Pat Summitt 'Rocky Topping' with Rockettes

SMITH MARKETING

Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, center, poses with two members of The Rockettes during a performance Monday at Thompson-Boling Arena.

Pat Summitt relied on a timeless song to introduce an ageless act Monday night.

The Tennessee women’s basketball coach sang the opening part of “Rocky Top” as a prelude to a performance by The Rockettes at Thompson-Boling Arena, saying: “I am on Rocky Top with The Rockettes.”

“It was neat to watch them,’’ Summitt said of the fabled dance team. “I mean, you’re talking about disciplined, athletic, very disciplined. They just really were impressive.”

Summitt sang “Rocky Top” in 2007 in the arena in a cheerleading performance with her coaching staff during a Tennessee men’s game against Florida.

She didn’t try her hand at being a Rockette on Monday.

“I had a skirt on,’’ she said. “I should’ve worn pants. Then I could’ve at least kicked.”

In advance of Sunday’s home game against Texas (TV: ESPN2, 7 p.m.), Summitt will make another public appearance today. She will be at Alumni Hall in West Town Mall from 6-7 p.m., signing copies of the new book “Summitt,” a retrospective look at her life and coaching career compiled by the News Sentinel.

A portion of all book sales today will go to the United Way of Knoxville’s 2009 Fund Campaign.

Cain Update: Tennessee redshirt sophomore center Kelley Cain was going through concussion protocol Thursday after sitting out Tuesday’s game against George Washington.

Cain did everything from a written test to physical exercise. Summitt hopes to have Cain available for non-contact practice work today.

Off the Mark: Tennessee’s 3-point shooting accuracy has dropped to 31.2 percent (34 for 109) after a 5-for-22 performance against George Washington.

Summitt isn’t as concerned with the accuracy, referring to it as “fixable.”

“I think they’ve been overanxious with it,’’ she said. “We’ve got to get more disciplined.”

Frequency is what’s bugging Summitt, particularly when the Lady Vols start a game by shooting treys, as they did Tuesday.

At one point, during a first-half timeout, Summitt said, “No more threes.”

“If they’re in a good rhythm and it’s falling that’s one thing,’’ she said. “But when we open up a game, paint points matter.”