Tennessee doesn't whiff too often against too many women's basketball opponents.

So being 0-for-Duke the past three seasons stands out. The futility has gotten Alexis Hornbuckle's attention.

"As far as weighing on me, no," said the Lady Vols senior guard, who returned to practice Sunday after missing Thursday's game against Arkansas (diagnostic test).

"But come game time, it's something you'll think about. Before I graduate I want to step off the court knowing that I at least beat Duke, I get my revenge."

Game time is 7 tonight as the No. 2 Lady Vols (17-1) and No. 10 Blue Devils (15-4) tangle at Cameron Indoor Stadium in Durham, N.C. (TV: ESPN2).

A three-game win streak has given the Blue Devils a 5-4 edge in the series and a rare distinction among Tennessee's opposition. Since 1990, only two other teams - Connecticut and Texas - have managed to string together three consecutive victories against Tennessee.

While fellow UT senior Nicky Anosike isn't fixated on Duke, the game has a bearing on the 6-foot-4 center's "now or never" approach to her final collegiate season.

"I can never get these times back, ever'' she said. "If I don't work hard and do all the things I want to do, then I'll live the rest of my life regretting and saying I wish I would've. If only I could've. I don't ever want to do that."

Unless there's a postseason meeting, it could be now or never for Anosike versus Duke.

Blue Devils senior guard Wanisha Smith, meanwhile, is closing in on a rare perfect run against UT. She said the three previous victories could be summed up in basic competitive values.

"Determination and fight are the two words that I would use to describe it,'' she said.

The Lady Vols demonstrated a lot of the same attributes in the last meeting between the two teams. They recovered from a 19-0 deficit at the outset and built their effort on the solid foundation of a 46-35 rebounding advantage.

In the end, the one-two punch of Blue Devils Abby Waner and Lindsey Harding was too much to overcome in the 74-70 loss in Knoxville.

Waner, who lugged a 2-for-13 shooting slump on 3-pointers into the game, hit all five of her attempts before halftime.

Harding served as the closer, scoring 10 of Duke's final 24 points.

Harding, last season's Naismith player of the year, has departed, along with 6-7 center Alison Bales. Waner returns and the Lady Vols are wary, considering she's hit only 4 of her last 31 3-point attempts.

Chante Black, a 6-5 center, is back after missing last season with a knee injury. She's leading the team in scoring (13.9 points per game) and rebounding (7.7 rpg).

While players come and go, Duke maintains its familiarity. Under first-year coach Joanne P. McCallie, the Blue Devils continue to emphasize defense and rebounding.

In the latest NCAA stats, the Blue Devils are ranked in the top 10 in four categories: field-goal percentage defense (34.2), rebound margin (9.1), blocked shots (6.9) and steals (13.3).

The Blue Devils have outrebounded seven of their last eight opponents by an average margin of 15.3 per game.

McCallie mentioned these qualities in bracing for Tennessee.

"We're going to have to be really sharp with how we defend, how we rebound and how we dictate physical play,'' she said.

By comparison, Tennessee's superlatives are primarily on offense, where the Lady Vols are ranked among the nation's leaders in scoring offense (81.7), field-goal percentage (47.5) and 3-point shooting percentage (39.0).

The statistical correlation between the two teams is blocks, where UT averages 6.6 per game.

This game should offer a telling review on the state of Tennessee's more traditional virtues, the qualities that served them well in winning the national championship last season.

The Lady Vols have been improving on defense. But they haven't faced this kind of an opponent since losing at Stanford 73-69 in overtime on Dec. 22.

They're coming off a 48-31 rebounding performance, albeit against a smaller Arkansas squad. Their overall plus-3.9 margin reflects ongoing inconsistency.

Talent gives Tennessee a good shot in any game and a decided edge in most. The recent history of this Duke game, though, suggests the Lady Vols need something more.

"I think we're a tough team mentally, a tougher team mentally than I think we've been in previous seasons,'' Anosike said. "We're not afraid of hard work. I'm sure we're definitely going to have to roll up our sleeves and battle it out (tonight). It's nothing we don't love to do."

Dan Fleser covers Lady Vols basketball. He may be reached at 865-342-6288.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.