Home › Women's Basketball
Halftime talk lights a fire under Lady Vols
Photo Gallery
UT vs Notre Dame
Tennessee vs Notre Dame game on March 31, 2008, in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.
STORY TOOLS
RELATED STORIES
More Women's Basketball
- After Olympics, Lawson is hooked on gold
- McMahan told to make knee top priority
- McMahan has arthroscopic knee surgery
Share and Enjoy [?]
Get Reprints
OKLAHOMA CITY - Somewhere deep in the bowels of the Ford Center, Pat Summitt let her team know it was time to flip the switch.
Things were getting testy. So was Summitt.
With the exception of All-American Candace Parker, the first half of the Tennessee Lady Vols' Sweet 16 matchup with Notre Dame had been shaky at best. They trailed by eight at one point and were still looking at a two-point deficit at the half.
The flip of the proverbial switch was almost audible in the second half.
Tennessee went on a 17-3 outburst early after a fiery talk from UT's staff and held off the Fighting Irish 74-64 late Sunday night.
"At halftime, Coach was just real with us," senior Nicky Anosike said. "There was no more sugar coating. She just told us we win or we go home and none of us wanted to go home.
"That was really the turning point for us and we felt like we had to come out with fire in the second half."
The Lady Vols (33-2) came out with so much fire, the Irish got singed.
"There was anger because we didn't want to come out and play like this," senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle said. "To be honest, we came out and said we didn't have a good half and guess what? We're down by two.
"It's time to play Tennessee basketball and pick your heads up."
Tennessee moved one victory closer to a Final Four trip to Tampa, Fla., thanks mainly to Parker's 34 points, 13 rebounds, four blocks and three steals.
Others, like Anosike, Hornbuckle, Shannon Bobbitt, Alberta Auguste and Angie Bjorklund, weaved their own late magic into the storyline in the second half.
Anosike finished with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Bobbitt had 11 points and three 3-pointers - two in the second half.
The halftime speech was the instigator.
"She was definitely intense, but she needed to be," Anosike said of Summitt. "We were out there messing around and we weren't taking it seriously. We needed her to be straight up with us."
No. 2-seed Texas A&M (29-7) is next. The Aggies were a 77-63 winner against No. 3-seed Duke.
Brown's Take: Former Lady Vol assistant coach Al Brown (1996-2002), now on Duke's staff with Joanne P. McCallie, saw enough of the Aggies' defense to last him a while. He still doesn't think it will be an issue for Tennessee.
"Those (A&M) kids played hard, played a good game and certainly took us out of everything we wanted to do," he said. "But they won't be any match for Tennessee.
"They're just not talented enough to play with Tennessee. UT has a great cast of players and then they have the best player (Parker). In basketball, if you have the best player, you're going to win most games. She is so much better than anybody they have, they can't match up with her."
Keep in mind, Brown made those comments before Parker dominated the night against Notre Dame.
Nice Gift: Aggie head coach Gary Blair (former Arkansas coach) was under some heat to provide his wife Dr. Nan Smith-Blair with a memorable birthday present.
"She has to go teach those kids in Arkansas, we've got a commuter marriage right now, but she put a whole lot of pressure on me because she said she needed me to be good enough to be there on her birthday (Tuesday)," Blair said. "We'll see you on Tuesday."
So will No. 3-ranked UT. Game time is 7 p.m.
Orange slices: The Lady Vols hold a 1-0 series advantage against the Aggies, a 105-81 victory Dec. 19, 1997, in the semifinals of the Northern Lights Invitational in Anchorage, Alaska. ... Against Big 12 opponents in the NCAA tournament, UT is 5-0 with the last meeting a 75-59 victory against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight ... Legendary sportswriter and author Dan Jenkins was in attendance with his daughter, author Sally Jenkins.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- UT to play UConn in football (not women's basketball)
- Mattingly: UT football a happening that unifies
- Chavis' goal for defense: Learn to finish
- Pennington: It is what it is
- Game film makes Fulmer madder
- Crompton suffered concussion in fourth quarter against UCLA
- Craft ready to go 'all-out' for Pearl, Tennessee
- Vanderbilt ambushes South Carolina, 24-17
- McMahan told to make knee top priority
- Next Bradshaw? UT gets commitment from combo guard Craft
Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Posted by blewissmith on March 31, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is this needed at this time of year? Why were they just "messing around"? If they don't realize on their own what is required to win by now, it is too late. I hope they win it all but I have my doubts.
Posted by rccheek on March 31, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason they were just "messing around " is because they are still a bunch of 19-22 year old kids who get out of focus every so often. That's one of the reasons we have coaches, to keep them focused.
Posted by PennVol on March 31, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like Pat has her hands full keeping these girls focused. Maybe they will actually take this seriously if they get to the Final Four. UConn or LSU would've beaten us by 15-20 last night.
Posted by martinvolfan on March 31, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
good point rccheek. It's very easy for that age group to lose focus between the ears.
Posted by johnlg00 on March 31, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That kind of first-half effort won't get it done against A&M. I was shocked at the way they dominated Duke. We haven't heard much about them, but they must be pretty good to be a #2 seed, and they sure showed me that on Sunday. This Lady Vol team can be as good as any we have had here, thanks in large part to Candace, but they don't give a full effort every time out. Right now, that is the biggest difference between us and (ugh!) UConn. The Huskies seem to come out every game determined to grab the opponents by the throat and choke the life out of them--the Lady Vols rarely do. Now is the time to get mean, gals! No one is going to hand you that eighth national title! You have to go out and grab it! GO LADY VOLS!!! BRING HOME THE EIGHTH!!!
Posted by 98reax on March 31, 2008 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Anosike said of Summitt. "We were out there messing around and we weren't taking it seriously. We needed her to be straight up with us."
One simple question? WHY do 5 seniors have to be reminded to play hard?
Posted by BigOrangeVol29 on March 31, 2008 at 9:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought Mickey Dearstone made an appropriate comment last night when he said that apparently the ladies had yet to leave the hotel for the arena. This has been the one consistent thing about the ladies all season, that they don't seem to bring that consistent intensity night-in and night-out. I kept watching thinking, okay I know you beat the Irish pretty soundly earlier this year, but it's time to turn it on because you're letting a good team hang around. All in all, I'm proud of the Lady Vols for battling during what was apparently one of those off nights, and I hope this game gets them pointed back in the right direction. Good luck against A & M ladies. Keep making Vol fans proud.
Posted by vols45 on March 31, 2008 at 9:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Gut check!!! And, it could not have come at a beter time. Swagger is one thing.......and the Lady Vols have it......but being cocky and not taking care of business at this time of the year should not be in the forecast. Let's hope that this first half debacle was a reminder to them that it takes 40 minutes of concentration on focus. It was alarming to me that we just stood around in the first half, got beaten on the boards and shot miserably. Parker is an amazing athlete. Thank goodness she shouldered the rest of the staggering bunch to pull this one out.
Posted by HotlantaVol on March 31, 2008 at 11:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I SO wanted to see CP3 make that dunk on the break-away to tie the game at 24 in the first half. But, realistically, it was smarter not to hot dog it when you are behind an inferior opponent who is "feeling it", a very dangerous situation in March.
Ladies - take care of A&M early and often so if that dunk opportunity shows itself, CP3 won't have to let her common-sense prevail.
Posted by 98reax on March 31, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No wonder Candace is leaving early. Perhaps she would like to play with a supporting cast night in and night out. What the blazes is wrong with these women? I seriously don't understand why Pat Summitt has not suffered a complete breakdown in some of these games. It has to be so very frustrating for her to HAVE to speak to them at half time the way she does.
"Ladies, let's keep playing the way we are playing. We controlled the tempo. We dominated on the glass and we are taking good shots. Our smart decisions and our focus and composure will punch our ticket to Tampa in 20 minutes." That's the half time speech I want to hear Tuesday night.
Posted by adimatteo on March 31, 2008 at 11:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They won...................End of story, as I said before, two losses, won SEC, toughest schedule, and they won.
Go Lady Vols, you deserve a trip toTampa.
People also seem to forget that we are not playing 16 seeds at moment, A&M is #2 seed, and has neevr been to final four, never. Play hard and like you all are capable of, and it will be fine. Go Lady Vols.
Posted by vol_in_lsu_land on March 31, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe y'all
First of all, Candace was NOT the only player who showed up last night. Bobbit impressed the heck out of me. She is a big-time hustler in a small package! Anosike also played like a champion. Maybe it took a half time speech to get it out of them, but they sure turned it up a notch once it did!
Go Lady Vols!
Posted by anosikefan on March 31, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am ashamed to be associated with some of you people who call yourselves lady vol fans. Support your team or not...I am so tired of all this negativity towards them. They are a great team and I for one support them no matter what! I sure do hope none of them get on here and read this garbage! Yes sometimes they can be frustrating to watch but for goodness sake don't be bandwagon fans!
Go Lady Vols!! 8 in 08 Baby! You can do it!
Posted by dopedawg on March 31, 2008 at 4:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Bring the A game for the Aggies ladys!!!! We have faith in you!! Perk up, give it your all!!
We love ya!!
Posted by murrayvol on March 31, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)
anosikefan: This just in! When you visit this or any other fanbase site, a boatload of negative blather is what you get. Sorry!
Posted by adimatteo on March 31, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
While I have no problem with a comment board having good and bad, my question is how do you come up with negative comments when our team is a #1 seed, and has just won three games.
I realize you get spoiled, but there are hundreds of schools out there, with thousands of players, hundreds of good coaches, weight rooms, etc. and guess what, they all have the same goal!!
Am I to assume that if our ladies dont win it all it will be because they were cocky, or not prepared?
Nonsense, do you all realize how many good schools and coaches are out there who have never been where we are and have been. Sometimes another group of college atheletes just make afew more plays, get afew more breaks, one less player feeling alittle off, etc. the point being, someone has to lose. my gosh, no one can ever take away what this program is and has been, enjoy it, but dont take it or its girls for granted.
Win or lose it has been a great year!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on March 31, 2008 at 5:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We Lady Vol fans have been very blessed over the years and are very spoiled. All we can really ask is that our players give it their all !
Win or lose, come ready to play and leave everything you have on the court. That is all I ask of you and I will be supporting you through thick & thin.
Posted by ceross2 on March 31, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My first comment. I have read so much critrism it makes me sick. Our ladies won. There is no such thing as an ugly win. It't win or loose period and I wonder how 98"s team is doing. He must be a coach since he seems to know so much of how to advise the players and seems to never to be satisifed with a win. How does 33 & 2 sound to every other team in the nation and how does 100 wins in tournament play sound to any other coach?
Posted by LVVOLJJ on March 31, 2008 at 6:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Lady Vols are the best. They are human and sometimes are better than other times. We tell them to bring their A game etc. full well knowing that they are coached by the best, are the best players in the country and will bring their A game! Go play your game, enjoy it, and hopefully win it all ... again. We can trust and be proud of the result. The wonderful thing about college athletics is that any team at this level can bring their A++++ game and give anyone else all they can handle and maybe pull off the upset. I'm sure Pat and The Ladies are prepared for that team. We'll get #8 because the Vols want it the most.
Posted by Hacksaw57 on April 1, 2008 at 1:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It's time to play some "HUNKER DOWN" - "IN YOUR FACE DEFENSE", Ladies!
The fact was, when Candace was out for a period of time, everyone stepped up and contributed - defensively and offensively. When need that kind of effort when she is ON THE FLOOR as well as when she is on the bench.
If we get after it like we know we can do, we won't have any problems. It is going to take a big effort from ALL to bring home another NC, but we can do it!
INTENSITY + DESIRE + DICIPLINE = NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!
GO BIG ORANGE - GO LADY VOLS!
(Requires free registration.)
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.