STORY TOOLS

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

More Women's Basketball

• Lady Vols hold off Chattanooga, 66-63
• Injuries pain for Lady Vols' continuity
• Summitt says work needed on defense

Share and Enjoy [?]

Get Reprints

Want to use this article? Click here for options!

A fourth knee surgery in three years is a forceful reminder to Cait McMahan that less is more for the Tennessee women's basketball point guard.

"She has a knee that's been through the wringer more than other people,'' said Jenny Moshak, the Lady Vols associate athletics director for sports medicine. "That's what she needs to understand."

McMahan underwent an arthroscopic procedure Wednesday on her right knee to eliminate loose bodies, smooth out joint-surface irregularities and address a small lateral meniscus tear. It's the same knee that's undergone two major procedures as well as another scope since McMahan's senior season at Heritage High School.

Along with the rehabilitation, McMahan must fully realize the ramifications of multiple surgeries and resist some of her basic intentions.

"Cait understands that hard work is what has gotten her to where she is today," Moshak said. "She's a completely competitive individual. She's the type of person where I might ask, 'Cait where'd you get that bruise?' and she's, 'I don't know.'

"Her personality is what makes her successful but her personality is her enemy sometimes."

UT coach Pat Summitt has reiterated to the 5-foot-4 redshirt sophomore the importance of listening to Moshak and realizing, "There may be days when you have limitations but that's not going to affect you come gametime."

"Cait has to be really in tune with what she can and cannot do,'' Summitt said. "There may be days she can do a lot. There may be days she's limited. It's an unknown right now."

Backup point guard Briana Bass, meanwhile, is progressing nicely after having surgery in February to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee. The 5-foot-2 freshman is taking part in the individual workout sessions.

"It's controlling the volume and time (of her work),'' Moshak said. "She's been good about not doing the extra stuff. She's not spending a lot of time with me. That's good."

The other Lady Vol on the mend is sophomore forward Vicki Baugh, who is four months removed from ACL surgery. Moshak said that Baugh's recovery will be re-evaluated in October, when the team starts preseason practice.

© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.