If the Lady Vols needed more incentive for the next basketball season, Connecticut might have provided it Tuesday night.
Although Tennessee coach Pat Summitt pulled the plug on the UT-UConn series two years ago, it remains the preeminent rivalry in women's basketball. Nothing else comes close.
So what if the Lady Vols and Huskies haven't played since January of 2007, they're still competing against one another for national championships. The updated score: UT 8, UConn 6.
Connecticut did more than win its sixth national title by beating Louisville. It regained the momentum in its championship rivalry with Tennessee.
The Lady Vols began the 2008-09 season as two-time defending national champions. They ended it with a 22-11 record and an embarrassing first-round NCAA tournament loss to 12th-seeded Ball State.
Contrast that with UConn, which just completed the most dominant season in the sport's history. Coach Geno Auriemma's Huskies were unbeaten and unchallenged in compiling a 39-0 record, winning 31 of their 39 games by 19 points or more. None of their opponents came closer than 10 points.
Such dominance isn't an aberration. UConn's 2001-02 national champions were 39-0. Their closest game was decided by nine points. UT's 39-0 1997-98 national champions had only three games decided by fewer than 10 points.
Not only do these programs have a history of lapping the field, they have a history of repeating.
When Tennessee was at the top of its game, it won three consecutive national titles (1996-98). Then, it was Connecticut's turn. The Huskies won three consecutive national titles from 2002 through 2004.
With its lead in national championships cut to one, UT responded with national titles in 2007 and 2008.
A year later, UConn might be on the verge of another championship spree. It loses All-American point guard Renee Montgomery, but it has four other starters and two All-Americans - including national player of the year Maya Moore - returning. Also, former starter Caroline Doty, a sharpshooting freshman guard who missed the last 22 games, will return from a knee injury.
Another thing about UT and UConn: When they have the best player, they capitalize on it. UT won thee national championships with Chamique Holdsclaw and two with Candace Parker. UConn won three with Diana Taurasi.
Moore, who is only a sophomore, is on a Taurasi-like pace. She made the Final Four as a freshman and starred on an unbeaten national championship team as a sophomore. Next year, she and All-American center Tina Charles will be the leaders on an experienced team likely to be the preseason No. 1 pick. Two years from now, Moore will be the centerpiece on a team that could rely heavily on freshmen. UConn already has three commitments in a potentially outstanding 2010 class.
By then, UT might be ready to challenge for a championship of its own. The 2008-09 team had only one senior, Alex Fuller, and no juniors. And Summitt will add three recruits next season. There's also a track record to consider. Since 1993, UT hasn't gone back-to-seasons without making the Final Four.
If UT doesn't get in UConn's way the next two years, who will? Although there is more parity in the sport overall, the parity isn't evident at the top.
In the last 15 years, UConn has won six national titles and UT has won five. No one else has won more than one.
Their success is hardly a secret. Tennessee and Connecticut have the best coaches, the most fans, and - for the most part - the best players. They also have the best rivalry, even if they don't play.
And Tuesday night, that rivalry turned UConn's way.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.
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Comments » 51
knoxdaniel#213742 writes:
Wow, here we go again....let's look at the RPI during those years, we play the hardest ranked teams year in and year out, Geno doesn't. Where was Uconn last year? Oh yeah they got beat by Stanford, and who beat Stanford. Uconn will not be the same team next year as they lose their point guard Dixon is not the same caliber. We will be back, and Geno has a poor recruiting class this year, why did you not mention that, not even in the top 25! He will need it after he loses 3 players next year. By the way, I wonder how Sa'de feels after she left Maryland team before the tourney, without any rings....sucks to be her and Doty!
allvol9 writes:
The Lady Vols will be back on track next year....I have no doubt that Pat will have them in top form. One senior, no juniors....this was her least experienced and youngest team ever! If anyone can get them ready it is Pat!
huntined#565710 writes:
Got to hand it to Uconn this year as they were by far the best team period.
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
cps has her work cut out for her in a big way.
geno recently has recruited into georgia and south carolina
landing uconn's two best players
both those players have two more years left to play
i don't see UT giving much of a challenge
in the next two years.
i'm thankful lady vols didn't have to play UConn and be embarrased, Geno and company would have beaten them as badly as they could.
Pat was maybe smarter than we think, stopping regular season play with them. she knows her current team (s) don't stand a chance.
it seems our girls can barely walk and chew gum at the same time
uconn girls can actually run with grace, shoot the basketball with percision, make accurate passes, able to make layups, dish out nice assists and seem to have basketball "smarts"
current UT players are painfully ugly.
not athletic. Stricklin being the exception. Maybe G. Johnson can evolve into a basketball player, maybe not.
watching UT lady vols was a way for the vol nation to have great pride in the university basketball program, while the men suffered. that's simply just not the case now, with cbp in town.
other post here seem to have their heads in the sand and believe everything is okay..... lets hope so
i'll still pull for the girls, as always, but they obviously have a long, long way to go to be nationally competative.
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
Im sure with all the shady recruiting going on up at UCONN they will find a way to weasel a top class. Take Maya Moore for example.
jimvols13 writes:
Weaseling things is what separates us humans from the animals, well, except the weasel...
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Repeating here from another thread, since this is now 'live'.
================================================
Say what you want, I just witnessed history. The UConn women's team is one ot the best, if not THE best women's team ever. One can argue the women's game was 'down' this year with Stanford having no true PG, with us being awful, with Rutgers and LSU weak...but facts are that UConn smashed every single team they played.
The other fact: they had five or more players who could beat you, not just one or two.
Hate Geno all you want, what I saw was a team of poised young women kicking butt. I didn't see dirty play, or showboating, or trash-talking. Doesn't mean it wasn't there, I just did not see it.
I don't much care for Geno, but the man can recruit and the man can coach.
I know I'll get hatin' from some on here, I'm already getting it now because I question some of what has happened to the UT program. I'm thinking about hanging up the blogging on the women's site, as I can tell some of the regulars are really peeved at me for
daring to criticize or question Pat.
Well, Pat has carved out a monster slice of mountain to climb. It's her recruits that have to pull this together. IMHO, this is Pat's biggest coaching challenge ever. Hell, we aren't even talking NC here, we are talking about being RELEVANT in the next 2 years.
I'll hold my tongue on the rest. After all, I'm just some dumb fan, what could I possibly know about basketball, about people, about coaching???? How could I dare have an opinion about the all-time winningest coach? Thinking for yourself, after all, is frowned upon by the church, uh, I mean by the fans.
Tell you what, you want to support Pat?? Then realize what a nightmare the recruiting has been since Candace was signed, and be amazed we even won 20 games this year. It was actually a GOOD job by Pat to win that many games with this bunch. Unfortunaelely, it was a BAD job by Pat to sign the players she did.
All right, good bye. If they post a Uconn article, I'll give congrats to mad_poly, and that'll do it.
everybody elase, just post stuff like 'pat is great' and 'go vols' and all that.
VOLKING writes:
Whoever made the statement that "cheaters never win" was proven wrong tonight. I'm sure Geno won't have any trouble sleeping tonight. It's not in his "character."
VAvolfanRON writes:
i tell you what....you should write books....i bet you could outdo stephen king...you are fantastic...i wrestled with David Baldacci and he couldn't come with stuff like this!!!
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
I did forget, almost.
Mod_poly, congrats to you. Next season looks good for a repeat. In 2011, I think Baylor kicks us all out. Baylor just might be the next 3-peat, with Griner and Kim Mulkey as the coach. John Adams too neglected to even mention that.
My hope for us (UT) is that we at least become a respectable opponent again.
Best wishes, poly.
CTOWNICON writes:
He will never catch her in wins you dummy. Were you not listening to the commentators when they said he could have 30 win seasons for the next ten years and he still would not catch her. How dumb can you haters be? Not to mention she is going to continue to put up victories. Just face it, he will never do for the game what Pat has done no matter how you try to fix it up. At least she has honest championships and none of them are tainted with scandal of bribing recruits to come and play. The fact remains UT has 8 and Uconn 6. Last time I checked 8 was more than 6. Until he passes her with number 9, shut up b*tch!
CTOWNICON writes:
By the way, did you hear when Doris Burke said that Pat would renew the rivalry. If I am not mistaken I have not heard Pat say anything other than when Trey asked her and she said that she would play Stanford and let Uconn continue to play Stanford. So how can Doris make this assumption. In Pat's interview on here she said that she would not play a program if they are not doing right. She has nothing to defend or explain. In fact Uconn should explain their tactics on how they get recruits. So all you haters lets not sweep that under the rug. Pat choosing not to play that tainted program is nothing compared to all that scandal going on up their in husky land with recruitment violations.
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
"Geno made this sport what it is today. "
What is wrong with you? Seriously. Do you have brain damage? That is the most ridiculous statement I have ever heard.
VOLKING writes:
Butch is a Uconn interloper folks! Of course she is gonna spew this garbage and think of it as the truth. Uconn fans are not that bright, remember. Anyone and everyone who even has a basic knowledge of sports knows that Pat built women's basketball. No one, man or woman, will ever catch her. You know why no one gets excited when Uconn wins? Because Geno has tainted the image of women's basketball forever. Pat spends her time trying to build it up and Geno spends his time tearing it down. What a joke Butch is. Check all of her posts from the past. Hates UT and Summit with a passion. No credibility whatsoever. Ignore this idiot.
teampenny#658108 writes:
Pat will be back next year I am not sure. We are slow with no great outside shooter's and not many girls coming in. Hard to coach up what we got right now. Need shooters and speed! Go Vols
rocky_topper writes:
FConn
volball7222 writes:
It really is UCant...name one year when Geno took an underdog team to the title. Somewhere between 0 and none. The lady Vols won it with 10 losses in 97 including bouncing the undefeated UCant's. In 07 they won it all with a one armed Parker and McMahan out for the year and Cain out for the year. Geno is not the coach Pat S is...just look at his record against ranked teams....So what is my point.....UCant was supposed to win it all last year because no one could touch them...but lost. If Geno could take a lesser team to the title then that would bring some respect. My mother could have coached this years team to the title!
golfballs03 writes:
I don't like some of UT's rivals like Florida and Georgia. But I HATE UConn. Those yankees are abnoxious.
golfballs03 writes:
obnoxious
Voluvr writes:
FIRST, Geno needs to man up and coach a men's team. Second, let him win 8, and 1000, then we'll talk
Third, he can't hold Summit's uh...athletic bra.
mmynatt writes:
The Lady Vols said all the words all year -- the ones calling them "lazy" are right. So until I see them actually do it the way Pat tells them I will not believe this team has what it takes. Methinks Geno is about to romp two more years and catch Pat. Too bad, but it happens.
I have never seen any sports team so dominate every team the way the UConn women did this year. The key is NOBODY on the floor ever took a moment off -- not one. Also: all five of whoever they had on the floor could score at any time from anywhere, yet they played team basketball. Like him or hate him, the man is a great coach.
LadyVolFanForever writes:
As much as I hate to say it, the Lady Huskies were great this year. I have to say that because their players deserve the credit and recognition.
I hope the Lady Vols are watching, reading and listening. If they needed anymore motivation, the final four should have given it to them. Teams giving 110%, sticking together, never giving up, still wanting to get better and listening to their coaches......that is what the post season is all about. Who would not want to be a part of that ?
There is work to be done Lady Vols, take the challenge and run with it !
Triton1 writes:
I HATE UCONN! They SUK!
shipperman#280095 writes:
It is easy to romp when you cheat. Book it, UCONN will face NCAA sanctions soon
queens2183#661836 writes:
Really, John? Last time I checked TN just won back-back titles but b/c UConn wins 1, now they have the upperhand? That's completely assinine.
TN fans are some of the most fickle fans in the universe. You all won back-back titles and all of a sudden b/c your team was young and inexperienced, Pat can't recruit or coach, the players are no good, and the sky is falling. GIVE ME A BREAK! UConn was the best team this year but that same team could not get by Stanford last year and did not win when the uber-talented and deep class of 2004 was still in college basketball. The difference this year? The landscape of WCBB was nowhere near where it was last year with many of the top tier programs taking a huge hit from the graduation of the 2004 class. TN and LSU, both of which have been mainstays in the Final 4 for the last 2 years, took the biggest hit from losing that class and were both rebuilding.
UConn was the last team standing when graduation took out the other elite teams and they did what they should have done: took advantage of it and totally dominate the field. They are a great team and will be a great team next year and 39-0 is 39-0; congrats to them. They handled their business and those kids deserve that championship. Trying to compare UConn and TN this year is laughable b/c they are nowhere near each other when UConn is a veteran team that knows how to win at this level and TN is a young team learning how to win at this level; it's a bad comparison.
Everyone that's ready to write TN off after 1, ONE, bad season when they had a ton of injuries and youth, little experience outside of 1 player, and limited leadership are acting absolutely stupid and don't understand what went on with this team. There's nothing wrong with TN's recruiting except for the fact that it's fans don't even want to give the kids an opportunity to learn the system and get better in it b/c of course, freshmen should play like seasoned veterans. TN will be fine and when they do win again, some of the fans shouldn't even try to have their backs b/c you didn't have their backs when they were learning and struggling.
KCHS63 writes:
Do your research, John-John. UT missed back-to-back Final Fours last in 1994.
lewhs93#205993 writes:
Remember we lost 2/5th of our starting lineup to injuries.Take Tina and Maya out of Ucants lineup and where would they be?
RTB writes:
I will let the interloping experts decide whether UConn is the best team of this year or of any year. Or, who is the better coach, Geno or Chris Dailey.
Clearly, Tennessee has got to get their stuff together for next year. There is room on this team for a few JUCO transfers.
This story is one of the most interesting sports stories going on in all of sports today (not just for Tennessee). Certainly Tennessee's dive from the top to the bottom along with the eventual outcome or resolution is the stuff of a good sports book, and maybe more.
Pullingguard writes:
Hey, thats a crappy statement, read and learn about how the rest of world survives and prospers..
queens2183#661836 writes:
TN isn't going the JUCO route so that is out of the window nor do they necessarily need to. Patience is a virtue and some ran out of it waayy too soon on the current freshmen. Cait's scholarship will be a medical one and the athletic scholly will be used on the 2010 class; that's what the deal is. I don't see TN's struggling year this year as a complete shock and surprise or the end of the world considering they lost the starting 5 (which went on to dominate the WNBA), had injuries all year long, and were extremely young and inexperienced. These struggles should have been expected b/c this team was completely new and needed time to adjust to one another as well as to playing as a team; that's the nature of the beast. If 2 of the Power Trio for UConn had gone down with season-ending injuries and their freshmen were heavily relied on, they struggle too. TN won back-back championships virtually injury free and avoiding major injuries to their core parts.
Does TN need to mature and get better? Absolutely but it's not a done deal that they won't succeed or that they need a different piece to the puzzle just b/c they struggled this year. You can have the best singers in the world and form a super group but if they don't understand how to harmonize with one another b/c they've never sung with one another, they won't sound great. The same goes for any team. You can assemble as many HS AAs as you want but until they understand how to play with one another as a team and at the collegiate level, they will go through struggles.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Our depth really did hurt us this year with Baugh out and Cain still obviously in a lot of pain. She has had 3 knee surgeries since High School. I wonder if she will be able to really ever be 100%. The players that really need to step up in Glory, Smallbone, Bass.
I think Pat will come back. It may not happen next year but she'll be back.
In regards to UCONN.. they really are a talented team and play as a team. I see them even better next year.
Come on LV's.. let's get back to our level of playing.
and.. like many of you, I don't like Geno either.
huntined#565710 writes:
Got to give you credit Mike you were right all along, But Kara is ALL VOL!! She does her job with ESPN but She is ALL VOL AND ALL PAT.
You had the best team this year and may win it all next year as TENN just had two in a row. I know you will enjoy the nc and you should as us VOLS fans do when we win it.
tennezz writes:
You probly will go 39-0 next year, Lots of teams could with uconn`s schedule!
thesharc#228787 writes:
As a UT grad, it hurts for our women's program to take a backseat to anyone, but UConn has earned the distinction as the top program.
I love this rivalry and, yes, I hate UConn ( I only hate UConn because I'm a Vol), but it's a LONG way from over! Don't you know that the next time these two teams play, it's going to be the single-biggest game in the history of NCAA women's basketball.
The question I have is: what do these two programs do AFTER Auriemma and Coach Summitt are gone?
Anyways, this year has royally sucked as far as Tennessee's biggest rivalries go. I'm ready to turn the page!
Brandon
vols99#639914 writes:
It is a hard pill to swallow but the Lady Vols are a team of losers. Just about all of them are not willing to put in the time and effort to be champions. They can't shoot, can't guard and slow as me and I am 75 years old. Connecticut makes our Lady Vols look like grammer school players. Connecticut will more than likely win the national championship the next two years. Pat is a great coach but she really messed up recurting these players. Connecticut is getting the cream of the crop and we getting
all americans that could not sit on Connecticut bench.
In general UT athletics has gone down hill fast.
lindatotenn writes:
Just what can happen when a women's basketball coach (geno) cheats THEY WIN A CHAMPSIONSHIP
Too bad that because of the cheating it doesn't MEAN ANYTHING.!!!!!!
He got a looooooooooooooooooong way to go to be better than the best coach(summit)too bad he is such an idot. His players didn't play all that well in the first half anyway. They couldn't hit the inside of a barn if they were INSIDE the barn.
GO LADY VOLS LOOK OUT WE WILL BE BACK !!!!!!!
VAvolfanRON writes:
well, congrats Mike....who did yall play? what was the score? and when did this happen?
VOLKING writes:
Another interloper. No credibility whatsoever. Yawn.
arkyvol writes:
what are the chances of maya moore staying for the full four years? she's got her ring and if she comes back, will likely have another. what's to prove after that? is passing on pro pay just to see the most insufferable ba**ard in college athletics smile worth it? its her call, but i don't see it.
pammyvol1000 writes:
Mike.. I remember when you called Kelly Cain a gorilla. That was one of the most rude and heartless things to say about a kid who has worked hard her whole life to be a good basketball player.
If you have kids.. then I pity them because you have no class at all.
Just curious.. do you go to to other school boards and bash or just TN?
mtnmanvol writes:
Hey travelmanvol, what about the fact that we just won two national championships in row. Doesn't that count for anything? I suppose a team full of inexperience freshmans and sophmores are supposedly to suddenly become juniors and seniors during the course of one year. I think I saw flashes of a big time team against Oklahoma which was on the road. I think a win against a good Stanford team is also worth mentioning. Like they say look who Geno and ucant plays in the SEC. South Carolina!! I doubt Ucant wouldn't have all those perfect records if they played in guess what? the SEC or even a stretch the ACC. You cry to easy over spilt milk. Lay off Pat and be patient. We all saw the potential, but life doesn't happen over night or in one year.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Of course, no one can say what the future will bring, but, I have to say, for this year UConn was one of the two or three best women's teams I have ever seen. Also, it was not a total coincidence that their opponent in the title game was Louisville, another Big East team. As much as we like to rag on the Big East, the upper half of that conference was at least as tough as the upper half of the SEC this year.
For another thing, UConn's out-of-conference schedule was more than respectable. Among their victims, most by wide margins, were UNC, Oklahoma, Texas, and LSU. For them to have completely dominated EVERYBODY on their schedule the way they did was a stunning achievement. Their overall level of play was astonishingly high, with quick hands and feet, speed, precision, superior fundamentals, and relentless defense at every position.
Say whatever you will about Geno, at this point it has not been PROVEN that he cheated in recruiting this squad. Just like you, pd, I expect to be attacked by some LV fans for saying all this, but there is a REASON for the saying, "Give the Devil his due."
It is up to Pat and the LVs to get UP to the standard UConn set this year. It can be argued that some LV squads in the past were as good--though the stats would belie that--but it is not fair of us to attack them for setting the bar so high THIS year.
transfan writes:
all I see is sour grapes from fans who apparantly have an aggregate iq close to the temperature of lukewarm water, y'all need to suck it up and acknowledge that the best team in the country this season is uconn ,not ut maybe next year it will be different
CTOWNICON writes:
Just because they did not prove YET that GENO did not abide by the rules does not mean he didn't. Everybody has their own opinions on the subject and no one man or woman on here can sway the other's opinion on the matter. The suspicion is there. Ever heard the saying if there is smoke there is fire, and that devil is burning in hell. You have some UT fans that don't like Geno and you have some Uconn fans that don't like Pat, and it is evident as to how they come on this UT site and degrade the coach and the team. So for the UT fans that want to praise Geno do so, but don't knock the fans that don't. We are all entitled to our own opinions!
MillisaAnn writes:
The Lady Vols will be back better than ever next year, Pat will see to that.
Pat is the best coach in Women's or Men's b-ball period.
tennezz writes:
Thats what I`m talking about, By your own count you played 4 four good teams, Try playing 30 like Tenn. does!
Enigma64 writes:
tennezz "Thats what I`m talking about, By your own count you played 4 four good teams, Try playing 30 like Tenn. does!"
2009 Final RPI UConn #1 Tenn #11
2009 versus TOP 25 opponents; UConn 11-0 Tenn 3-8
OrangeMagic writes:
Please take the word Vols out of your damb screen name. You couldn't possibly be a fan of our team with an asinine statement like that. How do you label a team that wins 22 games a loser? If you parallel that stupidity to your own life, no doubt you are a loser as well and it accounts for the bitterness of your statements. Go be a UConn fan.
volball7222 writes:
Ya know...anything can happen in sports. Injuries can ruin a teams chemistry. I said EARLY this year we would lose 10 regular season games and we did. I didn't think you were a bad guy, but I am beginning to think you are actually Geno. Roll it up in a cone for easier insertion....
volball7222 writes:
UCant is an term of affection for our friends up north. Im sure Mike from Conn is a great guy but his comments are like nails on a chalkboard. UCon will be losing Geno within 3 years due to recruiting problems...There are enough problems for him right now to make a case for his outing. They have the talent to dominate for at least 2 more years. The question is, can honest recruiting and great coaching overcome cheaters. The answer is unfortunately no. I don't mind talking about great teams if it comes honestly, but in the case of UConn it hasnt.
Can someone please tell me how Tompson Boling is not in the 17 arena mix for the womens tournament? UConn, Rutgers, Michigan St, Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio St, Maryland...on and on...played 2 games at home in this years tournament.
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