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Either way, the message is clear today for Tennessee. The Lady Vols need to be on guard.

Mississippi State (16-11, 4-8 SEC), which visits for a women's basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena (Tipoff: 2:30, TV: FSN), initiated this theme in the teams' first meeting on Feb. 7 in Starkville, Miss. The Lady Bulldogs connected with two haymakers: a 21-point scoring run in the first half and an All-American-like 32-point performance by guard Alexis Rack. The Lady Vols, who suffered three injuries in the game, had to collect their wits in the second half, rallying for an 87-69 victory.

For No. 3 Tennessee (24-2, 10-1), the alert encompasses not only the opposition but also itself, specifically its guards. The latter warning comes directly from coach Pat Summitt, who thinks UT's backcourt play could stand an upgrade.

"If you're going to win a championship, you have to have great guard play," Summitt said. "I like our front line but who's going to get them the ball? Who's going to do what they have to do offensively and defensively? Both sides of the ball the guard play, it's huge."

Summitt is directing her questions to the three main perimeter players - starters Shannon Bobbitt and Alexis Hornbuckle and top reserve Alberta Auguste. These three were among Tennessee's most productive players in the first Mississippi State game. Since then, their impact has been diminished.

Lady Vols forward Candace Parker made a point of complimenting Bobbitt after the senior point guard racked up seven assists against Alabama on Thursday night.

"She ran the team and gave us exactly what we wanted," Parker said. "I know Coach has been on her about pushing tempo and running the team."

Prior to Alabama, Bobbitt's assist-to-turnover ratio was out of whack for three games, when she totaled six assists and committed 10 turnovers. In that same span, she shot 5-for-25 from the floor and committed the unpardonable sin of picking up a technical foul at a crucial moment of the Rutgers game.

These contributions were a far cry from her 16-point, seven-rebound, four-assist showing in the first game against State.

"She's very coachable," Summitt said of Bobbitt. "We've watched film and I think that's really helped her."

The plan is to simplify Bobbitt's intentions without slowing her speed up the court.

"She's been trying to do too much, I thought she was there for a number of games," Summitt said. "I kept talking to her about it.

"I think she's looking now just to push tempo really hard. When she does that then she gets the ball out of her hands and we get the ball moving offensively a lot better."

Summitt also has encouraged Bobbitt to concentrate more on mid-range shots and less on dribbling forays to the basket.

Shooting and ball-handling are the primary directives for Hornbuckle and Auguste as well. Summitt has urged both players to spend extra time in either the arena or Pratt Pavilion working on their skills. She continued pressing her agenda Friday by citing Parker as an example.

"I respect the fact that she's been in the gym," Summitt said. "Some people have gone in here and there. She's looking for (assistant coach) Dean (Lockwood) constantly. She's calling Dean. She's setting up (time) when they can get shots in."

Since scoring 16 points against Mississippi State, Hornbuckle has scored 26 points in the last four games combined and shot 9-for-28 (32.1 percent) from the floor.

Hornbuckle has covered for her scoring slump by gathering 11 steals in the past two games, grabbing UT's career steals record in the process. Her defensive play has been a sign of renewed vigor. On the other hand, an awkward, off-balance shot she took Thursday night was a reminder of her more impulsive younger days. It was a moment of misspent energy.

"I think Alexis has to really tighten up her offensive package," Summitt said. "... I think that's key for this basketball team. That's a big piece of the puzzle if we want to cut down nets."

Since scoring a season-high 12 points against Mississippi State, Auguste has shot 3-for-20 (15 percent) from the floor. Auguste's three assists in the past four games have been trumped by seven turnovers.

Lest she sound repetitive, Summitt put more emphasis in her instruction to Auguste, who has been wearing a brace since aggravating a shoulder/biceps injury against, who else, the Lady Bulldogs.

"She needs to be in the gym every opportunity she gets," Summitt said. "She's too laid back. She has to be more intense, every possession."

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.