OXFORD, Miss. - Bianca Thomas' dream was standard issue for a basketball player growing up in Tennessee: She wanted to be a Lady Vol.
"Oh yeah,'' she said, "I grew up listening to Rocky Top, being a Tennessee fan and loving (Coach) Pat Summitt.''
The difference was Thomas grew into a two-time Class 2A Miss Basketball at Chester County High School in Henderson, who averaged 26.7 points and 8.2 rebounds per game her senior season for the school in West Tennessee. She essentially was not recruited by UT and ended up at Ole Miss.
With the Rebels, she's improved every season. As a senior, the 5-foot-10 guard has blossomed into the SEC's leading scorer, averaging 21.3 points per game. She could be a nightmare for No. 5 Tennessee (21-2, 9-1 SEC) when the teams meet Thursday night at Tad Smith Coliseum (TV: CSS, 9 p.m.).
"She does everything for them,'' Summitt said. "That's going to be a big challenge for us as a team. Just watching her on tape, we're going to have to throw different (defensive) schemes at her."
Thomas is the most prolific 3-point shooter for Ole Miss (15-8, 6-4) with 77 treys, which is a school single-season record. She leads the team in rebounding (5.7 per game) and is second in steals with 34.
She's played big in some big SEC games as well. She hit LSU with 42 points in an 80-71 win in Oxford on Jan. 17. Her career high broke the coliseum record of 40, held by former Lady Vol Shelia Collins. Thomas followed up with 29 in a dramatic 102-101 triple-overtime victory at LSU last Sunday, which ended a three-game losing streak.
In between, she overcame 2-for-12 shooting to score a decisive 3-pointer with 5.1 seconds left in a 66-65 win at then-No. 8 Georgia on Jan. 24.
Thomas, who was an All-SEC second-team preseason honoree, merits serious consideration for conference player of the year.
"I think she's been, as I've said all along, a little disrespected and I think she feels that,'' Ole Miss coach Renee Ladner said.
As if she needed more motivation for Tennessee, last season's 60-59 loss in Knoxville still resonates. The Rebels squandered a nine-point lead in the final 4:10 and lost on Angie Bjorklund's 3-pointer with eight seconds left.
"You definitely can't flush that because it was very devastating," Thomas said.
Thomas is part of backcourt trio that constitutes a difficult matchup for Tennessee, which has won 17 in a row in the series. Kayla Melson averages 13.7 points per game and has 113 assists. Shantell Black has 100 assists and 30 3-pointers.
"We have speed,'' Ladner said. "If they chose to play us man to man, I think we have the ability to go around them."
The Ole Miss guards also are primarily responsible for the team's per-game average of 8.6 steals.
"The best thing we have going for us is our inside game but we have to get to it,'' Summitt said. "The pressure - sometimes we handle it, sometimes we don't. Our guard play, we have to make sure we step up in that area and take care of the ball."
After traveling to Oxford, Summitt decided to change UT's starting lineup for tonight. Shekinna Stricklen will return to point guard and Alicia Manning will start on the wing. The Lady Vols used this lineup for the season's second game - against Texas Tech in San Antonio.
Stricklen played point in the second half against Vanderbilt on Monday night and recorded three of her five assists in the final five minutes. Conversely, freshman Kamiko Williams struggled in her second start, playing just nine minutes.
"You can look at her face, (starting) is too much for her right now,'' Summitt said of Williams. "She's not the player right now who's getting us off to a quick start. Hopefully, she'll be able to do what she's been doing off the bench."
The Lady Vols also want to make sure Bjorklund is getting her share of quality shots. Her next basket will put her at 1,000 career points.
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Comments » 28
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Looks like it is going to be another "barnburner"
since we are playing AT Ole Miss. But we know one thing for certain....Never give up on the Lady Vols and CPS! Beat the Rebels!
LV.....TCB.......KOKO......GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PITBOSS009 writes:
OWN THE BOARDS,PLAY SOME HELLA D & WE WILL WIN!!!!!
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Everybody gives the lady vols their best shot, so they better be ready. Ole Miss is a good three point shooting team and they have quick guards. I wonder what defense will be used. Ole Miss let one slip away last year so they will be amped and ready with the homecourt adavantage, for revenge. So the lady vols will have to play twice as hard. Go there ready to play!
flatrock writes:
Strickland struggles in half-court offense against
quick defensive guards...Do not give up on Kamiko:
this team will not go far in NCAA if Kamiko isn't
allowed to play thru her mistakes now! Bianca Thomas is everything Lady Vols need now, but
she wasn't Parade A-A so Pat passed on her for
slower, less-athletic big names...
SoddyVol writes:
From all I had heard about her disposition, I sure didn't expect Kamiko to let starting affect the way she plays like she has. I hope I'm right in expecting a strong performance now coming off the bench.
xvolx writes:
There's nothing wrong with William's off. play. It's her def. play that hurts her. No effort, just goes thru the motions.
kb7398#233189 writes:
This is a typical story...Pat is so focused on rounding up the best players in the nation she sometimes doesn't try to at least get the best player(s) from the state. Well, there is Cait Mc...ooops, no there isn't. That didn't work out at all for either party. Poor Cait. I hope she's recovered and at least going to be successful once she gets her degree.
ladivolfan writes:
Williams, Johnson and Dupree are all in state recruits. It would be a good idea to check out the facts before posting.
nola_vol writes:
There's no better recruit to sign than one that feels disrespected by a higher ranked program. Prime example: Chris Loften. Does anyone think he would have become the player he was at UT if he had been signed by UK?
Of course, that's the problem for Pat and the Lady Vols. Until she can find a player who's been disrespected by UCon, Stanford and UNC who's still unsigned, WE are the higher ranked program that's doing the disrespecting.
GreerVol22 writes:
KNS bashing on Pat for "missing" an in state recruit. Cheap shot, piss-poor reporting.
dwa7#337691 writes:
prediction:
Lady Vols 66
Miss 62
rocky_topper writes:
They're already a 2nd seed NCAA tourney team with their loss to UGA, so it really doesn't matter!
johnlg00#206211 writes:
A little too early to say that. With six or eight games to go, it is entirely possible that one or more of the teams ranked above the Lady Vols will lose one or more games themselves. As always, the LVs just have to worry about what is in front of them and let the polls and seedings take care of themselves.
98reax writes:
Pat picks what (she and her staff) thinks to be a fit for the Lady Vols. A lot of things to consider there. I wouldn't be so quick to question. Just saying...
volboy81 writes:
another in-stater we missed. Hope she doesnt haunt us! Listen to CPS girls and we'll win #18 in a row! GO LADY VOLS!
fortandrews writes:
It's a shame that BB doesn't have all of the Jr. Colleges that FB has where they can sean a player there for two years to get ready to play in the "big league". Williams ISN'T ready this year. I just hope she can gain the same status she had in HS. So let's move on without her for now.
SummittsCourt writes:
Had Cait not had a career ending injury she would be our starting point guard and none of this Kamiko, Shekienna stuff would be talked about. Instead, we would be talking about what it will take to beat uconvicticut, especially with a healthy Vickie Baugh.
SummittsCourt writes:
"Still, will she 'up' her game in college?? I think about Candace or Catch or Chamique....I bet you NEVER had to push them to go hard every play."
That's where you are wrong. They had to be pushed much harder than others because Pat saw their talent and wouldn't let them rest on their skills. She knew she could push them into greatness. It's no secret that all three wanted to leave UT at different times because Pat leaned on them harder than the rest, but they stayed and look how it worked out for them. Pat knows what she is doing.
SummittsCourt writes:
While I understand your point, it is not a matter of "disrespecting" a player. Although they may take it that way. Just because you are a great player from the state of Tennessee and dream of playing at UT it doesn't mean you will be right for her system. Pat knows what she is doing, let's give her that.
schymtz writes:
Tennessee facin' a packed zone. Eight turnovers, but still can get it inside. Rebels lead! OUCH! Great effort on the rebound - but still no goal. Need to stop a run.
gladiator06 writes:
Pat just needs to stop lying about how much kamiko could bring to this team. there have been too many games already where she puts the kid in for 1 minute and pulls her. i have heard pat summitt lie way too much. it appears to me that everbody can make mistakes except for kamiko. she's back in the game, but it won't last long.
schymtz writes:
16-4 run? Down five? I don't know whether I'd rather be a fly on the wall in the locker room or fly far far away.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Here, here, now....I think you went a little too far in calling Pat a liar. She has a right to change her mind for whatever reason she chooses in order to adapt to the game at hand. Glory has been pulled out of the starting lineup at least 3 times, maybe more....I missed the beginning of this game. Angie has had to sit. It is not just Kamiko....apparently you have not watched every game this season. Pat will play Kamkio when she feels she is ready and can handle the pressure and Kamiko will be a great Lady Vol in the future. So, stop it with the name calling please!
LV......TCB..........KOKO.......GBO!!!!!!!!!!!!
cb12 writes:
I respect Coach Summitt as a coach, but over the years she has missed out on some great players especially guards from the state of TN and the past two that could have really helped were Bianca Thomas and Sha Brooks. Both of whom went to SEC schools and will be great WNBA players.
volaholic45 writes:
Man, is it ever getting hard to watch Tennessee teams that can't shoot, from the floor or the line. And can't anybody hit a bunny anymore? When did it become fashionable in both the men's and women's game to just throw the ball up when near the rim and hope for the best? Does anyone teach using the square anymore? And whatever happened to taking away the baseline on defense?
schymtz writes:
I remember when I listened to the Lady Vols to relax. If Ole Miss pulls this out it will be for the first time since the waters parted and the children of Israel crossed over on their way to the Promised Land! If Tennessee Doesn't pull this out, UT will be tied in the loss column with - you guessed it - Kentucky. Liz Robertson is killin' UT from 3-land.
schymtz writes:
BJORKLUND!
schymtz writes:
BJORKLUND! AGAIN
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