Samantha Mahoney can see and feel the difference two SEC victories have made for the Kentucky women’s basketball team.

“Everyone’s spirits are up,’’ the Wildcats senior guard said. “There’s a lot more smiles around the team in the locker room. When we go out for practice, everyone is eager.”

Just as well that they’re taking the court with renewed vigor. Practice is the real difference maker as far as first-year coach Matthew Mitchell is concerned. From his perspective, it’s enabled Kentucky to overcome a disappointing start and has been the impetus for a 2-0 conference beginning. And it’s where the Wildcats (8-8) have girded themselves for Thursday’s visit from No. 2 Tennessee (14-1, 2-0 SEC).

Tipoff is 7 p.m. at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington, Ky.

When Mitchell extols the virtues of a good team workout, you hear the echo of Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt. Mitchell worked Tennessee’s summer camps before becoming a Lady Vols graduate assistant in 1999-2000. He values one lesson above all from his legendary mentor.

“I’ve told people this many times,’’ he said. “In my experiences with Coach Summitt, she never had a bad day at practice. She never let down in practice.”

Mitchell has tried to emulate her example. He wants the Wildcats to do the same. But that’s taken some doing.

Mitchell was a former Kentucky assistant coach on the staff of former UT assistant Mickie DeMoss. He returned as DeMoss’ replacement this season to team feeling the affects of seven losses by four or less points last season, including three in overtime.

The trend continued into this season with close losses to Michigan, Western Kentucky and Xavier. The Western Kentucky game was another overtime setback, 78-74.

“Our team was approaching adversity in a way that I thought was backward,’’ he said. “We were kind of hanging our heads a little bit. We had sort of a defeatist attitude. We had several conversations over a several-week period.”

Mitchell perceived the players to believe that they had some sort of imaginary cloud hanging over them.

“I didn’t believe that at all,’’ he said. “You make things happen. We lost those (close) games because we didn’t execute, not because the planets weren’t aligned.”

Mitchell has tried to impress upon his players the need to be more proactive about their performance. By his thinking, the place to work toward that end is practice.

The early SEC returns on their investment have been a pair of close calls in their favor — 60-58 against Florida and 64-60 over Mississippi State.

In referring to the Florida game, Mitchell said, “The reason we beat Florida is because we kept working hard in practice. That’s the one thing I hope our team is learning.”

Mitchell is making his point without alienating his players. Whatever the message, Mahoney said the tone has remained positive.

“The one thing he’s stressed to us is his confidence in us and staying positive,’’ Mahoney said. “As a new coach, I’m sure it’s been hard for him.”

The combination of a difficult schedule, multiple injuries and protracted shooting woes sent the Wildcats to a 5-8 start.

Starting point guard Carly Ormerod remains out with a foot injury and has been replaced by freshman Amber Smith. Senior center Sarah Elliott is doubtful for tonight’s game with a knee injury.

Mahoney sounds a lot like Mitchell in discussing the team’s approach to its 38.8 percent field goal shooting, which ranks last in the SEC.

“I think if we look at the shots we have missed, a lot of them have been good shots,’’ she said. “That’s something you have to keep in mind. You can make those shots.”

Just keep working at it.

In considering Kentucky, Summitt said that she can visualize Mitchell being upbeat and steadfast.

“I can see him saying, ‘We’re going to be fine,’ ” she said.

Notebook: Lady Vols senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle, who sat out Tuesday’s practice with lower back pain, was back on the court Wednesday.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.