Dean Lockwood rarely struggles with self-expression. Words roll off the tongue of the Tennessee women's basketball assistant coach.
He hosted some "Psychology of Coaching" students at practice this week and will speak to their class later this semester. Surprisingly, the prospect leaves him almost tongue-tied.
"The worst person this year to talk with, right?" he said. "You need to ask somebody that really knows what the heck they're doing."
Lockwood and his fellow coaches still are trying to figure out No. 10 Tennessee (20-7, 11-3 SEC), which hosts Arkansas (20-6, 9-5) at Thompson-Boling Arena today (TV: FSTN, 7 p.m.).
After a rousing 91-54 victory over then-No. 7 Kentucky on Feb. 13, UT followed with two underwhelming wins at Mississippi State and Ole Miss, respectively. While Lockwood doesn't have an explanation for the inconsistency, he does have a coaching analogy for the situation.
"We're playing all the keys," he said. "Hitting them lightly, hitting them firmly and we're still finding we haven't hit that magical note."
Despite their meandering, the Lady Vols are pointed in the right direction — they're tied with Kentucky for first place in the conference standings.
Furthermore, there is ample evidence of the Lady Vols' capabilities. A 69-38 victory at Arkansas in the teams' first meeting on Jan. 8 is a worthy example. It's the frequency, specifically the lack thereof, that mystifies.
"The experiences are in the book," Lockwood said. "They're history. They're proven. They're out there. The kids can put in a DVD and watch that. Why can't we get that more consistently? That's the thing that has baffled us at times as a staff."
The Razorbacks likely destroyed the tape of the first UT game. It was the third of four consecutive losses to open conference play.
Since then, they've obliterated the memory, winning eight in a row at one point.
"We are a very different team now," forward Dominique Robinson said. "We have a lot more confidence and momentum than we did in the first meeting. We are focused on this game and playing well."
Tennessee's Cierra Burdick has some momentum as well, having earned SEC freshman of the week honors for the first time. She already acts more like a veteran, putting up extra shots after practice, jumping rope to improve her footwork and doing other extra work. She also sounds like a veteran in expressing frustration with the roller-coaster nature of UT's season. In a postgame radio interview after the Ole Miss game, she said that all of the guards and some of the post players, "need to get in the gym and get some shots up."
On Wednesday, she didn't back off from that assessment. Instead, she turned up her volume a little more.
"Since I've been brought up, it's been work hard, work hard, work hard," she said. "I get a little frustrated when I see people kind of cheating the game. But I don't think my teammates necessarily cheat the game. I just feel like we could always do more."
Burdick went on to say: "I know we all mentally want it. But are we willing to put the work in to get it is the question."
Lockwood's wasn't at a loss for words in described the desired mind-set.
"It's almost like a firehouse when the bell rings," he said. "They're not just wild, but there's a sense of purpose there. Those guys know that in seven seconds, I've got to be down the pole, geared up and on the truck because somebody's life might be on the line. That's kind of what we're looking for."
Notebook: Guard Meighan Simmons left practice early with an ice bag on her right hand. ... The SEC will continue to support UT coach Pat Summitt, her foundation and the fight against Alzheimer's disease at next week's SEC tournament with public service announcements, distribution of information cards and the sale of T-shirts that represent the member schools and their support.
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group
Comments » 26
wigmeister writes:
Same conversation all year! They just don't go out and do it consistently, Don't know if it is too late to achieve that goal. Should have been there already!
ddt#1340890 writes:
If Simmons cannot play, we will win by 30. Book it Dano !!!!!!!!!
underthehill writes:
Burdick's progress is a huge plus..
SoddyVol writes:
Success in Basketball, maybe more than any other sport, greatly relies on how a player uses their head. Mental alertness, Mental determination, basketball IQ of the player, etc. While on the court, Johnson and Burdick use those assets on a consistent basis more than others but most all Vols have the physical ability to succeed. They just need to use their head.
PureOrange writes:
We have more than enough talent to win a championship, but that talent has to be brought out by desire to win. And quite frankly, our girls still seem to want to take games off. Champions don't take games off - even minutes off. I hope for their sake, and especially Pat's sake, they will decide to give it all they have until the final horn sounds in the national champsionship game, and Pat gets to cut down another net and raise another banner.
xvolx writes:
That magical note is c sharp or b flat.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I don't know how vocal Burdick is, or if she pushes her views and attitudes on other players in other ways, but she can set an example. As I said in a previous post, it is hard for a freshman to be a leader on a veteran team, but it seems the more energy and determination the other players can absorb from her, the better off the team will be. Sometimes seniors don't want to be led by underclassmen. If we were able to get past the inconsistencies, we would see that this team has all it really needs to win a championship, but the inconsistencies, and the confused jumble of attitudes behind them, are really holding them back.
underthehill writes:
May have more than enough talent to win SEC championship but may not be near as much as Baylor with Griner in the NCAA..
richvol writes:
Even a freshman can see what's wrong with this team..."our guards and some of our post players need to put in more time in the gym". The lack of dedication is apparent in the way they play. This team averages 20 turnovers a game and is THE worst passing team I have ever seen wear a LadyVol uniform. Very disappointed in Stricklen and Baugh.
butch31 writes:
Just keep changing the line up. We pretty much know who or what the problem is by now! I don't care if they are seniors, bench them. There is nothing like firing up a player. My starting 5 would be this week: Cierra Burdick, Glory Johnson, Vicki Baugh, Meighan Simmons, and Briana Bass. These are the best defensive players for UT. Meighan needs to relax on offense, she's shooting with too much pressure and pressing herself.
Shekinna, Taber and Alicia have been INCONSISTENT all year, and are really hurting the team. Ariel and Isabelle are doing fine for freshmen, but need to work on defense. I felt all year long that Kamiko should of red-shirted. She's just not there yet.
UT 79 Arkansas 61
jt45 writes:
Kamiko played last year, I didn't think she was eligible to redshirt after she has already played a season. I hope they come out with the same intensity as they did against kentucky.
WCBB_FAN writes:
Lookwood has been scratching his head and having headaches because of this team's performances the last 4 yrs. No need to keep worrying. The storm is almost over. This season is about to end.
RLL59 writes:
Unless you're anticipating big changes in the coaching staff and/or philosophies, don't expect the seniors' graduation to resolve the problems. There have been three recruiting years since 2008 and the results are the same. Is there evidence of some magical transformation in this year's under classmen or next year's recruits? They have been , and will be again, among the highest ranking recruiting class in the nation. But, except for a few superstars, I don't see any change in what has been a steady regression in most Lady Vol players as they go through their careers. I hope I am wrong, but recent history says otherwise.
budd#207344 writes:
If this team will play like they did against KY and GA at home they can win over anyone. But that is the question, IF.
r2d2 writes:
The LVs have a problem with inconsistency because they do not have the greatest coach in the history of WCBB as their coach. CPS is just an observer. This is not a putdown to Holly Warlick, Dean Lockwood and Mickie DeMoss. It is a statement of fact.
ladyvolsfan789 writes:
In WNBA news, Anosike and Parker will be playing together again as the Sparks traded with the Mystics to get her. It'll be nice to be able to see some more of that potent Annosike, Parker frontcourt duo that won the 2007 and 2008 championships.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
A player can be redshirted at any time. I think Kamiko might have been better off if she had taken this season off. After all, the team will lose a LOT of experienced players after this year, so a fully healthy and experienced Kamiko would help provide some leadership for next year's much younger team. Of course she most likely WILL be there next year and the one after that, but they might need her for more than spot duty in the coming years, and it would be better to have her for three more years than for two.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Meant to say that a player can be redshirted for any given year in their career. A player who plays for a significant part of a season can't be redshirted for THAT season.
ljlongtimevolfan writes:
Seeking Solutions to inconsistencies? Simple, bench the Prima Donna, Simmons.She can not work as part of a team. Always showboating and ball hogging.
SummerfieldVol writes:
As a professional coaching staff, you would think that they would know who plays consistently well and who takes care of the ball,for example who turns the ball over alot. They should know there players ever tendencies on how they react to full court pressure and bad passes. You would have to go with the best 5 and sub from there. I would think that would be most obvious to the coaches.
RLL59 writes:
John, I think Kamiko is a junior, so unless she ends up with another red shirt year, next year will be her last. Time flies.
jt45 writes:
Thanks , I did some digging and picked up some info about the NCAA redshirt rules
[[Players are eligible for a voluntary redshirt season only if they do not play in any portion of any game in that season.]]
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Boy, ain't that the truth! I thought she was a sophomore. Oh well, that should give her even more "seniority" to be a leader next year.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I'm sure they have every statistic known to man, but the problem is that nearly every one of them has played unevenly in this or that aspect of the game for virtually their entire careers. You don't know from one game to the next who will have it together the best that night.
butch31 writes:
Per NCAA rules u can request hardship anytime as long as your a full time student. Kamiko missed most of preseason, and I hoped she wouldn't hurry back, and just take care of her knee properly. I feel like she is doing this out of spite. Whatever is going on this year, I'll be glad when its over, and we decide to put basketball 1st, and just play UT hoops.
oldbasshead writes:
Which player is the leader of the Vols? Whose team is this? I am guessing, but I feel confident in saying that I expect that every time UT has won a national championship, there has been one player who was the leader and was an outstanding player. Who is that person on this team? Stanford has one, ND has one, Baylor has one, Duke has one. UT does not have one. Glory and Shekinna are good players, but neither have enough consistency. Vicki Baugh is not regardless of what some say. This team doesn't have a leader or head coach.
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