Friday was moving day for the Tennessee women’s basketball team.
The players gathered their belongings from the team’s locker room at Thompson-Boling Arena in order to resettle in one of the visiting team locker rooms before Sunday’s SEC game against Mississippi State.
The punitive measure was in response to Thursday night’s 66-56 loss at Kentucky. It’s something Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt hasn’t done since the 1989-90 season. Not even the 10-loss team of 1996-97 received an eviction notice.
“This team, they’re not as competitive as the ’97 team,’’ Summitt said.
The Lady Vols also must bring their own practice attire and are responsible for laundering their gear.
“Since they like to do their own thing,’’ Summitt said, “We thought we’d let them wear their own stuff.”
Summitt said the latest arrangements likely will continue through the SEC tournament next month.
“Spoiled,” she said of the players, “they’ve been spoiled.”
In other matters, Summitt watched video Friday with guard Angie Bjorklund, who’s shot 3 for 22 from the floor the past two games.
Summitt was encouraged by center Kelley Cain’s work in practice after playing 23 minutes against Kentucky and scoring a personal-best 16 points. Summitt second-guessed herself for not returning Cain to the game earlier during Kentucky’s decisive scoring surge in the second half.
“She hadn’t been feeling well the last couple of days so I didn’t know how long to play her and how much she could go,’’ Summitt said.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 98
volfan1975 writes:
first
volfan1975 writes:
how sad is that? its 8:00 PM on a Friday night and I am at my computer writing first...
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
More stones than any man on campus. (figuratively of course)
Bruce, you should watch and learn from the master.
thevoice writes:
Lane and Bruce, watch the master!!
bmaples writes:
They'll either toughen up and come together and play Lady Vol basketball -- or they'll fall apart completely and the season will be over. No in-between with a move like this, I think.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
This probably won't do any good either. They are uncompetitive, unpassionate, unaggressive and lack heart. I don't think these are skills you can teach. These "skills" must come from within. Come on girls, show us you are worthy to wear the orange! Even CPS, the greatest coach on earth, can't teach a desire to win...you have to want it from within yourselves!
MarbleVol48 writes:
This team is mostly Freshman - C'mon Pat give them a break, consistency is not part of their mind set, YET !
volbald writes:
Bully days may or may not be over. But these players just looked like they didn't care whether they lost, or if they lost, by how much. No focus. They are freshman - but they should be able to play with more focus than they've shown lately. I complained silently about it appearingt that PS had lost her touch 3-4 years ago - but she showed me the money the last two years when she had mature players. Won't second guess her any more. Go Pat. Go LadyVols - get with the program.
bluetick writes:
grader
LDDFC912 writes:
Thats how you Coach them up! You don't play defense then get to stepping! CBP and CLK there will be a quiz at the end of the instruction.
xvolx writes:
you could threaten to pull their scholarships and it wouldn't work with this bunch. they lack ability and talent. they can't shoot, pass or jump and lack speed and quickness. not to mention, desire. Looks like the next packing they do will be to another program.
benee#234696 writes:
This ought to do it. Doing laundry didn't get rid of them, but who would stay through this? Then CPS can follow through with the plan and sign a whole new team.
But if any of them are so wimpy that they even tolerate being evicted from the locker room, there's one more step available. Take "TENNESSEE" off their game uniforms.
pammyvol1000 writes:
How can they play that good against Ga. and then play this bad against KY.... although KY was just dribbling right by for layups, and knocking down the 3's.
We have no offense plan they just dribble back and forth until they run out of time or make bad pass..and then panic with some crazy shot that has no chance..
The headliner says it all...
Again.. somebody tell me. Was this not the 1st ranked recruiting class??
JohnsonCity_George writes:
This one is easy to figure out, if you watch the men or the women, you can tell that they have been taught not to jump too high or they might break the force of gravity and not come back down. This is scary stuff for a collage student. Just watch, they are scared to jump. I don't blame 'em. Might just keep going.
peerlessvolfan writes:
Volfan1975, you are hilarious! I burst out laughing when I read your 2nd comment! I know, it's 9:40 on a Friday night and I'm at my computer laughing at your "first!" All the best from a 1976 grad....
Madkels writes:
I'll bet a grand they win their next game by double digits. Pat will teach them a lesson and show them who's the boss.
gohawks1 writes:
When the Incredible Hulk comes face to face with Pat Summitt, he turns yellow.
utvolz#637682 writes:
They've played 20 games this season and they STILL don't get it!
Kick em' to the curb coach and make em' earn the right to put that uniform on in THEIR locker room as opposed to a visiting team's locker room.
utvolz#637682 writes:
And NEVER question the motives of a coach with 1001 wins! NUFF SAID!
floridavolsfan writes:
President Obama is going to suggest some "sensitivity training" for CPS!! Atty Gen. Eric Holder suggests all Vol fans are "cowards"!
JohnsonCity_George writes:
And Dubya Bush should have stayed in office so we can have a whole lot more of what we have now. You betcha...
chad_t31 writes:
Personally, I thought she would have made them find their way back to knoxville from lexington.
teampenny#658108 writes:
You should have about the same number of FR, SOPH, JR and SR why doesn't this team have this make up
CTOWNICON writes:
I hope something gets through to this team. Some more offensive plays would not hurt either. The offense thats being utilized is not a good one. The post plays to high on defense leaving the basket wide open. Thats how they got all of those drive by baskets. They just didnt get it and they did the same play over an over. It look like the post players would have realized that and made some adjustments but they did the same thing every time. Even though the guards were being beat to death so they share the blame as well. Even on offense the post is way to high sometimes, why i dont know because no player on the lady vol lineup drives to the basket, they shoot jump shot after jump shot and that needs to change. They are so predictable and easy to defend. I say it is a lazy factor and they want it easy. Shekinna can drive to the basket pretty good but instead she will settle for jump shots, and she is bigger than most of the guards that are checking her so she could try posting herself as well with that mismatch. A lot of things they could do to help ease whatever this phase is they are going through. I just wish they would wake up.
utvolz#637682 writes:
This Clinton HOMER is way over his head. I pray for my country just thinking where this clown is going to take us. Unfortunately, future generations will still be paying this bozo's bill.....
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
pat must find and sign the next C. Holdsclaw and/or Candice Parker (and two point guards also)
JohnsonCity_George writes:
We a starting to turn over the rocks and see how bad things really are and things are really not very good. They did not happen in the last three weeks. Sorry, you guys botched it....and everyone knows it. So, I guess you are proud of what you have done and what you still want to do. The rest of us are moving on now.
amcguire01 writes:
Will you fools leave politics out of this thread?
Anyway, CPS and her staff are going to have to look at themselves and share some of the blame. These players didn't recruit themselves. It's not possible to have 7 freshies and a sophomore that don't give a phooey, something is wrong with the system. It produced back to back championships, but those players were self driven. Pat is going to have to come up with something new...kicking them out of their locker room means nothing.
gohawks1 writes:
I think you mean parity there, Bob, although parody may actually describe the Lady Vols' play here lately.
utvolz#637682 writes:
Politics aside, CPS will motivate these gals or they will rot on the bench or transfer. Simple solution to a simple problem.
Obama? Way too large of a cancer to solve with kicking him out of his locker room or the White House!
snafu14u#241639 writes:
Maybe the first Lady Vol team to not make the NCAA's, much less the Sweet 16. bonzaivol
Timed_vol (Inactive) writes:
Look, guys, Pat is paying for her deal with the devil. By having SIX seniors last year, she has NOTHING this year.
1 - bad luck
Kelley Cain's injury; she would have played more last seasonn
Vicki Baugh's slower development, she did get better as last season went on, but still had work to do to be a starter
McMahan, two years in a row
2 - bad recruiting
Smallbone just is not much of a player
Lindsay Moss????
Glory Johnson is not a 'marquee' player.
Manning, Gray, are players who may be good backups in a year ot 2.
Bass is overmatched almost every game.
Strinklen is the only 'top' player, probably the only one who would make UConn's depth chart.
I do not know what the deal is. I crabbed a few years back about Pat's recruiting, but she managed to get Candace and Anosike.
My guess?? Some scholly's don't get renewed this year. It's too late to change the 2009 recruiting class, but maybe some JUCO's might help, especially at point guard. As for 2010, perhaps we start looking for 'role' girls who can shoot, or handle, or play D...
I don't know, but the chemisty on this year's team has not grown, and it points out hte dangers of recruiting service "number one" rankings.
jamesarobertson#633301 writes:
I love Pat Summitt but this is the worst coaching that I have ever seen from her. The team played better early in the season, and instead of getting better, they are playing like they don't know whatto do! WHY DOESN'T PAT PICK THE BEST 5 PLAYERS AND PLAY THEM 30-40 MINUTES SO THEY WILL GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER. TOO LATE NOW! THEY WILL GET TROUNCED BY LSU AND BEAT BY VANDY!
98reax writes:
mparker and jamesarobertson and amcguire, I am surprised you can question Pat's coaching or recruiting. You all had better hide out somewhere in outer Mongullie. She will hunt you down and make you do the Lady Vols' laundry while preparing your own scouting report. You will then be secluded somewhere in the bowels of TBA and forced to watch the Kentucky game over and over while strapped to a water board. That will teach you or turn you into mikey—from—whatever.
brokebackvol writes:
When I have 8 national titles and 1000 wins, I will critize Pat Summitt. Until then, I'm going to keep my trap shut, and keep pulling for the Lady Vols.
VolPatrick writes:
Pat Freaking Summitt. I don't know who is more scared of her now: her players or Knoxville area raccoons. This team wasn't expected to compete for titles, but they are expected to compete. I am all about young people getting their @$$es kicked around if they aren't doing the job. Many of these players lack experience, but all of them have seen film of Candice playing with a dislocated shoulder that was held in place with duct tape and some black wrap. How can anyone have any excuse? I'm pretty sure, in spite of the increasing parity in the sport, that literally thousands of young women would climb over each other for a chance to don the Orange and White.
notoriousBIGorange writes:
Then move on! This is not the CHANGE any of you expected. After this pork bill, your boy Obama owns this economy and you can not blame W any more. It's all on you now!!
friendut writes:
Obama is a freshman and his game isn 't going too well either.
onefaro writes:
Something is missing here. COACHING! Does she not realize these are predominately Freshmen? You need to COACH them not yell and scream. I'm surprised they haven't totally quit. The only reason the HC is not held to some responsibility, she's the Queen.
I know some of you sheep don't want to hear this kind of talk but take off you glasses and look. I have empathy for the players.
I notice Bruce is not getting a free ride from the fans. He is being held responsible not the players. Pat always like to reflect the blame on the players. Throw them Pat!
bmaples writes:
First of all, get the political stuff outta here. I come here to talk Vols and sports, not politics. Anyone who visits my site knows where I stand, but I keep it out of here.
Second, CPS is a great coach, not a god. She can make mistakes. I don't take offense at fair criticism of her; I consider it on the merits. And some of this criticism may be valid.
That said -- they're still my team, and she's still my coach. I think she's dealing with a perfect storm of circumstances, and trying to find a way through. I hope it works. At this point, I'm tired of analyzing what's wrong; I just want them to come together and play their best, and know we're all pulling for them. Win or lose, they're my team.
Bruce in Louisville
www.brucemaples.com
midnite__VOL writes:
You can’t win them all, if you did it would be boring.
airship writes:
bottom line. pat is getting beat at recruiting. something wrong with this picture. GO LADY VOLS.
jmr68ut writes:
Now that's a brilliant comment!!
mtnsvol44 writes:
Nah, volfan1975 is at least a second grader.
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
the master recruited them .they are no better now than they were the first game they played . i wonder why? this gray girl , why does she dress out . she looks like she don't won't to be there .
CrankE writes:
You could be right. But if that's the case, then just pull it anyway and start over.
I'm doubtful that anything on Summitt's part will snap them out at this point. I believe that this is probably about as good as it gets for 2008-2009. What a disappointment.
volaholic45 writes:
Actually, Pat's action shows that she is all-in on believing in this team. If she were packing it in and settling for what we're getting because they are young, or unlucky with injuries, or whatever, she'd simply ride it out and make nice with them. But she obviously thinks they are underperforming, and capable of much more. We'll see. If a mistake is to be made in the area of expectations, I'll bet Pat would always rather make the mistake on the high side rather than leave unrealized potential on the table.
bobbarbilly writes:
Gunsmoke ended because in the last opening segment, Matt Dillon looked up and saw Pat Summitt coming at him from the other end of the street.
rockytop47 writes:
What is so frustrating is they have played well and then misreable. I guess that is the freshmen in them. But some losses seem unbelievable. Seems a little late for much improvement. But if anyone can, Coach Pat can.
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
I think she has given them a break enough. Even though they are Freshman, they need to show some desire to win like they did against Rutgers & Stanford. Their turnovers are not forced, they just do not watch where they are throwing the ball, and they force it to much. They need to be alittle more patient and slow down.
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