The mandated portion of Tennessee's women's basketball offseason is closing at a fastbreak pace.
The rest of the offseason primarily will be up to the players. UT coach Pat Summitt hopes that the transition will be seamless but conceded: "Right now it's a wait and see."
She was speaking Tuesday afternoon, following Tennessee's final full-team workout at Pratt Pavilion. Conditioning and individual work continues into next week but before April is finished the players will be policing themselves.
"Quite honestly, if they're not in the gym and investing, they chose the wrong program,'' Summitt said. "Hopefully they now get it. I think a lot of them understand how hard you have to work to be successful as a player and as a team."
Summitt quantified just what she's hoping for before individual workouts resume in August.
"They need to get in thousands of shots this summer,'' she said. "They can't shoot it enough for our coaching staff."
Summitt figures that she can count on such players as Angie Bjorklund and Sydney Smallbone to polish their skills and hopes that they will recruit their teammates to join them. Summitt also has been encouraged by the postseason start for freshmen Shekinna Stricklen and Alicia Manning.
Summitt said that Stricklen has been toughened by the conditioning sessions.
"In a lot of our conditioning, she was just trying to finish, not competing the way she has to compete,'' Summitt said. "In her last few workouts, she's been competing harder."
As for Manning, the most noticeable difference has been on the court.
"She appears to be more invested in her game and in our team,'' Summitt said.
Along with their coach's advice, the players also have the example of former UT guard Alexis Hornbuckle to consider as they plot their offseason course.
"Oh my gosh, I went from A to Z in four years; attitude and effort went from A to Z,'' Hornbuckle said. "It's possible but it's all on them. It's what they want. How much they want to succeed."
Future Freshmen: In discussing next season's incoming class, Summitt said that Taber Spani will be deployed at shooting guard or either forward position. Kamiko Williams will play both guard spots while Faith Dupree, the Webb School star, will be used at power forward and center.
Summitt said that Dupree "right now probably shoots it at (power forward) better than most everyone on our team."
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 21
CTOWNICON writes:
The future seems bright for the lady vols. This Faith Dupree sounds interesting. I hope the incoming class makes a major impact.
Salpointe writes:
The best coach in the nation will take care of business!
LadyVolFanForever writes:
We are hoping right along with you Coach. It IS up to the PLAYERS now. As an avid fan, I hope they literally take the ball, run with it and shoot and shoot and shoot.
Next season depends on this offseason, go Lady Vols !!!
98reax writes:
I wish I had heard some encouraging words from or about Glory, Brewer, Gray and Bass. I'm hoping they will compete in the off season.
kazoo writes:
Attitude and effort are almost never a problem with UT. Scoring and guard play are the problems--that and getting Baugh, healthy. It's also worth noting that Hornbuckle, despite her outstanding athleticism and skills, never developed much offensively...a frequent problem with this program.
camoman270#222859 writes:
Go Lady Vols!!!
We Love you!!!!
reg_mza#219136 writes:
What I noticed, is not what was printed, but what wasn't printed. There was nothing mentioned any special or different about Glory, Alyssia, or Amber...that front court depth needs a major overhaul and the only thing I read was the back court putting in the hustle. That's not good.
Munsterlander writes:
Oh that Mike_from_Connecticut is so clever and witty. So much smarter than most people. Bet he's real popular with the ladies.
Too bad there isn't a Jenny Craig or Richard Simmons that can help you out with that little touch of smug rear orificism you've got going.
You've got a good team and a good coach and at the moment have the upper hand. Why such a pierce?
GeneralNeyland96 writes:
Speak intelligently, or not at all.
The total weight issues of TN's team don't equal the one girl on UConn's team (her name escapes me, thanks to the irrelevance of UConn in general).
You try to make such a big deal out of Pat and Geno...I don't think Geno belongs in the top 5 coaches when you consider qualities beyond wins and losses. Conradt, Vanderveer, Yow, Stringer, etc. all possess(ed) qualities that Geno can never hope to attain.
Now, that being said....Go away. You're no longer welcome here.
queens2183#661836 writes:
"reg_mza#219136 writes:
What I noticed, is not what was printed, but what wasn't printed. There was nothing mentioned any special or different about Glory, Alyssia, or Amber...that front court depth needs a major overhaul and the only thing I read was the back court putting in the hustle. That's not good."
I wouldn't read a ton into who wasn't mentioned b/c from reading a comment from someone who covers the team and asked the question it was in the context of who out of the freshmen had made the biggest strides between the Ball State game and now and Kinna and Alicia were the two named. That doesn't mean that Glory, Lyssi, Amber, and Bri haven't made any improvement. Everyone is getting a do-over and a fresh start so it's up to the players to take the offseason and run with it. They can change and those that are willing to do so will show it in September. Like Coach said, it's wait and see.
sameolvolalum writes:
I generally just read these sections but, really....most folks I know from Connecticut seem much more articulate than you do, UConn dummy. Auriema won't ever be able to match Coach Summitt's record, nor could he ever wear her shoes. Then again, maybe he just loves to dress out girley style.
CTOWNICON writes:
Look at Kylie Mclarin. Geno looks better being a mascot. For him to be a man he is shorter than all the women around him. He looks like a munchkin with a pot belly. You are so jealous of Pat it is pathetic. Funny you should mention Richard Simmons, I am sure the two of you have a lot in common.
CTOWNICON writes:
Mike wears dresses to. He secretly wants to be Pat. Have you noticed how jealous of her he is. He acts like a jealous woman that is jealous of another woman always attacking her with no merit whatsoever. This man is really suffering trying to find himself.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
In other women's bball news, the local TV station here in Greensboro, NC just announced that Kellie Jolly Harper (hope I spelled her name right) will be the new HC at NC State. I have mixed feelings about that. No doubt she is ready to be a major-conference HC, but NC State is considerably behind MD, UNC, FSU, and Duke in the ACC right now, the AD who hired her is regarded by many as a major tool who may not be around much longer, and the late legendary Coach Kay Yow specifically requested that her long-time assistant Stefanie Glance get the job. I wish Kellie every success in the world, but she has a big job ahead of her, on and off the coach.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Oops! Meant to say "on and off the COURT"! Apologies to all, though apparently no one has seen my first post yet(;-P)!
volball7222 writes:
Another brilliant post! How do you come up with the witt and charm you show? Please....tell us what you want to be when you grow up. You know....that Geno is some kind of coach. He will have to come up with something to mask the steroids of the UConn players. You know they do check in the Olympics...Don't worry though...there are enough Vol's to make up the entire team and coast to a gold metal. In closing...you make it very difficult to find anything good about UCant. Keep up the good work and posts!!!! High quality!
CTOWNICON writes:
I always wondered how that starting five could play the whole game unless foul trouble took them out. I would not put it past Geno to slip them steroids.
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Conn., is so far better than anyother college team and the reason why is-- Their passing game renders opponents almost helpless...all their players are quick and have good hands...they grab loose balls one after another and quickly turn them into points. Their hustle and slick passing are something to see. The Lady Vols have a long way to go to match up with those ladies from the East...but then so does all the other college lady basketball teams.
sameolvolalum writes:
.....then so DO all the other college lady basketball teams. For this past season---you're correct. However, you might want to keep your panties from wadding up next season when things could be very different. These are very young athletes and (here's a news flash) Tennessee is just one of several teams with a wealth of young talent. Counting any Pat Summitt coached team out (considering her SUPERIOR coaching and EQUAL-AT-LEAST talent), you may just want to tone down those annoying smirks. Also, you may just ought to finish your GED by taking as many English courses as possible. Go Ladies of Orange!
Ralph_Crampton writes:
Same ole Volalumni....Thanks but Pat, Perhaps, has slacked off a little in her recruiting...almost every coach does that...but Pat should have the program whereby she is not stuck with all newcomers at one time...just reload kid...no reason for the rebuilding process...alway have the the talent awaiting in the wings....Just reload.
WeLoveTennesseeVols writes:
YOu are a moron! And I curse you and your words from our vocabulary, may your words be turned back onto you and may you and your ego face each other until you vomit daily!
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