovers and just six assists in that game.
Sunday, the Lady Vols had 17 of each, and it was the Yellow Jackets who were loose with the ball in their first game. Tech had 20 turnovers and just eight assists.
Summitt, who announced last year that she has early-onset dementia before stepping down in April, sat five rows behind the Tennessee bench at the game with Chattanooga, but was not at Georgia Tech.
Lady Vols coach Holly Warlick, who played for Summitt and then was an assistant for her for 27 seasons, said after the Chattanooga game that her inexperienced team did not yet appreciate the importance of playing earnest defense.
Without a starter back from the team that lost an NCAA regional final to eventual national champion Baylor last spring, Tennessee defended more passionately at Georgia Tech.
The Lady Vols also dominated the paint in the first half. They led 45-30 at intermission on the strength of 15 points by Burdick and 14 points and eight rebounds from Graves.
Georgia Tech starting power forward Danielle Hamilton-Carter and starting center Nariah Taylor, meanwhile, were each scoreless in the first half without attempting a shot.
The Yellow Jackets, however, rallied furiously at the start of the second half. Marshall got to the rim for seven points during their 13-0 run, and Maye's layup with 15:25 remaining pulled Georgia Tech within 45-43.
Then, the Lady Vols snapped back to life.
A jumper by Jasmine Jones ended Tennessee's scoreless streak a minute later and started an 18-0 run for the visitors.
When Georgia Tech coach MaChelle Joseph called for a timeout with 9 minutes left, the Lady Vols led 60-43 after Ariel Massengale's layup off of Tennessee's ninth steal of the game.
The Yellow Jackets to that point had seen Marshall, Maye and Wallace - two returning starters and a sophomore who become a starter late last season and then made 19 3-point shots in Tech's three NCAA tournament games - take 40 of their team's first 51 shots and score 38 of the first 43 points.
When Hamilton-Carter scored from point-blank range with 6:46 left in the game, that ended a scoreless streak of 8:38, but the Jackets trailed 63-45.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
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