Baugh working hard to recover from knee surgery

For now, Vicki Baugh is being directed toward the weight room, not the basketball court.

Don't expect to see Tennessee's sophomore forward, who's recovering from left knee surgery, playing a part in the Lady Vols' open workout at 1 p.m. today at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Jenny Moshak, the Lady Vols associate athletic director for sports medicine, has essentially told Baugh: You won't be doing anything that might keep you from weight training.

A practice session last week caused Baugh's knee to swell and underscored the need for more strength in her quadriceps muscle to support and protect the joint, which underwent surgery last spring to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

"She's frustrated; that's normal,'' said Moshak, who added that Baugh's desire to return "is motivating her to do everything I'm asking her to do."

Moshak is not backing off on her prognosis that Baugh, who suffered her knee injury in last April's national championship game, will be back this season.

"There's no doubt about that,'' Moshak said. "It's a matter of when."

Regarding center Kelley Cain, Moshak said that she's "very happy" with the progress of the redshirt freshman center, who's taking part in practice after having reconstructive right knee surgery last December.

"It hasn't been a year and she's doing extremely well,'' Moshak said. "It (the knee) doesn't swell. There's some discomfort she's dealing with. I have no fear she's going to be A-OK."

Freshman guard Shekinna Stricklen, meanwhile, is wearing tape on her right elbow after taking a tumble in Thursday morning's practice.

"She tried to dive into some chairs,'' Moshak said. "That didn't go over very well."

Auguste's Impression: Alberta Auguste, who played the last two seasons for the Lady Vols, is serving as a part-time practice player and has her perspective on UT's freshmen.

"They work hard I give them that much,'' she said. "... It's discipline. They need a lot of discipline.

"They have to listen, listen to what coach (Pat Summitt) really has to say. Listen and grow from it."

Auguste said that she will graduate in December and then head overseas to play.

Reminder: The Lady Vols' practice today will be part of a basketball doubleheader at the arena. The men's team will take the court at 3:30 p.m.