Photo by Gus Ruelas, AP Photo
Los Angeles Sparks' Shannon Bobbitt, left, drives on Minnesota Lynx's Nicky Anosike (21) in the final second of the second half of a WNBA basketball game on July 3, 2008, in Los Angeles. The Lynx won 88-70. Both Bobbitt and Anosike are former Tennessee Lady Vols.
Nicky Anosike knows something about teamwork, enough to critique the current Tennessee Lady Vols.
"I think they just need to pull together,'' the UT alum said. "I think when someone's getting yelled at and things like that, they just let that person get yelled at because they're just happy it's not them."
Anosike was more than merely an interested observer Thursday. She also took part in a portion of Tennessee's team practice as part of her recovery from left knee surgery. She's between teams, having finished her rookie season with the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx and preparing to play in Romania.
In between, she returned to Knoxville to have the surgical procedure to repair cartilage damage. She's been rehabbing at UT and will be a practice player as often as allowable before heading overseas.
Official practice starts today. The Lady Vols wrapped up their preseason work with Thursday's workout.
"Supposedly (it's) occasional,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said of the guidelines for former players practicing. "It's kind of an unknown. We'll go to our compliance people and verify everything."
Anosike was the starting center on back-to-back national championship teams in 2007-'08. She was instrumental in drawing up team contracts and helping to nurture a sense of togetherness.
"I think the biggest thing in our program was me, Candace, Bird, Shannon and Lex, we had each other's back, no matter what, and we were in it together,'' Anosike said. "That kind of eliminates a lot the confusion and things that you see out there. I just think they need to pull together and become a real team."
Anosike was known for being blunt with her teammates. She intends to be more tactful with this group.
"I would never want to disrespect one of the players because I would never want anyone disrespecting me,'' Anosike said. "I know they have people yelling at them all (through) practice. After awhile that goes in one ear and out the other. So I think when someone really takes the time to talk to them and see what they're feeling and kind of come to them on a different level instead of yelling all the time, I think that they are more receptive to that."
© 2009, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Comments » 18
MidTennVol writes:
Whoa, what a weird read. What kind of "team contracts" was she involved in as a player? The locker-room, "we're all in this together so let's do better" players-only type contract?
And her comments about yelling? "I think when someone really takes the time to talk to them and see what they're feeling and kind of come to them on a different level instead of yelling all the time, I think that they are more receptive to that."
Wonder what Pat thinks about that? Her coaching style being called out?
Finally, a pro player being allowed to practice with her former college team "occasionally?" Does this apply to women's sports only? Only basketball?
What about men's basketball? How much would it help this team if C.J. Watson, Dane Bradshaw, Lofton and Jajuan were allowed to practice, even if only occasionally?
Trippy read at 6:50 AM in Denmark...
LadyVolsEighTimes writes:
1st off, Nicky just finished her second year with the Lynx, not her Rookie year.
As to Denmark Vols,, Lofton was on Campus as was CJ and Dane this summer practicing with the Vols.
kazoo writes:
Anosike was an excellent athlete and the quintessential PS player--all defense and no O. Why is she going to Romania?
utfan00 writes:
I wonder if the lady vols are going to be swifted enough for some of these competitors. It too many teams with post players ranging at 6'5 -6'8. We don't have the foot speed. Watch out for Auburn two players 6'7 and 6'8. Will the lv freeze or come unglued?
MidTennVol writes:
Yes, I know -- that was all unofficial summer ball, outside of NCAA-regulated practices. Nicky is apparently practicing in official practices.
CTOWNICON writes:
I like to hear when some of the former players come back and offer advice. Nikki had offensive skills, she was just reluctant to use them at times. She only did when she just had to and I always thought she should have included herself more in the offense to be a better all around player because her defense was priceless.
rocky_topper writes:
Nicki ALWAYS showed up when it was needed of her the most--THE NCAA TOURNAMENT! She was a true force in pursuit of both NCs!
BigRMan writes:
Nicki is proving to be an even more versatile complete pro player than she was at UT. On the offense aspect at UT many times she deferred to Candace, Sydney, or Lex. Nicki can bang under the boards with any in the WNBA, I know, I'm a Mystics season ticket holder and Nicki caused problems for Chasity Melvin and Nakia Sanford in both games with Washington this past season. Nicki's a leader, a proven winner with a good level head on her shoulders. This year's team would do well to heed her advice to them!
UTAlum88 writes:
You are awesome, Nicky! Instill your work ethic on and off(classroom) the court in those young'un's. Nothing worth having comes easy. It takes work and dedication,. You have paid your dues and it shows.
MidTennVol writes:
Thanks for that. Appreciate the insights! Helps me understand the article a bit better.
Volfantm writes:
Nicki held a team meeting before the start of tournament play in each of the championship seasons where each player stated what they would do for the team and these were written down and signed by all players. These were literally considered team contracts. There are a couple of articles about it in the govols archives if you want the exact details.
I agree that Nicki is a great person to emulate as well as a fine player, hope her knee recovers.
Does anyone know if she is still engaged to Demonte Bolden? Just curious.
YankeeVol writes:
I always liked Nikki Anosike, and thought that she didn't get the credit she deserved. And about the yelling: sounds like old age has mellowed her...
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Anosike is the most under-rated player to ever wear the Lady Vol orange and blue! If it wasn't for her stellar rebounding and defensive skills, we wouldn't have either championship. She deserves much more credit than she gets.
kazoo writes:
Anosike was a beast defensively--both she and Parker were, as well as Hornbuckle--but she could not make a 6-foot jumper until the NCAA tournament her senior year. That is no exaggeration. Part of the problem was lack of confidence due to Summitt's obsession with defense--just about everybody who plays for her loses her offensive game while at UT, the only exceptions being superstars like Parker. Look at Hornbucke--exceptional athlete but never developed offensively in four years; in fact, I'd say she regressed a bit. PS may be a legend, blah, blah--but I don't understand why she can't put an exciting offensive team on the court consistently--much like last year's Ct. team. The last time PS had a real exciting, talented offensive team was 1998. I appreciate the importance of defense, but when you can recruit like PS, you should not be playing ugly, defensive-oriented 1970s style basketball, but that is PS. To say she is old-school would be an understatement.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Yeah, funny things can go through the mind when reading this site before coffee! Yes, that is the kind of "contract" Nicki was talking about. She is widely credited with pulling the team together and serving as the "glue" binding two consecutive national championship teams.
As for the bit about how players feel about being yelled at, I think Nicki is just saying that someone who has been through all that but is not currently connected to the team can be a somewhat more sympathetic and understanding ear when things get tough. I don't discount the value of having SOMEONE in the program who the girls can unburden themselves to on occasion. However, given Nicki's own approach to the game, I rather imagine her response would be something like, "Yeah, I hear you; now suck it up!"
As for the bit about her practicing with the team, I'm pretty sure it won't be done in any way that could have NCAA repercussions, though I confess I have never heard of such a thing, either.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
uconnsux, I should have read your post before writing mine.
DenmarkVol, if I had read uconnsux's post, I wouldn't have piled on.
Apologies to both!
halloffamebowler writes:
Lady Vols should be much improved this year but I do not expect a NC.Maybe not even an SEC championship.Too many teams are now getting better players and better coaching.Use to be the only team we had to worry about was La Tech,Texas etc.Now ,even the bad teams are good enough to lay a whooping on you if you don't come to play every game.Something Tennessee did not do the last couple of years.
utang1602#204610 writes:
Something Tennessee did not do the last couple of years?
You do realize that the Lady Vols won the SEC tournament championship and national championship two years ago, right? So I guess they came to play when it mattered. Besides that, they lost only three games that entire year: to Stanford, LSU, and the US National Team. I don't think any of those teams qualify as bad.
Re: the earlier comment about "exciting" offense. I could care less if the offense is exciting as long as they win games. And anyone who has watched Anosike and Hornbuckle in the WNBA the last two years would know their value offensively and defensively, and realize that they praise Pat Summitt for her effect on their basketball skills.
The sky hasn't fallen, folks. The Lady Vols program will be fine.
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