STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

More Women's Basketball

• It's a pain for McMahan to watch
• McMahan returns to workouts
• Getting to know the new Lady Vols: Briana Bass

Share and Enjoy [?]

Get Reprints

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

Tennessee has history on its side when it takes the court for the SEC women's basketball tournament.

The Lady Vols have won the tournament six times as the No. 2 seed. UT coach Pat Summitt summed up the trend simply as, "Something to prove."

The proof will be in Tennessee's play as it opens against Florida in a second-round game at 3:30 today at the Sommet Center in Nashville.

The seventh-seeded Gators (18-12) beat 10th-seeded South Carolina 71-57 in a first-round game Thursday.

Playing from the No. 2 slot in the tournament bracket indicates Tennessee (27-2) has something to gain and something to lose. It's the last chance to win any sort of SEC championship. The Lady Vols haven't been shut out in league play since the 1996-97 season.

"We don't want to be one of the only teams up there without a (SEC) banner,'' senior forward Candace Parker said.

Conversely, the Lady Vols could lose their claim to one of the four No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament without a strong showing. Finishing second to LSU in the regular season has created some vulnerability. The prevailing circumstances were part of Summitt's pre-game pep talk to her team before Sunday's 72-63 victory at Georgia.

There was consternation in the Lady Vols' camp this week over some ESPN chatter, suggesting that Tennessee could end up a No. 2 seed.

"Obviously there's some so-called experts in our game that aren't very impressed with our team,'' Summitt said.

If the Lady Vols don't win the SEC tournament, the Division I women's basketball committee might not be overly impressed with them either, especially if LSU completes a sweep of the conference titles.

"Rather than put it in someone else's hands,'' Summitt said, "we need to control our situation."

Therefore, the Lady Vols need to convert all of their motivation into results. Several game plans were put forth this week.

"The number-one priority is playing together,'' said senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle, a member of the All-SEC defensive team. "I feel like, no matter if it's on offense or defense, when we come out ready to play together and determined to play together, everything else falls into place. The effort is there. The rebounding is there. The offensive efficiency is there. So just trying to be on the same page, I think that's key for us."

Senior teammate Nicky Anosike was less specific but no less urgent.

"We just think we need to win every single game,'' she said. "If you don't win, you go home. That's how this part of the season works."

Predictably, Summitt was more detailed. She listed 40-minute efforts, defense, rebounding and guard play as important. She zeroed in on UT's perimeter players by saying, "We have to be more productive and much more consistent."

The difference they can make was evidenced by point guard Shannon Bobbitt's 13 second-half points against Georgia, which helped turn a tense struggle into a double-figure advantage.

Summitt coaxed reserve guard Alberta Auguste into taking some extra shots after Tuesday's practice.

Hornbuckle, who is taking 16 hours this semester, is devoting most of her extra time to studying.

"Academics is kicking my butt right now, a lot of late nights,'' she said.

Hornbuckle said that she tries to get as much done as possible between road trips.

"I can't really study on the road, as far as on the plane or the bus; it gives me headaches,'' she said. "You really don't have that much time in the hotel room, and if I do I'm trying to sleep."

For this road trip, Summitt isn't giving Hornbuckle much to think about. Instead, she's offered a plan of action.

"I think she has to play to her strengths,'' Summitt said. "Play great defense, be the best rebounding guard and get paint points."

Notebook: Summitt, Geno Auriemma of Connecticut, C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers and Van Chancellor of LSU are the finalists for the Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year award. The winner will be announced during the Women's Final Four in Tampa, Fla.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.