Lady Vols ready in case of a rude reception

Tennessee could use some blinders and earplugs for Monday's women's basketball showdown at Duke. In lieu of such impractical accessories, the Lady Vols believe that their experience and maturity should fit perfectly.

Along with the 10th-ranked Blue Devils (15-4), No. 2 Tennessee (17-1) must handle the charged atmosphere at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. This challenge likely will begin before the 7 p.m. start (TV: ESPN2) courtesy of the "Cameron Crazies", Duke's raucous student section.

"Duke is always a tough place to play, just because their fans try to, I guess, affect us on a personal level,'' UT senior center Nicky Anosike said. "But we can't let any of that affect what we want to do and get done on Monday.

"I think the last time we let that affect us. I think we're a lot more mature. This year we're going to use whatever negative energy that they have for us, that's to our advantage."

However it's characterized, energy will be abundant. Short of offering free pizza, UT coach Pat Summitt couldn't have done more to get the students going than threaten to discontinue the series if they reprised their torment of Lady Vols senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle.

On Tennessee's last visit in 2006, the students brandished plastic shopping bags and chanted "Wal-Mart" to remind Hornbuckle of her arrest as a high school senior on a misdemeanor shoplifting charge at a Wal-Mart in West Virginia.

The impact was evident on Hornbuckle's face the first time she stepped to the free throw line and faced the full fury of those taunts. The echo was recorded in her 0-for-4 misfiring on free throws and six turnovers.

The Lady Vols didn't fare much better, looking equally dazed in the No. 1 vs. No. 2 big-game setting. The outcome was in the bag for the Blue Devils long before the conclusion of their 75-53 victory.

The memory of that night has had a ripple effect on Hornbuckle. She approached last season's rematch in Thompson-Boling Arena as a quest for redemption, as if she had to regain the respect of all of women's hoops. She responded with a big effort, overcoming and overanxious start to score 19 points and grab nine rebounds in the 74-70 loss.

Returning to Cameron will test Hornbuckle's mettle and perhaps her health. She missed Thursday's game against Arkansas because of a diagnostic test. No matter, her status for Monday's game has been stated consistently as OK by the Lady Vols.

Hornbuckle sounded ready to go this week.

"I have grown and matured so much since two years ago,'' Hornbuckle said. "I'm the type of person: One time, it's OK. Then you have to step your game up. Like I said, people grow, people mature. So if doesn't affect them in the same way."

While Hornbuckle and the rest of UT's veterans are all grown up, the freshmen will be new to the lively surroundings, where the Blue Devils have won a school-record 24 consecutive games. At least one rookie, starting forward Angie Bjorklund, will be counted on to make a difference. The 6-foot sharpshooter is a potential game-changer, as evidenced by her season-high 29 points against Arkansas Thursday.

"I think it's important that our freshmen, in particular, have an understanding of what the environment is like, especially when we come to town,'' Summitt said. "When you talk about home court advantage, I think the people on our (coaching) staff they probably will have the most challenging environment when it comes to just the noise and communication. It will be important to have tight huddles."

It also will be important for the older players to share some of their wisdom with the youngsters. Hornbuckle, more than anyone, knows the perils of the place.

"It's so easy for the crowd to take you out of your game,'' she said. "They're right there on top of the floor. If you're not used to that or you're not mentally strong then you won't survive in that atmosphere."

Dan Fleser covers women's basketball. He can be reached at 865-342-6288.