Women's basketball practice ended early Tuesday for Tennessee, which affirmed two things about the Lady Vols' work level.
First, they had reached the end of five consecutive days on the court, the longest stretch since the official start of practice Oct. 16. Second, they didn't drag through the day.
"The intensity was great,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said.
With the first exhibition game (Nov. 5 vs Carson-Newman College) eight days away, the progress report is generally encouraging, especially regarding Vicki Baugh.
The 6-foot-4 junior forward, who's recovering from her second torn anterior cruciate knee ligament, has been an active participant, regardless of the practice drill. She's been running, jumping and absorbing some contact.
Since she's not up to speed yet, Baugh has been playing with prudence. During Sunday's practice, she wisely turned down a lob pass in transition from freshman Kamiko Williams, swatting the ball to the ground instead
"I was thinking 'No don't throw that pass up there,' " Summitt said.
While Summitt is "surprised and pleased" with Baugh's progress, the coach still favors a wait-and-see view of Baugh's recovery.
"As I told her, I don't want to force anything, push anything time-wise,'' Summitt said. ". . . The overall comfort level has to be hers, not ours."
Conversely, Summitt is trying to accelerate Williams' maturation, no matter how challenging that might be. On Tuesday, Summitt yanked the 5-11 guard from a shooting drill because of her casual manner and had her running instead.
"She's a typical freshman and she's giving in to fatigue,'' Summitt said.
"She's got a chance to be a special guard. She's a great handler. Of all our guards, she does as good a job as any of them in creating and getting to the paint."
Summitt said the only two players she is having any effort issues with are Williams and sophomore forward Alyssia Brewer.
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Comments » 17
CTOWNICON writes:
Good news about Vicki! They are going to need her to mount a fierce comeback this season. Brewer showed so much promise in the Auburn game last season in the sec tournament hope she gets back to form. Glad to hear that the Williams girl can create and drive to the basket, that was something that was missing last year with the guards. I just hope she gets it together!
xvolx writes:
hope someone is smart enough to put a brace on her knee.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
It's pretty hard to question the "smarts" of this coaching and training staff, IMHO. If a brace is indicated, I'm pretty sure Vicky has the best one available. Too bad there seems to be an effort issue with Brewer. Williams I can understand since she is a freshman, but Brewer ought to know what is required by now.
kazoo writes:
The team desperately needs Baugh and a good PG to be half-decent. And even if her knee holds up--knock on wood--Baugh will take half a season to get back in the groove...
YankeeVol writes:
Why is anyone lucky enough to be a member of this elite squad still on the team - yes, Brewer - if there are effort issues? If someone cannot be bothered to put forth enough effort, why doesn't UT cut their losses and send a message to everyone?
ladivolfan writes:
There are effort issues each year. Last year it was the entire team sans Smallbone, according to Pat.
98reax writes:
I believe a team with a healthy Baugh and a healthy Cain combined with a savvy point guard and some veterans buying into Pat's philosophy will be serious contenders for a SEC championship as well as the grand prize. I don't know that we have that scenario going into the 2010 season, but it's exciting to think of the possibility, is it not?
miketnvolsfan writes:
the young ones got plenty of work in last year and did very well on the way and get ready tennessee the girls are about to hit the hardwood and WE ARE TENNESSEE.GO VOLS
YankeeVol writes:
OK - your explanation makes sense. I suppose there would be great outrage if the headline read, "Lady Vols veterans dumbstruck and confused in practice". "Effort issues" sounds a little nicer.
YankeeVol writes:
Are you a Freudian analyst? If not, you have potential. People with that skill are making 175.00 per hour in the Northeast.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
No academic credentials in psychology required, just a working knowledge of how athletes work and think. Long_vol's theory seems perfectly credible to this ex-coach.
YankeeVol writes:
That's too bad for him or her...only 50.00 per hour, then.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
In all honesty, while I have seen examples of the syndrome you describe, there are degrees of coaches "getting down" on players and of players "falling apart". Every coach, player, and game or practice situation is different. It is possible for a coach to chew out a player AND for the player to realize that the coach "has their back".
Two extremes to consider. First, Kevin O'Neil. A former Vol who played for him called him "the most relentlessly negative individual I have ever met." While O'Neil's teams seemed to play hard, it was clear that many players' hearts just weren't in it because they felt there was nothing they could do to please him.
OTOH, Philip Fulmer. By all accounts, players loved him, but they didn't behave off the field for him and they seemed to lay down in games for him. Many of us ground our teeth over the way he reacted to nearly every screw-up on the field by clapping his hands, patting the guy on the butt, and never visibly dressing a guy down, no matter how badly he was playing.
Between those two extremes, we have--ta da!--Pat Summitt! No question, Pat's stare--let alone her chewing out--can peel paint, but given the almost universal regard her former players have for her, they eventually come to realize that she "has their backs" in all the ways that really count. I'm sure initial exposure to her demanding ways is a bit of a shock for the average pampered HS super-star, but sooner or later most of them get it. She wouldn't have the record she has if she didn't have a pretty good sense of which players need their backs patted and which need their butts kicked--and when to do each to ANY player--even if the players involved may not always see it that way when it happens(;-P)!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I'm always interested in your views. You say what you think without resorting to trash talk. Many on here would do well to emulate you.
go_vols writes:
NC Champion 2010. GO VOLS
catch24rules writes:
If Brewer would start playing with the effort Big Nicky used to play with she could be one of the top centers to play for us.
She has such talent, it's a shame to see the lack of effort she puts out.
Would love to see her play with huge effort for 40 minutes instead we get maybe 10
ProwlinAndGrowlinSmokeyDog writes:
You are exactly right..That is IMPRESSIVE!!!
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