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Rutgers has its choice of injured Tennessee players to consider. Predictably, one Lady Vol has been drawing the most attention from the Scarlet Knights.
The status of Candace Parker, who suffered a bruised left knee Thursday against Mississippi State, was a prime topic in Rutgers' media session Friday.
The women's basketball teams play Monday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"As an athlete, I hope that she is really OK,'' Scarlet Knights post player Kia Vaughn said. "I would never wish an injury on anyone because I would never want to be injured. But as a team player, with her being out it would help our team."
Vaughn sounded as if she craved the competition more than any competitive edge.
"I just really hope that she's OK,'' she said of Parker. "I heard she is not really injured too bad and I know that with a little bit of pain, strong players and great athletes push through it and you would never know."
Wearing Pink: Monday's game is part of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's "Think Pink" campaign, aimed at raising breast cancer awareness. To mark the occasion, the Rutgers players will wear pink uniforms and pink-trimmed shoes.
"Pink is my favorite color,'' Vaughn said. 'I have never worn an all-pink uniform.'
Always Something to Say: Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma, whose team was beaten by Rutgers 73-71 last Tuesday, offered a predication about Monday's game.
"It will be 65 to something, unless Epiphanny Prince gets 35 and then it will be 70 to something,'' he said.
Prince scored a career-high 33 points in Tuesday's game.
"When Rutgers plays, it's a possession-by-possession, defensive-oriented game,'' Auriemma said. "I think Tennessee will play the same way, and I don't think it will look much different than last year's national championship game did."
Auriemma added: "I hope Rutgers wins by 20. I want Rutgers to win every game, except two, for the remainder of the year when they play us."
Academic Honors: Tennessee's Nicky Anosike and Parker were first-team selections to ESPN the Magazine's All-Academic team for District IV. They are first-team honorees for the second consecutive year.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by budd on February 9, 2008 at 10:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ask Geno how many of his stars are academic All Ameericans.
Posted by Hunter on February 9, 2008 at 11:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Not sure, budd, but most of them can probably spell "Americans."
Sorry, man - it was just too easy.
Posted by BigOrangeVol on February 10, 2008 at 12:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Auri-ennema is a dwarf idiot! Why in the World would the KNS give that egotistical pimp any play in this paper? I hope that Pitt, LSU and Rutgers beat them by 50 each, they lose big in the Little East tourney and that they get bounced in the second round of the Big Dance!!!
Next year worries me; no Nicky, no Bird, no Shannon, no Lex or Candace is very scary! A six-man rotation with Cait, Smallbone, Angie, Fuller, Baugh and Cain won’t put fear into anyone next year. Hopefully #3-Glory Johnson, #4-Amber Gray, #8-Shekina Stricklin, #15-Alicia Manning and #20-Alyssia Brewer are all they are hyped to be or we’re in big trouble. This 2008 commitment class could be the best in history or it could be another Sybil Dosty, Lindsey Moss, Nicci Moats and Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood.
I've got a feeling that Candace will be playing in both the next two games unless they tie her to the Tradition post in the locker room and bolt the door from the outside. Regardless, Nicky is going to have to be a scoring and rebound monster in both games. Bird has stepped it up in the last two games with 11 & 12 points until getting hurt, I think that she realizes this is it for her so she needs to keep her focus and show some senior leadership. Baugh needs to continue to clean the glass but quit turning the ball over so much. Angie’s trey’s are not falling, 33% in the last four games, but she HAS to step up and stop playing like an inconsistent freshman; she’s due a couple of good games. Shannon is steady as a rock and we can count on a dozen points from her. Fuller needs to start playing like a junior that has been in the program for three years and come out with some fire & intensity! In the last two games Lex is starting to look like the player she was back in December and it’s about time; she is the leader and glue for this team. Smallbone just doesn’t seem to be getting it yet!
Posted by mparker on February 10, 2008 at 12:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Pat's best coaching will be NEXT season. If Candance goes (and she almost 100-percent will go, since Nicky and Alexis are her classmates), then look for a 10-loss LV team in 2008-2009.
Now, that does NOT mean they won't be tough at the end, it just means they'll take some lumps.
Posted by volfan73120 on February 10, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If I remember correctly, the last time the Lady Vols lost 10 games in a season, we won the national championship.
Posted by tenn32rebel on February 10, 2008 at 2 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mparker:
Those "lumps" will be early and often until the players learn to work together as a team. Game experience is the only way that will happen.
At a program like UT, FRESHMEN just don't step in and take over the team. 2008-09 will be the youngest and least experience Lady Vol team that Pat has fielded since the mid-80's.
"This 2008 commitment class could be the best in history or it could be another Sybil Dosty, Lindsey Moss, Nicci Moats and Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood."
These girls weren't all in the same class, so it is really inappropriate to compare them to the incoming class.
Let's look at some of the short-term Lady Vols from earlier recruiting classes.
Gatewood hurt the most because she was the starting point guard! She couldn't say she didn't get enough playing time!
Moats never really was here.
Remember the Young girl from CA that was all-world? She lasted exactly one week in Knoxville in August of her freshman year before returning home.
Teresa Geter left after two years.
The Morris girl from Huntsville, AL, left early.
Moss was only one of two recruits!!
Dosty just never seemed to fit with the team, so she returned to her home school.
Pat is a genius at blending and working with different personalities. John Wooden had that same magic touch with his players.
Having been both a girls and boys basketball coach, I have always considered juggling your players to be the toughest part of your position. Unfortunately, you can never make all of them happy and some leave for various reasons.
Well, we certainly will have enough stuff to debate on this site next fall!!!! It won't be boring! Go Lady Vols!!!!!
Posted by pendav on February 10, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Bigorangevol
Why do YOU keep talking about KING GENO?
Posted by mad_poly_uct on February 10, 2008 at 1:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
...and Mel was pissed 'cause 1 A- ruined her 4.0GPA. "Little East tourney" LOL!! Yeah right, the Little East, or Big Least, or however you wish to disparage the league. What does that make the SEC?...the South Easy Conf?
Posted by tnqball on February 10, 2008 at 3:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uconnfan, it just shows how classless you really are. Just take the beat down that Rutgers gave you with some dignity, and shut up! Did Geno put you up to this???
Posted by splinterdand on February 10, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Don Imus is a Uconn fan?
Posted by mungie314 on February 10, 2008 at 6:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Where does it say that little geno has graduated 100% of his players? Just curious.
Posted by LadyVolsEighTimes on February 10, 2008 at 8:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe if Maya studies harder she can get her GPA up to where Bjorklands is, 4.0.
I really doubt if Pat or anyone else cares what you think about her in a Cheerleading Outfit.
I pray each night that UConn makes it deep enough into the TOurney to play Tennessee. How long has it been since they played in a Championship game? Four or Five years isn't it?
Posted by tenn32rebel on February 10, 2008 at 9:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Enough about Geno!!! I don't like him or his tactics but they work for UCONN and I can respect that.
Fine, so be it. Don't make it so personal.
Conversations online are suppose to be exchanges of ideas, possibilities, facts, what ifs, etc., not bad childish behavior.
Now, everybody back to their respective corners and come out debating!!!
Posted by cboots54 on February 10, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why in the world would anyone even mention that WIMP-BLIMP GENO! He is sickening, the only reason he hopes Rutgers wins is because they beat his BUTT!! He is such a cry baby.
Posted by 98reax on February 11, 2008 at 12:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I know it's difficult to hold back response to Uconnfan, however, we must not get down there and wallow with it. There are many great posts here. I enjoy reading everyone's opinions and little coaching tips, especially, tenn32, I don't always agree but that's what makes it so enjoyable, right? I could mention other interesting, intelligent posters, but the point is, we should keep this site mature and insightful. Everyone knows all too well, there's more than too many sites like those 'disrespectful, just plain nasty kind.' We don't want to go there. Most Lady Vol fans I know personally, do not stoop to trashy, classless conversation. We may be redneck hillbilly, but we know how to show respect. I'm happy to say that.
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