OXFORD, Miss. - Tennessee's tradeoff showed on the scoreboard and in the minutes-played column of the stat sheet.
Leading by 26 points at halftime of an SEC women's basketball game against Ole Miss on Thursday night, the Lady Vols exchanged a possible full-scale rout for playing minutes for the reserves.
The result was a 68-44 victory before a crowd of 3,120 at Tad Smith Coliseum and at least 20 playing minutes for every Lady Vol. It wasn't exactly the trade of the century, but UT was content with the deal.
"It's more about us right now,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "… I thought our starters got us off to a great start. It (going to the reserves) was something I wanted to do going into this game if we could open it up.''
Point guard Shannon Bobbitt led No. 2 Tennessee (19-1, 6-0 SEC) with 14 points. Candace Parker scored 13 in 20 minutes. The Lady Vols had a 48-40 rebounding advantage, winning the battle of the defensive boards, 32-19.
Ole Miss dropped to 8-11, 2-4.
Tennessee reserve Alex Fuller made the most of her 21 minutes, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds. Fellow reserve Vicki Baugh grabbed a team-high nine rebounds.
Several of Baugh's rebounds played a part in her team-high four turnovers. She often was victimized after exposing the basketball to Ole Miss' ball-hawking guards.
"I've been told several times not to bring the ball down; I've never put that into action,'' she said. "They're a scrappy team. It's a learning experience."
From Summitt's point of view, Baugh can't get enough of those experiences.
"I think while Vicky didn't get as many opportunities to score,'' Summitt said, "the more reps she can have, the more comfortable she's going to be and more confident.''
Tennessee played some of its best hoops right from the start. Showing no signs of a hangover from Monday night's 67-64 victory at Duke, the Lady Vols bolted to a 17-4 lead in the first seven minutes.
The fast start afforded UT's reserves an early chance to play. Senior Alberta Auguste was the first backup off the bench. Tennessee barely missed a beat with one substitute. Auguste contributed a block to the defensive effort.
When forwards Fuller and Baugh joined Auguste, however, there was a noticeable dropoff, particularly on offense against Ole Miss' scrappy zone alignment. The Lady Vols went nearly four minutes without a point and more than seven minutes between baskets.
During these droughts, the starters were hustled back into the game to restore scoring order. Their presence enabled UT to eventually revisit the same personnel strategy, this time with better results.
Freshman Sydney Smallbone, who didn't play Monday against Duke, peeled off her warm-up and made the most of her opportunity, hitting a trey, two free throws and recording three assists.
Fuller swished her first trey since hitting two against Vanderbilt on Jan. 20.
Finally, Baugh produced the most resourceful highlight of the half. Flat on her back in the lane, the 6-foot-4 freshman flipped a pass to Nicky Anosike for a layup.
There was never any dropoff in UT's defense in the first 20 minutes and it showed in their 39-13 lead. The Rebels' points and 20.7 field-goal percentage were season lows for a UT opponent.
"They're big; they're athletic,'' Ole Miss coach Renee Ladner said. "And if you get past the first line of defense, they have another line."
In the second half, the Lady Vols got in some work on their matchup zone defensive alignment. The strategy didn't do much to stop Ole Miss forward Shawn Goff, who had game highs for points (20) and rebounds (12).
After building their lead to as many as 29 points, the Lady Vols put the reserve plan back into action shortly thereafter for the game's duration. Anosike took a seat on the bench with a wrap on her left knee. It was a precaution after she suffered a bruise.
The Lady Vols played the last four-plus minutes without a true point guard on the floor. The lone starter was a freshman, Angie Bjorklund.
Tennessee returns home to play Kentucky at 3 p.m. Sunday. With advance ticket sales approaching 18,000, the doors at Thompson-Boling will open a half-hour earlier at 1:30.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 17
ps11824 writes:
We need Baugh to toughen up. We'll definitely need her to contribute productive minutes down the final stretch and into post season. If the dreaded injury bug should strike, costly for sure. Minutes for Smallbone & Baugh, priceless!
bustervols writes:
Nice team win. Way to GO.
knoxtenor writes:
Amen, 98. Pat's easily got the most talented bench in the NCAA. But such talent demands real-world play time, i.e., if you don't use it, you lose it. I hope she can continue to control some games enough to get the young ones out there and taking shots against real opponents. There's always the chance that, in three years, one (or more!) of those freshman will make us think, "Yeah, she's even better than Candace, uh... Candace.... Parker! Candace Parker!" They could be playing for a pinkie ring by then.
lnbadger320 writes:
Dan, why do you use the word trey for three pointers. you sound like and idiot. you're not black, you're not hip or cool. just say three's like everyone else does.
jorido writes:
InBadger320 when you fail using "and" for "an" perhaps you should concentrate on your own intelligence.
Incidently, you would enjoy sitting on an empty seat during a LV practice and talking with Dan. He knows women's basketball and he appreciates the LVs.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
Pat used her wisdom to ready the team as a whole for the post season and that is so smart. You never know when you will a reserve to step in and become a starter. We have faced that before and still won because Pat had the reserve ready to play. That is so important. Kodus to the team because they played well. They are a talented work in progress and I think that when the time comes they will be in the big game and play their hearts out.
andefromtn#212139 writes:
Trey is three in French and is used in basketball lingo quite often for the three point shot. She shot four successful treys. They were able to break the packed defense in the paint by knocking down three treys in row. Are sentences that use the word trey as a synonym for three point shot. It doesn't mean he is trying to be black to use it. To think it does shows more about your lack of knowledge what the word trey meaning both in language and in basketball, as well as your preconceived notion of how African-Americans talk. It is an appropriate word used grammically correct by the writer of this article. Seems to me, he has an excellent grasp of language and basketball.
vols99#639914 writes:
What Pat Summit sees in Smallbone is a mystery to me. She might be fine for a small college but for UT she is out of her league. Her defense leaves a lot to be desired. Next game watch how many mistakes she makes. She is not the quality of player Tennessee needs.
fortandrews writes:
Yes I know a win is a win - but do they have to be so UGLY. Ole Miss has to be the weak link in the SEC. The Lady Vols can't play like they did against a "rank team". So PLEASE be carefull. I am sure Pat saw this "show" and didn't like all of the plays/players.
AlpharettaVol writes:
I'm very glad that the reserves got a chance to play, but all in all it was one of the sloppiest games the Lady Vols have played in a long time -- and not just the reserves. It was the first time in a long time that they played down to the level of the competition. I know they will have a lot to work on when they look at the film of this game.
ps11824 writes:
I agree; the games are not fun to watch so much of the time. I hate the unforced turnovers and the inability to finish at the rim. At times it seems they play so fast they are unable to gear it down enough to make the crisp pass, or set up to finish an easy shot. Who am I to classify them as easy? I'm not the one who is being mauled mercilessly. I heard the commentators of last night's game mention this team lacks the ability to "put their opponent away." I agree with that in part, however, to give the bench their minutes I don't see reserves being able to maintain that level of scoring. This will come in time-playing time, logging those minutes against teams like Ole Miss, who could give some other conference teams a competitive game. I do disagree with 99 about Smallbone. I see potential in her. She's finding her way. She has a pretty 3ball, good size too. She seriously needs PT. Pat is a great judge of talent. How do we question that, 99?
superk#226173 writes:
I didn't notice as many heavy set fans at this game.
fortandrews writes:
Dear 99: Have you noticed Parkers defence. She is good at blocking shots - she lets her "man" leave her standing still - playing defence is not one of better abilities. But do they really play defence in the pros?
DroopyDrawers writes:
UconnFan, kiss off and get off this site. It is for Lady Vol fans. As far as I am concerned U are not welcome. I darn sure am not going to your site. So goodby. Say hello to the foul mouth Geno. He was taught his filthy language by Taurasi.
99, I disagree with you about Smallbone. Pat is real pleased with her play. In the end she will be pumping the three ball. However, I will say Angie overshadows Smallbone. Smallbone is a work in progress.
tenn32rebel writes:
Well, Pat is always looking ahead with her players and I believe that she is working Smallbone as much as possible for two reasons.
One, she wants Smallbone to have a positive impact in the post-season tournaments. Two, Pat is looking at having seven freshmen next year!!!
Fuller will be the only returning experienced (3+ years) player, if she returns. However, I think she will. She will finally have a starting spot and the leadership role she has desired at UT.
It will be truly interesting with all the rookies running around!!! Our loss column will probably be in double digits for the first time in many years. The LV haters will be dancing in the streets, but it will be a short-lived celebration. Pat will whip the young pups into playing form sooner than anybody guessed.
Adversity will teach those young LVs the proper
"can-do" attitude. After that, everybody better get in their bunker because those young LVs will have numerous scores to settle. "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
Rocky Top forever! Go Lady Vols!!!!!
ps11824 writes:
Oops, tenn32, remember the awesome '98 National Champions. Oh, to have a bunch of starting rookies like the meeks, Ace & Geeter. I'll take those all day long. I had never seen anything like that class. It spoiled me. I have not enjoyed bball nearly as much since, but I keep anticipating seeing it again. Who knows, maybe '08/'09 will be the one. To me, IMHO, CP3 is not as fun to watch as M23 playing with the rookie meeks & Ace. I welcome your opinion on that subject. Is it just me, or does CP3 take plays off? I'm reluctant to make a comment like that for UF to jump all over with its foul mouth. DT'rasi, another great player I wish could be cloned into a non-geno influenced LV. My USA team would have M23 in her Soph. & Junior year, DT, Catch, TEdwards & Taj McWilliams, Dawn Staley, perhaps Cappie Pondexter in reserve. Of coarse, I'm considering these players in their prime. And of coarse, coached by Pat Summitt, the best women's bball coach of all times, assisted by John Wooden.
tenn32rebel writes:
98: Yes, those LVs were awesome to watch. Unfortunately, Ace never fulfilled her potential and Geter got homesick & returned to SC. Catchings is my all-time favorite LV with Kelley Jolly coming in second. Yes, I know I'll take some heat for taking Kelley. However, she personified tough leadership when she returned to the court after a record rehab of a torn ACL and later rehabbing the ankle injury during the NCAA tournament (which we would not have won without her).
Toughness and determination at that level is seldom seen in women's basketball. The closest person to Kelley in that catogory is Shea Ralph. My hat is always off to Shea.
Unfortunately, CP3 seems to play to the level of her competition. That annoying trait has allowed other LVs to step forward and win games of us. If other LVs had stepped up in the UNC game in '98 when CH23 was 1-18 from the field, we would have won that game and probably the NC. However, we had gotten TOO comfortable with letting CH23 win every game. So, I'm torn between yelling at CP3 to work harder or pulling for Angie, Shannor, Alexis or even Nicky to pick up the slack without asking and win the game.
As a player and later a coach (both boys & girls), I wanted hustle and drive first, talent second. My teams beat many more talented teams but we hustled more. That is the true spirit of competition, IMHO.
CP3 has more talent than Catchings but I would much rather watch Catchings play. I find it ironic that CP3's LV role model is Catchings. Why doesn't she internalize the concept of hustle as her role model has done?? Well, each player is totally different and that is what makes all of this fun.
Unlike UCONNfan, I will give the respect to any player and coach that earns it fairly. I hated to watch Diana T. play but she was a true wonder. However, I respect Shea Ralph more.
On your all-time team, where is the truly dominating post? I'll take Sylvia F. as my post. My idea of a post is a female Bill Russell and that is what Sylvia is to me. Taj is really good but give me the defensive, shot-blocker who can also score!!!
I'm not sure about the coaches. Pat always wants to learn so much, I bet her and Coach Wooden would get into some deep, heavy basketball discussions and forget that a game was being played!!! LOL!
GO Lady Vols!!! Keep making us proud!
Share your thoughts
Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.