In a game marked by more grimaces than grins, Tennessee freshman forward Cierra Burdick was happy enough to skip Thursday night at Thompson-Boling Arena.
The skip followed a successful jump shot that stretched UT's second-half lead to six points in a 65-56 SEC victory over LSU. But there was more behind it than one basket. The former North Carolina high school star probably was celebrating playing time as well after totaling just 27 minutes in the previous four games.
Burdick logged 31 minutes against the Lady Tigers, and most of it was quality time. She matched her season-high of 15 points, had six rebounds and provided a much-needed boost to an offense that was without two of its top three scorers — Shekinna Stricklen and Taber Spani — due to injuries.
Another scoring source became even more crucial when second-leading scorer Glory Johnson suffered a first-half shoulder injury that limited her playing time and effectiveness.
Her injury didn't account for all the damage in the roughly played game. LSU played the second half without guards Jeanne Kenney (concussion) and Destini Hughes (knee), who were injured in the first half.
Burdick's soft shooting
touch stood out amid the hard play.
"We needed a scorer," UT associate head coach Holly Warlick said. "I was very proud of her and excited to get her the minutes."
Not nearly as excited as Burdick was. She was no less reluctant to show her feelings than to take an open shot.
The joyful skip came during an 8-0 UT run to break open a tied game midway through the second half. It's only part of her celebration repertoire that was assembled long before she signed with UT.
"There's a little skip, a nod of the head," she said. "Sometimes, a beat-the-chest thing. I'm just happy."
Except when a foul is called on her. Not since Candace Parker led UT to a second consecutive national championship four years ago have the Lady Vols had a player capable of looking so aghast over a foul call.
"Yeah," Burdick said. "If a call is against me, I never agree with it. I had all ball — if you ask me."
As much fun as Burdick has playing the game, you can appreciate how difficult it has been for her not to play.
"It has been tough," she said. "It has been really stressful. But it's teaching me patience."
Her teacher understands.
"She is used to playing," Warlick said. "When Shekinna is playing well and Meighan (Simmons) is playing well, it's tough to get her minutes.
"We've had a lot of talks. I told her that her time is coming. I think she accepted that.
"And (when) her time came tonight, she stepped up and made plays."
Her playing time hasn't just been limited because of the talented, more experienced players ahead of her.
Defense also has been a factor.
"She has worked hard on her defense," Warlick said. "I thought it showed."
The work hasn't been confined to team practice. Burdick also has worked individually with Heather Mason, UT's assistant athletic director for strength and conditioning.
Basically, Burdick is trying to get quicker. More specifically, she is trying to eliminate a "false step with my left foot."
The foot looked just fine when she was skipping.
John Adams is a senior columnist. He may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com. Follow him at http://twitter.com/johnadamskns
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Comments » 11
oldster writes:
While I certainly had picked Cierra as player of the game before I heard it announced, I felt impressed, for just about the first time with Simmons' game. She only took 2 bad shots that I can remember, and all of her turnovers seem to result from her trying too hard. That same effort allowed her to play the best defense and floor game I can recall anyone of her size playing for while. If she can just control her tendency to rush things, and continue to work on knowing the difference between good and bad shots, she might become what Pat seems to think she can be.
That being said, were I the coach and it legal, I would have had everyone on the team, except Bass, Burdick and Massengale shooting free throws after the games until each one made 10 in a row. Some of them would still be shooting when the time comes to get on the bus to go to the plane for the Notre Dame game. They were so bad in this area tonight that they looked as if they had been taking lessons from the men's team. GAG!!
wigmeister writes:
Totally agree on everything here. It took half a season, but Burdick finally looked good. Wish Harrison could elevate her game like that. Baugh should dominate, but she doesn't. Foul shooting atrocious. Best of luck @ ND.
BruisedOrange writes:
Maybe this story from Dec. 3 explains why Burdick is playing the way she has (and Harrison is not yet): http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2011/d...
Burdick has changed some lifetime habits--habits as instinctive as running--in less than 2 months!
Hard work, commitment, refusing to accept the limitations one arrived with, and then putting the results on display... these are the best things sports bring to a society.
wigmeister writes:
Read it. Thank you!
kazoo writes:
Good win. Burdick will be a good player. Johnson and Baugh have GOT to make free throws. Missing more than half your free throws is simply not acceptable--ridiculous. Summitt needs to crack down on Johnson for her lousy free-throw shooting--which is sure to cost the Vols down the road. Baugh NEEDS to be a low-post scorer. Why is she not?
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
Great article, John. The "aghast" line made me laugh out loud.
We all knew someone would have to step up. As it turns out, a couple of someones did. Proud for Cierra, especially given her apparent work ethic. Here's hoping that Meghan has found the keys to unlock her future as one of the best to wear the Orange. We've seen it before and are, in fact, seeing on this year's team in the form of Glory. She's playing under control and achieving excellent results. Meghan - motivated, yet under control - is bad news for any opposition.
It can't stop here. This is the new norm. We all love Taber and Shekinna and are truly heartbroken they're not playing. We cretainly hope they'll be back but we have to assume they won't and prepare for it. If and when they DO come back, it'll be the bonus plan.
Keep it going, ladies! We're with you!
Love,
The fans of the Lady Volunteers
P.S.: Please shoot some extra free throws. Everyone knows it'll mean the difference in an important game at some point in the near future.
johnlg00#206211 writes:
Glad to see Cierra have such a good game when it was most needed. Folks here in North Carolina think she hung the moon. Her HS team in the Charlotte area won two state championships, lost in the finals in a third in a game where she had a triple-double, and lost maybe five games overall during her career. I had not seen much of that player before now, but now I see what all the fuss was about. We all thought the freshmen would be key before the season. Now we see how important at least two of them can be, and even Harrison has shown some good skills and attitudes as well. Agree with everybody else about the free-throws! They just HAVE to get better at those!
tnmantravel#531151 writes:
"Yeah," Burdick said. "If a call is against me, I never agree with it. I had all ball — if you ask me."
No one is asking. You need to get way past that 'tude, girl. Making faces at the refs only pisses them off and they will watch you more closely and shows immaturity. You are not only in college but argueably the best women's program on the country. Act like it!
oldster writes:
This was Vicky's worst game as far as I can remember. She usually shoots a very high percentage from the floor and the free throw line. I hope it was not the rough play taking her off her game, because if so, she will have to endure much more of it. Hopefully, she just had a bad night.
oldster writes:
Her reaction shows immaturity? Really? Exactly how mature did you act at 19? I sure did not act mature. Of course, my wife would say that I began to act somewhat mature when I reached 60 (but only somewhat).
johnlg00#206211 writes:
I think his point was that it may be OK to feel annoyed at calls to some extent, but it is just not a good idea to show that annoyance to the refs. Goodness knows, women's basketball refs are not highly regarded for their maturity and expertise, with ample reason, but insecure people tend to exert what power they have against people who expose that insecurity. I think Cierra will improve in that regard; Glory Johnson certainly did.
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