KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Lady Vols are struggling in record fashion.
They scored the fewest points in program history in what was the second-largest margin of defeat in a 72-44 pounding at No. 2 Notre Dame on Monday. This after Stanford's Nnemkadi Ogwumike dropped 42 points on Tennessee last month — the second most by a single player.
And looming over it all is Pat Summitt coaching through early onset dementia, Alzheimer's type.
"No matter how many games we go out there and lose, we have to stick through it," sophomore guard Meighan Simmons said Wednesday.
"We have to fight through it, and make sure that we take one day at a time and take one game at a time, and make sure that we get back to Final Four because I know if Pat ever coaches again she wants to remember this program as the team that went out and tried to win a Final Four before she stopped coaching."
This season began almost like any other at Tennessee with a No. 3 preseason ranking and the goal a ninth national championship despite Summitt's announcement in late August of her diagnosis. But the Lady Vols (14-5, 5-1 Southeastern Conference) already have more losses than all of last season (three).
Some have been unexpected and downright ugly.
They lost in overtime at unranked Virginia 69-64, then lost at home to Brittney Griner and No. 1 Baylor 76-67. Tennessee lost 97-80 at No. 4 Stanford on Dec. 20 when the Lady Vols gave up 42 to Ogwumike — the most by a single player since Texas' Clarissa Davis had 45 against UT on Dec. 9, 1987. Mississippi's Peggy Gillom also scored 45 points against the Lady Vols on Feb. 4, 1978.
But this latest loss marked a new low.
The 44 points were the fewest in the school's modern history, just off a 69-46 loss to Louisiana Tech in the 1982 Final Four and a 77-45 loss to Belmont on Jan. 17, 1976. They couldn't shoot against Notre Dame and didn't defend.
Tennessee had an extended and closed practice Wednesday until near the end when reporters were allowed to watch a bit. Summitt said the coaches were in charge at this session.
"They were in charge the other night," Summitt said. "Today, we were in charge. I thought they responded pretty well overall. Still, one of the most disappointing losses we've had in a long time."
Summitt said she was very disappointed by a lack of intensity and not following the game plan.
"It's the reason we're back out here. We know we have to get a lot better. They took it to us. They never let up, and obviously, we never found a way to bring that energy we needed to have, that toughness," Summitt said. "You just have to give them all the credit and we're back here trying to learn a real valuable lesson. That's what we're doing."
The team has apparently learned how to deal with Summitt's illness, making several adjustments to ease the demands on her: Associate coach Holly Warlick speaks to reporters after each game and handles more of the coaching duties in practice along with Mickie DeMoss and Dean Lockwood.
But this isn't about Summitt. The coaches are looking for more energy and effort from the players and both Summitt and Warlick think the Notre Dame loss could be a turning point.
"So it's going to be interesting to see how our team responds," Warlick said.
Tennessee still ranked second in RPI according to the NCAA on Monday and also has No. 1 strength of schedule, which is challenging even by Tennessee standards. The Lady Vols already having played 10 ranked opponents, including five in the top 10, with at least two more such games left this regular season.
They also have dealt with a variety of injuries that kept all 11 Lady Vols on the roster from practicing together for the first time until last Sunday, a day before the loss at Notre Dame.
"We have to learn to be disciplined after a game like that," Simmons said. "We have to be able to come back and respond. Forget about it, it's in the past, it's in the history books, we just have to move to the next game and not worry about it."
The Lady Vols should get back on track against Alabama (10-10, 0-6), and this challenging week ends Sunday with their third game in seven days with a trip to No. 17 Georgia. Tennessee beat Georgia 80-51 earlier this month.
Tennessee hasn't won a national championship, or even reached the Final Four since 2008, and this year's team still wants to end that drought, especially with Summitt's uncertain future.
"I think that this game really just put a lot of things in perspective for us," senior forward Alicia Manning said. "Us seniors, we want to go out and get that national championship."
Tennessee's signing class for 2012
Softball: Tennessee 2, Georgia 1
Tennessee defeats Georgia 3-2 in…
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Comments » 11
vol4gzus writes:
Fans are saying they are from Missouri......the 'Show me state'. Walk the talk...we support you. All we ask is 100% effort on both ends of the court TEAM basketball...
switcher76 writes:
Sorry girls as much as I love UT Lady Vols basketball you will not be in the final four. Heck you will be lucky to make it out of the first round of the tournament if things don't change. Simmons has got to stop running down the court and jacking up shots with 25 seconds or more on the shot clock. Play TEAM ball....if they have forgotten what that was then maybe they can watch the tape of were they got their butts kicked the other night. The girls are talented but lack heart to play the way they need to right now. I hope they get it together before March! GBO
SoddyVol writes:
Even with Pat's illness, I only partially blame coaching for their poor play. There are several reasons. Am I the only one who thinks that beginning in 2009, losing starters and zero "on the floor" leadership was the biggest hurdle the coaches had to overcome? The injuries are huge--especially combined with other problems. Recruiting for 2 or 3 years got some players who, without the floor leadership, just can't learn to play as a team. Maybe a head shrink could help a player like Simmons. What she says to the press is good, but in a game, is it her ego that prevents her getting assists she needs to have? (or maybe the players just don't try hard enough to get open--perhaps both). I would love to see every player play all out like Glory does--Just wish she could make more lay-ups and free throws. As disappointed as I am with the team, they still will probably win the SEC championship, season, tournament, or both.
richvol writes:
Exactly...I have heard this type of comments from the LadyVols for years now. They say that things are going to change and sometimes they do for a game or two then it's right back to the same ole problems that have existed for years.
Where is the consistancy? Where is the cohesion that we use to see from the team that gave us Marciniak and Jolly. Those teams could pass your head off. Great ball handling and snappy play making.
This problem started in the Candace Parker years when we began to rely exclusively on one player to bail us out of a jam insread of playing together as a team with each piston of the machine doing their part.
I am not giving up on this squad but I am tired of watching the selfish play of Simmons,the disappearances of Stricklen and the terrible ball handling and poor shot selection from this group.
The coaches have failed to coach even the basic fundamentals to this squad. When you can't pass the ball to one another,miss uncontested layups and take terrible shots early in the shot clock then what am I supposed to think?
wigmeister writes:
A lot of ugly this year. This team has been such a disappointment after such high expectations. I don't know if change is possible at this point.
butch31 writes:
Who r u? Dionne Warwick or somebody...all this psychic mess needs to quit! U have no idea where this team is going. Meighan is playing much better now, so why complain now? I would strongly encourage u to sit back, shut up, and observe lady vol basketball. I mean why be a hater?
Razor784 writes:
No way theyre cutting down the nets this year, this group has underachieved since they were freshman and I don't see things changing now. If things don't change then they'll be gone by the sweet 16 at the latest
Volinflan writes:
butch31, it's not hate, just disappointment. For YOUR info, some of us became Pat Head fans in 1976 and she has been our Hero (HERO!) for thirty or more years. We want her to win 1200 games and hang a couple of more banners in the rafters. It's very, very sad to see HER team get manhandled the way Notre Dame did. And comments notwithstanding, we'll be here for every game. We'll also still wonder why Simmons jacks up 25 footers with 25 seconds left on the clock. How has she improved? Been shooting 33% for the season. Shot 33% against ND.
But tonight's another game and we all hope it's the start on the road to another SEC Championship. Until we get the taste of the ND game out of our memories it'll be hard to be confident though.
Benionsopinion writes:
Some gleanings from an infertile brain,but a loyal Lady Vol fan.Many of those posting on this site,I very much agree with.Our LV problems are manifested in poor shooting,lackluster defense,and downright sloppy ball handling.Seems that most are down on Meghan taking quick shots,but I heard none of that last year when she hit a better percentage.Her ballhandling is more suspect to me than shot selection.No baskets are made without shooting the ball.If our girls are running a motion offense as they are supposed to be,there should never be anyone standing on the floor and watching.Quick crisp passes are vital to getting good looks at the basket,so that when a player is open,she should take a shot.None of the five on the floor at any given time should pass up an open shot unless they spot someone with a layup opportunity.Put pressure on the other team's defense to react.
butch31 writes:
Good I'm glad u been a fan since 1976, I've been a fan of lady vol hoops since 1984, I been thru LOTS of disappointments, but I also understand when we fall down, we get back up again. I will never ever say pack it up, this team is NOT going any where. What kind of fan says that? This team has the talent to make and win the final 4 in 2012, just like any other teams. I complained about Meighan all year last year, and this summer, but I am seeing MAJOR improvements, why would I keep riding her? The comment was pure hatred, and uncalled for. If ur a fan of 30 plus years, then u know there will be highs and lows throughout the season. We were all there with the frustrating losses against USC in the 80's, and we were all caught off guard with the 1987 championship, and I see this team as one of the teams to beat still. For some odd reason, these teams are coming for blood against the lady vols this season, and its up to the team to address it, and give it right back.
BigRMan writes:
No dynasty lasts forever. UCLA really has been down and had to weather scandal since the retirement of John Wooden back in '75. Wooden never had to battle the illness Coach Summit is struggling with however. Kentucky is much improved and you know the longer Nikki Caldwell stays at LSU the better they will become. Coach Summitt's influence on women's hoops will likely extend into the next century with the players and coaches she has mentored and developed. After the Notre Dame debacle, it's hard to get hyped over a win over a squad like Alabama. You'd think with the stigma hanging over this group of Seniors, if they don't hang a banner, or at least make the Final Four, that would be motivation enough for them. Something seems to be lacking whether it cohesiveness, Basketball IQ, motivation, team unity, some factor or combination of factors is holding this team hostage
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