Tennessee played it safe with Vicki Baugh and Kelley Cain on Sunday afternoon.
As a result, Baugh played only three minutes and Cain didn't play in the Lady Vols' 68-56 SEC women's basketball victory over South Carolina.
Baugh, a sophomore forward, made her first appearance since suffering a sprained left knee Jan. 1. While Baugh scored a driving basket, UT coach Pat Summitt wasn't sold on what she saw.
"I put Vicki in and she's rebounding off one foot,'' Summitt said. "She's got to get to where I think she's ready. She may think she's ready, I didn't see that early today.
"I don't want to run any risk. I want her to get as strong as she can when she comes back and play the game on balance."
Cain suffered some irritation in her surgically repaired right knee during Thursday's game at Mississippi State. Summitt needed just one question to determine the redshirt freshman center's availability.
"I asked Kelley, 'What's your status?' and she said, 'Only if you need me,' " Summitt said. "And that tells me that she's not ready."
Tennessee's next action is Thursday at Arkansas.
Making An Impression: Sunday's turnout of 16,413 at Thompson-Boling Arena had an impact on both teams. Summitt referred to the crowd in her halftime talk.
"I told (the players) look in the stands and see how many people came here tonight to watch you play,'' she said. "It's the biggest stage in women's basketball. Why would you ever not give your all on every possession? . . . I expect more. Our staff expects more. And our fans deserve more.''
South Carolina coach Dawn Staley noticed the turnout beforehand.
"I was talking to my assistant coaches and I just looked around and saw all the people here on a Sunday afternoon when there's NFL playoff games going on, and they're right here. This is something that every program would like to mirror - including us."
Notebook: The margin of victory was UT's closest call against South Carolina since a 79-73 victory in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 15, 1996 and its closest call at home in the series since a 60-54 win on Feb. 2, 1989. Tennessee has won 36 in a row in the series. . . . The victory was No. 997 in Summitt's career. . . . Tennessee, which hit three 3-pointers, has a trey in 357 consecutive games. . . . Sunday's game was one of just three home games for UT in January.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 24
bmaples writes:
Still think Vandy is the team to beat in the SEC. Older, experienced, strong. We'll see come tourney time.
My hope is that this team can make it to the Sweet 16 to keep that streak alive. (The Lady Vols have played in every Sweet 16 since the NCAA women's tourney started.) Frankly, with such a young team, anything beyond that would be serious gravy.
But who knows? I've stopped trying to figure who makes it and how far. Just glad to be a Baby Lady Vols fan!
Bruce in Louisville
ggriggs939#223122 writes:
When are we going to get gameclock kesling replaced?
I believe anyone who is paid to do the broadcast should also support the team instead of extolling the other team
and telling how much time is left on the clock. He called the clock 120 times in a game a couple of years ago. That was every 22.5 seconds in the overtime game.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
CPS is right to give Baugh and Cain all the time they need to get fully healthy. Better to have them rested and healed when tourney time gets here than to have them at half-speed now and maybe not able to play at all when it really counts.
halloffamebowler writes:
agree
pdhuff#552644 writes:
It was a freefall from Ward to Kesling.
Good post.
Hudro writes:
I agree that he makes a lot of errors whether on radio or tv. Will never be as exciting as Ward. However, when he is doing tv he cannot be for a particular team. As a paid announcer for the network he must take a neutral posture and "report the game".
volaholic45 writes:
In football, I weary of hearing about carriers being "rolled down" whether they'be been pushed over, run out of bounds, or planted on their backsides. Bob often gives listeners no sense of the progress of the ball down the field in the course of a play. And sometimes Vols rhymes with "balls" and sometimes it rhymes with "bowls." It's gotten where even his signature phrase "into the checkerboards" aggravates me - how many checkerboards are in that endzone? Picky, I know, but I sure miss John Ward and his colorful, descriptive, and fun calling of a game.
richvol writes:
I think Alyssa Brewer is a real talent...she has very good ball handling skills,rebounds aggressively and can score inside. If she dropped some weight and gained strength she would be an all-american.
I'm beginning to notice Alicia Manning too...she has a toughness about her that shows up when she scores a putback or rebounds. She has really good anticipation...a smart player that has a lot of upside.
When is Glory Johnson going to learn to shoot a layup? I love her hustle,speed and desire but this girl misses more layups than anyone I ever saw. She would be scoring 25 to 30 points a game if she could make layups and shoot freethrows. It looks to me like she gets too excited...like a puppy.
volboy81 writes:
no support anywhere compares to TENNESSEE!
shipperman#280095 writes:
http://www.firebobkessling.com
98reax writes:
Why are we discussing Bob and football here on this Women's Basketball link? Just curious.
I think Glory is only one of several who's blowing gimme shots. It's a focus, follow through issue, I believe. It will improve, hopefully as the season wanes. The way we started the season with 4 and 5 players scoring in double figures made me think our overall shooting percentage would be higher than the 42.9 field goal, 33.3 from beyond and the 68.8% from the free throw line. That overall percentage puts HUGE burden on the defense.
The stats show we are holding our own in the rebound category, but it seems to me we are not that aggressive on the boards. Our length and height should be producing more putbacks and rebounds, no?
I am seeing growth in this team. I have no high expectations of this bunch of young'uns other that the confidence that I have in Pat Summitt's ability to mold a winning team each and every season. I've never seen a losing team wear the Lady Vols uniform. We've had more than our share of grand prizes. We've witnessed some severe disappointments at the hands of teams who simply out-played us. I see a ton of potential in this group and I have decided to be content with the outcome of the season. I can't afford the stress of any super expectations.
shipperman#280095 writes:
HTTP:WWW.FIREPATSUMMIT.COM
tenn32rebel writes:
bmaples writes:
I've stopped trying to figure who makes it and how far. Just glad to be a Baby Lady Vols fan!
Bruce in Louisville
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Totally agree!!! This team is fun and you never know what to expect because of their youth. Even Pat doesn't know!
GO BABY LADY VOLS---OUR FUTURE CHAMPIONS!!!
"rebel" in Tennessee
tenn32rebel writes:
Lyssi is really coming on strong at the precise moment we need her the most. Weight is NOT a problem. If she was any lighter, she would NEVER be able to hold her position under the boards. Yes, she needs to get stronger and that has happened.
Coach Mason is putting all the Baby Lady Vols through a very tough and demanding weight training program. She has seemed to be quicker lately just because she is more fluid in her post moves which comes from MORE reps & MORE playing time.
Alicia Manning is a Pat type player. She will give it everything she has and then some! Her defense has improved greatly because she is working to learn and execute the defensive patterns that Pat want to see.
Remember her block at the end of the game against Stanford that secured victory? That was the real turning point for her. Now, Alicia's confidence is up and she is showing some real moves, especially on her drives. She will get better at the point which is where I think she could make the biggest impact for the Baby Lady Vols.
"When is Glory Johnson going to learn to shoot a layup?"
I remember the same thing being said about Nicky A. especially when Nicky was a freshman. Nicky earned the starting post position as a freshman and never relinquished it! Glory has started every game and has battled all comers. Glory will be fine.
From personal experience, it is really difficult to fight hard for position, battle for the rebound, blast your way through multiple groping hands and arms, then SOFTLY KISS the ball off the boards into the basket. It will come. Yes, Glory will be a terror at UT. Mark my words for future reference.
These young ladies are so exciting, so much fun to watch, so frustrating, etc., but I wouldn't trade them for ANYBODY/ANY TEAM in WCBB today!
GO BABY LADY VOLS---OUR FUTURE CHAMPIONS!!!
tenn32rebel writes:
shipperman#280095 writes:
in response to 98reax:
HTTP:WWW.FIREPATSUMMIT.COM
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
shipperman, CRAWL BACK UNDER YOUR ROCK AND DISAPPEAR! You don't have a clue what you're talking about!
Pat is the best coach in WCBB today and the winningest coach of all time, men or women's game.
GO BABY LADY VOLS---OUR FUTURE CHAMPIONS!!!
tenn32rebel writes:
Mike, there are numerous questions about the UCAN'T Huskies but they will be answered in the NCAA tournament. Any answers ventured before that time would be entirely premature.
See you in the NC game!
PS - In case you didn't notice it, Mike, this article is about our Baby Lady Vols. It has nothing to do with UCAN'T. Try posting on the SUmmiTT if you want some lively debate about your team!
GO BABY LADY VOLS---OUR FUTURE CHAMPIONS!!!
xvolx writes:
johnson is athletic with no basketball skills.
anosikefan writes:
in response to xvolx:
"johnson is athletic with no basketball skills."
This might be the most idiotic statement I have ever read! Other than Mike_From_Connecticut obsessing over the UT sites, obviously xvolx has zero basketball IQ!
I agree that Glory is in a bit of a slump, but she is young. She will get there. But to say she has no basketball skills??? Ask Pat if she has basketball skills! I just don't understand why so called "fans" can't be supportive!
Go Lady Vols!
mississippi writes:
AMEN mike we dont care about thje regular season. You haven't won nothing yet. all it takes is for moore to get hurt to knock ucoon on their fat buttocks
CTOWNICON writes:
I THINK THIS TEAM IS FINE. THEY JUST NEED TO FOCUS ON PLAYING DEFENSE AN THE GUARDS. TO MANY TURNOVERS. I ALSO THINK THAT THE POST PLAYERS NEED TO CONTRIBUTE MORE ON OFFENSE. BUT THE MAIN TWO THINGS THAT I WISH WOULD GET BETTER IS THE DECISION MAKING OF THE GUARDS AN THE USE OF THE POST PLAYERS AN DEFENSE SO I GUESS I HAD THREE THINGS. WELL MAKE IT FOUR-THE OFFICIATING AGAINST THE LADY VOLS NOT ALL THE TIME BUT MOST OF THE TIMES IS HORRIBLE. CANT CHANGE THE OFFICIATING JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO OUTSMART THEM I GUESS. BUT PLEASE LADY VOLS ANSWER MY PRAYERS AN WORK ON DEFENSE, TURNOVERS, GUARDS-DECISION MAKING, POST PLAYERS-CONTRIBUTE MORE ON OFFENSE AN YOU WILL BE FINE. I LIKE THAT YOU LIKE TO SHOOT THE BALL BUT PLEASE DONT BECOME A JUMP SHOOTING TEAM. THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ELEMENTS TO THE GAME AN BESIDES JUMP SHOTS DONT FALL ALL THE TIME SO HAVE ANOTHER GAME PLAN TO FALL BACK ON. TRY DRIVING TO THE BASKET SOME AN THROWING IT IN TO THE POST. LETS GO LADIES YOU CAN DO IT.
xvolx writes:
I've forgotten more about basketball than you know. Pat would tell you that she has raw talent and is trying to add baketball skills to it. Mike is just doing what we would be doing if our team was #1, undefeated and had just #2 by 30 points.
anosikefan writes:
And you know that b/c you know me right? Yet another ignorant statement! I'm guessing you are a reject of the game. Trying to relive your non-playing days. Sorry pal, hate it for ya that you never got to play in college. I never said she wasn't a raw talent b/c she definitely is that. But I would venture to say, she has plenty of basketball IQ. She is a pretty smart girl, made the dean's list last semester. Oh but I guess you know her too!
xvolx writes:
keep guessing. that's what you're good at.
anosikefan writes:
Buuuurrrrrrrnnnnnnnn! You really got me on that one hahaha. Loser!
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