Whoever or wherever doesn't matter.
If someone encounters Kara Lawson and starts a conversation, she knows what they'll be discussing.
It won't be the weather, the economy or even what happened on "American Idol" the previous night.
They will be talking about Tennessee women's basketball.
"That's the first reference point for anyone when they see a former player,'' said Lawson, who played in three Final Fours at UT before graduating in 2003. "How they're doing is the nature of the conversation you're going to get for the next year."
The fact that Lawson was a member of the gold-medal U.S. Olympic team last summer is, at best, a momentary diversion.
"They might say 'congratulations' first,'' said Lawson, a starting guard for the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs. "After that it's: 'What's Pat going to do? Who's coming in next year?' "
The conversation has turned solemn and fretful. The Lady Vols just completed a 22-11 season, which tied for the most losses in program history. Their closing act was a shocking 71-55 loss to Ball State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Tennessee hadn't bowed out before the round of 16 in 27 previous tournaments.
Former guard and assistant coach Nikki Caldwell, now the coach at UCLA, spoke of the loss as if it were a transgression.
"It's like an unspoken rule, you don't lose like that,'' she said. "You don't lose that early."
After the stunning finish, Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt said that she heard from several former players. She characterized their mood as "angry."
Former guard Alexis Hornbuckle described her reaction to Tennessee's NCAA tournament loss as ranging from initial disbelief to wanting to throw her computer across the room after verifying the result via the Internet in Turkey, where she had been playing.
For public consumption, alums like Lawson, Caldwell, Hornbuckle and Tamika Catchings are more inclined to describe themselves as disappointed. In talking with former teammates Nicky Anosike, Shannon Bobbitt and Alberta Auguste, Hornbuckle said that they felt the same way.
"The Tennessee program has done so much for so many of us, you have to take it forward,'' Caldwell said. "You put your sweat equity into it to help make it what it's become. You expect the others who come after to take it forward. There has to be an accountability and a greater appreciation."
Caldwell's thinking helps to explain why former player Melissa McCray Dukes, who's battling cancer, spoke to the team before their game at LSU on Feb. 26. Her intent was to "remind them to fight because it's who we are and what we do."
A sense of appreciation accounts for Hornbuckle's presence at the offseason workouts at Pratt Pavilion. A key member of consecutive national championship teams in 2007 and '08, Hornbuckle said that she's here to work out, not coach. The advice she's dispensing says otherwise.
"Once you're a Lady Vol you want them to do well,'' said Hornbuckle, who plays for the WNBA's Detroit Shock. "It doesn't matter if you're not playing. You want them to do well and succeed and get the experience of going through the NCAA tournament."
Unlike her former team, Lawson is at the Women's Final Four in St. Louis this weekend, working as an analyst for ESPN. While her television work hasn't diminished her feelings for Tennessee, it has sharpened her critical eye. Her empathy for Lady Vols guard Shekinna Stricklen reflects both sensibilities.
"One player I felt for was Stricklen,'' Lawson said. "You could tell she was playing out of position (at point guard). . . . Something people forget is playing point guard takes a lot of energy."
The same thought process is evident in her overall assessment of the team. She's apt to see Tennessee players as a reflection of former Lady Vols. When Lawson looked at this year's team, she admitted, "I don't feel anyone was like anybody."
No matter their perspective, the former Lady Vols can relate to the struggles of UT's freshmen. They also agree on the importance of leadership and hard work for the team going forward.
The leadership issue will be challenging, given that most of the current players are of the same age and experience level. Furthermore, no one has separated themselves with their achievements.
"The better you are,'' Lawson said, "the easier it is for people to look to you."
For Catchings, former teammate Chamique Holdsclaw, a four-time All-American, served that purpose.
"Just watching her helped me,'' said Catchings in an e-mail from Poland, where she is playing. "How she was able to play so smoothly and lead by example. But when she did speak (outside of all the jokes) everyone listened.''
If there's a leadership vacuum, Caldwell said personal initiative can help.
"I played on the perimeter,'' she said. "I took on the responsibility of being a vocal leader and I wasn't at (point guard).
Guard Angie Bjorklund, who will be a junior next season, aspires to the role. She's been selling the importance of the offseason workouts to her teammates, organizing team meetings to emphasize the point.
Her best sales pitch, though, has been hard work. No player is putting more effort into these workouts than her. It's an essential stimulus for a depressed program. Ask any former Lady Vol.
"If I had to say anything," said Lawson, mindful of how besieged the current Lady Vols must be, "It's a simple thing when it clicks of how hard you have to work to succeed, not just in that program but as a player.
"That's what's carried me to where I am now."
Dan Fleser covers Tennessee Lady Vols basketball. He may be reached at 865-342-6288.
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Comments » 70
DroopyDrawers writes:
Great article! Just hope players read and understand how hard they need to work to overcome shortcomings.
CTOWNICON writes:
There won't be a repeat performance of this season next season. I think this season has sunk in and they are ready to rebound from this season and take it to the next level. With the added additions and hopefully the injured coming back 100%, this will be a team to be reckoned with next year. I am sure the coaching staff has made some adjustments as well so I look for a better season next season.
teampenny#658108 writes:
I hope everyone is right. But these players looked slow and I did not see an outside shooting threat. Both of these things are hard to coach up.. Believe we need help before we improve. I would be surprised if a started did not transfer. Go Vols
vol98champ writes:
This team got worse as the season went on. You don't blame that on a coach who has won 1000 games. Injuries certainly hurt, but those girls looked like average high school players instead of All Americans. Hard work might help, but this team needs to look inward and grow up mentally and physically.
rocky_topper writes:
excellent read. it does however make me miss the former mentioned players badly. i hope this current team can figure out this summer what being a lady vol is all about: tradition, pride, hard-working, on and on and on.....
mmynatt writes:
I hope the team does bounce back; Pat deserves the attention of the girls she recruited. I am still fearful of what has to happen in order for them to succeed. Baugh and Cain -- it cannot be any plainer than that -- they are key. But knee injuries are very damn tough to overcome. Hope they make it back.
But also it would help if last year's supposedly super freshmen gals would "get it" as to what is required of them to support the ones who already "get it", namely Borklund and Stricklen. But like Kara said, it is very tough to play point guard when it is NOT your regular position. Hopefully Spani solves that problem.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
Good read Dan. I honestly believe they finally "got it". Time will tell but I think Pratt will be used well by the Lady Vols this summer. You get out of life what you put into it. Keep leading by example Angie.
Go Lady Vols.
tennisvol writes:
No one to put the ball in the basket from the outside. Same thing next year unless they have some recruits that can do it.
volnknox writes:
on one hand i feel bad for Pat but, she should have been worried about this 2 years ago when she knew she was going to end up with a huge freshman class. What does she expect? Freshman to play like seniors? Not likely to happen in any program across the country! I say be better prepared Pat and try to not let this happen again where you are faced with having so many freshman at one time.
richvol writes:
Three things:
"Everyone has a plan until they get hit"
"Fatigue makes cowards of us all"
These girls need to get in shape and learn to fight.
chatteastbrainerd writes:
There was obviously a disconnect between what Pat coached these players to do and what they were willing (or able) to do once they hit the court. Pat's coaching philosophy only occasionally was evident on the court--playing defense and rebounding. This team also lacked an effective point guard--Stickland played out of position and Bass dribbled the ball for 15 seconds into the play clock before she ever passed the ball. No player was consistent in shooting the ball. The wings shot a very low percentage, the chance of the three-point shot going in was always doubtful, and when they were able to throw the ball inside to Glory Johnson, she threw up bricks that had no chance of going in the bucket. This type of play should have had these players sitting on the bench instead of logging far too many minutes. The players needs a vocal leader who will get in their faces and instill work ethic and respect for putting on the LV uniforms. The team lacks a Maya Moore type player that wills the team to win no matter what the cost. Several players on this team did not deserve to wear the same jerseys worn by Parker, Hornbuckle, Lawson, Catchings, Holtzclaw, and many others who knew what it meant to be a LV. This team grew complacent. I hope that Pat is able to work her magic with these players and bring in some players who can shoot the ball. Without a dramatic turnaround, this team will not be much better next year. I am a life-long LV fan who has never been so disappointed by a LV team.
ladyvolmaniac writes:
we're "Lookin' for a Hero"....always have had one and sometimes more than one on Lady Vols teams....so come on ladies...who's gonna step up to the challenge? You had lots of examples that led you to become a Lady Vol....pick up the flag now and carry it forward.....
silvertr6 writes:
Looks like the girls could use about 7 months of running the bleachers. Conditioning is a very big part of winning.
98reax writes:
volnknox writes:
on one hand i feel bad for Pat but, she should have been worried about this 2 years ago when she knew she was going to end up with a huge freshman class. What does she expect? Freshman to play like seniors? Not likely to happen in any program across the country! I say be better prepared Pat and try to not let this happen again where you are faced with having so many freshman at one time.
With all due respect, volknox, please do your homework. Pat is a lot of things, but no clairvoyant. Not even the winningest coach in the nation could have predicted the misfortunes which decimated what would/should have been a darn good basketball '09 team.
Good grief, you folks are so quick and unfair to speak so harshly of a stellar program. So what if we had a down season! Must we crucify the coach who has not only the most wins in the history of college basketball? Can you suggest any other coach in the WORLD who has NOT had a down season?
. . . didn't think so.
You are such selfish so-called fans. Why don't you just jump ship and join the cheaters' pay-you-to-play gang? The ones who are so far and above the NCAA rules or any decent team in the nation; because their athletes are hand-picked from the cradle and 'perked' all the way from uncle joe's tee shirts to grandma patty's pocketbooks? Why should they lose? They are paid not to and threatened if they do.
Do you really need to win enough to wear those colors? Do you really want to be on the level with a male coach who would pick a fight with a female athlete and go public with it. Do you need to be affiliated with a team whose head coach has to be restrained by his female assistants for swearing to the officials and causing a seen when things don't go to suit him?
I'm happy enough wearing big orange and I'm so proud of those who do and are not afraid to defend it. I admire those who choose the right over 'whatever it takes.' I feel blessed to have a head coach who is so confident in what she teaches and has such devotion to her fans that she NEVER refuses to wear a mike in the locker room and in the huddle.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
98 wrote, "I'm happy enough wearing big orange and I'm so proud of those who do and are not afraid to defend it. I admire those who choose the right over 'whatever it takes.' I feel blessed to have a head coach who is so confident in what she teaches and has such devotion to her fans that she NEVER refuses to wear a mike in the locker room and in the huddle."
I stand right beside you 98. I am proud to be a Lady Vol fan and know we will bounce back and put the pride back into the proud Lady Vols ways. Go Lady Vols, never give up and never give in !!
OrangeMagic writes:
Bravo 98reax
That's the one thing I hate about this site is the negativity towards our players and coaches both current and former. Ironically, it doesn't even matter how good they are or were when they were here. It must be a miserable life to make a person feel better about themselves to put down an athlete or coach. It's a sad society of instant gratification where the coaches must be fired after every bad game and players replaced after every bad play. Sometimes it just takes time.
Gadfly writes:
With the exception of Stricken, none of the others left the game on the floor, i.e. gave it 110% every game. Is there a problem with work ethic?
RussellP (Inactive) writes:
The Lady Vols are the greatest college basketball team in the nation in terms of record and they are led by the greatest coach in terms of record. One bad season does not make a team or a coach. As Greyhound used to say, "Leave the driving to us." Leave the coaching to Pat and sit back for the ride...the Lady Vols will be back!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
What Dan says very well is that the legacy is HUGE. All these former LV's...they are PROUD, and they want the present crop to carry on the tradition. For some players, maybe many, being an LV is the pinnacle of their life. After graduation, they join the rest of us in ant farm, so to speak. To paraphrase, their are no ex-LV's, just ladies who've run out of eligibility.
There is no need to go into the 'what needs to be done' field any more. We've beaten the subject to death. Same goes for the 'why' this happened. It's the American way to do thises things, but now the've been done. It is time to move on to the 'working' phase.
Many, many of us grew up without the silver spoon. We don't have the pedigree, the money, the athletic ability, or the intelligence that 'the best' have. We get bloodied in our early fights, and we lose more than we win. One of three things then happens:
-we accept losing as a way of life, weplay it safe and avoid the pain of trying, only to fall short; we are often viewed as a cynic, or "too cool to try"
-we give up, just shut down, we go into the "I never win" mentality; life is always UNFAIR
-we learn our limitations, and how to win with them, how to beat people who are 'better' than us through sheer persistance
These ladies got bloodied this season, many for the first time. By the first game next year, the LV family will know how the players have responded. In my experience, I'd say 2 or 3 will shut down. 2 or 3 will play it safe, and the rest will be going all out figuring a way to win games. This is past Pat now; Pat's job is to recruit, to coach. The PLAYERS have to decide to play all out to win; not just play hard, but play to win. As I said in this and other posts, the 'why' of the program being here falls on Pat. The 'how' we get out of this on top, however, does not.
Players, time to play the game.
volball7222 writes:
Mike from Conn....surprised you showed up after the men choked the semi's last night...Good luck tonight to the Lady Conn's
tennesseebee writes:
Here's a grand ol' Tennessee lady who could easily cruise on her accomplishments thus far... but I bet my hangin' left one she won't!
Salpointe writes:
Pat will find the answer - bet on it!
Mr_Bandman writes:
This article is utterly absurd. This is a young team---too young and inexperienced to possibly compete at the level we're all used to from the LVs. Pat had all her eggs in one basket for the last 2 years---they graduated a huge class of superstars---nobody ever has that much talent waiting in the wings to reload----to expect that is ludicrous. Of course they will be fine----I'd bet the house they'll be in the Final Four next year. To quote and slightly paraphrase one former Vol coach, "This year was an aberration" and Pat & Company "didn't all of a sudden get stupid as coaches". All the people crying about this season need to calm down!
bmaples writes:
I said on my blog that I thought the biggest problem was not having upper-classmen -- not for their play, but for their ability to tell the younger ones how much harder you have to work at this level, and to call them out if they don't do it.
They didn't really have anyone to say, "Look, I've been here and done this, and if you don't pick it up YOU will be the reason we lose ... and I'M not going to let that happen."
I think these players will be better next year -- and I KNOW the Lady Vols will be better next year. As my boss says, "You either change the people or you change the people." Don't think Pat and the former players will put up with another year like this one.
Bruce in Louisville
brucemaples.com
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Too bad Stanford did such a poor job of shooting tonight. They also struggled to it Appel when she was ready. As quite often happens, evil triumphs.
98reax writes:
I really admire Pat for her response to Trey Wingo's 'tired old' question tonight in the broadcast. You know the one about "do you think you may change your mind and renew the rivalry bla-bla-bla?" Pat succinctly replied, "We will continue to play Stanford, and Stanford can play UConn if they choose to."
Pat is an amazingly strong woman. I'm so glad she coaches the Big Orange Lady Vols. I would not trade her for all the genos in the country. He will be a dirty old retired poot before he measures up to Pat's coattail.
BigRMan writes:
Get down in the 3 point stance Mikey-I'd like to see Bubba pancake your a--
littleorange writes:
I think the girls will bounce back just fine....but I do feel that they looked slugish and slow in most games this year. Spani appears to be a fine shooter but might be lacking in foot speed, therefore might be a defensive liability. They will struggle with the elite teams next year without a MARKED improvement mainly on the defensive end. Until we have at least two Go TO players step up we can expect more disappointments .
Pat has a continuing challenge. I expect that she will make the necessary changes and prevail....she is the BEST!
oldvolsfan writes:
johnson needs to grow up and see that she is not in high school any more and stop being lazy making 1 play and taking 20 plays off will not get it done
LadyVolFanForever writes:
I love Nikki Caldwells' comments. What a class act and a proud Lady Vol !
98reax writes:
Not nearly as tired of seeing Bubba as I am of seeing milkeymouse comments
Voluvr writes:
You take good and bad from every season winning and losing. Just a little more from the losing, but that's life.
littleorange writes:
Seems appropriate for a low class program ......Get a life Small Man.
feathersax writes:
Kara Lawson has dissed Pat & the LV team ever since she became an ESPN lackey...which, as everyone knows, is Geno's shill & UConn's sugar daddy. Outside of her, the other former LV players made great, supportive comments.
packie56 writes:
Glad to see in recent articles that Pat sees the first round loss as something that "needed to happen." I totally agree. My impression of the LV's this season is that they probably read the papers and fan boards when they kept saying things like, "don't worry, Pat will have them ready in March." They looked like a bunch of kids standing around waiting for Pat to wave her magic wand and make them champs. They were believing all the (well-deserved)hype aound their coach, not realizing that when it comes down to it, it's the team that carries the day, always has been. And that champions are made, (BY THEIR OWN HARD WORK)not born---or transformed when thay put on a certain jersey. Get to work, girls before Big Nick comes back to set you right!
queens2183#661836 writes:
"feathersax writes:
Kara Lawson has dissed Pat & the LV team ever since she became an ESPN lackey...which, as everyone knows, is Geno's shill & UConn's sugar daddy. Outside of her, the other former LV players made great, supportive comments."
I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. I didn't see anywhere in this article where Kara is being unsupportive. All the former players were equally upset with this year's turn of events as far as the team went. Kara is one of the few analysts that works for ESPN that is unbiased one way or another. She calls things as she sees them whether that be for TN or against it. She hasn't dissed Coach or the team just b/c she called the season for what it was: inconsistent. She never said this was a horrible team nor did she say Coach didn't do a good job coaching them. She noted what other players have which is it's a different level at TN but also acknowledged that TN lacked leadership and was very reliant on freshmen. She herself commented that she could relate to the freshmen b/c it took her a year to really understand the TN system. She's just as supportive as the other former players and just b/c she is professional and doesn't find it necessary to wear TN on her sleeve on the TV doesn't mean she has no love for TN, doesn't want this team to succeed, and doesn't believe in them.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Bottom line is our All Americans did not play like All Americans or they were overrated.
I did not see their heart in it this year. I hope they come back and show all the TN fans just how tough they can be.
I liked the interview with Alexis on her friendship with Renee. She is a classy lady.
queens2183#661836 writes:
The bottomline is the season is over and it didn't go the way anyone envisioned. Those that were being realistic expected struggles for this team and were willing to be patient with them. Nobody thought this team would lose 11 games but nobody also thought this team would have to deal with injuries to key players from jump either. Freshmen being thrown into unfamiliar territory need time to adjust, no matter how highly touted or ranked they are, and without leadership around them and vets to take the pressure off and teach them the right way, they will look like what they are: rookies. Notice the team played well when it had Vicki Baugh and Cait McMahan in the lineup and was 12-2 after RU but once those 2 were unable to play (i.e. SECs and on) and provide relief, the team began to struggle as the long season began to take its toll on the freshmen, Angie was being keyed on even more, and Kelley and Alex were struggling with their knees while trying to carry the team with Angie. The freshmen weren't ready to handle it and Alex could only provide so much leadership when she was outnumbered. With all this, the team looked like what it was: an injured, inexperienced, young team of rookies.
The good thing is that all this happened to these players in the very first year of the process for them. They know the difference now and can utilize their experience to become better players and a better team as well as provide better leadership to the incoming recruits. They can't re-write this chapter but they can make a new chapter and make the story have a completely different ending. That's the great thing about young teams; they mature as they grow up.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
I truly disagree with you on that point. I don't always agree with Kara Lawsons' viewpoint on things but I think she was totally correct in this article.
In my opinion, she is the only classy person on the espn womens basketball set. She is very intelligent and articulate in her comments. On camera, she is totally unbiased just as these "sports information folks" are SUPPOSED to be.
Underneath all that professionalism, she always will be a Lady Vol and she always shows great respect for Coach Summit (on and off the air).
98reax writes:
Great comments on this thread this afternoon, except for the usual pestilent pustule—from—whatever.
LVFF, I agree. Kara is always the unbiased professional in her analysis. She certainly doesn't slobber as many color commentators often do; Doris Burke being chief.
Queens, you are right in regards to Vickie and Kellie being the cornerstone on which the '09 season would build. As I've commented ad nauseam, Pat would have needed more than a crystal ball to have seen this train wreck coming.
I think many bandwagon fans refuse to look at the facts and jump swiftly into the blame game. They surely drift over from the men's site where 80% of the posters are contentious and cocky.
CTOWNICON writes:
Of course you would order one. Anything to do with Pat you must be a part of it being that you covet everything she has. You actually want to be Pat. To bad, she is a LADY, and no matter how hard you try that is something you will never be. Go away before you be put to rest in that boneyard.
MillisaAnn writes:
Great Article Dan Pat will have them all ready for next season. Keep working hard Lady Vols.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Well said. Anyone who aspires to a career in the national media can't be a shill for any particular team. Kara is and always will be all-Lady Vol but her job is to call it like she sees it. I haven't heard her say anything that Pat herself hasn't said in one way or another about how the team looked this year.
Sovol writes:
I for one could care less what Kara Lawson has to say about the Lady Vols. She will only say what ESPN wants her to say.
mad_poly_uct writes:
I also agree with you and others on this johnlg00. Kara Lawson is by far the best of this current team. I can't stand C.Peck, and I think Trey Wingo was hired based on his name only. And I mean just his name. I'd always liked Nell Fortner in past years, and Kara has exceeded my expectations in taking over for her. She is very, very good.
kazoo writes:
Landing C. Parker bailed Summit out of a 10-year funk without a championship, but Summit still has some basic problems, especially if you compare the Vols to Uconn. Parker notwithstanding, Summitt's recruiting is spotty and her offensive coaching is TERRIBLE with a capital T. She's got a bench full of AA's every year and yet offensively the team often plays like a mediocre mid-major. She should be putting teams on the floor that play like UConn this year--uptempo, good shooting, run the court, play defense; instead, her teams are plodding, defensive-minded units. Boring. If she doesn't have an absolute superstar on the team like Catchings or Parker or somebody who can carry the offensive load, her teams struggle. That shouldn't be the case--but offensive execution is a weakness.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Execution was in fact a problem even WITH Candace. I don't know what the issue is.
You gotta play to your strenghts. Stanford, for example, completely choked. They never got Appel the ball on her first post, and the other girls tried to play Uconn's game. Uconn, OTOH, did what they do, slash and shoot.
We seem to be a big, bulky team. We can't play 'quick ball', but we CAN
-muscle people
-set hard screens
-learn to shott 3's off of hand-offs
-back opponants down the lane for post moves
-box out
-rebound
-make the other team shoot 2's, not 3's
-pound the paint
JMHO, we WON'T play great D on a lot of teams without the quickness. We CAN limit them to one shot, and we CAN make that shot a 2. We CAN make people not take the ball into the lane very often. We CAN make the other team live on mid-rannge jumpers.
We can win with these kids, it just depends upon style of play and toughness.
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
To add;
Uconn is EXTREMELY graceful and athletic. Stanford failed to EVER knock them around enough. Montgomery and Moore would drive and shoot, and they NEVER hit the floor. You just can't play that way against quicks, no freaking way.
Well, we are a LOT like Stanford right now. We gotta have girls who will take out a driving guard. Not dirty, ust a hard foul across the arms. Watch the posts: it's like football or rugby. Well, when you are slow, THAT is how you have to defend guards as well; NO shot without contact. MAKE the ref make the calls. MAKE the other team earn points at the FT line.
98reax writes:
Sovol, four simple words to you: That is not true.
BigRMan writes:
I don't think Lawson loves to play the game as much as she used to since she is making off season money from ESPN, rather than going overseas and playing in Russia, Turket, Eastern Europe, Italy, Spain, South America, Austrailia or korea--Hey Kara, Wanna' get away!-Whoa another Southweat Airline commercial.-Kudos to Vivian Stringer for her HOF induction-Jeers to the committee who left Cynthia Cooper off the list-She, the most decorated professional women's player of all time-Bad moves not including ex-Vol Bernard King and ex-Celtic the late Dennis Johnson, According to Larry Bird, The best player I ever played with".
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