University of Tennessee Athletics
2003-04 TENNESSEE LADY VOL BASKETBALL SEASON PREVIEW
October 29, 2003 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 29, 2003
Under the direction of Head Coach Pat Summitt for the past three decades, the University of Tennessee Lady Vols can always be counted on for one thing year-in and year-out, and that's A Winning Brand of Basketball.
You can cite the impossible schedules...injuries...too many All-Americans or not enough. You can complain about how tough the Southeastern Conference is season-after-season...the unfairness of pollsters and committees...coaching changes...or taking on an NBA-like schedule while arriving in a new city at a sold-out venue, night-after-night.
But for the Tennessee Lady Vols, those obstacles don't matter. Every player who has donned the Orange and White realizes one thing attached to the Lady Vol legacy - once she steps across the line with Tennessee on her jersey and a target on her back - winning and succeeding is the only mindset.
 Coach Pat Summitt |
And so it goes.
Summitt has sustained a winning brand of basketball with a simple formula. "What you do every day in practice - the repetitions, working on fundamentals and developing great habits and a work ethic on the court - all of those elements are key to committing to a particular 'brand' of basketball," she emphasized. "At Tennessee, that 'brand' is what we're all about."
The 2003-04 edition of Lady Vol basketball realizes the daunting task ahead of it. Summitt's 30th anniversary team is also fully aware it is time to show its collective winning brand of Tennessee hoops, and the players are excited to take the challenge.
"Expectations are always high at Tennessee," said Summitt. "We have nine experienced, returning players - why would we even think that we had to set the bar low just because we have no returning All-Americans or proven marquee players?
"This team and the entire coaching staff expect to be in New Orleans in April. We work toward the goal of a Final Four every day in practice," she pointed out. "We have talented players at every position on the 2003-04 roster. The key to our ultimate success will be the emergence of strong team leadership."
The leadership vacancy was created due to the graduation of All-America guard Kara Lawson (14.4 ppg and 4.9 rpg) and standout All-SEC performer Gwen Jackson (16.1 ppg and 6.2 rpg). The impact of the duo's departure as 2003 WNBA first round draft picks was evidenced on the team's trip to Italy and Greece this summer without their vocal leader (Lawson) and their leader by example (Jackson).
"It was apparent on the trip that the team had relied so heavily on Kara, Gwen and Loree (Moore's) leadership, and suddenly none of them were around," said Summitt. "Immediately, there were opportunities for new players to step forward to lead the team. Whether by committee or by the emergence of several strong leaders, I was pleased to see the progress we made over the course of five games," she said.
Moore (6.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg) didn't make the junket to Italy and Greece with her Lady Vol teammates due to her commitment with the U.S. National Team, which traveled to the 2003 Pan American Games in the Dominican Republic. Instead of directing Tennessee's offense from her point guard position, she was a seven-game starter and key contributor for the silver medallist USA team.
"While Loree benefited greatly from her experience as the quarterback of the Pan Am team, her absence probably helped us even more," Summitt related. "On our trip, I detected a greater sense of urgency from our senior class to be collective leaders for this team.
"It is very apparent that this group feels accountable for the direction this team will take over the course of the coming season," stated Summitt. "As a class, they have provided solid leadership and are very loyal, without question. Perhaps their expectations are higher for themselves, individually, because we don't have a returning All-American."
The senior quartet, comprised of frontline players Ashley Robinson (5.8 ppg and 5.4 rpg) and Courtney McDaniel (4.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg), and backcourters Tasha Butts (6.3 ppg and 4.8 rpg) and LaToya Davis (2.2 ppg and 1.7 rpg), has the opportunity to step up and play a significant role in the coming season.
"Ashley and Courtney know that they have to 'bring it' every day - we count on them to do it. Tasha and Toy are great athletes and outstanding defenders. Now we're going to depend on them more for their offensive production," said Summitt.
 Shyra Ely |
Collectively, the senior class has contributed to a 93-13 overall record, an amazing 41-1 slate in SEC regular season play, three consecutive SEC Championships and two trips to the Final Four. Arguably, the most notable and experienced player in the class is Robinson. The 6'5" center appears to be rounding back into form following a couple of frustrating seasons.
"There's no reason why Ashley shouldn't have a break-out senior year," said Summitt. "She is clearly a go-to player on offense, and by far our best post defender. She has the size, presence and the athleticism to play at the rim. Expectations are very high for Ashley this season."
Robinson started her Tennessee career on the fast track as a member of the All-SEC Freshman Team. She joined an elite Lady Vol rookie club when she started her very first game at UT, was known as the "sister of swat" due to her shot-blocking abilities and led the team in scoring and rebounding in Tennessee's appearance in the 2001 NCAA Tournament.
Unfortunately for the talented center, the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) bug bit her in June 2001. Thus, the start of her sophomore campaign was spent in the training room. By the time she returned to the court, her mind and body were out of sync, and she struggled through a "sophomore slump." As a junior, she appeared to be rediscovering her original demeanor as a tenacious shot-blocker and an aggressive defender. And the prognosis for Robinson as a senior? She could be as good as she allows herself to be and, consequently, earn a spot on everyone's All-America team. It's that simple.
Fellow front-liner McDaniel could take a page out of Robinson's book. Nicknamed "Minute Maid" because she makes more of her minutes played than anyone on the team, she has the potential to be an outstanding team leader and a player the Lady Vols can count on at both ends of the court.
"Courtney is a fierce competitor," said Summitt. "She has such a fiery attitude that you know something's going to happen, and her competitive drive is so contagious. She really gets our team fired up with her emotion.
"She is a mobile frontline player who I feel will play her biggest role and make an impact as a senior," reflected Summitt. McDaniel is more than ready for the challenge if her play in Europe is any indication. Additionally, she returns as Tennessee's most accurate shooter, connecting on 59 percent of her shots as a junior and owns a 52 percent accuracy mark for her career as a Lady Vol.
The backcourt girls from the state of Georgia, Butts, a native of Milledgeville, and Davis, who hails from Forsyth, are loaded with a key senior weapon - motivation. While Butts elevated her game during her junior year to earn Summitt's "most improved" moniker and set herself up for an even more effective senior campaign, the head coach calls Davis' progress over the summer of 2003 "dramatic."
"Tasha has been a strong leader for us on and off the court," reflected Summitt. "This season, I see her playing an integral role for our team. Like several of our players, her intensity and competitive nature are contagious.
"Her improved offensive skills should enable Tasha to play multiple positions on the perimeter, thus allowing her to assume an even bigger role this season," said Summitt. "Specifically, she has become a better playmaker as a result of playing point guard during the summer. She is developing the mindset to act like a coach on the floor."
Where Butts has the experience of starting almost half of her career games (49 out of 105), Davis has seen action as a starter only five times during her career, all during her sophomore season. This last go-round, however, she appears undaunted regarding the challenge placed before her - to become an offensive weapon as a senior. Typically, the word "explosive" and a 3.0 ppg career scoring average don't particularly measure up in the same sentence. The coming season may very well reveal an exception.
"LaToya is explosive," offered Summitt. "She is certainly our most improved player and showed that with her level of play in Italy and Greece. In all facets of her game, from scoring and solid passing to tight defense and steals, she has shown marked improvement.
"She has the speed and quickness to be very effective in the open court and is a tenacious defender," said Summitt. "She can be a tremendous offensive weapon for us in transition, and her defensive pressure should provide a major impact on our mindset on the defensive end.
"The key to her recent success has been her self assurance," the coach said. "She has committed to play within herself, which has allowed her to be confident and comfortable in her game."
 Tasha Butts |
Those descriptions of Davis could also apply to Tennessee's junior class of Shyra Ely (9.8 ppg and 6.6 rpg), Moore (6.4 ppg and 3.4 rpg) and Brittany Jackson (5.7 ppg and 1.4 rpg). Since they arrived on campus three years ago, each has been asked early and often to step up and play key roles on the team.
Ely returns as the Lady Vols' leading scorer despite the fact that she earned only eight starting nods as a sophomore. This season, the junior dynamo needs to be ready to go from the opening whistle.
"Definitely, expectations will be higher for Shyra this season," said Summitt. "She has already played in a lot of big games and demonstrated that she can be a big-game player. Night-in and night-out, consistency will be the challenge for Shyra. If she masters it, this could be a breakout year for her.
"Shyra has the ability to take over a game. In terms of her strengths, she is a great athlete who can play around the rim, knockdown open 'J's,' and is very tough to keep off the boards. If she packs her 'A-game' every night, we will be a more explosive team."
Ditto for Jackson, who enjoys NBA-range on her three-point shot and can change the complexion of a game in a hurry. She appeared to be headed for a super sophomore season as a starter until she suffered an injury to her knee in the San Juan Shoot Out in late November. After missing three games around the Christmas break, she never seemed to regain a comfortable role on the floor until the NCAA Tournament in March. Continuing that momentum into the 2003-04 season could translate into big dividends for the Lady Vols.
"Brittany is a dangerous offensive player from anywhere on the court," said Summitt. "This season, however, we expect more from her all-around offensive game, as she is becoming more of a creative offensive weapon. Her commitment to great intensity on the defensive end will go a long way to upgrading our team defense.
"I see Brittany elevating her defensive intensity and committing to the boards. She got a jump-start on that over the summer, and it paid big dividends for Brittany and our team."
Moore's summer experience leading the Pan Am team should also have a lucrative payout for the Lady Vols this season. She returns as the only player to start in all 38 games in 2002-03 and logged more than 1,000 minutes of playing time (27.1 mpg), second only to iron woman Lawson, who averaged 31.2 mpg.
"This is Loree's team to run," said Summitt. "She is holding the reins and will make the second-to-second decisions on how best to direct this team. Obviously, we have a great deal of confidence in her ability, as she has played in two Final Fours and has plenty of big-game experience.
"The improvement of Loree's game will be measured by her efficiency (assist to turnover ratio) in taking care of the basketball and in her offensive scoring punch. She knows what to expect, and now we expect her to step up and lead this team," said Summitt. "Her commitment to being a consistent scoring threat and knocking down the open shots will be a key ingredient for us."
 Ashley Robinson |
Being a consistent scoring threat and knocking down open shots is certainly not limited to Moore. In fact, the Lady Vol sophomore class of Tye'sha Fluker (3.1 ppg and 2.5 rpg) and Shanna Zolman (7.5 ppg and 2.1 rpg) needs to heed those words as well.
Zolman returns as UT's second-leading scorer behind Ely despite the fact that her role was to come in off the bench as a rookie. Nevertheless, she was hard to keep off the floor and averaged more than 18 minutes per game. A deadly three-point shooter whose range is basically baseline-to-baseline, Zolman can change the momentum of a game if she gets her trey machine cranking. Her efforts, however, aren't limited to the three-ball. Zolman will drive to the basket if the opportunity even presents itself for a milli-second, as evidenced by her ability to get to the charity stripe. And when she shot from the line, she has connected on 89 percent of her tries as a rookie to establish a new single-season mark.
"Shanna had a great off-season," said Summitt. "I'm excited about the overall improvement in her game, and I really credit her commitment to make these great strides based on self-motivation. Probably the biggest change I've seen is her ability to become more effective without the basketball in her hands. For a player who has always had the ball in her hands, it is a tremendous adjustment to be able to make.
"I expect to see Shanna play a bigger role for us as a perimeter scorer," said Summitt. "She is stronger, quicker and more comfortable on the floor. Additionally, she has matured, both physically and mentally, and knows what to expect from the college game. As a freshman, the tempo of the game and the relentless defensive pressure were challenges for her. Now she's prepared to take it all on and handle it."
Adjusting to the pace of the college game was not limited to Zolman, as Fluker also had her moments as a rookie last season - both good and challenging. Fluker put in a substantial amount of off-season work in anticipation of a larger role on this year's team and came into camp in top shape.
"Tye brings great size and presence to our post game as well as a soft shooting touch," said Summitt. "She is gaining more confidence daily with the speed of her game and the tempo of the college game. I project her role as significantly different as a go-to player on offense with a great deal of presence and production."
Ah, presence and production, a term Summitt could use with just about anyone on her 11-player roster, as she does with rookies Dominique Redding, a 6-1 forward from Clearwater, Fla., and Sidney Spencer, a 6-3 forward/center from Hoover, Ala. "I expect both Sidney and Dominique to help us this year, and it is important that we get them ready for the speed of the college game," remarked Summitt.
"I have been excited and pleased with what I've seen from both Sidney and Dominique. They are both skilled and talented players."
 Loree Moore |
Spencer possesses an inside-outside game with the ability to score on the block, nail a mid-range jumper or bury a three. "Sid has great versatility," offered Summitt. "I see her playing the three and four spots for us and creating some match-up decisions. She is a very solid player with good basketball awareness and a great feel for the game at both ends of the floor."
Redding, on the other hand, has a great offensive package but needs to commit to tough-nosed defense. "Dominique is a smooth offensive player with great court vision and shooting touch, plus a real feel for the game. She'll play in the three spot for us due to her three-point range and her ability to create shots off the dribble. Her only limitation is a commitment to playing at the defensive end of the floor."
All in all, it sure sounds like another season of a Winning Brand of Basketball in the Tennessee camp according to the comments from the head coach of the Lady Vols, who will be stalking the sidelines in her 1,000th collegiate contest when Vanderbilt rolls into Knoxville on Jan. 22.
Additionally, new to the bench in the role of assistant coach this season will be Greg Brown, who was elevated from graduate assistant coach to a full-time position after longtime assistant Mickie DeMoss moved into a head-coaching role at Kentucky. "After sharing the sidelines with Mickie for almost 19 seasons, we are excited about her opportunity at Kentucky. Greg is a great, new addition to our staff, and the chemistry between all of us has been outstanding. Holly Warlick is now my most tenured staff member on the floor and, along with Nikki Caldwell, they offer much to the success of the coaching and teaching philosophy of the Lady Vol system," commented Summitt.
The opposition for the coming season will again 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 Duke and Texas, Notre Dame, Stanford, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma and Old Dominion.
"I say this every year," chuckled Summitt, "but this year the SEC - from top to bottom - will be stronger than it's ever been. There are several teams who are greatly improved, and I see us in the thick of things as we try to defend six consecutive regular-season SEC titles. To be sure, the SEC schedule will be extremely challenging, particularly our road trips," said Summitt.
It's no wonder that the WBCA & Richie Summerville's 2003-04 Strength of Schedule preseason analysis is littered with the Lady Vols in every top category. The Lady Vols are the headliner in the number one position in overall strength of schedule at a whopping .707. UT's 2003-04 opponents combined for a 611-253 record last season. Following UT are a trio of SEC schools: 2. Florida with a strength of schedule rating of .636, followed by 3. Kentucky, also at .636, while, 4. Alabama weighed in at .630. When Coach Summitt indicated she might try to lighten up the schedule a bit in the coming season, she decided to add powerhouses Duke and Rutgers and committed to a trip to Oklahoma. So it comes as no surprise, that she thrives on playing the very best competition, as indicated by Tennessee's 2003-04-leading non-conference strength of schedule rating that tops out at 78 percent .
In the postseason, the 2004 Southeastern Conference Tournament will be played cross-state at the Gaylord Arena in Nashville, Tenn., March 4-7. Lady Vol fans will then have to travel for the first time in 23 years to the NCAA First and Second Round games, as Knoxville was not a pre-determined site for 2004.
 Brittany Jackson |
After welcoming the Mideast Regional to Thompson-Boling Arena a year ago, the Big Orange potentially faces the next round without enjoying the comforts of home. This time, the path to the Final Four will be through Norfolk, Va. (Mideast), Hartford, Conn. (East), Norman, Okla. (Midwest), or Seattle, Wash. (West). Should they pass that difficult test, a trip to New Orleans, La., and a third-straight Final Four appearance would be in store.
According to Summitt, the 2003-04 Tennessee Lady Vols know what it takes to be successful at the Final Four, having made a few trips themselves. They have the physical skills and experience, and understand the preparation it takes to get there. The head coach certainly does, as she's taken 18 teams to the "Big Dance" in her 29 years of coaching. And what about Tennessee's last trip to a Final Four in "The Big Easy?" It just happened to result in the 1991 NCAA Championship, and Assistant Coach Nikki Caldwell just happened to be a key player on that victorious Lady Vol squad.
Always remember, the University of Tennessee Lady Vols can be counted on for one thing, year-in and year-out, and that's A Winning Brand of Basketball.
Bring on the 2003-04 season.
