University of Tennessee Athletics
2000 SEC Tournament Tidbits and Season Recap
March 04, 2000 | Women's Basketball
LADY VOL MEDIA RELATIONS TEAM IN CHATTANOOGA
The University of Tennessee will be headquartered at the Holiday InnChattanooga Choo-Choo (423) 266-5000. The UT Media Relations staff of Debby Jennings, Janya Marshall and Sean Palchick will be available to assist the media at the SEC Tournament. Please feel free to contact any of the UT staffers for assistance. Lady Vol game notes and updated stats will be available online at utladyvols.com and Media Team Link as well as at the Arena.
21 APPEARANCES
The Lady Vols' Y2K appearance in the SEC Tournament is the school's 21st time to the mini-Final Four. It also marks the 20th time with a first round bye. The only year that Tennessee had to play on opening day was in 1997 when the Lady Vols were suffering through a rare 10-loss season. UT suffered its final defeat of the year at the Round House in Chattanooga (a 61-59 loss to Auburn) and then ran the table in the NCAAs to finish the year 29-10 and NCAA Champs.
THE FINAL 1999-2000 SEC STANDINGS (through 3-3-00) TEAM SEC CURRENT OVERALL Georgia 13-1 29-2 TENNESSEE 13-1 26-3 LSU 11-3 22-6 Auburn 9-5 21-7 Mississippi St. 8-6 22-6 Vanderbilt 6-8 20-11 Florida 6-8 17-12 Alabama 5-9 15-13 Kentucky 5-9 15-14 Arkansas 4-10 14-14 South Carolina 3-11 13-15 Ole Miss 1-13 12-16SEC TEAM -- THE LATEST RPI INDEXUPCOMING SEC TOURNAMENT GAMES Mar. 4: Georgia vs. Mississippi State and Tennessee vs. Vanderbilt Mar. 5: SEC Championship game. CURRENT LADY VOL SEC INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS (entering SEC Tournament) Scoring 8. Tamika Catchings 15.0 ppg 9. Kara Lawson 14.9 ppg 11. Semeka Randall 14.3 ppg Field Goal Percentage 10. Catchings .466 Rebounding 7. Catchings 7.5 rpg 12.Michelle Snow 6.6 rpg Three point Field Goal Percentage 1. Lawson .476 Free Throw Percentage 1. Lawson .864 3. Randall .780 4. Catchings .772 Assists 10. Kristen Clement 3.75 apg Steals 2. Catchings 2.6 spg Blocks 8. Snow 1.0 bpg
CURRENT LADY VOL SEC TEAM STATISTICS Scoring 1st Scoring Defense 7th Rebound Avg. 3rd Opp. Rebounds 3rd FG % 5th Opp. FG% 10th 3FG% 3rd FT % 5th Assists 7th Blocks 6th Steals 1st Turnover Margin 1st Rebound Margin 1st Scoring Margin 2nd Asst/Turnover Ratio 6th
Ten SEC teams are listed in the top 40 of the latest NCAA Women's Basketball RPI released on Mar. 1. Tennessee leads the way ranked first, while Georgia is third, LSU seventh, Mississippi State 15th, Auburn is 17th, Vanderbilt is 19th, Florida is 24th, Kentucky is 31st, Arkansas 36th, and Alabama 40th. Other SEC rankings include: South Carolina 83rd, and Ole Miss 91st.
CLINCHED THE SEC
The Tennessee Lady Vols clinched their ninth all-time regular season SEC Championship in 2000 as they tied Georgia with a 13-1 record. Georgia got the top seed in the SEC Tournament by virtue of the head-to-head meeting between the two schools. On Jan. 17, 2000, the Lady Bulldogs trounced the Lady Vols, 78-51, in Athens, Ga.
A TIE IS LIKE KISSING YOUR SISTER
Incredibly, this is the first time in the modern SEC format that two schools have tied for the SEC regular season title.
UT's WON-LOST RECORD IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT
Since the tourney began in 1980, the Lady Vols sport the best overall record in the conference tournament. UT has produced a 41-11 record which breaks down this way: Alabama (7-2), Auburn (6-3), Florida (5-0), Georgia (6-2), Kentucky (3-1), LSU (4-1), Ole Miss (4-1), Miss St. (1-0), USC (1-0), and Vandy (4-1). The Lady Vols have never faced Arkansas in the conference tourney. (The SEC record indicates that UT is 40-11 in SEC play. However, in the old tournament format, there was a consolation game. In 1983, Tennessee defeated Auburn, 83-75, in the consolation finals. The Lady Vols recognize their SEC Tournament record at 41-11).
2000 ALL-SEC TEAM
The 10 player All-SEC Coaches First Team selected Lady Vols Tamika Catchings, Kara Lawson and Semeka Randall to its ranks. It marked the third time that three UT players received the nod on the first team joining the 1999 UT All-SEC Team (Chamique Holdsclaw, Catchings and Randall) and the 1995 UT All-SEC Team (Michelle Marciniak, Nikki McCray and Dana Johnson). It was a third consecutive selection for Catchings, a second time pick for Randall and marked Lawson's first time on the All-SEC Coaches team. Thirty-nine of the all-time spots on the First Team All-SEC have been held by a Lady Vol player. UT sophomore post Michelle Snow earned a spot on the Second Team All-SEC. All-time, 13 Lady Vols have been named to the All-SEC Second Team.
2000 SEC ALL-FRESHMAN TEAM
The five player All-SEC Coaches Rookie Team selected Lady Vols Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson to its ranks. Lawson was a unanimous selection. It marked the fourth time that two Lady Vols were selected to the All-Rookie Team. Previously, two Tennessee players were picked in 1991 (Peggy Evans and Nikki Caldwell), 1992 (Dana Johnson and Tiffany Woosley) and 1998 (Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall). Also picked to the 2000 All-SEC rookie squad were LeCoe Willingham (Auburn), LaToya Thomas (Miss. St.), and Chantelle Anderson (Vandy). Last year, the SEC did not pick an All-Rookie Team.
2000 ACADEMIC ALL-SEC TEAM
Once again, four Tennessee players were named to the 2000 SEC Academic Honor Roll senior Niya Butts (3.42 GPA in Social Work), junior Semeka Randall (3.50 GPA in Speech Communication), and sophomores Amanda Canon (3.31 GPA in Exercise Science) and Sarah Edwards (3.64 GPA in Exercise Science). It marks Butts' third time on the All-SEC Academic Team.
SEC GOOD WORKS TEAM
Lady Vol junior forward Tamika Catchings was named to the Southeastern Conference Good Works Team which is comprised of athletes from across the SEC who are leaders in the classroom and great role models to youth in their community.
BOUNCED OUT
There have been four trips to the SEC Tournament since 1980 when the Lady Vols didn't even get to unpack their bags losing in second round action after receiving a bye. In 1981, Alabama sent Tennessee packing after a 77-71 loss; in 1984, Alabama again provided the honors with a 85-66 win; in 1986, Ole Miss dealt UT a 83-78 loss, and in 1993, Georgia provided UT with an early exit from Chattanooga, 73-72.
IN THE SEC FINALS
The Lady Vols have appeared in the SEC Championship game 13 times. In the 1990s alone, the Lady Vols appeared in the title game eight times (1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999) against five different SEC teams. In the last decade, UT won titles in five of the years 1999 vs. Georgia, 85-69, 1998 vs. Alabama, 67-63, 1996 vs. Alabama, 64-60 (without Chamique Holdsclaw due to a knee injury suffered in the opening minutes of play), 1994 vs. Vanderbilt, 82-57 and 1992 vs. Georgia, 73-66.
ADVANCING TO THE FINALS OF THE SEC TOURNEY
Last year marked the 13th time that the Lady Vols advanced to the finals of the SEC Tournament in the last 20 years. Tennessee is 9-4 all-time in the SEC tournament finals. The Lady Vols won titles in 1999, 1998, 1996, 1994, 1992, 1989, 1988, 1985, and 1980.
1999 SEC TOURNAMENT UT NOTABLES
Tamika Catchings scored a career high 38 points against Florida in the 1999 SEC Tournament on Feb. 26 She was just two points shy of former Lady Vol All-American Shelia Collins' SEC tourney record of 40 points (Ole Miss 1985)Rookie post Shalon Pillow never made it out of the hotel for the 1999 SEC second round game versus Florida Pillow came down with the flu in the middle of the night and was confined to the bed However, she was back for the game with AlabamaThe Lady Vols placed three players on the 1999 SEC All-Tournament team Chamique Holdsclaw won MVP honors for the second consecutive year, while Tamika Catchings and Michelle Snow were also named to the All-Tournament team.
TENNESSEE'S SEC FINISHES THROUGH THE YEARS Regular Season/Finish Tournament 2000- 13-1 First (tied) in progress 1999- 13-1 First SEC Champs 1998- 14-0 First SEC Champs 1997- 8-4 Fifth Lost in semis 1996- 9-2 First SEC Champs 1995- 11-0 First Lost in finals 1994- 11-0 First SEC Champs 1993- 11-0 First Lost in quarters 1992- 10-1 Second SEC Champs 1991- 6-3 Third Lost in final 1990- 8-1 First Lost in final 1989- 8-1 Second SEC Champs 1988- 8-1 Second SEC Champs 1987- 6-3 Fourth Lost in semis 1986- 5-4 Fifth Lost in quarters 1985- 4-4 Third (E) SEC Champs 1984- 7-1 Second (E) Lost in quarters 1983- 7-1 First (E) Lost in semis 1982- no standings Lost in final 1981- no standings Lost in quarters 1980- no standings SEC Champs (bold indicates NCAA title years)SEC LEAGUE PLAY
The Lady Vols own a league best record of 159-28 against all SEC teams in league play dating back to the 1983 season. AGAINST THE SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE
Tennessee owns a 271-48 record all-time record vs. 12 teams from the Southeastern Conference. The Lady Vols maintain a winning record against every team in the SEC.
THE SEC REGULAR SEASON STORY
UT's last SEC win at home: Auburn, 76-61, 2-27-00
UT's last SEC win away: Vanderbilt, 59-57, 2-24-00
UT's last SEC loss at home: Georgia, 94-93 OT, 12-8-96
UT's last SEC loss away: Georgia, 78-51, 1-17-00
UT's 1999-00 SEC home record: 7-0
UT's 1999-00 SEC away record: 6-1
UT's current SEC home streak: won 26
UT's current SEC away streak: won 3
HOME N HOME SEC DANCE PARTNERS
Tennessee's home-and-home SEC games this season included double-dips with Kentucky, LSU, and Vanderbilt. The Lady Vols swept all six games in the 2000 meetings
UT IS AMAZING AT HOME VERSUS THE SEC
Since Tennessee began contesting games with Southeastern Conference opponents, the Lady Vols have produced a 112-9 record in all games played at home. Only four SEC teams have ever managed a victory over the Lady Vols in Knoxville Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky and Ole Miss. Georgia has won three games on UT's turf while Auburn, Kentucky and Ole Miss have registered two wins each. Georgia is the only team to defeat UT at home in the 1990s the Lady Bulldogs turned the trick in 1991 and 1996.
SEC TITLES AND NATIONAL FINISHES
The Lady Vols have won nine SEC titles and nine SEC Tournament titles since 1980. This is how UT fared in the NCAA Tournament after winning the SEC Tournament:
1999Beat Georgia for the SEC title; lost to Duke in the East Regional finals.
1998Beat Alabama for the SEC title; defeated Louisiana Tech for the NCAA title
1996--Beat Alabama for the SEC title; defeated Georgia for the NCAA title
1994--Beat Vanderbilt for SEC title; lost to Louisiana Tech in Mideast Regional semifinals
1992--Beat Georgia for SEC title; lost to Western Kentucky in Mideast Regional semifinals
1989--Beat Auburn for SEC title; beat Auburn for NCAA title
1988--Beat Auburn for SEC title; lost to Louisiana Tech in Final Four semifinals
1985--Beat Auburn for SEC title; lost to Ole Miss in Mideast Regionals
1980--Beat Ole Miss for SEC title; lost to Old Dominion for AIAW title
HISTORY OF THE TENNESSEE LADY VOLS IN THE SEC TOURNAMENT2000 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Florida, 91-79
1999 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. FINALS: Tennessee def. Georgia, 85-69 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Alabama, 80-69 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Florida, 92-80
1998 SEC TOURNAMENT COLUMBUS, GEORGIA FINALS: Tennessee def. Alabama, 67-63 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Vanderbilt, 106-45 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Miss. St., 88-60
1997 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. SEMIFINALS: Auburn def. Tennessee, 61-59 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. LSU, 100-99 (OT) FIRST ROUND: Tennessee def. S. Carolina, 75-48
1996 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. FINALS: Tennessee def. Alabama, 64-60 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Florida, 74-63 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Mississippi, 73-51
1995 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. FINALS: Vanderbilt def. Tennessee, 67-61 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Alabama, 84-70 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Kentucky, 74-62
1994 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. FINALS: Tennessee def. Vanderbilt, 82-57 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Alabama, 72-56 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Georgia, 86-72
1993 SEC TOURNAMENT CHATTANOOGA, TENN. SECOND ROUND: Georgia def. Tennessee, 73-72
1992 SEC TOURNAMENT ALBANY, GEORGIA FINALS: Tennessee def. Georgia, 73-66 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Kentucky, 90-84 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. LSU, 70-65
1991 SEC TOURNAMENT ALBANY, GEORGIA FINALS: LSU def. Tennessee, 80-75 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Auburn, 70-62 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Vanderbilt, 62-60
1990 SEC TOURNAMENT ALBANY, GEORGIA FINALS: Auburn def. Tennessee, 78-77 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Georgia, 73-54 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Florida, 81-56
1989 SEC TOURNAMENT ALBANY, GEORGIA FINALS: Tennessee def. Auburn, 66-51 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Mississippi, 82-60 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Alabama, 89-61
1988 SEC TOURNAMENT ALBANY, GEORGIA FINALS: Tennessee def. Auburn, 73-70 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Georgia, 82-76 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Kentucky, 100-66
1987 SEC TOURNAMENT ALBANY, GEORGIA SEMIFINALS: Auburn def. Tennessee, 102-96 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. LSU, 64-63
1986 SEC TOURNAMENT ATHENS, GEORGIA SECOND ROUND: Mississippi def. Tennessee, 83-78
1985 SEC TOURNAMENT OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI FINALS: Tennessee def. Auburn, 63-60 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Ole Miss, 79-71 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. LSU, 85-78
1984 SEC TOURNAMENT ATHENS, GEORGIA SECOND ROUND: Alabama def. Tennessee, 85-66
1983 SEC TOURNAMENT KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE CONSO-FINALS: Tennessee def. Auburn, 83-75 SEMIFINALS: Georgia def. Tennessee, 71-65 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Alabama, 91-73
1982 SEC TOURNAMENT LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY FINALS: Kentucky def. Tennessee, 80-74 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Georgia, 55-44 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Vanderbilt, 80-75
1981 SEC TOURNAMENT BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA SECOND ROUND: Alabama def. Tennessee, 77-71
1980 SEC TOURNAMENT KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE FINALS: Tennessee def. Mississippi, 85-71 SEMIFINALS: Tennessee def. Auburn, 72-61 SECOND ROUND: Tennessee def. Florida, 118-44
CHAMPIONSHIPS: Nine (1980, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 1999)
FINALIST: 13 times (1980, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991,1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999)
CONSO-FINALS: Once (1983)
OVERALL SEC TOURNAMENT RECORD: Won 41 Lost 11 .784 SEC Tournament
