Kelley Cain’s performance spoke loudly on her behalf Thursday night.
Tennessee’s center tied a school record with eight blocks and set career highs with both the blocks and 17 rebounds. She also scored 14 points in a 74-57 SEC women’s basketball victory over Arkansas.
Teammate Alyssia Brewer had something to say as well after the near triple-double, referring to the 6-foot-6 center as “a beast.”
Cain returned the favor in volunteering praise for Brewer. The 6-3 forward had 20 points and nine rebounds.
“Her game has elevated to a completely different level,’’ Cain said.
The appreciation was more than mutual. No. 5 Tennessee (20-2, 8-1 SEC) was grateful as well, along with an anxious crowd of 11,817 at Thompson-Boling Arena.
“We always emphasize getting the ball inside because we have two of the best posts in the country,’’ guard Angie Bjorklund said. “I say that with great confidence. They work really well together, especially with the high-low game. I thought they really battled inside and I was proud of them. I hope they continue to play like that.”
The Lady Vols had a fight on their hands with Arkansas (9-13, 1-8), which was led by Charity Ford’s 18 points. The Razorbacks prepared for the game by erasing the conference standings in their locker room, which showed them mired in 11th place.
“We were starting fresh tonight,’’ Arkansas coach Tom Collen said. “This isn’t an easy place to start.”
No matter, the Razorbacks covered for the disparity in size and talent with spunk and determination. Ashley McCray, who stands 6-3 jousted frequently with Cain for position around the basket. At one point, official Bryan Enterline brought both players together for a scolding.
“We talked about winning the battle of effort,’’ Collen said. “There are not many teams in this league that play much harder night in and night out than Tennessee. I honestly thought we won the battle of effort tonight and I think that’s what allowed us to at least stay in the game.”
The Razorbacks’ effort was aided by nine 3 pointers. Guard Lyndsay Harris scored all 12 of her points from behind the arc.
Tennessee, meanwhile, hurt itself with inefficiency. Several wayward passes played a part in Arkansas’ 11 steals.
Freshman Kamiko Williams made her first start at point guard and her inexperience showed with just two points, two assists and two turnovers.
“I thought she’d be a lot better,’’ UT coach Pat Summitt said. “This is her first start at the position. We’ve got time. We need her to do a better job of getting the ball out of her hands. There were a few possessions that she was out there by herself.”
UT ended up playing the position by committee, running Shekinna Stricklen and Briana Bass at the point.
“(Alicia) Manning got caught a few times at the top,’’ Summitt said, “but she wasn’t put there to be a point guard.”
UT also was searching for a shooting guard. Bjorklund was missing in action at halftime with zero points and two shot attempts. She responded after the break by scoring 17 points. Her first points came in rapid-fire succession — three consecutive baskets to give UT a 43-30 lead with 15:23 remaining.
“I was getting shots within the offense and playing inside-out,’’ Bjorklund said. “Coming off of screens was big, too. Kelley had a lot of screen assists tonight.”
Brewer assisted Cain on the game’s final two baskets as they put the finishing touches on their shared effort by connecting on two pretty high-low plays.
“It’s definitely effective,’’ Brewer said.
On this night, it worked out well on Tennessee’s behalf.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Cordarrelle Patterson drafted by the…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 69
VolInIndy writes:
Love the Lady Vols
BeRealistic writes:
20th win, big deal. Pat cannot recruit top players in the nation anymore. The team played confused tonight, especially playing at home. Maybe she will work things out before tournament time. Post play was great tonight. GO VOLS
movol53 writes:
What an ugly game; especially in the first half.
The last 3 or 4 have been that way also. I really think the girls are trying too hard to make things happen. Numerous missed shots and passes. I know it is a fine line but there are just too many mistakes by 3 or 4 players every game. Part of the problem is; it is not just one or two players - - seems like they take turns at being the "poor player(s)".
KeithfromSweden writes:
Didn't get to see it but followed it on "Gamecast". A win is a win. This is not national championship play.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Congratulations on the win! But too sloppy of a game! Too many missed layups, bad passes, and turnovers. Kamiko rushed and tried to do to many things. She was a little tight and seemed reluctant and under the pressure of wanting to do well in her first start. She will get better. I would still keep her in the lineup! Brewer and Cain, good job in the post tonight. Stricklen played well. Manning needs to get in Pratt and work on her shots and layups. Her defense is good but she is a liability on offense. Smallbone is a liability on defense but can give you a shot here and there. I don't know why they don't just switch on screens against good three point shooting teams. Everytime they went under a screen tonight they got burned. The coaching staff needs to address that. I know they see it! Arkansas shot too many threes and made them! Against a good team, like coming up Vandy at their home, three point defense needs to be upgraded.
gladiator06 writes:
i agree. This team tries so hard to not make mistakes and in the end they make too many. they are too afraid to play freely 'cause they know they get to sit by pat if they do. i knew pat wouldn't play kamiko for very long. this reminds me so much of high school basketball...constant substitutions. if pat doesn't start letting the players on the floor figure it out, this team will make another first round exit from the ncaa tournament. for kamiko, she had to be thinking if i pass she takes me out, if i shoot she takes me out. in the second half, kamiko was taken out the game after bjorklund turned over the ball on consecutive trips down the floor. everybody is just too nervous to go out and play. if pat doesn't allow somebody time to play, she'll probably set a record for different line-ups. how do you know who is capable of what if you're replacing them every couple minutes. how do you know what decisions each player is capable of making. this coaching staff may be missing nikki caldwell just a little too much. way too much nervous energy and if they carry it into vanderbilt, they'll get spanked.
springtx_vol writes:
Lest you forget, the ladies are playing with one junior, 6 sophomores, and 2 freshmen for most of the time. If Smallbone plays, that makes 2 juniors.
As I remember, all of them were high school all americans. And we are missing Bauch, Dupree, and Gray; 2 more sophomores and another freshman.
UConn, on the other hand, has 5 seniors, 2 juniors, 2 sophomores, a red-shirt freshman, and a freshman on the roster.
UConn gets 75% of their points and 61% of their minutes from SR and JR players. UT gets 23% of their points and 20% of their minutes from SR and JR players.
We know that CPS is still rebuilding this team. With two super guards coming in and getting Baugh, Dupree and Gray back, I fully expect UT to be NC contenders next year. Give them time to grow up!
lewhs93#205993 writes:
Remember these are very young ladies and finding a real point guard is a big problem.Williams will be great one of these day.Now she is learning.They also find someone to help them win.Williams last game Kelly,Angie and Brewer tonight.
KeithfromSweden writes:
Why the UCONN reference? You don't play them.
r2d2 writes:
Extremely wise comments. Everything you wrote is right to the point and hits the nail on the head! Too bad Pat doesn't read these comments. She certainly needs someone on her staff that she will listen to, like Nikki Caldwell .
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
Well, at least we won. YAWN...
xvolx writes:
Too much experimenting on this team. Williams plays 49 seconds and is yanked. I wouldn't care if I ever saw Bass and Smallbone enter a game. The players are uninspired. Maybe it's the musical chairs coaching, the halfcourt zone press with slow players. Summitt can't seem to make up her mind what she wants to do and the players can't read minds. Something is wrong with this team.
KeithfromSweden writes:
You guys have only lost two games. There are issues..but you have won. You have a bunch of all Americans who need to be made into a team. Coaching coaching coaching.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I dont agree with all the yanking either. You have to let players play through mistakes or at least give them a chance to play better. Yanking them after one mistake or two you don't know if they can put that mistake behind them and play on. Kamiko was overwhelmed a bit, and probably nervous about being under the magnifying glass! Angie on the other hand is experienced and she knows better. Even though she finally got it together in the second half, I dont expect all the mistakes from her that she makes. If this team could cut half of the unforced turnovers, they would be in really good shape.
SummittsCourt writes:
Pat can't recruit anymore? Hello! Candace Parker!
Pat runs a clean program and if it means not getting the top players every year than so be it. I know you can't believe this but there is more to life than winning every game by 30.
SummittsCourt writes:
We have 3 post players and a guard sitting on the bench with injuries. If they are all healthy UT is undefeated and #2 in the country, not to mention some of the players getting minutes would only be playing in pick up games.
SummittsCourt writes:
Exactly! Too many are posters are looking at uconvict-icut and comparing the Lady Vols. It's time to get over that and realize this is a young inexperienced team that Pat is trying to get to play well. They had a great team win against Auburn, but when you are a young team you make lots of mistakes.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
The first half was "yawn". CPS made halftime adjustments to get Angie open where she could shoot and score. Cain was a blocking rebounding machine and I am really impressed with the vast improvements Brewer has made. She really has come on strong this past 3 games. Having Cain and Brewer on the floor at the same time is a great advantage for the Lady Vols. They both could be and will be unstoppable in time....if Cain's knees will hold up. Was this one of our better games????? Absolutely not! They are young and still have alot to learn. They won and they are 20-2. Alot of teams would give anything to win 20 games a season. I have said it before and I will say it again.....Pat has a plan and a reason for everything she does to get to get the best out of her team. It will all eventually pay off in the near future...just wait and see!
LV......TCB.......KOKO.......GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SummittsCourt writes:
Please submit your coaching resume to the University of Tennessee athletics department as soon as possible. OH, you don't have a coaching resume?
Whats wrong with this team? Youth and inexperience - Coach Summitt knows what she is doing you don't.
rlshepa#259432 writes:
I guess all you coaching experts should get a job doing that. You would be worth about a dime.
SummittsCourt writes:
To all of the critics posting,
Hello! The Lady Vols just won a SEC game by 17 points against a team that is better than it's record indicates and since they are the Lady Vols they get the best from every team they play. They won by 17! Isn't that enough.
Look at the roster:
0 seniors, 2 juniors (borkland & smallbone)
5 sophmores, 1 redshirt sophmore (Cain) & 3 freshmen (Spani has been injured of late).
Vickie Baugh, Amber Gray & Faith Dupree are all redshirting this year due to injury.
The Lady Vols are 20-2 and in first place in the SEC. One loss was to #2 sanford and at the time #8 Georgia on the road and we all know the home cooking calls the bulldogs got in that game.
Lighten up! Enjoy the season. Pat's not done yet.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Amen Summitt1000!!!!! Looks like we both feel and think the same way!!! I appreciate all your posts and comments. I really do!!
SummittsCourt writes:
Recruiting
For those who don't really follow recruiting it can seem as if Pat isn't trying anymore but you would be wrong. Here is a list of players Pat heavily recruited of late but didn't get.
Seimone Augustus, Syliva Fowles, Ivory Latta, Maya Moore, Tina Charles, Jane Appeal, & Ella Delle Donne to name a few.
She recruits just as hard if not harder than anyone else, but she can't force them to come play for UT. Some players like the idea of going to another program and helping them win, some players just don't like Pat's style of coaching, some players like to play close to home (we all know that several players over the last 5-6 years have left the UT program over playing time or home sickness) and some players get caught up in espn tours and such.
SummittsCourt writes:
I'm glad I am not the only one who sees the truth and thanks for the support.
rclarkfork#639958 writes:
This board is a joke....Womens College basketball has become more competitive every year for many years now and this Lady Vols team has a 20-2 record playing maybe the toughest schedule in the country. You folks have gotten way too spoiled over the years and your expectations are unreal. You still can't grasp the concept of there is a beginning to parity in womens basketball. You female dog about the starting lineup, you female dog about the rotations, you female dog and say Pat doesn't sign All Americans any more. There is no team in the nation except for maybe Uconn that could lose a player of Baugh's caliber and still come out and go 20-2, yet Tenn has lost much more then just her. You all think you know who should play and how many minutes, you make fools of yourself. Anyone that knows anything about basketball sits and cackles at the egotistical, I know what should be done and Pat doesn't statements you continue to make. What a joke. These are the kind of statements people make on a board on the Internet where nobody knows who they are and no where else. If you made them around the water cooler, you would get laughed out of the building and anything you said from then on would be snickered at. Grow up and realize we have more high school All Americans then any team in the nation except for UConn. We have one of the best ladies basketball teams in the country and one of the all time great coaches. Now let me guess about your credentials. You were a so so player on your church team. You tried out for the high school team and the coach didn't know talent, so you said to hell with it. You have been criticizing basketball coaches for all of 10 or 15 years now. Let me guess you are all of 30 years old and know everything there is to know about college basketball. How could I possibly believe that you don't know what this team needs more then Pat. What a fool I am.
volfan73120#211815 writes:
volfirst, Even though you are entitled to your opinion, I cannot agree with your assertion about Pat and her ability to recruit top players. She has top players on this squad, and she had three on the bench tonight who are injured and can't play. These were McDonald All Americans. Even though the ones who played tonight didn't play their best game, or as some have said, they played ugly, They still won by 17 points. Now that is not luck, that's talent. My opinion is, which you don't have to agree with, that Pat is a great recruiter, and has proved that many times over the last 34+ years. I have been watching Tennessee sports since 1939, and it really saddens me to read how some of our so called fans can trash the coaches and players of our athletic teams. We are just one year removed from winning two straight National Championships.
I am sure we had adequate players then. We have only had one coach in womens basketball, and I hope she stays with us for many years to come. I also think 20 wins out of 22 is a big deal. Have a good day.
nadio1987 writes:
Yes.. the BEST post i have ever READ, yes, yes, yes, yes.. i cudnt have wrote this up better, OMG, i like this alot, because so many people forget that in the past few years, UCONN hasnt been in the championship picture, Pat summit won two back to back, before that, Maryland won, and before that was Baylor.. i love this post
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
And what a fool you are! A big dummy at that! You're a delusional stupid fan. Obviously you did not see the game or read the article. Pat was not happy with the play of the game today. So what they have a 20-2 record, is it so bad to want them to continue to improve. I have never said Pat does not sign all americans so that is your crack pipe talking. And I dont care what uconn loses or gains, so that must be your crystal meth addiction speaking for you. You are not the board police so you cant dictate others opinions. If you saw this game, you would have seen, as Pat did, that they did not play a good game, yeah they won but they should have, it was Arkansas! I dont know how many all americans we have on this team, I am never concerned with that as long as they play to the best of their abilities. That high school all america title on a player does not mean anything. Some of them get to the big time and never live up to expectations, so can it, Fool. I look at the games and I see certain problems and I am not the only one who have seen these problems. My comments are in no way derogatory towards this team, it is all constructive. If you had the standard education awarded to anybody who would accept it, then your stupid azz would be able to comprehend what you read. Pat is a good coach, the best, but she is not perfect. Yes this team is good, but they can be better and they have played better. I can admit that, why cant you? Dont list your life credentials and try to put them on someone else, just because your childhood and life was and is pathetic, doesnt mean everyone's is. I tell you one thing, I am glad you are nobody's coach, because your team would not know if they were progressing or not.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Who cares about uconn? Let's get a grip people and quit acting like Pat is a God because she isnt. She is the best coach in the business but even she can make a mistake, just like any other coach. She may overlook things and then later on catch it, and fix the problem. I don't doubt Pat's abilities to coach, but this is a message board and I will offer my opinion, as anybody else does theirs. Quit living in the past and move forward. I know Pat is still putting the pieces of this team together trying to get the best combination, and I am confident that she will do that. But whatever problems I see in a game, I am not scared to say so. Not that it matters, because it is all opinionated anyway. Can you over-sensitive fans realize that?
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Since you had trouble comprehending the article let me help you! The article pointed out some of the same problems that I saw. Arkansas made nine three pointers. My observation! When they made these shots the lady vols went under the screens instead of switching. Switching proves to be more effective when defending the three. The article states, Tennessee meanwhile hurt itself with inefficiency. Several wayward passes played part in Arkansa's 11 steals. I said the lady vols had too many turnovers, made bad passes, and missed too many layups and did not defend the three very well. Some of this you could have read in the article, the other, you could have seen for yourself if you had payed attention to the game, if you even saw it. Now if you can honestly say the coaching staff does not need to work with the team on these problems, then your drug habit is worse than I thought.
boogimn3 writes:
You go, Pink..!
If we don't get some assasins who play consistently, that "Glories of the Past" thing won't mean much anymore...
Sawadee Kap, from Thailand, where it is 2:30 pm. You are a night person?
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
You are in Thailand, and keeping up with the lady vols. You must be a really dedicated fan. Good to have you on board! Some people just do not understand and choose to ignore certain problems. But we are all fans and we are all entitled to our own opinions. Opinions being the keyword! I love Pat, I dont agree with every move she makes but in the end it is her move to make. I am merely a fan following her and her team and wishing them the best.
tonyvick#213307 writes:
What this team need is a leader that would get in the face of a player and tell them the truth. That can not be Pat but these ladies are making Pat that person when it needs to be a player. Bjorkland and Stricklen are too sweet and soft to play that role. Glory is to preoccupied in her own play to have to worry about another players play. For the past few years Anosike was that person where the girls didn't won't to face her as well as Pat. Possible candidates for a "voice" leader to me seems it could be Brewer, Cain, or Spaini but they have to not care so much about the feelings of the rest of the players. These ladies seems to put all this on Pat which just shouldn't be the case. Could someone step up and lead? And I'm not just talking about leading in play.
ladivolfan writes:
Wish I could have seen more of Kamiko. She just needs experience. It will come and it will be second nature to her to run the point. Go Lady Vols!
xvolx writes:
Keep going Pink. Second place means one thing. First loser.
cloudodust writes:
Has Pat Summitt reached a point in her distingushed career whereas she's mellowed a bit on the bench..? I'm no Body Language expert but I've noticed a lack of fire I had seen from her in the past. Maybe she's saving it up for when it counts but to date, she just hasn't looked to be herself over there. She's the best tactician in the Women's game and she plays her teams differently year to year. Maybe this is one of those' Kick back' seasons for her...GBO
richvol writes:
Pat did not give Kamiko enough of an opportunity to play last night. She took her out almost immediately and let Bass play way too many minutes. Bass is a sweet,tiny girl who has no idea what to do with the ball after bringing it up the court. She can't penetrate the lane,shoot very well or make passes that end up as assists. Kamiko does ALL of those. Yeah she dribbled a little too much for Pat's liking but my GOD Borklund is a dribbling machine and did not score at all in the first half. Kamiko scored 17 in the last game and we would have lost that game without her.
Smallbone and Bass have no business on the floor except in cleanup duty. Smallbone makes an occasional three but is a liability on defense and Bass is not a threat at anything and is too small to defend.
Candace was recruited over 5 years ago and all those players listed in a previous post that we recruited but missed out on is exactly the point. Pat once got those players and is not anymore. Several teams in the recent seasons have thrown very athletic players at us who have torn us a new one and they were playing on not so great teams that we should have been able to beat in recruiting. Our recruting evaluations are missing on too many players that could really help us instead of having to go a year or two without a team that can challenge UCONN.
Kamiko can't get any better if Pat isn't willing to have some growing pains with her. Let her play and coach her up.
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Let's see...Coach Pat's been in Knoxville for 36 seasons. She's won 20 in 34 of those seasons. Big deal? Yeah...it IS a big deal. Ask the Arkansas coach if he'd like to have 20 wins.
I can't believe you even posted this. Your ignorance is glaring.
Jephry writes:
I was listening to the game on the internet last night and getting very frustrated when I suddenly remembered, "Hey, these are babies out there, basketball-wise...they are mostly 2nd year players!" I expect way too much from Pat's teams...Yes, I'm spoiled. Remember the year Alexis Hornbuckle had to play point? Remember how awful she was in the beginning? Kamiko is just as athletic as Lex was, if not a bit more natural at playing the point. She'll get better. They all will. I have every confidence that Pat will have this team working like a well-oiled machine in due time. Even so, that doesn't mean that I don't cringe every time I hear Mickey Dearstone say, "And <insert player name here> goes up for a breakaway layup...good!" Ugh. hehe
BeRealistic writes:
That was a good post with common sense & intel.
springtx_vol writes:
Why compare to UConn? You always compare yourself to the best. Right now, they are the best in women's basketball. Next year, they will probably not be the best for the reasons I pointed out in my original post.
I hope that the Lady Vols play UConn for the NC. I recognize that they have a hard path to do so. But the original post that lead to my first comments stated that Pat Summit can't recruit and can't coach.
Great coaches and young, inexperienced players don't usually beat great coaches and experienced players. I want to beat UConn; but I am realistic.
BeRealistic writes:
My response to you is read my reply to PINK-CHAMPAGNE today 8:53. I don't have time to fool with you PUNK.
BreatheUT writes:
I thought the guard play was pathetic and the substitution patterns were puzzling.
GLV
LdyVolFaninKS writes:
The X-factor that we are missing on this team is Cait. If we had Cait running the point, we would also have our team leader. Kamiko would have somebody to learn from. Strick could run the 3 all the time. We are quick to mention the injuries, but seem to forget that Cait is the one we are missing the most. You have to have a team leader in any team sport and Cait would have been it. If, If, If...we have to figure out a way to win with what we have. Yes, we are winning, but the competition is only going to get tougher from here. Who will step up and be our leader?
Biggie writes:
Cause there is no one else worthy, year in and year out, of comparison to us.
tedb#664810 writes:
Very good comments! Some of the other experts seem to have forgotten some of these fine points. PHS has a proven trackrecord. She knows what she's doing
johnlg00 writes:
Some good points here. It seems that the worst of the men's and women's teams are rubbing off on each other, in terms of the constant substitutions and careless ball-handling. While it may be true that the unenforced turnovers are due to nerves for the LVs, the men just seem not to value possession enough. Both teams need to figure out what their best combinations are and LET THEM PLAY. Luckily, both still have time to get it figured out before the tournaments, but time is getting short.
kazoo writes:
An ugly, sloppy game? That's Summitt's speciality! She's got a bench full of AAs every year, but you'd never know it most years from watching her teams play. We haven't had a really good, exciting TEAM since 1998. Parker, with her O and D, pretty much single-handedly carried the Vols to two titles. The Vols win, but is it too much to ask for some consistently good basketball on both ends of the court? I guess so...
volboy81 writes:
I was in Kansas once...I yawned a lot too.
ps11824 writes:
RockyToptoNeyland writes:
I will be the first to say it, we are not good right now, the energy wasnt there tonight and we almost lost to the worst team in the sec. We have got to find our stroke, start making free throws, and stop missing easy shots. or we will get pounded on the road against vandy and kentucky.]]
That was one of 113 very similiar comments posted on the men's thread regarding their narrow escape in LSU last night.
Bottom line — we won. Same for the Lady Vols, we won another conference game in which we fought and scraped out another victory. The front court was an experiment which turned out to be an awesome showing by Brewer and Cain. It was what Pat was working for. It was a successful scrimmage.
The guard by committee was valuable experience too. What we don't take into consideration is that Pat and staff have a purpose for what they run and who they rotate. We don't always know why she's doing what she does, but she's been pretty successful at it for a long while.
Hopefully, they will become a cohesive team by SEC tournament time which is only 5 games away. I believe Pat is pulling out all stops to find the right combination/rotation for the competition at hand. With injuries looming large on a short bench, she plans for the unexpected. AND we are winning and leading the SEC. Things could be so much worse than sloppy.
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