Pat Summitt hadn't tossed a Tennessee women's basketball player from practice in nearly three years.
That changed Monday.
The Lady Vols coach sent freshman Kamiko Williams to the locker room after she exhibited low energy during a workout at Thompson-Boling Arena.
"Hopefully, she'll learn,'' Summitt said. "Again, she's the most athletic guard on our team."
The last Lady Vol to be banished was Dominique Redding, who was tossed from a practice leading up to the Women's Final Four in 2007. Earlier that season, Summitt sent the entire team packing.
After scoring 17 points off the bench in a 60-55 comeback victory at South Carolina on Jan. 31., Williams was promoted to starting point guard. She struggled in her new role against Arkansas on Feb. 4 and versus Vanderbilt on Feb. 8. She went back to a reserve role but wasn't appreciably better at Ole Miss last Thursday or against Florida on Sunday, where she had two points and two rebounds while playing 11 minutes.
Summitt said she wasn't sure whether starting Williams was too much too soon for her.
"I don't know how she thinks,'' Summitt said. "If somebody told me 'Hey, you can be my starting point guard' I'd be studying my notes, I'd be looking at all our sets."
Summitt said Williams had watched tape of her recent play with acting assistant Stephanie Glance and acknowledged she wasn't playing hard enough. Williams also did extra shooting before Monday's practice.
"Then she comes out and there's no change,'' Summitt said. "Today might have been the lowest energy of all through the whole year. And so I kicked her out."
Williams, who was visibly upset when leaving the court, was composed when she returned afterward to run at Pratt Pavilion.
"She's just casual and we can't be,'' Summitt said. "Because, I mean, that's why I went off at halftime (Sunday). I am committed to holding this team to the highest standard in every practice and everything we do."
The team is off today. Summitt said Williams' playing status for Thursday's game at Alabama will hinge on her effort in Wednesday's practice.
"Right now I'm just going to wait and see what she does when she gets on the practice floor,'' Summitt said.
SEC Honor: UT guard Angie Bjorklund was named SEC player of the week after hitting a game-winning 3-pointer in a 61-58 victory at Ole Miss on Thursday and scoring a team-high 24 points in Sunday's 83-44 victory over Florida.
Against Ole Miss, Bjorklund reached 1,000 career points.
In three games, Bjorklund averaged 15.3 points per game.
Notebook: Tennessee (23-2, 11-1 SEC) stayed No. 5 in the Associated Press' weekly top 25 poll. . . . Summitt indicated that freshman Taber Spani's minutes will be limited versus Alabama. Spani is battling a case of turf toe and is being rested occasionally to help manage her condition.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 78
bspurlingcac#225603 writes:
Light a fire Coach!!! It is great to see that effort is an all the time thing not a sometimes thing!!!
oldvolsfan writes:
they need to learn good job cps
halloffamebowler writes:
Wished Pearl had the stones to do that.Thanks Pat.These girls (all of them) can be very relaxed at times.Kick arse.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Get it together kamiko! Let Spani rest and heal up!
RLL59 writes:
Nothing new here. Williams has never exhibited the intensity and desire Coach Summitt demands, and Coach Summitt uses the media to publicly embarrass her players as a means to pressue them into compliance. One week a savior; the next week in the dog house. I hope it works, because Williams could be a big help to the team if she puts her mind to it.
CynicalCitizen writes:
I hope Coach Summitt realizes soon what a joke she has become.
SoddyVol writes:
I just can't understand the attitude or demeanor of some people. Looks like K.Williams has a choice to make. 1. She can put up the effort like her teammates do and gain respect of both fans & teammates,or 2.She will not be much help to the team and like a handful of others over the years, be known but not in a good light.
coffy73 writes:
Yeah, the winningest coach in all ncaa ball is a joke, haha! Okay, moving on. Kamiko, you're in a position to be the starting guard on the legendary Tenn. lady vols team, realize this amazing opportunity. If you want to be one of the best, Coach Summitt knows how to get you there, but it requires hard work and committment on a player's part.
PureOrange writes:
Coach Summitt is the real deal. These girls should know that long before they get here, but if not they will learn that she runs things. Either get with the program, or you will suffer the consequences. If she did not allow Candace Parker to slack, she certainly won't allow anyone else.
chaos001 writes:
This is what these girls need (and most everyone else in the country for that matter). There's nothing wrong with a good ol' butt kicking to get people in shape. If this doesn't send a message, throw down harder, CPS! Kids these days are soft and expect to be appreciated. Williams needs to earn it or or not play...simple as that.
chaos001 writes:
Oh quit your whining!
What should she have done?!? Let me guess, she should have given Williams cookies and milk and told her how sorry Big Momma Summitt was for yelling at her and that Kamiko is "special."
oh puke. gtfu.
RoadTrip writes:
Don't know about this. The usual response is to believe Pat is right and the player wrong. Was Pat right when she recruited some of the other non-factor players she has on this team?
Some players don't respond well to intimidation and they just shut down. Pat needs to avoid that type in her recruiting.
Hardrocknox writes:
So , The winningest coach in the history of collage basketball in any category is a Joke ? Really ? just for you making that comment to tick people off or not , make you clueless , pathetic and ludacris And above all , you are still a nobody !
98reax writes:
CynicalCitizen, I suppose that's how you became such a wise old sage by getting by on someone else's dime. You just do as you please, slack off while those around you do all the hard work and you just stand around with your wise cracks and take all the glory. I wish you would go a couple of rounds with Coach Pat Summitt. You just proved who's the joke.
Voluvr writes:
Is there anything these girls won't be able to handle when they are older? Wow.
To those that don't agree with her style..."8"
ladyvolsfan writes:
and just how many games have you won as a coach?
98reax writes:
...just in case you guys have forgotten, OR, if you have never read REACH FOR THE SUMMITT, maybe because you feel there is absolutely nothing to gain from reading a book written by a joke...#11 of Pat's Definite Dozen: It's what you learn after you know it all that counts the most.
This is nothing new for Pat to take drastic measures when one of her players decides she can have her own way. I'm sure Miss Williams understood this when she accepted a scholarship from The University of Tennessee.
Pat has been consistent with her discipline. The same discipline that made Michelle Marciniak a National Champion point guard. Pat insists on her point guards practicing self-discipline which can make OR break habits.
PowerT, if Kamiko shuts down or is intimidated by Coach Summitt's action, Kamiko would not be a champion point guard candidate anyway. As far as the "other non-factor players," perhaps Pat doesn't see the potential in them even when they are working their tails off and giving 100%. If they are giving their all, what more could she ask of them? Obviously, Williams has much more to give, and it's Pat's intention to get it.
I'll bet you a season ticket, Coach has called Kamiko's parents and discussed this very news article.
AllforTenn writes:
How stupid a remark from an obviously stupid person.
Atilla54 writes:
You must be a Uconn fan.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Great post! I was going to give my opinion, but you said it all! GO LADY VOLS!!!!
CapStormfield_1 (Inactive) writes:
Nobody can coach like the Summitt. I do hope that Williams won't take this personally. She is young though, and apparently a little sensitive. I hope she can fight her way through this and realize the coach is trying to help her be a great player.
As for Coach - I don't know how she keeps up. Times are always changing, techniques come and go, and sometimes the key word in coaching is finesse. I hope she chose right this time.
TnScooby writes:
The STUPIDEST POST OF THIS DECADE!!!!...You are a complete idiot!!!!!!
jawbreaker writes:
I hope I am wrong, and I hope Williams gets it in gear, but I don't see her continuing with the LVs for her entire career.
rocky_topper writes:
I smell a UConn fan who can't stay off of a Knoxville board to save their lives! Of course, I've been on the Courant.com site before too, and I don't blame you one bit for not staying there. That is one lame-a@# site!
GreerVol22 writes:
"The one thing that a coach can least effect is ambition. Sure, the doghouse can fix temporary loafing, but that is fleeting to any peron that just doesn't have the desire to bust her balls on every play."
-Coach Summit cir. 1992
tonyvick#213307 writes:
C'mon Kamiko everyone here really wants you to succeed. And it's all up to you. Brewer is someone who constantly faced Pat's wrath because Pat saw her potential. Now her Potential shines. Brewer you need to take her under your wing so that her story ends positively.
Summerfield_Vol writes:
What I have read she doesn't know who to listen to, her Father or to Coach Summit. She has got to make up her mind or she will be gone from UT. Her Father might give her Fatherly advice, but Pat is her Coach.
xvolx writes:
Williams didn't make the first trip to San Antonio because of her attitude. Then she blamed daddy. Now this. Better look in the mirror young lady. You have an attitude problem and may miss the second trip to San Antonio. I agree with Pat.
rlshepa#259432 writes:
Another marble brain with mouth not attached to anything. You are the JOKE
GooglyMoogly writes:
TROLL
ladivolfan writes:
At first I had mixed emotions on this, but any way you look at it you have to come to the conclusion that Pat must do whatever works. If this works, great. If it doesn't then Pat will have to figure out what does. But she will not know what works until she puts it into action.
tedb#664810 writes:
I was going to reply to CynicalCitizen, but this is very good. I could not have stated it better. Must by a UCant fan.
volboy81 writes:
youre both too kind to this "person."
The_Truth_and_nothing_but_the_Truth writes:
I don't know where you come from....Tennessee or Connecticut (I hope not). Coach Summitt is well respected in Connecticut. She has come to numerous book signings and are always packed. It's too bad there are so many fair weather fans or those that can't make a comment without being caustic or rude. I can't see how that helps.
I can't understand how two losses to ranked teams can divide this board.
richvol writes:
I have watched Kamiko several times now and I was beginning to see a trend that I was going to comment on but had not until now. Kamiko has gotten by on her athletic ability and talent up to now. She could be the type of player that Maya Moore is but is not at this point willing to get in shape and put forth the effort to get appreciably better.
I have seen this so many times before and the best way to explain it is that these type of talented kids don't want to look like they have to try too hard to be good. They seem to want to be cool instead...like it's uncool to try too hard because that makes them look like everyone else. Kamiko doesn't play with any intensity unless she wants to score...then she puts forth the effort to really hustle but playing defense...that's another story.
I would hate to lose this girl but if she doesn't get her ---- together and start working hard she needs to transfer to another school where the coach doesn't demand your best effort.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Wow, rich, your second paragraph absolutely nails it in describing the attitude of some kids today. Sometimes it seems some of them would rather die than seem to care "too much" about anything. They just literally don't know what it means to commit themselves to anything larger than themselves because, to them, there IS nothing larger than themselves or at least their image of themselves. Pat's attitude about this is definitely "old school" but the corresponding "new school" attitude doesn't impress ME much. I don't know that this is Kamiko's problem, but it would be a good guess on the evidence so far. Kamiko is just young enough to get over it if she will. I hope something helps because right now she is on her way to being the subject of one of those "Whatever happened to..." stories.
ladyvolsfan789 writes:
I hope you realize soon what a joke your post has become.
Biggie writes:
Kamiko! You have the talent to be all SEC at the point! Give it all you've got girl! Don't wait until you're 25 years old, working a regular job before you realize what you COULD HAVE DONE with your life.
VolGrad writes:
Kamiko..., well, I guess somebody needs to work at McDonalds.
VolunteerLifer writes:
Summitt is drawing the line in the sand with this crew, and using Kamiko to do it. She's saying: I won't accept anything less than your best effort all the time, and if you're not prepared to give that, then perhaps another program is for you. Bruce Pearl might want to take notice here.
VolsJoy writes:
Amen!!!!
kazoo writes:
Williams sounds slack. She needs to decide if she wants to be a good player, leading a good team, or not. Did I read that her father was a military guy? If so, maybe she's gotten tired of being yelled at--first by Dad and now by Pat. I say that only half in jest....
98reax writes:
This is no longer about basketball. If the kid doesn't get this message she's in for a rude awakening down the road.
patsvolsrgr8 writes:
cynical citizen: you have to be a uconn fan; but if you are why do you read the tennessee news? pat summitt is an awesome coach; why else does she own all the records she does?
Kamiko: pat has given you the reality check; now i hope you take advantage of it and play like i've seen you play. College is a big step up from high school and this is a job, take responsibility and step up to the plate. I am ruiting for you, i've seen good things from you.
As for the rest of you Lady Vols, keep up the great work; you'll make it far into the brackets.
BigRMan writes:
What a shame for Kamiko and the LV's if she doesn't, "get it". She is a gifted athlete and has a wonderful opportunity to be the on-court leader and offensive catalyst. For all concerned, I hope she flips the switch and the light goes on!
dbgray writes:
Don't get so down on this kid! What many of you are forgetting is that she is playing for one of the most elite athletic teams in the country. What she puts in is probably more than most student athletes, much less regular students. But being at Tennessee, there is a tremendous bar set for performance and motivation. Kicking her out of practice is a tool used by Coach Summit (albeit sparingly) for honing her emotional resolve. Kamiko will be fine.
10SCVOL writes:
I understand your point. I am a big fan of CPS and I understand her intentions. What I don't understand is why all of this has to be aired in the media. Who called KNS and said Williams has been asked to leave practice? Was it Williams or Summitt? This would be handled a lot better between Pat and Kamiko without all of East Tennessee knowing about it.
SoddyVol writes:
Why limit "who called KNS" to Williams or Summitt? Don't you think KNS has reporters checking on anything and everything to do with The Lady Vols? I would think not much gets past them or they would lose their job.
Flyfisherman writes:
Ha! This comment takes the cake!
What a bozo...
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Oh, please! Yeah, UConn is "all that" this year and last. Geno has done great all along, no question. However, the LVs and Pat will be right there at the highest level for at least the next two years after this. They are WAY younger than any other highly-ranked team, have three ex-McD AA's sitting out with injuries this year, and have two more coming in next year, one of whom will likely fix UT's PG problem if it isn't fixed before this year is out. UConn will likely come back to the pack a little bit after this year, and they haven't even won THIS year's championship yet.
I think your prediction of Pat's demise is a bit premature, to say the least.
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