Kamiko Williams knows enough about Tennessee's offense to make her first career start for the Lady Vols tonight.
Took a DVD study aid and a court session with coach Pat Summitt, but the freshman point guard made the grade.
Conversely, casual observation was the sole requirement for Williams knowing better than to anticipate start No. 2 just yet.
"I still have to go out there and work hard,'' she said. "I mean that position could be changed in a matter of moments."
She's got that right.
Williams will be part of the 10th different starting lineup of the women's basketball season for No. 5 Tennessee (19-2, 7-1 SEC) against SEC-rival Arkansas (9-12, 1-7) at Thompson-Boling Arena (TV: FSS, 7 p.m.).
The total has climbed to within two of the 12 different starting lineups utilized by last season's 22-11 team. By comparison, Tennessee used five different starting lineups during the 2007-08 national championship season and four when the Lady Vols cut down the nets in 2006-07.
Unlike last season, there's at least a common dominator this season with guard Shekinna Stricklen starting every game. Furthermore, the lineup of Glory Johnson, Taber Spani, Kelley Cain, Angie Bjorklund and Stricklen started 12 games. Spani was dropped from the group four games ago because of turf toe, and UT has used three different starting fives since then.
Still, the inconsistency that factored into last season's shuffling has lingered. After suspect shot selection resulted in her 1-for-8 shooting performance against South Carolina on Sunday, Johnson has been yanked from the starting five tonight for the third time this season. Alyssia Brewer will replace her.
Summitt also sent a message to Stricklen on Sunday by benching her for 14 first-half minutes after she started slowly.
"I purposely sat her and told her why I did it, and it better be the last time it happens,'' Summitt said.
Summitt expressed her ongoing concerns about the Lady Vols' inconsistency to the TipOff Club on Wednesday and revisited the topic with the players before practice, albeit in a more forceful manner."
"Right now, it's not so much about who has had the most experience,'' Summitt said. "It's who is the most invested and the most competitive. We need competitive players. To be honest with you, not everyone competes the way they should compete all the time."
The new lineup might address some issues. Armed with more knowledge, Williams thinks she will be more comfortable playing point guard. She looked the part Sunday in scoring 17 points and dishing out a team-high four assists.
And Stricklen ought to be relieved, since she won't have to play the position full-time. She shared time with Williams in the second half Sunday and scored all nine of her points after halftime.
Williams has been too much in the moment lately, studying set plays, to anticipate her playing status. Bjorklund was sensing the impending promotion more than she was.
"I am still learning to understand Coach but talking to Angie, Angie said 'Maybe this is a test for you to see if she can put you in the starting lineup.'" Williams said. "I said, 'Maybe you're right, maybe not.'"
Bjorklund was right. Now that Williams is starting, she's more certain about her first response.
"If anything," she said, "It'll make me want to work harder to keep it."
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Comments » 41
boogimn3 writes:
I am a 1969 alum who grew up in Knoxville as a rabid, lifetime vol. I was living in California in the late 80's when Coach Summitt began her legendary jouney to greatness, and I only began following the LV's in 1965 when the team lost 10 games and still won the NC, and incredible feat indeed. I was hooked on the effort and winning attitude, and I have been a follower ever since.
It is my belief that the ferocious intensity shown in the past few years by Connecticut, regardless of the possibly nefarious methods of recruiting engaged in by the Devil Coach Who Will Remain Unnamed, is an ominous predictor of the future for the LV's...
Regardless of your opinions, Connecticut will continue to dominate women's basketball because because they will continue to recruit on the highest level. Coach Summit must become more successfull in this area. Fulmer outlived his peak, and all his past glories did not save him.
There is a growing monster in Connecticut, and villifying it will not slow it down. I hope Coach Summit is able to figure this one out, or the LV's will become just another Connecticut wannabe.
Of course, G___ will reach and surpass his peak someday, but he is young, and I wouldn't bet on that happening anytime soon.
Ranting against G__ wont change anything. Only relentless, take-no-prisoners recruiting will enable the LV's to regain their rightful place at the pinnacle at which we all want them to be..
boogimn3 writes:
oops, sorry, of course I ment the 1995 team, not the 1965 team...
utfan00 writes:
She needs to have a talk with "Big Cain". I'm get sick and tired of seeing her traveling with the ball, missing free throws and easy baskets under the goal. BTW, let's not forget that extra dribble before her shot selection. This girl needs to seek PRATT PAVILLION 24-7.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I agree Utfan! Cain is a better player than she has been showing as of late. She needs to stop with the extra dribble and just turn and shoot. Everytime she lowers that ball or think about the shot she gets it stripped or travels. And the missed layups, if she would just take her time and focus on the shot and not just toss it up, her shots would be better and would go in more. Cain will be important in our success, while Brewer has improved, Cains size is needed. I wish she had Brewers footwork and skills under the basket. She would be hell to deal with.
xvolx writes:
I'm not conceeding anything to U Conn. They are a good team. They play with confidence and desire as well as being talented, but anyteam with enough talent and a desire to play 40 minutes could beat them. Not an easy task, but possible. Lady Vols have weak links in desire, but not talent. I saw ND play them even for 20 minutes and then quit and ND is not as talented as Lady Vols. Coach Wooden said championship team build leads. You must have a killer instinct. When you get them down. kick them. I haven't seen this yet out of Lady Vols. Only the future will tell.
ladivolfan writes:
We have too keep in mind too that CT has Maya Moore. Just as UT would not have Candace Parker, neither will CT have Maya forever.
ladivolfan writes:
Plug in the word "forever" up there under Candace Parker.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
Great post and great observation. Through the years I have grown fond of women's basketball and I watch many teams play. You're right this LV team just doesn't have that killer instinct but match up wise I believe they are the only team in the country that could beat UConn but only if they play with confidence.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
...as soon as next year you will be eating those words.
boogimn3 writes:
Oh Lordy, Tony, do I hope you are right...
boogimn3 writes:
But, Tony, Stanford took the LV's out behind the woodshed, then Connecticut took Stanford out behind the same woodshed. So, where's the logic in your belief that the LV's are the only team that can handle, you know, THEM?
Well, maybe they can pull off another 1995, ya think?
Look, Connecticut is a lot more than Myra Moore. They are a group of people who take scalps every time they get on the court and they do it with flawless teamwork. And they have a team full of assassins. We want that. We need that. For Tennessee, better recruiting is crucial. This is war.
ruggy writes:
funny how one of your best players come back to Connecticut http://www.wnba.com/sun/welcome_kara_...
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Killer instinct. I posted something about that months ago and poster's on this site wanted to take ME behind the woodshed. This is exactly why Ucant is winning by 40...they are not satisfied with a 15 or 20 point lead. When they get a team down, they keep kicking and punching to see how much they can make them bleed. When we get a team down, we tend to think we've won the game, and we let up. How many decent leads have we seen disappear this season? Killer instinct can be coached, so hopefully we will see more of that in this young team as the season goes this year and for sure next year.
As far as recruiting goes, I would rather see us go 10-20 than to compromise our high set of standards in doing things the right way as set forth by the NCAA. If CPS started breaking the rules now, she would be lost to herself and to many fans because she would lose her credibility as the classiest coach in the NCAA. Let Guido continue to break the rules and get the top recruits, it will all come full circle and titles will be stripped. I have visions of him standing at the ESPN podium, crocodile tears in his eyes, apologizing to the university and the fans for being a complete douche bag. ROFLMAO!!
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
You're an idiot. Can you not see what a brilliant career move this is for Kara? Now she only has one home town...one she plays ball in and one she works as an analyst in. Kara will always bleed orange and still consults CPS for advice.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
When I was writing my post I was thinking maybe Stanford can beat UConn as well but we match up better. I wouldn't call UConn beating Stanford a "woodshed" beating. The game just got away from them in the 2nd half but they were actually beating UConn. And when we played Stanford, coaching wise we did some things we don't normally do and the game got away from us. I suspect we will play them much better next time. In all UConn can be beat this year but definately next year.
boogimn3 writes:
I am not, of course, knowledgable in just how many rules, legal or understood, that Guido breaks. I am sure Coach Summit has excellent evidence of the liberties he took in recruiting Maya Moore, or she wouldn't have severed connections with UConn.I do believe you will never see him in a position of having to apologize for violating any rules. He's way too smart for that.
That, however, does not minimize the undeniable quality of the teams he is producing or the "killer instinct" he is somehow able to ellicit in his teams.
What is undeniable is that if you have a bench full of top recruits, and someone on the starting lineup starts taking plays off, you have another player just as good chomping at the bit to play.
Our favorite troll, Mike, likes to say that our starters couldn't sit on UConn's bench. Mike may be socially challenged, but is there a shred of truth to what he says?
The very definition of "killer instinct" suggests it cannot be coached, it comes from within. If you need pihranas, you have to find them. And, trust me, pihranas are what is required in big time college sports today, women's or men's.
I agree that high standards of conduct are appropriate, and I know that Coach Summit will always act accordingly. I am also hopeful she will recruit and train with the intensity necessary to be the biggest shark in the neighborhood...
RLL59 writes:
For the record, Cain's field goal percentage is 59% overall and 67% in SEC league play this season. The woman's knees aren't going to hold up to '24/7' practice as one commenter suggests. Everyone would like her to have more mobility, and the fact that she's lost weight speaks to her attempt to improve. Coach Summitt has recently got her to adopt a more standard free throw shooting style, and that should help her percentage. Surely, she can improve her footwork and ball handling, but her statistics don't match the criticism in this stream. Too many people only remember the most recent game.
mad_poly_uct writes:
Actually you meant the '96-97 team that entered the tourney with a record of 18-10, beat a 33-0 UConn team in the Reg. Final, then went on to win N.C. Tenn did not win N.C. in '95, but they did play in N.C. game.
boogimn3 writes:
Yes, m_p_u, thank you for that, I still remember watching on tv as the guard, I think it was Marciniack, drove the lane fearlessly for a layup. My jaw was dragging the carpet as they won. I was hooked after that inspirational effort.
Also, I remember a later year as the entire bench of UConn sat in tears, holding hands in futile desperation, as UT hammered the final nails for the NC. That was after the Lobo years, they had a tall center (Karen__?) who was crying the hardest. Can you set me straight on that year, too?
mad_poly_uct writes:
Lol!!....Yes the event you describe in 2nd paragraph was the Reg. Final in '97. The tall, blubbering center was Kara Wolters. The two teams also met in '96 in the Nat'l Semi-Final where Tenn prevailed in overtime on their way to the 1st of their 3 consecutive Nat'l Championships. One of the best games I ever watched, despite the outcome(yes,I am a UConn fan, just not a hater or flamer, just a fan of the game!)
tonyvick#213307 writes:
I kinda remember that post and I said to myself "a half empty kinda person" however you have made a great observation and I can tell you watch the LV often.
utfan00 writes:
I am very much aware of Cain's field goad percentages and problems with her knees. Sure her knees will hold up 24-7 in the gym by sitting in a chair talking to the coach/staff about things she can do to prevent the opponents to have possesion of the ball because of her little mistakes.
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
I believe the guard was Kelly Jolly (Harper now at NC State trying to fill Kay Yow's shoes). I believe this was also the same season that she tore her ACL and came back in the same season.
mad_poly_uct writes:
Yes it was! Getting her back at point was instrumental in their push to N.C. following a 10 loss regular season. There may have been other injury issues with team as well, because I remember the team UConn played in Reg. Final was vastly improved from the team UConn had defeated that January in Hartford. UConn also lost guard Shea Ralph in opening round of NCAA tourney, but I doubt that made any difference in outcome of Tenn. game. Tenn was really on a roll heading into post season that year.
rockytopron writes:
Keep in mind while your ranting about recruiting that Pat Summitt has always ran a clean program and will continue to do so even at the risk of losing some better players. Uconvict-icut has been cheating for several years and apparently the NCAA has shown no concern over it.
Pat recruits just as hard as anyone else but there are other school that are doing well now. UNC, Duke, Texas, LSU & UConvict-icut have all snatched up the same talent that Pat was going after including Maya Moore & Tina Charles. Pat can't force these girls to come to UT and it's time you and other realize that.
rockytopron writes:
How quickly do some forget? Nikki Anosike was the same way or worse her entire career, but because she won championships she gets a free pass these days.
She constantly drop easy passes, missed point blank layups (remember it was her point blank miss that Alexis put back that won the game against LSU in the final four).
Keep also in mind that Kelley Cain is a sophmore and is still learning the game. She will get better once the injury bug gets past her. and by the way, how many points have you scored for UT in your basketball career? Stop being judgmental!
rockytopron writes:
Lets not forget that Pat Summitt heavily recruited Maya Moore but didn't get a free pass to tour ESPN where Maya wants to work someday. Geno cheated, espn helped them and the NCAA turned the other cheek. Pat runs a clean program and convict-icut doesn't/
rockytopron writes:
utfan, you are being way too critical. These are 18-22 year olds and will only get better in time. Again, how many points have you scored for UT? How many championships have you won for UT? How many 5 star recruits have you brought into the program? Lighten up! Don't you think Pat is capable of getting her to the point of being the best she can be?
utfan00 writes:
Obviously, I must be scoring a lot of points. I got your attention didn't I? I'm not picking on Kelly just pointing out the facts. I know there will be some disagreements about my post. I will advise all of those who wish to comment about it, to get over it. It's my own personal opinion.
Don't like it, MOVE ON.
utfan00 writes:
RESPONDING BACK TO ROCKTOPRON
nadio1987 writes:
Im a HUGE TN fan, but i have come to a conclusion, that if Stanford or TN dont get to face UCONN in the finals, then this is just maybe UCONN year again, just 2 years ago, it was TN year, dont act like GENO have been winning for YEARS, cus before last year, he was in a SLUMP, Coach Summit won TWO championships back to back, before Summit, it was Maryland, before Maryland it was Baylor, so UCONN havent been the team they are NOW until now, and i think the ONLY reason they are that team now is because not only they have the best POST player but because they TRUST each other, and they play wit INTIMIDATION.. many teams who i think that cud BEAT UCONN at their home and not UCONN home like stanford, LOSE the game before it even starts. thats the big difference. they DONT play good enough DEFENSE to stop Maya moore, and i think if u can stop Tina Charles, cus to me she's the BIGGEEST threat, then u can stop UCONN, Maya is going to do Maya regardless, but NO ONE seems to step up and play defense against Tina. but every year a team have their moments. And This is just UCONN's right now, who's to say once NCAA starts, cus TEAMS totally change once NCAA starts. Look at Ball State last year, regardless of our Youth, Ball State became a different team, and maybe TENNESSEE will become a DIFFERENT team come tournament time, we know we NOT that CANDACE PARKER team, but thats because, NO ONE on this team have discovered who gon be the LEADER, i think Kamiko will help us with that. so lets NOT count our girls out cus we dont beat teams by 40 or 50, a WIN is a WIN regardless...
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Way to tell him rocktopron!!! Anosike is doing GREAT in the WNBA and had she not played and learned under CPS, that would not have happened, not to mention all her contributions which lead to NC's. utfan00, obviously has not watched all the games. Pat and the coaches have worked with Cain on her FT's and anyone that has watched the games can see that she has changed her technique. Is there still room for imporvement? Yes, but at least she is improving. Cain just needs to keep the ball up and put in in the basket and in time, I think that will happen. As or all you UCONN lovers, just remember that PAT made womens basketball what it is today, not Geno! She brought parity to women's basetball and that is why there are so many good teams today. This might be your year, so enjoy it while you can......because the Lady Vols are going to be back on top for many years to come!!!
LV.....TCB......KOKO.......GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
As hard as your message might be for some LV fans to hear, I agree with much of it and have posted in a similar vein myself. I don't think CPS needs to lower her standards in any way whatsoever, but maybe a little more attention to psychological factors may be called for, including selecting for "killer instinct" to the extent that is possible.
I don't recall seeing your screen name on here before, but you clearly seem to be a person who really thinks about these things. Don't be a stranger!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Good to hear from you again, MPU! Same ol', same ol' on here. We added another decent UConn "interloper" like you, but yet another troll as well. As it says in the Bible, "The wheat and the tares grow side by side." The LVs are coming along in fits and starts but are FAR better than they were last year, as indeed how could they not be? Let's all hope we see some more classics like you and boogimn3 were talking about before too much longer!
The_Truth_and_nothing_but_the_Truth writes:
All the negative comments on Geno I could expect, he is coaching the toughest team in the nation right now. The fans on here calling him derogatory names based on his nationality is wrong, it borders on "Hate". I wonder what the Italian members of this blog think about that language.
gladiator06 writes:
ok...pat summitt had no plans to really allow kamiko a chance. this was just a pr stunt and nothing else. kamiko is a token that pat summitt uses like she did alberta auguste.
gladiator06 writes:
kamiko gets taken out the game because bjorklund turned over the ball on consecutive trips down the floor
mad_poly_uct writes:
Hey JL00,nice to hear from you again too! Ahhh, another troll, eh? Well, they keep things interesting I'm sure. My daughter, the LV fan, has kept me posted on things while I'm away doing my thing. Fortunate to have caught a few Tenn games on ESPN360.I agree, far better without a doubt.Missed tonights game but just looked at box score. Thought Williams would have played more than 17 min. Thought she played quite well at the point last game and pretty much had the job. Going to be fun stretch run for both our teams I think, although I have to admit, if UConn does lose(..'any given Sunday'as they say) it will go down as one of the biggest upsets ever. No disrespect intended to any other team, but this UConn team is a very tough, talented & focused bunch.
boogimn3 writes:
John, thanks for the welcome. I live in Thailand, so my posts are 12 hrs ahead of you. It is 12:45 here now, so I don't expect replys until tonight.
It is also good to hear from UConn fans who are rational, such as mad_poly, who showed class after I refered to Gino as Guido. I can't spell Auriamma(?) so I will use Gino from now on.
We can have the greatest respect for Coach Summit without blindly defending her against any one expressing a different opinion than we might like to hear.
I do agree that Nikki Anosiki was a bull in a china shop handling the ball. My friends and I used to refer to her as a turnover looking for a place to happen. I am glad for her that she has done well in the pros, maybe they coached that out of her, but while she was a vol I heald my breath whenever she was in the game. She was either a brilliant defender or a horrible offensive player under the basket. And, I cannot for the life of me, understand why players insist on putting the ball on the floor before they go up for the basket. Kelly Cain apparently has this same problem.
I, too, look for many great games between UConn and UT in the future, but I believe we need more players like Semekla Randal and Tamika Catchings, relentless on the defensive end, to be on the right level. And, I will end by saying that parity may be more prevelant today, but that hasn't stopped UConn, and it isn't just in the last two years. They will remain strong, and we must recruit and develop the weapons to deal with it.
As Dale Carneigie said, "Cooperate with the inevitable"
mad_poly_uct writes:
LOL....Guido is one of the nicest names I've seen him referred to here! No worries my friend, it's your site afterall. Oh, and just for future reference, it's actually Geno:)
I came to this site in '07 as a way for my daughter to follow the LV's. Much to my chagrin she jumped on the bandwagon during '07 NC run as a way to stick it to me I'm sure. I've posted on occasion ever since. Been a big fan of the womens game for many years, and hold nothing against Tenn. & P.S.'s place in raising the game to where it is today. Heck, even Geno said in '86 after his first winning season, Tenn is where the bar is set. Every team wants to attain that level. What seemed a pipe dream then is now a reality. Both programs are the face of WCBB. I agree that over the past 10-15 years parity has set in, which is good thing. All the top programs will go through cycles, and next year I believe Tenn will be odds on favorite, while UConn will deal with a bit of rebuilding. Baylor & Stanford among others will also be very competitive. As for my daughter,who just turned 14, her passion for the LV's has waned a bit, but not so much because of UConn, but more due to homework, rehearsals, and boys. And it better stay in that order! Hope to chat with you again, and enjoy rest of season!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I agree that some of our comments about Geno are tasteless, to say the least, but many if not most of them have been in response to a particularly obnoxious UConn troll who has been plaguing us for years on here. In fact, I think I pointed him out to you recently. That doesn't make needless slander right, but it is at least an explanation.
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