Holly Warlick's wish list doesn't amount to great expectations.
Tennessee's associate head coach essentially wants the Lady Vols to start from scratch tonight against SEC-rival Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (TV: SportSouth, 9 o'clock).
"We want to see high energy and effort,'' she said. "We didn't see that at Notre Dame."
Head coach Pat Summitt was thinking the same way. Alabama (10-10, 0-6 SEC) is in last place in the conference. The Crimson Tide hasn't beaten the Lady Vols since 1984 and hasn't beaten them at home since 1978. Yet Summitt sounded like she wasn't taking anything for granted.
"Everyone has to be in the moment,'' she said. "We're going to go there and hopefully be the tougher team."
Doesn't sound like they are asking for much. Then again, No. 7 Tennessee (14-5, 5-1) delivered next to nothing in Monday's 72-44 loss to the second-ranked Fighting Irish. No UT team has scored fewer points in a game and only the 1984-85 team suffered a bigger margin of defeat (31 vs. Texas).
The Lady Vols shot a season-worst 27.9 percent from the field and Notre Dame's Skylar Diggins (27 points) and Devereaux Peters (16 points, 16 rebounds) performed like All-Americans at their expense. Small wonder that talk of being embarrassed lingered into Wednesday.
Warlick maintained a low profile at Wednesday's Big Orange Tipoff Club luncheon. She explained her strategy by saying, "When you get your butt beat, you sit in the back."
She also joked about how it was a good thing that practice was closed. The coaching staff dispensed with its usual routine and conducted a hard
workout the day before a game.
"We usually don't do that,'' Warlick said. "but we thought it was important to get out there and make a statement and I thought today we did."
Senior Glory Johnson's could relate to the diminished ambitions.
While the coaches have been urging the team to play harder, she's thinking about playing together. Or at least trying.
"Play as a team,'' Johnson said. "Make it look like we're playing as a team. If everyone is out there every man for himself, it's going to look awful."
UT likely won't be a full team for tonight's game. After using all 11 players on Monday for the first time this season, Taber Spani is back on the injury report, listed as day to day with a nagging bone bruise on her left knee.
The junior guard returned against Notre Dame after missing eight consecutive games and played nine minutes, grabbing two rebounds, recording an assist but missing both of her shot attempts.
It's probably no coincidence that without Spani, the team's most accurate sharpshooter, UT's three-point production has dropped by nearly a full 3-pointer during the past five games, from 6.8 to 5.9 per game.
"We don't want to fast-forward anything,'' said Summitt, speaking of Spani's condition.
As for everyone else, a better effort would be worthwhile.
"We have to get everyone else,'' Summitt said, "where their mind is right and their attitude is right and their toughness is there."
Dan Fleser may be reached at 865-342-6288. Follow him at http://twitter.com/FleserKNS and http://blogs.knoxnews.com/fleser
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Comments » 31
richvol writes:
Glory has it right...these girls have no idea how to play together as a team. That's why they can't pass the ball to each other.
AllforTenn writes:
And Glory is the hardest worker every game.
xvolx writes:
That's right Holly. You're going to drill Ala. and everything is going to be fixed. Some of these orange koolaid drinkers may buy that, but that won't sell the rest of us.
butch31 writes:
Glory Johnson is hands down the SEC PLAYER OF THE YEAR!!! I don't see the lady vols losing again, anytime soon. If its JEALOUSY that is pulling this team apart, then those individuals have no reason to be on a team.
We have what I call is the some of the worst guard play ever seen. We have some lazy individuals, and selfish individuals. We launch too many 3 pointers, and jump shots. We should shooting 45% or higher from the field every game. We should be averaging 15-20 assists every game, we should be out rebounding EVERY OPPONENT every game. We should limit mistakes, errors and turnovers every opportunity we get. We need to talk on defense, quit getting beat, move out arms and feet.
We need to shoot 70% from the free throw line or higher every game. These numbers WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS. Anything less than this is FAILURE!
HOLD THE ROPE MENTALITY should be the team motto for the rest of season.
Whoever is going to play hard on defense, getting stops, should be the people playing.
The seniors have 10 regular season games left, before their careers are over at Tennessee. I would suggest they GO HARD or GO HOME!!!Its all or nothing at this point.
For all you Lady Vol Haters, please get a life, is your life so miserable that you come here and celebrate the fact that the Lady Vols can actually lose a game, is pitiful and speaks volumes about u as a human being. GROW UP!
Notre Dame game is officially in the garbage can where it belongs! New life begins now. GO LADY VOLS
givehim6 writes:
Lady Vols had a bad game and are not playing the best ball right now, but they still look better than our guys. Good luck aginst bama!
MrBamSeydu writes:
Yawn. Wrap it up ladies. The senior class has been talking about this for 4 years.
Hopefully they didn't rub off too much on the younger ones.
If the Lady Vols don't have the best player in the nation (Parker, Holdsclaw, Catchings, etc) this is about what you will get.
Next year won't be any better. They should have gotten that Griner dude to commit a few years ago.
MrBamSeydu writes:
Did you watch the Stanford game? Glory Johnson is good in the SEC but she's not good on a national level.
butch31 writes:
Sounds like u need a life!!! Why be a hater? Go to ur wack UConn fan site...WE DON'T WANT U HERE! Buh-Bye!!!
rocky_topper writes:
I agree that it is the same ole "lines" from this senior-laden class. Sweet 16 and done! After they get booted from the tournament, they will still be doing a lot of talking and excuse-making and leaving with an empty NCAA trophy! Worst group of lazy girls that ever wore the LV uniform!
stumpyb writes:
The coaching staff better get it together as well. It's not all the players fault. Now can you see the next HC coming from this staff??? No way...we need to look outside the UT box and get a coach. If we get someone off the staff then NOTHING changes
geoengr001#333791 writes:
Correct assessment...unfortunately Coach Summitt's time has come and gone...and there is no one on the current staff that can do the job...hire from outside the "Tennessee family" (with all due respect to Jerry Green and the North Carolina family).
98reax writes:
Butch31, that's a pretty good post. We've been so disappointed in the Ladies' performance in the last few games, well, right off hand I cannot recall a game this season that was not lackluster mistake laden. Nevertheless, they have the opportunity tonight to NOT play down to their competition. Regardless of the score 'at the moment' they have another chance to play hard with heart & pride in the Lady Vol tradition for 40 minutes.
If they screw around tonight and continue the selfishness & sloppiness like we've seen lately...
Noogaorange writes:
Well here you go again! Have you told Pat yet? GBO
jt45 writes:
I would have liked to see Spani get her shooting back on track, thats looking more and more like its not going to happen this year. The more I watch this team the more I wonder whats going on with the lineup issues. If they continue to shoot poorly from outside there's no way the inside game will be game changer as those top teams already know how to guard us on defense. Evidence of this has been some terrible losses this year by stanford and ND. I still give the UK loss to the refs with their pathetic calls. We played much better early on against baylor because our shooters were making shots. Strickland and Simmons need to step up and make those 3s now that Spani doesn't play much. Massengale needs to be more aggressive offensively and get the defense to spread out more. They should be shooting foul shots till their arms fall off, it seems like we are the worst foul shooting team (both men and women) that Ive seen this year (most years actually). And why do these girls call up screens on every possession with hand signals that a preschooler could spot on virtually every play. I bet other coaches are loving these easy reads on defense. Every good team we have played has had a good inside outside game, and until our LVs get that back they wont be a real threat in the final 4. Offensively they just need to start clicking and that's not happened lately .
Tennfan4075 writes:
This is not the first time this group of seniors have been called out and they have yet to respond, lets hope this time it works because time is running out.
stumpyb writes:
well all of you writing off the men's season better start writing off the women's as well. The men have a reason new coach new system new players. Women same coach most of all the same players so they know the drill
Fall_Creek_Vols writes:
I'm sorry, but I can't accept this. It's good to see Coach Pat calling them our and I am among those who wish she would take the active posture she's always had in this position. I don't buy into the theory that she is suddenly incompetent and no instantly longer able to Coach because of the diagnosis. I'm so sick of people already blowing taps over Coach Pat. She's our Coach and I believe she still can.
The only way I agree with you is if she no longer has the desire to do the job. In that case, her time WILL have come and gone...but not until then.
This team's general lack of desire pre-dates the diagnosis. The collapses of last year (and the year before) are all before any medical opinion was made public. IMO, that's on the players.
My only criticism of the coaches is that we sure seem to stay way too long with line-ups that are getting spanked. If a player isn't getting it done, there should be a spot on the bench for her.
kazoo writes:
Pat's standard line after losses is that the team needs to work harder--more "effort." There may be an effort problem on defense, but not on offense, where the issue is learning how to run a half-court offense, and run it against pressure. THAT is the problem.
huntined#565710 writes:
Tenn. is the easiest team in the sec to guard because they don't move when they don't have the ball. Guard dribbles and all other players watch her and don't try to screen inside to get another player open at all. Easy to defend and their players get to rest when we have the ball!!! Just watch them tonight and you will see it. N.D. coaches knew this and that made it easy for them to guard us. We preach defense a lot but now days most all teams can score and you have to score with them to win.
SummerfieldVol writes:
First of all I think everybody knows that Pat is not doing the bulk of the coaching. Sits on the bench like a spectator. We need to turn the wick up on the offense end of our game. We are doing ok overall on the defensive end, I know someone will bring up the number of points a few players have scored, but the total at the end of the game was not all that bad considering our performance as a team. The offense lacks awhole lot. We have player who were high scores in high school and now are not able or have been told to just play tough defense. That is what I mean our offense lacks alot, turn the girls loose and let start to put a emphasis on scoring.
callforlogic2 writes:
Holly, see if you can work on teaching Simmons how to pass when she is not open instead of taking ill advised shots. A little more defense from Simmons would also help greatly.
stumpyb writes:
Boy I bet Dave hart would have hell to pay if he fired Pat and the entire coaching staff after this season but I think this man has BALLS to do it
SummittsCourt writes:
It's all about want to and desire. There was a time when that was a given, but with today's athletes they are still being given everything when they are in High school and unfortunately that has made it's way to the women's game.
Either way, I'm not giving up on this team - they are very talented and should do well once they get to March.
jt45 writes:
Firing PS would be suicide for any AD in america let alone one in his first year at a school with streets named after her. In fact I dont think he would have any balls left if he tried that once the fans got through with him.
Pat will retire when she's ready. With 15 wins to go to get 1100 I dont see that happening for awhile. I dont see the assistant coaches motivating this team very well. I only hope that when Pat does retire they bring in someone that will continue the tradition of winning that Pat has built here.
Mrlogic writes:
While Simmons has a lot of ability she is not playing withen the team concept. I think she is hurting the team buy playing High School basketball. If she does not buy into what they are trying to teach they need to be starting someone else that will. Also I think Burdic should be starting instead of Manning. I love Mannings game but I do not think she has enough talent to hang with a top ranked opponent. She should be a reserve and Simmmon's should be a reserve unless she buys into the team concept. They are running out of time. They need to get the best starting five out there and go with them and get some continuity to their offense.
butch31 writes:
R U STALKING ME AGAIN? LMAO...
maxvolfan#217855 writes:
A consistant starting lineup with 30+ mins a piece. Live or die together.
cdtnladyvols931#663910 writes:
This group of seniors need to get it together now; they have been getting their college education free! So they need to perform like athletes they can be!!!! I hope that they care about winning and show all their critics that they can!!! Go Lady Vols!!!
DroopyDrawers writes:
I agree with last paragraph. Bench Simmons and Manning! Manning will play coming off of the bench. Simmons, let sit until she decides to slow down and play team ball.
VOLunTEAR writes:
We've had this same lame brain soap opera for four years. Let's graduate these ladies and begin rebuilding a Lady Vols Basketball Team. It's time to move on, and the more people who move on the better.
VOLunTEAR writes:
"New life" has begun after each of the five losses this year, and "new life" will come again after the LVs get their arses kicked in the NCAA tourney.
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