University of Tennessee Athletics
Quotes from Head Coach Pat Summitt's Weekly Teleconference
November 29, 2000 | Women's Basketball
General comments on the team's first four games and the upcoming contests with Wisconsin and Boston College.
"The trip to Maui was a great trip for us in a lot of ways. It was good for our team chemistry and we bonded on out first trip together. We had a fun time on and off the court.
I am pleased with how we played in the first two games. Clemson posed some problems for us early, particularly with their defensive pressure. By the end of the game, we were able to break down the press and get much better shot selection. Defensively, we fouled too much and we have to improve in that area.
Against Illinois, I thought that was our best game in terms of execution and shot selection. We put them at the line 35 times, though, and that's from us breaking down on defense. We are breaking down towards the end of the game and we have to get more discipline on defense.
TCU came out strong and we were not on top of our game at either end of the court. Fatigue was a factor, but we have to learn play with that and not make it costly for us. Our second half against TCU was much better with both our shot selection and our defense.
As far as for our next two games, it is good to be back home. Wisconsin will present a challenge for us and they are a good team. Center Nina Smith is capable of putting up big numbers from the post. Our post players will have to step up, as they will be challenged up and down the court. I haven't seen a lot on Boston College yet, but I know that they are a well-coached team and one of the better passing teams in the country. They will present a challenge for us at both ends of the court."
What is the Lady Vols' starting lineup for the Wisconsin game?
"We still have practice today and tomorrow to determine the starters for Sunday. There are seven or eight potential starters on this team. I was very pleased with April McDivitt's play this weekend and I think that she is the better defensive player from the point. I am not ready to commit yet on who will be starting."
What do you do to help the team avoid a slump?
"We consistently recruit players that are serious about the game and highly motivated to play. As a coach, you have to give players days off and they are less likely to play down in January. It is very important to manage a long season with off-days and shortened practices. As a coach, you have to realize that more is not always better. Because of my personality style, I have to remember that more is not always better and that less can get you an awful lot in a long season. In January and February, we also try to experiment with giving players the day before a game off and we will experiment with that later in the season."
Have you noticed any changes in Wisconsin from last year to this year?
"That is my afternoon assignment--to find out about those changes. At this point, I know that they have tried some different approaches to defense, but then we have also tried some different offenses. I will know more about that this afternoon after watching tape."
When playing a lower ranked team like Boston College, are you worried about any surprises?
"Our philosophy is to approach each opponent the same way. Whether they are the No. 1 or No. 24 ranked team in the country or if they are unranked, we still have the same scouting report and do the same walk through. The players need that consistency in preparation. Also, I take a more serious approach to teams that are not familiar to our players. We watch more tape of those opponents and we talk a lot about personnel and what to expect. This has worked favorably for us, but as a coach you have to be concerned sometimes. After a big win, you have make sure that the players treat each game like it is the most important game."
With Michelle Snow's dunk last weekend, do you think that play was good for the women's game?
"There has been a lot of interest, excitement and publicity from the dunk. I think it is good for the game of women's basketball, especially when talking to other players. I think that this will be a motivation for others to come out of their comfort zones. Michelle had to be comfortable enough to attempt the dunk and take that chance. There are several players who can dunk in practice but have not committed to trying it in a game. Michelle wanted to make sure that she was successful and she made that commitment. I am proud of her for her courage to try."
How well is Tamika Catchings playing right now?
"Tamika is playing really well right now. I think that she is playing a better all-around game and has improved her passing skills. For her, moving to the three spot was a big challenge. She is settling down and playing an effective game from the wing. Moving to the perimeter has challenged her the most defensively. In the past, she has had a small spot to defend in the paint, but now she has to work with putting her defense in motion beyond the three-point arc. With time, she will get better and better."
What is your reaction to comparisons of Tennessee's team this year to UConn's of last year?
"We have worked hard to become a balanced offensive team. I think that we learned a valuable lesson from the loss in the title game last year from UConn. Our freshman class is helping us to improve our offense, which was one of our main issues. They are making us a much better team and we can rotate them in and out more often, similar to the UConn style. They bring us not only energy, but also speed, execution and scoring."
Can we expect more dunks from Michelle Snow in the future?
"That is not something that we have talked about. We are more focused on the fundamentals of the game. Michelle knows that she has a green light and will not hesitate to try in the future."
Why do you think that Michelle is only the fourth women's player to dunk in a game?
"I think that there are a limited number of players that can dunk in either games or practice. That number is increasing with strength and conditioning and training. In women's basketball, you are more likely to see if in the open court, breakaway situation, than in the half-court offense setting.
I think the dunk is the most overrated play in the men's game. Men can dunk with ease and the women have had to work on strength and conditioning to make it happen. With the limited number of players that can dunk, I don't think it is going to hurt the game unless the numbers increase and players try to do it all the time. Women's basketball relies more on teamwork and fundamentals. The successful teams do not have that dominating player. No matter how good someone like Tamika Catchings is, she still needs four other starters and a strong bench to win the national championship."
What does it mean for you to face a former pupil in Wisconsin coach Jane Albright?
"Once the game starts, I don't think about our friendship-it is team vs. team. These games give us a chance to visit and talk about basketball, but once we take the court, it is business as usual. I am proud of Jane and the way she has built the Wisconsin program. She is doing a good job within the rules and I think that she demonstrates that she really cares about the student-athletes."
With all factors equal, do you give the starting nod to a player with better defense?
"Defense has always been a priority for this program. We have had several teams great offenses as trademarks, we have also always had great defense. If you look at the championship banners hanging in Thompson-Boling Arena, at least four of them we won with defense and rebounding. With our team, we are always looking for a defensive stopper on the perimeter and one more on the post and defensively ability is something that is seriously considered."
TCU played the zone defense, do you think that will be a new trend?
"I think that we will begin to see a lot of zone and that doesn't surprise me. We need to keep our commitment to going inside and have a strong physical presence in the paint. At times, we are very soft in the paint. In the game film against TCU, I saw a lot of standing and a lack of physical presence inside. We need to improve upon that and make our post game more consistent."
What is the progress for the freshmen so far?
"Ashley Robinson has started for us twice this year and she is in the position to be a consistent starter. Tasha Butts is our first substitution from the wing off the bench. I have been alternating LaToya Davis and senior Kyra Elzy in the games as well. Courtney McDaniel is also earning some good minutes for us and played well in Maui. I think that she will be a great role player for us as she adjusts to the tempo of the game, which was more of a problem for her than the other three.
I don't see our freshmen perimeter players stepping in to start since they still have so much still to learn. I think that all four have made a commitment to the game and are very serious about their progress."
