Freshmen excuse doesn't work for Lady Vols

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Shekinna Stricklen could have thought twice about shooting.

The Tennessee guard was 1-for-10 from the floor Thursday night against Mississippi State. Less than two minutes remained in a gut-grinding SEC women's basketball game in Starkville, Miss. And Stricklen's gut already was sore from an earlier fall.

Any one of these second thoughts could've accompanied teammate Angie Bjorklund's cross-court pass. At least Stricklen didn't have to worry about being a freshman.

She said as much three days before in assessing the inaugural UT season for herself and five classmates.

"We can't have the excuse that we're freshmen,'' Stricklen said. "We've been playing for awhile. We've played in a lot of games. We should be used to things. We just can't use (being) freshmen as an excuse."

A sense of duty, as much as anything, compelled Stricklen to barely blink before swishing the 3-point shot Thursday that broke a 56-all tie and propelled Tennessee to a 63-56 victory.

There will be more moments of truth. The next chance is Sunday against South Carolina (8-8, 0-3 SEC) at Thompson-Boling Arena (TV: FSS, 3 p.m.). Each game presents Stricklen and Co. with an opportunity to defy their youth.

"It's like watching a child grow up,'' said Texas coach Gail Goestenkors, whose Longhorns contributed a 73-59 loss to the maturation process last month. "That's the way they're going to be as a team."

No. 13 Tennessee (13-3, 2-1) is relying heavily on its rookies. Stricklen and forward Glory Johnson are regular starters and two of the team's three leading scorers. Briana Bass is the starting point guard. Virtually all of the first-year players are seeing regular duty.

Some even took their turns on the players' laundry detail this week before the team managers resumed the duty after Thursday's game.

Attrition has helped force the issue. Point guard Cait McMahan is sidelined for good by knee problems. Post players Kelley Cain and Vicki Baugh have been in and out of the lineup.

Baugh, who has missed four games with a left knee sprain, is back in today. Cain, who suffered irritation in her right knee Thursday, is a game-time decision.

No matter, the freshmen are having their own say in matters. Their body of work suggests that they are growing up in an unflinching manner.

Since an 83-82 loss to Virginia in the season's second game, they've lent a hand to six victories decided either in the final three minutes of regulation or overtime.

"They've got a lot of grit,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said. "And when things get tight, they seem to really get down and play their best defense. They seem to be even more aggressive and determined offensively. That part, I like it."

For Summitt and her assistant coaches, the trick has been having a lot of persistence and patience. Striking the proper balance has been a season-long challenge.

For example, if film sessions increase in number, they are shorter in duration. Practice plans can change if the coaches sense that the young players are reaching a saturation point.

Assistant coach Dean Lockwood borrowed from Gen. Douglas MacArthur's quotebook in describing how strategy is conveyed.

"We never give orders that are understood,'' Lockwood said. "We give orders that clearly can't be misunderstood."

During a game, Summitt has to be careful with emotional displays, lest she unnerve a team that is fighting an ongoing battle against being antsy on offense.

"My whole thought process is 'What can I do to help them?' '' Summitt said. "If I get upset I'm going to pick and choose when I'm going to yell."

She then conceded, "I feel like I need a degree in sports psychology."

The tug-of-war over seemingly disparate considerations was evident last week in the circumstances surrounding last Sunday's 74-58 loss at Vanderbilt along with the Mississippi State game.

In her midweek teleconference, Summitt essentially reminded herself about the dangers of breaking a player's spirit.

"When you come off of that kind of a loss and you're pushing them, you don't want them to then fear losing and going out there playing that way,'' Summitt said. "I'm always saying, 'OK, are we doing the right thing here?' and asking my staff."

Two days earlier, Summitt got in Amber Gray's face during practice after the freshman forward pulled herself for treatment and took a different stance.

"I'm concerned that almost daily Amber is off the court for some period of time,'' Summitt said. "We can't have that. It's not good for team chemistry."

Summitt showed that her patience has worn threadbare thin by not playing Gray in Thursday's game.

As the process plays out, it's possible for Gray or any of the freshmen to have trouble distinguishing coaching from criticism and feel like they're being picked on.

More likely it's probable. Lockwood, who has been on UT's staff for five seasons, has heard enough stories from former players to appreciate the wealth of bad-day memories. Former Lady Vols forward Pashen Thompson attended Thursday's game and her reminiscing triggered some recall for assistant coach Daedra Charles-Furlow.

"I know they're doing it to make me a better person, so I've just got to work through it,'' Bass said.

"... It's easier said than done."

Bass already has her own story to tell after snapping at associate head coach Holly Warlick during a meeting last week and getting pulled from the starting lineup for the Vanderbilt game.

"I guess it's the way I said it,'' said Bass, who wouldn't divulge the content, "maybe the tone of voice. I will (laugh) eventually, and I learned my lesson."

Lockwood noticed a difference on Thursday in how Bass responded to some heat-of-the-moment instruction.

"(Before) That would've sunk her boat for a few minutes,'' he said. "But that was barely a wing shot. It took out a railing and she went right back out to sea."

Bass said that the freshmen have a greater appreciation for upholding UT's tradition. Being the curator of this museum involves more than occasionally dusting the displays. Maintaining winning streaks is hard work. Against South Carolina, it's up to 35. There are going to be long, hard nights like Thursday.

Yet there still are light moments, too. Bass smiled and laughed in talking about being chased by Baugh or about filling cameras - first hers, now Cain's - with road-trip pictures.

"It's still fun, especially the traveling part, going to different places I've never been before," Bass said. "My dad always tells me I'm doing the dream that he wished he could have done - all the traveling and playing collegiate basketball."

She's excused for having a sense of wonder. For the moment, it suits a freshman, no matter how fast she's growing up.