Lady Vols Basketball
MEMPHIS — Freshman sensation Brittney Griner has grown up a lot this season — just ask Tennessee.
Griner scored 27 points and blocked 10 shots, leading fourth-seeded Baylor to a 77-62 win over the top-seeded Lady Vols on Saturday to advance to the NCAA tournament regional finals.
“She was the X factor,” said Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, whose team was taken out in the first round last season.
Baylor’s only other appearance in the round of eight was in 2005, the same year it won the national championship. The Lady Bears (26-9) will face either No. 2 seed Duke or 11th-seeded San Diego State on Monday night.
The Lady Vols’ loss spoiled the highly anticipated matchup between Tennessee and Connecticut, which could have happened in this year’s national semifinals. The Lady Vols, who lost in the first round last season, haven’t missed out on back-to-back Final Fours since 1993-94.
Tennessee (32-3) successfully limited the 6-foot-8 Griner in its 74-65 win over Baylor in the first game of the season but couldn’t do it again even with as many as four players on her at a time. Griner hit several shots while double-teamed or passed to an open Lady Bears teammate for an easy layup.
“You’re watching a phenom out here play above the rim,” Mulkey said. “That’s what needs to be written in every article from this day forward, because she’s such a sweet child as you can see.”
Griner had been somewhat tentative on offense since she was suspended for two games after throwing a punch against a Texas Tech player in early March. She was back to her dominant self on both ends of the court.
“I just knew I had to come out and play my game and go back to the old Brittney,” Griner said.
Griner’s 26 blocks in the NCAA tournament ranks her second in history. Duke’s Alison Bales holds the NCAA tournament record with 30 in 2006, and Connecticut’s Rebecca Lobo’s 22 now ranks third.
The teams went back and forth throughout the first half and early in the second, trading the lead 10 times and tying four times. With both 6-foot-6 Kelley Cain and 6-foot-3 Alyssia Brewer on the floor to guard Griner, Tennessee found some success inside and was up 55-50 with just under eight minutes left.
The Lady Vol orange-clad crowd fell silent as Griner hit back-to-back layups and had a three-point play as part of a 21-1 run as Tennessee’s defense unraveled.
Tennessee (32-3) turned to its shooters in desperation. Though Angie Bjorklund and Shekinna Stricklen managed to hit jumpers in traffic and knock down a few 3s in the first half, they missed left and right in the second half.
The Lady Vols managed to hit only 32.9 percent, only slightly better than their season-worst 32.8 percent against Stanford, and finished with 22 paint points. The Lady Vols allowed the Lady Bears 49.1 percent shooting — a season high for a Tennessee opponent — and 36 paint points.
“I can’t believe it. I’m just really excited that to get to the Elite Eight we had to go through the best, and the best in this region was Tennessee,” Baylor’s Morghan Medlock said.
Stricklen led Tennessee with 18 points, and Bjorklund added 12.
“I think anytime you play against a 6-8 player, it’s is going to be tough to shoot over her,” Bjorklund said. “At the same time, I thought when our posts did have the ball they did a good job. Going against her, we just needed to give the posts more touches.”
Tennessee fell to 23-5 in regional semifinal games.
Oregon sends Lady Vols home from…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 126
vol94 writes:
ouch!
schymtz writes:
Ouch!
tennvol writes:
Well, at least we don't have to worry about getting blown out by UConn now.
Madkels writes:
The euphoria of last nights win was just tempered. Dang!
PepperGrinder (Inactive) writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
dwolfcreek#397971 writes:
OUT PLAYED , OUT COACHED , OUT OF TOURNAMENT . WHY SPANI ON BENCH WITH THE HOT HAND ?
LEXKYVOLS writes:
4.5 hour drive from Memphis to St Louis. Bring your orange north up I-55.
MillisaAnn writes:
I hate it that we lost the refs didn't help none at all and we could have done better down the stretch.
ThugTillIDie writes:
Well, Pat is starting to learn that you can't win just by recruiting anymore. There are too many talented players these days. She's the best recruiter of all-time, but she's WAY, WAY down the list when it comes to Xs and Os. If she continues to hold back Stricklen the way she held back Semeka Randall, Kara Lawson and so many others, the Lady Vols will continue to get bounced early.
ATLVOL55 writes:
20-1 run by Baylor near the end...just brutal...t
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
You are so right! She should break another girls nose so the media on ESPN can brag on her alot more than they do. Are you sure she is a girl, she sounds like a guy
xd9x19 writes:
Ahhh....armchair coaching at its best!!!!
ATLVOL55 writes:
To win in the women's game you have to have that dominate player...ie Candace. Chamique, Taurasi, Lobo...we just don't have that player right now..
Hopefully Pat will be able to find the next one
always_vol (Inactive) writes:
FT shooting just killed us...ours was awful, and I think Griner shot about 100.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
Upset city! Oh my! I am upset, we all are upset, but I guarantee that CPS the the Lady Vols are more upset than we are. We were simply outplayed the entire game. Don't know what happened to our defensive intensity.Lady Vols did not play up to their capablities and it cost them dearly. They were out of sync the whole game, offensively and defensively. All I know is that we got beat by a team that played some great ball today!
They will return next year with more focus and determination. Although I am disappointed, I am still very proud of CPS and our young Lady Vols and the great season they did have!
LV.....TCB.......KOKO........GBO!!!!!!!
BeRealistic writes:
I was about to post same. Geno didn't get chance to make it worse. PS needs to recruit some post players that can jump more than 2" off the floor. Oh well, both men & women have had good seasons. I don't believe our men are through. GO VOLS!!!!!
rocky_topper writes:
Baylor girls were better prepared and wanted it more. We weren't ready for Griner and steered away from her. Out coached IMO!
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Oh, wow, is that what she learned, o great one? Why, she's only coached 30+years, what could she possibly know about X's and O's! How did she win all those NC's and those Final Fours without being able to coach?! It must be a miracle! She's been in commercials, I mean, why? Why would anyone want to hire an average coach to pitch their product? All these stupid people, what can they possibly be thinking?
I think you may need to do a little research before posting. just a suggestion, but you're really just making an arse out of yourself.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
They couldn't hit the broadside of a barn down the stretch... Baylor in the 50's, that's really hard to beat. Sometimes it's all about getting hot at the right time, where the guys are right now... unfortunately, the ladies were not today.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
...a little below the belt.
They had no answer for her. that blocked shot where she bit the head fake, and was still able to block it was telling... better team won today, much as I hate to admit.
TommyJack writes:
a butt whoopin that bad, got to more than refs.
MikeInTN writes:
Bottom line...recruit better players...ie Candace Parker!!!
SATCHMOE writes:
Love The Lady Vols and Coach Summit is the best,But you can,t get there on what you used to be.I agree that we need to recruit some jumpers and all out head hunters that play with fury and passion.I hope that some of these ladies will do alot of maturing in the off season.(mentally as physically)Great job Pat, you can't coach maturity and some of these girls need to grow up.
UTbassdrummer writes:
You are a part of the quickly becoming tradition of negative,
Pathetic TN support. Nothing is ever good enough.
It turns my stomach. It runs rampant on this
Forum. No good thing is ever good enough, and
Every set back is the end of the world.
John_10065 writes:
A heart breaker...
SATCHMOE writes:
No offense to the women but there are too many female official that are head cases becauses of the lack of expierence.I was told from an official in the SEC that they wanted to get female officials involved so they began to place officials with as little as two yrs expierence.
NTNSTY writes:
Considering Pat's record and that you can't possibly have a better one; you have no credibility on the subject of her X's and O's skills. Neither do I.
CadmiumOchre (Inactive) writes:
Ok, enough is enough.
1. The "thug" hit a player after being woman-handled with an elbow hook and throw away tactic. In the heat of the moment, she swung at her tormentor.
2. The behavior was unsportmanship for both players.
3. She's not the first to lose her temper during a game and react with physical retaliation. Had she been a Tennessee player, you and others would surely have said the elbow hooker and toss gal had it coming.
4. Since that single event, the girl has behaved herself very well. Kudos to her coach for reigning in that temper and straightening out a gal who was on her way to becoming a hot headed baytch.
Kudos to the girl for having sense enough to listen to her coach instead of throwing away an education and future. Too bad some of the guys we had here didn't have her good sense to listen to Fulmer, Pearl and even that cancer we had last football season.
5. We got our @zz handed to us by a good team with a darn good player who happens to be a 6 foot 8 inch amazon warrior and THAT is THAT. Maybe we'll do better next season.
6. Until then stop the whining, excuses, and totally unjustified "indignation" which is nothing more than being a sore loser.
7. I wanted our ladies to win, and win decisively. It didn't happen but bless those gals for playing right up till the end even when it was a lost cause. They certainly showed more class than you are showing here. We lost to a better team with a great player who gave us fits--PERIOD!!! Enough with the whining already. It's a game, you win some, you lose some, hopefully you win more than you lose. Got it???
BeRealistic writes:
Hey swabbie, you arse, we're living in the present not the past. Pat is having trouble recruiting if you can see that. USMC 1960-80. GO MEN VOLS
riverosa writes:
How many three point bombers has Pat recruited, how many have been ruined by preaching about going inside. Butt chewed if you put up a 3 and missed. And, the charity stipe, big games are won and lost there. How many do we miss every game. No one should ever shoot below 75 percent from there.
My hat off to Baylor, hope they meet UCONN in the finals and beat them. Anyone except UConn as champions.
ladivolfan writes:
clap.....clap........clap.....clap.....clap
ThugTillIDie writes:
I think you need to work on your reading comprehension. I said she's the greatest recruiter of all-time, and that's how she has won all those national championships. The game is changing folks. There is a lot more talent out there and you can't win by stockpiling the way the Lady Vols have done in the past.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
Shekinna had a good game! Lady vols took too many jump shots, thanks to Brittney Griner. Should have started the game in a zone, maybe Kelly would not have picked up two quick fouls. I am baffled because I don't know why our post kept trying to block Griner's shot. Aint happening! All they did was get a foul on themselves and give Griner the two points she would have gotten anyway. Post players did not play smart. Angie took too many shots, and at the wrong time. Brewer had her defender pinned and posted when she and kelly were on the floor together, and hey overlooked her, and she was screaming for it, but lady vols ignored her and jacked up jump shots that were coming right back at them. Baylor was well prepared and Griner played fantastic! Kim coached her behind off today! Congratulations to the lady vols and Baylor for a good game. Lets give Baylor credit people! They shut our inside game down and turned the lady vols into jump shooters. However, lady vols should be proud of the season they have had. Tonight was not their night, but they should keep their heads high!
ladivolfan writes:
Thank you Lady Vols for giving me the opportunity to watch you grow. You worked hard in the off season and it shows. I loved every moment of (almost) every game. You have made me proud to be a Lady Vol Fan. I can't wait until next year.
ThugTillIDie writes:
Female officials.
rogatl2002#222395 writes:
LV should never have been playing baylor in the regional semis. the bracket was a joke. what other #1 seed would have to play teams the caliber of baylor and duke just to GET to the final 4. i have said this before. CPS is a great defensive and fundamentals coach but the offense is mediocre at best. i like coach warlick but have we ever seen a guard blossom at tennesee? LV need a very bright offensive mind on the bench that can coach spacing and offensive flow.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
You obviously have not seen the list of the GREAT recruits coming to TN.
I agree with usnavy! The ONLY thing I agree with you is GO MEN VOLS!
kazoo writes:
Summitt should retire. She is no longer a good recruiter--and the game has long since past her plodding, 1970s style offense. This team and this pathetic performance showed clearly where she has failed:
Recruiting: Yes, she gets top-ranked prospects but the players she gets aren't all that good--which is why a team that has 10 high school All Americas is big and slow and has no depth. The perimeter game on offensive is weak, the team lacks quickness, partly because Summitt likes scoring down low with her old-school offense. When we couldn't score in the paint against Griner, we had nothing to fall back on. Guard play was BAD. I watched most of the last 10 minutes of the game and didn't see UT make ONE outside shot! Not one! Maybe I missed one. If you're playing against a major shot-blocker, you better make some outside shots! Duh!
Bjorklund's shooting woes are partly because Summitt played her too much. It was obvious she was gassed. You can't win the NCAA tournament by playing 5 90 percent of the time--it's why our men beat osu last night! You need depth--and if any women's team should have it, it's UT, with our recruiting. But because PS has recruited poorly, we don't! Even so, as someone said above, she should have played Williams and Johnson more.
Also, Cain and Brewer were terrible. They let Griner easily establish position in the low post all day--didn't use their big bodies to push her away from the basket, which is a fundamental defensive rule. They made Griner--a freshman--look like Kareem Abdul Jabber. Also, there's no excuse for Cain not being able to score some on Griner--she's got a bigger body than Griner's, but she doesn't know how to use it.
This game, for me, really underscored the fact that Summitt really hasn't been doing the job--and I don't care how many titles she has. Does anyone ever stop to think why we almost never have a team like this Uconn team--which I predict will beat Baylor by at least 20, if they play--given Pat's supposed recruiting and coaching prowess? The answer is pretty obvious.
UTVOLSRROCKN writes:
I will add a standing ovation to your claps!
VolunteerLifer writes:
We're not going to have a dominant player on next year's team, it looks like, unless Glory Johnson or Williams develop.
In any case, CPS will need to develop an answer to Griner and other dominant big players if she hopes to complete for the NC. Right now they have no answer.
I didn't think this team could go all the way this year anyway. They've had a great season considering that they are sophomores. Not bad at all. Next year they should be a dominant team with everyone returning plus getting back the injured Baugh, Dupree, and Gray.
ThugTillIDie writes:
Once again, Pat is the greatest recruiter of all-time and she has been able to win a bunch of national championships because of it. The game is growing and there are more and more talented players and recruiting alone will not win championships. There are multiple post about how the Lady Vols weren't as well prepared. THAT'S COACHING. Same thing last year when they lost to Balls St. There are multiple posts that we need to recruit better. We have nothing but HS All-Americans. The fact is, now Baylor has that same level of talent. More and more teams have comparable talent to Tennessee. Back in the day there were only a handful of top notch female players. Now there are hundreds of girls that could play at UT, but go to places like Baylor, Duke, or even Nebraska. Pat is great at recruiting. She's does a good job of motivating her team, but as far as game planning and Xs and Os go, it's very obvious that she's not anywhere near the top. Leon Barmore, now an asst at Baylor, was one of the very best at Xs and Os, but Pat beat him with raw talent. I'm not saying that Pat is a bad coach. I'm saying that it's going to get a lot tougher for her to do what she does best and the Lady Vols won't be as good because of it.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Why, yes, I'm sorry, now I see your point... except that she's won 7 SEC titles in the last decade, and her last two NC's were in '07 and '08... yes, I can definitely see how the game has passed her by...
Your post is invalid... please try again.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
read my response to "thugtillidie"
If by the present, you mean this exact season, then you're correct... last year and year before, the ladies won back-to-back NC's. MY point is that just because they got knocked out of the sweet 16, you guys seem to think she needs to reinvent the wheel... give it a rest, they had a bad game, they're young, and they'll be better next year...
but, please, feel free to tell CPS how to run her program... should be fun to watch! lol.
PINK_CHAMPAGNE writes:
I thought they took too many jump shots. And the free throw line remains a mystery. Missed a lot of free throws! They did not run their usual offense,they let Baylor take it away.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Oh, and while we're in the present, may I please point out that the ladies lost....<gasp>,, TWO regular season games this year! HOW TERRIBLE... yes, and with a young lineup at that... CPS was so ticked it took the girls forever to earn their locker room back!
You guys just keep arguing yourselves into a corner... she lost 2 games this season with a team that really wasn't expected to do a whole lot (relatively speaking)... and because they lost in the round of 16, the game's passed her by... give it a rest, already... no one's listening! (except volfirst)
Razor784 writes:
Despite our great record we're still VERY young. The whole team is back next year, a great recruiting class coming in also, not to mention a healed Vicki Baugh and Faith Dupree, today just wasn't our day. As for Greiner, he was too much
richvol writes:
The girls got outplayed,outhustled and Baylor was clearly better. That was a home game for us too. We played a fairly good first half but began to settle for quick shots in the second half. We did not screen or pass the ball to the open player. It looked like we lost our poise after Baylor slapped us in the mouth in the second half.
All of us that expect to take over after UCONN graduates Charles,and Maya Moore is gone,better forget it as Griner is a freshman and Kim Mulkey is a good recruiter and coach. I expect they will have their way for the next three years.
Pat has got to get an athletic center that can run and jump against other athletes. We are getting some good guards to committ but we need a dominating post and I'm sorry but Cain is not it. She did the best she could against Griner but she cannot keep up with her athleticism.
A great year by the LadyVols that showed tremendous improvement from last year and during this year. I am proud of what they accomplished this year and they always represent the University in a great way.
kdaff51 writes:
Fire Fulmer!
TYRCYN writes:
Poor Volunteer Nation, everytime you loose it is always someone doing something illegal or unfairly. You got out-coach, out-played, and out prepared for this game. It was not the officials fault nor the fact that Whitney Griner had elbowed a player last month that you lost.
You were playing in front of your home crowd and got your butts kicked period. UConn was going to mercy-rule your team and your coach and players new what they had coming. I was going to sit back and enjoy seeing you get what has been long over-due. On Sunday I hope to see your mens team coach by LOBS Pearl (LOTS OF BULL----) GET THE SAME THING.
P.S. Cant wait for football season to see you guys shaking in your boots when you play Bama and Florida.
usnavyvolfaninva_still_getting_paid writes:
Agree 100%
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