Here are your choices for the most optimistic preview of the Tennessee women's basketball season:

There are at least four No. 1 rankings to choose from, including the coaches' poll, which was released Wednesday.

Then there is one coach's take on preseason practice. UT's Pat Summitt this week used the word "soft" to describe her team.

The pick is a no-brainer, right?

Not exactly, Summitt's critique isn't as harsh at it sounds. It's based on a belief that the team, no matter how good it is now, should become better.

There's more genuine optimism in that notion than in the polls. UT's preseason ranking is based as much on tradition as it is on talent.

The most-acclaimed returnee is senior forward Shyra Ely. Last season she became the 18th Lady Vol to be named a Kodak All-American. Last week Ely said she didn't think she deserved the honor.

Granted the Lady Vols, who will play Carson-Newman College in an exhibition game at 4 p.m. Sunday at Thompson-Boling Arena, fit the UT bill and then some. You'll immediately notice an upgrade in overall size and speed.

Summitt sees the same attributes. But they don't match the performance she's witnessed in practice.

"To look at them, you'd think they'd be more physical,'' she said. "We play with more finesse than power.''

This is a mindset issue more than anything, something that can be worked out during the course of the season.

"She wants us to put people on their butts,'' junior guard Shanna Zolman said. "Let (the opposition) know you're not going to be going wherever you want to go.''

As the Lady Vols get started, freshman Candace Parker isn't going anywhere. She's recovering from surgery in September to repair cartilage damage in her left knee.

She's playing an impressive game of catch-up, however. The official Lady Vols line is that Parker is "ahead of schedule" in her recovery. That doesn't do justice to her improvement. She's already made it back to the weight room. With each step, Parker draws closer to the basketball court.

Right now, UT has a great rehabber in Parker. Before the season is over, they might have one more great player.

There's reason for genuine optimism.

"When and if Candace gets back,'' Zolman said. "We're going to grab her around the neck and tell her to come along.''

It's a long journey.

Recruiting: Texas picked up verbal commitments this week from forward Ernesia Williams and center Aubrey Cook, giving Texas seven recruits. Three of the commitments are ranked among the top 10 by the All-Star Girls Report, including the No. 1 prospect - guard Erika Arriaran.

Williams and Cook will cover for not getting top post prospects Courtney and Ashley Paris. The twin sisters are heading to Oklahoma.

Another top prospect, post player Kia Vaughn from St. Michael Academy in Manhattan, committed this week to Rutgers.

On The Road: Former UT players Tasha Butts and Courtney McDaniel are playing for EA Sports, a team that is playing an exhibition tour against collegiate teams.

Butts is a graduate assistant on UT's staff. The tour will bring her into contact with some Lady Vols' opponents. EA Sports played at Duke on Wednesday and will play at Connecticut tonight.

Will Butts be bringing back scouting reports? Summitt laughed.

"Butts is so nosey,'' Summitt said. "She'll know everything.''

Notebook: Abby Conklin has been named an assistant coach at Wyoming. The former Lady Vol left the head coaching position at Trinity (Ill.) High School because she didn't have control over selecting assistant coaches. LSU freshman center Sylvia Fowles, who was heavily recruited by Tennessee, had 20 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday in a 78-70 exhibition victory over Everyone's Internet, a team with such players as former South Carolina star Jocelyn Penn and former Oregon State standout Felicia Ragland. Washington Mystics coach Michael Adams has been in town observing practice.

Dan Fleser covers Tennessee women's basketball. He may be reached at 865-342-6288 or fleser@knews.com