University of Tennessee Athletics
CONTENDERS ANSWERING THE BELL
October 30, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 30, 2002
Perhaps unbeknownst to the Tennessee Lady Vols at the time, the genesis of the 2002-03 season was born in the waning moments of the final game of the 2002 campaign. Dazed, beaten and bloodied, the team found itself knocked out in its final game --- a semifinal contest at the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, Texas. This season, behind the leadership of seniors Kara Lawson and Gwen Jackson, the Lady Vols have picked themselves collectively up off the canvas and are ready to enter the ring again as 2002-03 Contenders: Answering the Bell.
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Year-in and year-out, the Lady Vols have always been considered contenders. After all, as a collegiate women's basketball heavyweight team, Tennessee has taken on more ranked teams than anyone in the country (432 since the polls began in 1976) and brought home the most title belts - six - in the history of the women's game. Every time Tennessee steps into the ring-er, court - its opponent is not only facing the present Lady Vols but also the legacy of the titles.
No one knows the pressure of being a heavyweight legacy more than Tennessee coach Pat Summitt, who has been a combination of Don King and Angelo Dundee for the past 28 years as the promoter and "corner man" of the Lady Volunteers. Entering the 2002-03 campaign, Summitt carries 788 wins into the ring and is just 12 victories away from the magical 800-win plateau. Even more amazing is the fact that 46% of Summitt's bouts have come against ranked teams - other potential contenders for the title that her teams chase every season.
Additionally, Summitt possesses the best "chief second, cut man and corner lead" in the business with associate head coach Mickie DeMoss, and assistant coaches Holly Warlick and Nikki Caldwell with her ringside. Key advice, adjustments and assistance come from this trio in split seconds.
"Basketball and boxing are pretty much alike when it comes to timeouts and time between rounds," said Summitt. "Your people have to catch their breath and clear their heads. Adjustments are made quickly and then it's time to head back out. Having a great staff with Mickie, Holly and now the addition of former Lady Vol Nikki Caldwell in our corner, makes us that much tougher to beat. I am very fortunate as a head coach to have these outstanding coaches to work with day-in and day-out," said the legendary mentor.
"We start the season with the same mindset - never count us out," said Summitt. "Our players and staff know they have a legitimate shot of being in the Final Four every year and realize that an NCAA title is always a possibility with lots of hard work and a little luck," she added.
And what does the coach think about this group's chances as contenders? "I am really optimistic for them," said Summitt. "Based on their incredible work ethic and attitude in the off-season, I think we have something special in this team. They committed as a group to get in the gym and work together on their own. It's one of the best off-season commitments I've seen from a team in my 28 years as head coach," she emphatically replied, "and I directly attribute it to the disappointment they suffered at the end of last season."
After crafting a 29-5 overall record, an SEC Championship and a trip to the Final Four in 2001-02, there was still disappointment among the Lady Vols. "Our goal was a national championship and we didn't succeed," said Lawson. "It has driven us to become a much better team," stated the senior guard.
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When the subject of Lawson comes up, a smile forms on Summitt's face. "Kara is a true fighter," said Summitt. "She just gets in there and keeps pounding away on offense and defense. Kara has turned into an outstanding leader for this team. The fact that none of these players have rung the bell as champions - no titles, no rings - they realize how accountable each of them is to that goal. Kara helps to keep the focus, and they believe a title is in their future," concluded Summitt.
For the first time in a couple of seasons, the Tennessee roster is balanced with six players in the junior/senior classes and five players in the freshmen/sophomore ranks. Following the graduation of 6'5" center Michelle "The Dunkster" Snow (12.3 ppg and 6.5 rpg), 6'3" center Shalon Pillow (2.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg) and 5'11" guard Amanda Canon (0.2 ppg and 1.0 rpg), the Lady Vols were surprised to learn that 5'7" rising senior point guard April McDivitt (4.9 ppg and 1.6 rpg) and rising 6'1" sophomore forward Michelle Munoz (3.7 ppg and 2.0 rpg) had elected to transfer.
"Heading into this season, in each class, we have players who can provide confidence, leadership and be productive," said Summitt. "I believe that each class will contribute significantly to the mix - they are so versatile. This group has worked hard to improve on all aspects of their game, and I have seen a difference in their speed, agility, quickness and shooting touch. In addition to that, we have a much better feel for each other on the court," said Summitt.
The elderstateswomen of the team, 5'8" All-America guard Lawson (15.1 ppg and 4.9 rpg) and 6'2" All-SEC forward Gwen Jackson (10.5 and 6.2 rpg) return as the team's leading scorer and rebounder, respectively. Over the previous three seasons, the duo has helped the team to a 93-12 record and two trips to the Final Four. Satisfied? Not on your life.
Lawson is a puncher who just keeps coming at the opposition. She likes to change the pace and will launch treys to keep her opponent off guard. In fact, she owns most of the all-time Lady Vol three-point records - most threes in a game (six), most treys made and attempted in a single season (79 out of 181) and three-point field goals made and attempted in a career (179 out of 446).
"Kara played a big role in getting her teammates together in the off-season," said Summitt. "Not only did she fine-tune her own game, but she made a special effort to help make her teammates better.
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"Kara is always going to be a center stage player," commented Summitt. "I think last season taught her a great deal because she saw so many defensive schemes. This year, I think Kara is more mentally, emotionally and physically prepared for what the opposition will throw at her. She was the opponents' target on the perimeter and that can wear on a player.
"Going into this year, she knows what to expect. She has the freedom to create, and I think that will make everyone more effective around her. We're excited about having Kara in a leadership role as well," said Summitt.
Lawson has to be licking her chops at the thought of three-point scoring opportunities with the possibility of gunners Brittany Jackson and Shanna Zolman lining up on either side of her in three-point land to deliver some knock-out treys. Additionally, with the opportunity to create, Lawson will be deadly whenever she has the ball in her hands.
Along with fellow senior Gwen Jackson, Lawson was named as one of the top candidates to consider for Naismith Player of the Year honors in 2002-03. A Kodak All-District selection as a junior, Lawson, and now possibly Jackson, have the opportunity to carry on the Lady Vol tradition of Kodak All-Americans in their senior season.
As a junior, Jackson once again showed flashes of brilliance in her balanced, consistent game. She took pride in her shooting accuracy, nailing 48% from the field, but needs to get more trips to the free throw line as an 80% shooter. Jackson rarely makes mistakes, with just 48 turnovers in 634 minutes, and appears due for a breakout season.
"Gwen has a great deal of valuable experience for us at the 3, 4 and 5 spots - she is just so versatile," said Summitt. "This season I see Gwen as a true leader by example, and we are counting on her to be a consistent player for us from October through April.
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"I saw a different Gwen Jackson coming back from the off-season, " said Summitt. "She returned totally committed to her game, and she took the floor in fall drills with a contagious kind of energy. I am counting on Gwen to play a valuable role on both ends of the floor. I think defensively, she can really get after some people and have a big influence on the outcome of the game."
Entering her final campaign, Jackson is just 104 points away from becoming the 27th member of the Lady Vol 1,000-Point Club. She hopes to round back into the form that made her a member of the SEC All-Freshman Team and as a selection to the Coaches' All-SEC team as a sophomore.
As solid and confident as Summitt is with the senior class, the junior group abounds with questions for the coach. "There's only one way to put this," said Summitt. "It's time for the junior class to commit to making a significant contribution to the success of our team. They are long overdue," emphasized the coach.
That challenge to the juniors, 5'11" forward Tasha Butts (4.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg), 6'0" forward LaToya Davis (3.9 ppg and 1.9 rpg), 6'1" center-forward Courtney McDaniel (3.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg) and 6'5" center Ashley Robinson (4.7 ppg and 2.6 rpg), should have this class coming out a-swinging. Butts and Davis combined for 22 starts as sophomores, while Robinson started six games and McDaniel played just 228 minutes in 29 games. For the most part, this group lacked consistency on both ends of the floor and did not put the ball in the hole. Make no mistake, they landed punches, but few of them scored.
What a difference a year will make for this quartet. "This is the year for Tasha to make an impact on this team by being a more consistent player," said Summitt. "Consistency will be a key for her and possibly a ticket for us to go on to bigger and better things."
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Over the summer, Butts logged some serious time in the gym. The nagging knee problems appear to be behind her and a healthy Butts is a good sign for the 2003 team.
"Tasha really worked to improve her outside shooting game," shared Summitt. "We can't afford to have anyone on the floor that is easy to guard. Tasha knows she has to be an offensive weapon for us. In addition, she is eager to take on the role as a defensive stopper for us. She wants the challenging defensive assignments, and I think it would be a real positive for our team."
As evidenced last season, Butts is a versatile player who can line up in a number of positions and be very effective. Her feisty attitude on the floor and her vocal leadership should complement Lawson and Gwen Jackson.
Once again helping to set the defensive tone with Butts is Davis. "I said it last season and I'll say it again, two of the players who will be keys to impacting our defensive tone in the coming season are Tasha and LaToya," said Summitt. "They have the intensity and quickness in their defensive games to make a big difference for us."
Davis has incredible quickness and all out 94-foot speed. As a sophomore she learned to blend these talents with the basketball; as a junior her challenge will be to add more polish to these skills. "LaToya is just quick-on-quick," exclaimed Summitt. "Her speed and quickness definitely stand out on this team, and it is important for us to best utilize her talents. LaToya needs to have an impact on the defense and bring more of a presence to the court. She has worked hard on her overall game, and that's a good thing for this team," said Summitt.
Arguably, the most improved player on the team and a potential secret offensive and rebounding weapon is McDaniel. Nicknamed "Minute Maid" last season, McDaniel made things happen quicker than anyone on the team. Give her five minutes of playing time and she'd grab six rebounds. Averaging just 7.9 minutes per game, she led the team in rebounding on five occasions. She was a rebounding machine against Ole Miss, grabbing 13 boards in 14 minutes of play. In her often brief appearances, she managed to snag more than five rebounds on eight different occasions. Look for McDaniel's playing time to increase during her third season.
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"Courtney is one of the most improved players on our team," beamed Summitt. "Not only has she improved her basketball skills, but she has evolved into a vocal leader. To be honest, I am expecting great things from her. I want to see Courtney play a different and more significant role on this team.
"From all indications, it appears that Courtney is ready to go. She is a hard-nosed competitor who can ignite her teammates with her attitude and play," Summitt concluded.
The final member of this group struggled through her sophomore campaign and can't wait to begin a new season. After a sterling rookie year as a starter and an SEC All-Freshman performance, Robinson blew out the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee in the summer leading up to her sophomore season. Although she only missed the first seven games of 2001-02 season, Robinson never seemed to get on track.
The hope for Robinson is that she can duplicate the efforts of her rookie season when she led the team in scoring in 17 games and rejected a team-high 51 shots as a rangy shot-blocker. "I'd like to see Ashley come back as a force on the boards and as a solid defender," said Summitt. "As our only returning true post player, she is expected to play a valuable role in our front-line game."
Speaking of valuable roles and contributions, a trio of sophomores fit that bill perfectly. As rookies, 6'2" forward Shyra Ely (9.3 ppg and 5.4 rpg), 6'0" guard-forward Brittany Jackson (6.5 ppg and 2.1 rpg) and 5'9" point guard Loree Moore (5.7 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 3.9 apg) shored up the four, five and six spots on the cumulative statistics sheet behind Lawson, Snow and Gwen Jackson. Call their rookie contributions "collective impact."
Ely was the first to secure a starting nod when she became one of the rare rookie starters in Lady Vol history. Ely's power game was a great complement to UT's inside-outside scheme. A creative scorer, the SEC All-Rookie team member had a sweet jumper or would drive to the basket. Many of her scoring opportunities came off the offensive boards on putbacks.
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"Shyra is an explosive player who understands how to maximize all of her offensive weapons," stated Summitt. "She is really a great athlete who has the ability to break down opposing defenses off the dribble. If you don't box her out, she is going to the glass...she'll find a way to get the ball in her hands.
"She showed us last season that she has the potential to take the game over and the ability to impact the outcome of the game much in the same way that Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings could. She is a great young talent who gets better every time she steps on the floor. This past summer she was dedicated to improve her outside game. In the coming season, we will be counting on her for consistency night-in and night-out," said Summitt.
Ditto for Moore. The impressive guard from California started a dozen contests as a rookie and played in all 34 games en route to SEC All-Freshman team status. Almost quietly, she rewrote the rookie records for assists, handing out 133 helpers to eclipse all-time assist leader Dawn Marsh's freshman record of 127 established in 1984-85. Additionally, her quick hands and feet led to a team-best 80 steals, and she was statistically the best defensive player, practically doubling the total of steals of the next closest Lady Vol.
"Loree learned volumes as a rookie and played some very valuable minutes in a lot of big games," emphasized Summitt. "She makes our team run up people's backs on offense and can be very disruptive with her defensive play.
"We are excited about her development at the point position and are counting on her to make an even greater impact on our team this year. She has the potential to be a very strong leader for this team as a point guard," Summitt concluded.
The third member of this group fits Muhammad Ali's little ditty, "floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee." That would, of course, have to be Brittany Jackson, who possesses one of the most deceptive games of anyone ever to wear the Orange and White. You want a fighter? That's Brittany. Need a loose ball? Watch her dive all over the court. Need a must three? See Ms. Jackson launch one from past NBA range. Brittany Jackson's starting opportunity came a little later than her classmates, but at the biggest time in the season - the NCAA Tournament.
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"Brittany has a unique style of play," explained Summitt. "Her three-point shooting range and quick delivery made her an instant offensive threat last season. In the coming year, she will play an even bigger role for us. Her presence on offense instills confidence in our team, and this season we expect her to step up her defensive intensity and board play," said Summitt.
The newest members of the Lady Vol team have an All-American East meets West flavor, as 5'10" freshman guard Shanna "Sha-zam" Zolman from Syracuse, Ind., and 6'5" rookie post Tye'sha Fluker from Pasadena, Calif., join the ranks.
Zolman, who set the all-time scoring record in the state of Indiana with 3,085 points, broke the record of former Purdue guard Stephanie White-McCarty (2,869 points). The power of Zolman's punch is legendary. Not only did she post a career scoring average of 33.2 ppg, but she holds national high school records in three categories: all-time consecutive free throws (70), career free-throw percentage (93.5%) and season free-throw percentage (95.4%). Some of her career totals are staggering for the 93 games she played at Wawasee H.S. -- 3,085 points, 730 rebounds, 453 steals and 430 assists, plus a career field goal percentage of .599, a free throw percentage of .935 and 319 treys during her illustrious prep tenure.
"Shanna Zolman is one of the purest shooters that I have ever seen at the high school level," said Summitt. "Clearly she has worked on her all-around game from three-pointers to pull-up jumpers. She has quite a repertoire of shots in her arsenal and has developed a variety of ways to be an offensive weapon.
"We are excited to have Shanna join the team and make an immediate impact," continued Summitt. "She is a crafty defensive player and a poised offensive player. Opponents will have to guard Shanna."
Likewise with fellow rookie Fluker. Not since the likes of Olympian and All-America Daedra Charles and four-time All-SEC standout Dana Johnson have the Lady Vols had as physical and imposing a post in the middle. The opposition can count on Fluker to bob and weave and get inside position. She posted huge career numbers of 2,244 points, 1,205 rebounds, 288 blocked shots, 176 steals and 158 assists in 109 games while turning in averages of 20.6 ppg and 11.1 rpg.
"Tye should give us a strong physical presence in the post and should only get better with each game," said Summitt. "We are really excited to have her in orange. We haven't had a physical post player like Tye since Dana Johnson and a quick-footed post since Daedra Charles. She has a combination of both to go along with great hands and a soft shooting touch.
"I can't remember another post player ever using the glass as well as Tye'sha does," said the Hall of Fame coach. "She has such a tremendous touch with a high release. I expect her to be a strong force and a consistent player for us after she learns the nuances of playing smart post defense."
Eleven players strong, it sounds like Tennessee has a strong stable of fighters ready to be tested in heavyweight bouts all over the country. And the 2002-03 team will have to answer the bell early with the fight card of opposition scheduled in the coming season.
The lineup Summitt and her corner have fashioned for the coming season, will test the depth of this Lady Vol team and the quick development of the freshmen almost immediately. In addition to the perennial Southeastern Conference powerhouses, the Lady Vols will also tangle with a slew of top rivals, including defending NCAA Champion Connecticut, Final Four teams Oklahoma and Duke, Notre Dame, Stanford, Louisiana Tech, Texas and Old Dominion.
"Our schedule for the coming season is a typical challenging adventure," said Summitt. "Once again we travel from coast-to-coast and have added a first-time trip to the Caribbean to play in the San Juan (Puerto Rico) Shoot Out. In all, we have added four first-time opponents to this season's schedule."
Tennessee opens the 2002-03 campaign at home hosting the 10th annual State Farm Classic on Nov. 10, pitting the Lady Vols against Final Four runner-up Oklahoma. Powerhouses Louisiana Tech and Texas Tech square off in the other half of the doubleheader in Thompson-Boling Arena. Other non-conference guests to the Thompson-Boling Arena in the coming season will include George Washington, Stanford, DePaul, and TCU. UT's home SEC schedule features Auburn, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida and Vanderbilt.
Tennessee's "Murderer's Row" schedule prior to the start of the New Year will quickly break in the young Lady Vol squad. By the first week of January 2003, UT will have faced seven former NCAA National Championship teams in a row, taking on Louisiana Tech, Southern Cal, Stanford, Texas, Notre Dame, Connecticut and Old Dominion.
In January, the Lady Vols will enjoy the friendly confines of Thompson-Boling Arena with four home games -- Auburn, DePaul, South Carolina and Mississippi State. Tennessee's January travel dates include stops at Connecticut, Old Dominion, Alabama, Florida and Arkansas. The Lady Vols will enjoy February games at home against Mississippi, Florida, TCU, Georgia and Vanderbilt while rounding out the road trip portion of the regular-season schedule with games at Vanderbilt, Auburn, LSU and Kentucky.
"This year the SEC - from top to bottom -- will be stronger than it's ever been," professed Summitt. "There are several teams who are greatly improved, and I see us in the thick of things with LSU, Vandy, Georgia and Arkansas in the top half of the league. To be sure, the SEC schedule will be extremely challenging, particularly our road trips," said Summitt.
In the postseason, the 2003 Southeastern Conference Tournament will be played at the Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Ark., March 6-9. Lady Vol fans will then be treated to NCAA First and Second Round games in Knoxville on March 22 and 24 followed by the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships in Thompson-Boling Arena on March 29 and 31.
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"The fact that we have the opportunity to host two significant NCAA events at Thompson-Boling Arena is a testament to the great fan support we have enjoyed throughout the history of our program," said Summitt. "The NCAA First and Second Round Games, as well as the NCAA Mideast Regionals, are four huge tests on the road to the Final Four in Atlanta, Ga. (April 6 and 8). Basketball fans who have never had the opportunity to experience the Sweet 16 are in for a real treat when the event comes to the Thompson-Boling Arena," Summitt concluded.
According to Summitt, the 2002-03 Tennessee Lady Vols know what it takes to be successful at the Final Four. They have the physical skills, experience and understand the preparation it takes to get there. They also learned a valuable lesson from their 2002 performance in San Antonio -- you're going to get knocked out early if you don't come out landing punches with a smart game plan.
Or maybe these Lady Vols need to take the words of former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield to heart; "A champion shows who he is by what he does when he's tested. When a person gets up (from the canvas) and says, 'I can still do it', he's a champion."
The 2002-03 Lady Vol Contenders plan to Answer the Bell, get back in the ring and fight together 40-minutes at a time, all season long.
