BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Thursday began early for the Tennessee women's basketball team - very early.
The Lady Vols hit the court at 6 a.m. for a 1 1/2 hour workout that was the direct result of a listless effort the day before.
"They had a little more get-up-and-go," UT head coach Pat Summitt said.
Summitt thought Wednesday's effort, or lack thereof, had several contributing factors.
The team was off Tuesday. And Wednesday's workout began without Summitt and veteran players Alex Fuller and Angie Bjorklund, who were traveling back to Knoxville after appearing at SEC Media Days in Birmingham
One good practice didn't suffice.
The Lady Vols reconvened Thursday afternoon for another workout.
"I've said all along we're going to find enough players who are committed to getting the job done," Summitt said. "You're going to have to earn your playing time.
"We have to have people who want to compete on every possession. That's going to be key for us."
The importance of hard work was a recurring theme throughout the SEC media gathering that ended Thursday.
With Tennessee's and LSU's starting lineups both gutted by graduation, there's a prevailing sense of opportunity.
At Vanderbilt, senior forward Christina Wirth said the Commodores run on their own at practice when they get beat on defense.
"It's not something the coaches are making us do," she said.
The Commodores seemed comfortable about being the media's preseason pick to win the conference.
"It's an exciting opportunity we have,'' Wirth said. "Being ranked No. 1 at this point, what does that mean? It won't mean anything unless we prove it against teams like Tennessee and LSU."
No Phoning It In: Georgia coach Andy Landers compared the experience Angela Puleo earned as a freshman to one of the staples of modern technology.
"This isn't a new cell phone anymore," Landers said. "She knows what buttons to push."
Puleo, the former William Blount High School star, started 32 games last season and averaged 29 minutes per game.
She was Georgia's top 3-point shooter (54-of-155, 34.8 percent) and was second in assists with 85. She averaged 8.2 points per game.
New Faces: The fate of several teams is riding on the impact of new talent. Some players to watch:
At Mississippi State, a trio of junior college transfers — Rima Kalonda, Armelie Lumanu and Chanel Mokango — are from the Congo and played at Southeastern Illinois College.
Florida has 6-foot-4 freshman center Azania Stewart, who is from Wood Green, England, and transfer Steffi Sorensen, an under-the-radar sharpshooter.
Ole Miss also has a junior college transfer with potential - 6-2 forward Katorra Lewis.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 19
burpee_von_rotweiler_IV writes:
Pat needs to have a little talk with Phil about coaching philosphies. He could learn something from her.
ncvol writes:
Keep up the good job, Pat. The ladies will appreciate you at conference time.
Go Vols !
blitzshoot writes:
Work'em till they drop Coach Summit. You know best!
BigOrangeVol writes:
I'd like to hear how Daedra is doing with the post players. If you can't get motivated by Pat and the Night Train then you're probably dead!
MillisaAnn writes:
I agree Keep It up Pat!
And yes fulmer could learn alot from Pat.
xvolx writes:
sounds like they lack respect for the program and coach. Maybe too much hype about being at tenn.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Pat and Bruce will school some SEC folks (and coaches) this year who are stupid enough to believe both programs are in rebuilding mode instead of reloading mode.
Work em hard coaches; you'll only have 20k plus fans to watch your product each and every game!
Men's and Women's hoops kickin' butt? Who would've guessed it a few years ago?
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
1) this is bball, not football. no way, no how are practices equivalent. If you've never put on the pads, I'd suggest you do so prior to commenting about 'work'. In basketball, you can be tired and still play ball. In football, you can literally be killed if you are too tired to make the right move.
2) Pat wore out Bjorklund last year, plain and simple. She has a whole slew of them this year....here is hoping Pat has learned that not every player can thrive at the limtis of exhaustion.
Be fair to Pat. She's a great coach, but even great coaches mess up. If you treat her as if she can do no wrong, then you are NOT helping, as no one can do no wrong.
Before you all go off, I've been a Pat supporter since she was a player at UT. I wish my daughter could be good enough to play for her.
I'll always say this: last season, Pat was smart enough against Stanford to adjust. Whether it was Pat, an assistant, or the players, the idea of pressing Stanford and bodying up on Wiggins all night long was ideal. THAT is waht you want to see from an old coach: she can learn, just like her players.
10 losses, strong team at the end, and heaven help us if we don't get a good PG....
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
You guys must be under the impression that these guys never talk with each other? Fulmer has answered every letter I have sent him over the years. A really great guy. And for you Tennessee fans to treat him the way our "enemies" do is a shame. And as far as being "like Pat" , well there's not a coach in the country that wouldn't like to own her won lose record. And you know, say what you want but Phil's won lost record is rather coveted too by many. We are so fortunate to have so many great team leaders and winning head coaches here at Tennessee. So let's start showing it more, in attendance and in money to the university. Amen. You can always give your Heavenly Father some money too for his ministry in the name of our wonderful university too you know. Maybe that's how Pat got to where she's at?
shaggymoe writes:
If Pat didn't know one single thing about football, and coached our football team they would be better simply because they would be more disciplined and prepared. They would also be in shape. And if they didn't earn their position they would be "riding the pine"
NOLAvol writes:
I NEED HELP from anybody going to the open practice Saturday--or who went to the open practices the day of the Florida game last month!
Had planned to take my elderly parents to TBA to watch Lady Vols (1-3pm) & Bruce's guys (3:30pm) Saturday... but forgot that the 'bama game is at Neyland! I was counting on no traffic, free parking at the TBA garage, and getting them back to Chattanooga in time for kickoff.
Please advise--which will cost me more of my inheritance: calling this adventure off, or trying to make it happen anyway?
It would probably be more approprate for you to advise me at http://www.volnation.com/forum/tennes... rather than here at GoVolsExtra (since my request has nothing to do with Phil Fulmer's future). Thanks all--and GO BIG ORANGE!
volboy81 writes:
NEVER count out the Lady Vols!!!
GoVol writes:
Fulmer should take note, but then again he's too stubborn and too stupid to effectively motivate his troops.
Colliervol writes:
Pay no attention to the non-UT fan. Irrelevant.
volfan1971 writes:
You must still be writing to Santa as well. Expect coal in you stocking if you think Phil is going to turn this program around.
chestnutglade writes:
There is one thing you will not here Pat say after a game. ( I will know more after I grade the tape tomorrow). She knows what went on during the game.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Look, there are a LOT of fans liek me, except I blog.
1) we admire Phil the man; he genuinely seems to be a good man
2) we admire Phil the administrator. It is hard to reign in a bumvh of hot-dog kids, many from not-so-strong families.
3) we saw in Spring Training that Crompton was stuggling, and commented on it. If we as fans can see it, why not Phil and Clawson???
4) Phil has to quit playing NOT TO LOSE and instead PLAY TO WIN. This is NOT GENL NEYLAND FOOTBALL anymore. In the Bama game last year, the Auburn game, and the UGA game, Phil WOULD NOT take the necessary risk on 4th and short.
Look, I've followed UT ball since 1965 or so. I want to she them GO DOWN SWINGING, not PUNTING OUT OF FEAR. I want to see surprises, such as onsides kicks or fake punts.
So, if you know Phil, let him know THAT is why he is losing his CORE fan support: the games are BORING and do not GET US INVOLVED.
98reax writes:
Listen to 'Coach Discipline' get her message across right off the get go. I have to laugh at some posters who even hint at questioning Pat's coaching philosophies. She will slap them silly and then ask them why their face is red. I wish she would run for president. Anyone who did not cast their vote her way would run til they puked!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
98, I have to gently disagree with you. Pat does indeed screw up. What has happened to Phil is he has NOT adjusted his philosphies to match the competiton.
You are a lot physically closer to Knoxvile than I am. I bet, if you can find out, that Pat runs teh team a bit differently this season. I bet she takes into account that these FRESHMEN have NOT had the proper strength training, do NOT have the right technique, and do NOT have the stamina that they will have as upperclassmen.
98, let me put it this way; in HS, these girls might meet 1 out of 10 players who could challenge them. Now?? EVERY player is a challenge, PLUS the schemes are toughter to work against.
I am really hoping Pat adjusts to her playeres, to the need to build them up through this season. I have said this ad nauseum, but I feel that Angie's dropoff last year was pure mental ahd physical exhaustion. Now, think if we do that THIS year, with all these kids playing bigger roles....
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