University of Tennessee Athletics
LADY VOLS TAKE ON MICHIGAN STATE IN SIXTEENTH FINAL FOUR
March 31, 2005 | Women's Basketball
March 31, 2005
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| #1 Tennessee Lady Volunteers vs. #1 Michigan State Spartans
RADIO TV LIVE STATS RANKINGS
THE COACHES: Michigan State Spartans
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THE GAME The top-seeded and #3-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (30-4) advance to the Final Four for an incredible 16th time in the NCAA Tournament taking on one-seeded and #6/5-ranked Michigan State (30-4) in one NCAA Final Four semifinal game on April 3. The winner from the UT-Michigan St. game will advance to the Final Four title game and face the winner of the contest between Baylor and LSU on Tues., April 5 at the 2005 Final Four in Indianapolis, Ind. LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE This is the Lady Vols' 31st season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 882-171 overall record...Passed Dean Smith for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 win over Purdue in the second round NCAA play... With the victory over Vanderbilt in the SEC Tournament, she passed the legendary Adolph Rupp (876) of Kentucky into sole possession of second place...Her 2003-04 squad finished as the NCAA runner-up with a 31-4 record and were the regular season SEC Champs with a 14-0 record... This season, UT returned seven letterwinners and welcomed eight newcomers ...Rookies Candace Parker and Alex Fuller will redshirt this season continuing to rehab their left knees...The week of Feb. 21st, the Lady Vols were dealt a double blow losing sophomore Sidney Spencer to a right knee ACL (had surgery on Mar. 14) and rookie guard Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood to patella tendonitis (had surgery on Mar. 21)...The Lady Vols are down to nine healthy scholarship players for NCAA "Marpril" Madness... FINAL FOURSOME TO FROLIC IN INDY The Tennessee Lady Vols will play in the NCAA Final Four for the fourth consecutive year and the ninth time in the last 11 years dating back to 1995. The Lady Vol senior class of Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Loree Moore are attending their fourth consecutive Final Four - the third class in Lady Vol history to do so. The Lady Vols are joined in Indianapolis by fellow SEC school LSU, who is making a repeat appearance. UT defeated LSU in the Final Four semis last year in New Orleans, 52-50. Baylor is making its first appearance in the Final Four. Last year, the Lady Vols ended the Lady Bears season with a 71-69 victory in the semis of the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regional. Another new member of the "Final Four Club" is Michigan State. The Spartans bumped off #1-ranked Stanford to earn its first trip. Ironically, the Lady Vols also ended Stanford's season a year ago with a 62-60 win in the Midwest Championship game. UT ended Stanford, Baylor and LSU's seasons all by two-point margins. OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK The #3-ranked Tennessee Lady Vols continues "Marpril" Madness in the NCAA Final Four, April 3 &5, 2005, in Indianapolis. LADY VOLS ON TV Twenty-four UT games have been on national television in 2004-05. UT is 20-4 on TV. HEY!!! ON THIS DAY Tennessee has never played on April 3rd or 5th --- the Lady Vols have played on April 1 (1-2), April 2 (1-2), April 4 (1-0), April 6 (1-1) and April 8 (0-1). April overall is 4-6 for UT. The Lady Vols have never won a title in April losing title bids (all to Connecticut) in 1995 (Minneapolis), 2000 (Philadelphia), 2003 (Atlanta) and 2004 (New Orleans). LOOKING BACK Last year at this time, the Lady Vols (30-3) had just defeated Stanford, 62-60, in the Midwest Regional Championship game. UT'S OFFENSIVE ACCURACY In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the field: 50%FG: .580 (Ala.), .545 (Ark2), .500 (Vandy2) 40%FG: .486 (Ole Miss), .483 (Vandy1), .481 (UTC),.473 (WCU), .469 (USC2 & Vandy3), .468 (GWU & Auburn), .456 (LaTech), .444 (LSU2), .441 (TCU),.438 (Miss St) .436 (Ark1), .435 (DePaul), .433 (TTU), .418 (Fla), 30%FG: .397 (UConn), .393 (Georgia), .391 (USC1), .373 (Stanford, NC State), .370 (ODU), .369 (Kentucky), .323 (Temple), .329 (Texas); .310 (Rutgers2 & LSU1) 20%FG: .284 (Aub2), .280 (Duke), .278 (Rutgers1). DEEE ----- FENSE In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the field: 60% FG: .604 (Texas), 50%FG: .581 (Auburn), .536 (Vandy3), .520 (LSU1) 40%FG: .490 (UConn), .473 (Stanford), .456 (Vandy1), .453 (LSU2), .448 (Ga.), .446 (Vandy2), .426 (LaTech, Fla., Purdue), .400 (Miss St.,Ark2), ,30%FG: .393 (Rutgers1), .391 (USC2), .390 (Duke), .389 (Aub2), .360 (Rutgers2), .373 (NC State), .333 (Ark1, Temple, Purdue), .328 (TTU), .321 (GWU), .311 (USC1), .310 (Ole Miss), .300 (TCU), 20%FG: .299 (ODU), .288 (Kentucky), .265 (DePaul), .258 (WCU), 10%: .135 (UTC) 2005 NCAA FINAL FOUR NOTEBOOK GAME REPORT 35 & POSSIBLE GAME REPORT 36 (For extensive UT game notes on Michigan State, LSU and Baylor, please refer to the additional notes section in the Tennessee postseason supplement). SURVIVED AND ADVANCED - HEADING TO INDY The six-time NCAA Champion Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the 16th time. On Sun., Apr. 3 at 8:30 p.m. CT (ESPN) Tennessee faces #6/5 Michigan State in an NCAA Semifinal game at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. "GO HARD OR GO HOME" Lady Vol senior Shyra Ely made that comment in the post-game press conference after the win over Texas Tech in the Philadelphia Regional semifinals. Ely has been on a mission to help get the Lady Vols to Indianapolis, site of the 2005 Final Four and her hometown. Ely was a standout at Indy's Ben Davis High School. Like many of her Lady Vol teammates, Ely has written a few reminders on her shoes. "On my shoe it says 'Homeward Bound' because I plan on going home next week and playing for a national championship," Ely said. YOU WHO, IT'S US . . . WE'RE AT THE FINAL FOUR . . . AGAIN After attending four consecutive Final Fours (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998) and winning three consecutive titles (1996, 1997 and 1998), the Lady Vols missed the festivities in 1999 and 2001. UT did make an appearance at the 2000 NCAA Final Four in Philadelphia, Penn., and lost to the Connecticut Huskies for the title. Currently, this is the Lady Vols fourth consecutive Final Four after attending the 2002 Final Four in San Antonio, Texas (losing to Connecticut in the semis) and the 2003 Final Four in Atlanta, Ga. (losing to Connecticut in the title game), the 2004 NCAA Final Four in New Orleans (losing to Connecticut in the title game). The Lady Vols have now advanced to their 16th NCAA Final Four and will be looking to grab an unprecedented seventh title. 16 FOR SUMMITT Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has passed legendary John Wooden of UCLA in a number of NCAA Tournament categories. Most significantly, Summitt has passed Wooden for most trips to the Final Four with 16 to Wooden's dozen. UT IN NCAA TITLE GAMES Tennessee has appeared in 11 NCAA title games (6-5 overall) since 1982 and won six championships. The Lady Vols have an overall 17-9 record in Final Four play. In the old AIAW days, UT made two title game appearances (1980 and 1981). MOST PARTICIPANTS EVER All-time, a total of 85 Lady Vol team members (including six this year, Abby Canon, Alexis Hornbuckle, Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood, Aubrey Guastalli, Sybil Dosty and Nicky Anosike) will have participated/played in 16 Final Fours. That ranks first among all schools. Louisiana Tech is second with 65 participants all-time in 10 Final Fours. NO PRESSURE, BUT EVERY LADY VOL HAS PLAYED IN ONE Every Lady Vol hoopster (since 1976) has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee. Lady Vol seniors Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Loree Moore have gone to four Final Fours during their careers at UT -- the 2002 Final Four in San Antonio, Texas, (losing to Connecticut in semifinal play), the 2003 Final Four in Atlanta, Ga., (losing to UConn in the Championship game), the 2004 Final Four in New Orleans, La., (losing to UConn in the Championship game) and this season's festivities in Indianapolis. THIRD LADY VOL CLASS TO GO FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS There have now been three classes of players in Lady Vol history to go to the Final Four all four years of their Lady Vol careers. First to do it was the class of Sheila Frost, Bridgette Gordon and Melissa McCray (1986, 1987, 1988 and 1999) - that trio won NCAA Championships in 1987 and 1989. The next player to do it was Laurie Milligan (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998). Milligan was onboard for three consecutive titles, 1996-97-98. The latest group to do it is the present senior class of Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Loree Moore - 2002, 2003, 2004 and now 2005. This trio is still in the hunt for a title. SHE LOVES MARCH AND APRIL, TOO Let's unite March and April Madness and coin it "Marpril Madness." Tennessee Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt loves to kick things up a notch in the months of March and April. Summitt, who has now coached in 1,053 collegiate contests and sports a 882-171 overall record in 31 seasons, has gone into battle 209 times in the months of March and April. She has come out a winner in 167 games losing just 42 basketball games (.805). Her teams are 60-2 at home, 9-1 away and 98-39 at neutral sites in the third and fourth months. TENNESSEE'S AVERAGE SCORE IN THE FINAL FOUR In 106 NCAA Tournament games since 1982, Tennessee has averaged 76.6 ppg while holding the opposition to 65.1 ppg. In 15 previous Final Fours, here's how the numbers stack up in all games played. In Final Four semifinal games, the Lady Vols average 70.1 ppg and give up 67.9 ppg to the opposition for a winning differential of just +2.2. In just Lady Vol semifinal wins, Tennessee has a dozen point advantage in victories, 76.8 ppg to 64.8 ppg. When UT has lost in the semis, it's been by almost a 20-point margin, 74.7 ppg to just 55.0 ppg for the Lady Vols. In NCAA title games all-time, the Lady Vols win by almost six points - 70.4 to 64.7. In NCAA title game victories, Tennessee typically wins big - 76.1 ppg to 61.6 ppg. Conversely, when the Lady Vols lose in a title game, it's usually by an average of a dozen points, 71.0 to 59.0. SUMMITT'S NCAA RECORD Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has coached in 1,053 basketball games to date producing an incredible 882-171 (.838) overall record. What's even more amazing is that she has coached in 106 NCAA Tournament games --- her record in the NCAA's, 89-17 (.833) in 106 NCAA contests. Just as an FYI, Dean Smith (North Carolina) led the men's side of things in the NCAAs recording 65 NCAA wins from 1967-97. Summitt has appeared in all 24 (consecutive) NCAA Tournaments, and has now passed Smith who appeared in 23 consecutive tournaments from 1975-97. BRING YOUR PJ's The Tennessee Lady Vols will play after 9:00 p.m. ET for the fourth time in the tournament when it tips off against Michigan State around 9:30 p.m. ET in the Final Four on April 3. The Lady Vols had tip times of 9:44 p.m., and 9:37 p.m. in Knoxville, breakfast with the Lady Vols on Easter Sunday with a 12:04 p.m. tip and then another "Midnite at the Oasis" affair in Philadelphia with a 9:07ish tip in the Philly Finals. Pack your jammies for Indy, too. HOOSIER HAPPINESS The entire Tennessee Lady Vol team is elated to be traveling to the Final Four in Indianapolis but a pair of Lady Vols are a little over the top with excitement. You see, senior forward Shyra Ely and junior guard Shanna Zolman are from the Hoosier State. Ely is from "Nap Town" (Indianapolis) and Zolman is up the road in Syracuse, Ind. Ely, who has been bombarded with ticket requests, drew the line. No bandwagon hopping, she has declared. Tickets are only being doled out to folks who have seen her play in person this year. Zolman hasn't related her ticket nightmare. All we know is the town of Syracuse and the entire Wawasee High School showed up in Indianapolis when the Lady Vols played Notre Dame at Conseco Fieldhouse on Dec. 28, 2002, (UT won,77-61). The WHS band serenaded the Lady Vols with their awesome rendition of "Rocky Top." FINAL FOUR FINALE AT HOME Shyra Ely becomes the second Lady Vol with the opportunity to play in an NCAA Final Four in her hometown. In 2000, Kristen "Ace" Clement, went home to Philadelphia to play in the Final Four. Clement had an outstanding game in the semifinal win over Rutgers (64-54). However, on the morning of the championship game, Clement inexplicably torn the ligaments in her right ankle in the Lady Vols' practice "walk-through." With Clement sidelined for the title game, rookie Kara Lawson stepped in with an admirable showing. However, the Lady Vols lost to UConn in the title game, 72-51, as a heartbroken Clement could only watch from the sidelines. PROUD FAMILIES No doubt, the families of Shyra Ely and Shanna Zolman won't be hard to spot. Shyra's family includes dad, Shy-Quon, mom, Jean, sister Cheryll and brothers Shy-Quon II and Shyron-Quonel. Shanna's parents Kem and Lynette and brother Josh, should all be on hand...as well as assorted other family members. THIRTYSOMETHING With the win over Rutgers, Tennessee collected its 15th all-time 30-win season in Pat Summitt's 31-years at the helm. The previous 30-win years:
THIS TIME WE HAD MOORE In the second meeting with Rutgers this season - in the Elite 8 - the Lady Vols had the services of senior point guard Loree Moore who registered five points, five rebounds, three assists and 30 minutes of harassing Cappie Pondexter on defense. In the first meeting with Rutgers, the Lady Vols were minus Moore who was recovering from a tonsillectomy that knocked her out of service for the month of December and six games. In her absence, the learning curve was ratcheted up for rookie Alexis Hornbuckle who took over point guard duties. In the December meeting with Rutgers, Hornbuckle tossed in nine points on dismal 3-12 shooting, grabbed seven rebounds and recorded an assist, a block and one turnover while snagging two steals in 34 minutes of action. A DIFFERENT CAST OF CHARACTERS Game two with Rutgers looked mighty different than the first time around - mostly due to a 59-49 victory. Things have changed a bit since the first meeting with Rutgers this season. Sophomore forward Sidney Spencer was a starter in the December game - this time she'll be watching from the bench after suffering a season-ending torn ACL. Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood was a rookie reserve playing in just her third collegiate game - she too is now sidelined after surgery to repair patellar tendonitis. Rookie Nicky Anosike was a rookie reserve who had a break-out game against Rutgers with then-career highs of 12 points and nine rebounds, while junior starting center Tye Fluker struggled in the game with just two points and five boards. This time around, Anosike is started and Fluker was the reserve. BITTERSWEET The Tennessee Lady Vols reconvened after the Christmas break on Dec. 26, individually flying into Newark from each of their hometowns. The first practice back was a big one for Lady Vol rookie phenom, 6-3 Candace Parker from Naperville, Ill. After sitting out for four months following articular cartilage surgery, she was cleared to begin practice at Rutgers. Parker's return was short-lived due to intermittent swelling in her knee. It was finally decided on Feb. 17 that Parker would redshirt this season. Parker took the news in stride. "I'm comfortable with the decision. I'm looking forward to feeling healthy and that's the most important thing. I wasn't feeling 100% -- this is my second major knee injury in two years. The knee is good. I'm fortunate to be at the University of Tennessee where they recognized this early. I felt in my heart that I would play this year. I feel like I'm a good healer. Jenny Moshak (Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine) is great. There are no doubts in my mind about making the decision. There are no regrets," said Parker. ONE THING IS FOR CERTAIN One thing is for certain this year, Connecticut will not end the Lady Vols season. In four of the last five seasons (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004), the Huskies have dealt the Lady Vols their final loss of the year at the Final Four. In 2002 it was in the semifinals and the other three years it was in the NCAA title game. SMITH AND RUPP DIDN'T DO IT After Dean Smith and Adolph Rupp charted their record-setting wins, each went out and lost in their very next game in the NCAA Tournament. UT coach Pat Summitt avoided the record jinx and added to her winning total --- 881 --- and advanced to the Elite 8 to boot. FAMILIAR FACES - 2005 ELITE 8 Tennessee has seen some familiar faces among the seven other teams that remained in the Elite 8 as UT took on four of the these teams in six games this season. UT posted a 3-3 overall record taking wins from then #2/2 Stanford (70-67) in Knoxville, #1/1 LSU (67-65) in the SEC Tournament Championship game and #9/10 Rutgers (59-49) in Philadelphia, and suffered losses to then #10/9 Duke (59-57) in Knoxville, #1/1 LSU (68-58) in Baton Rouge and then #24 Rutgers (65-51) in Piscataway. "EAST" BRACKET HISTORY The Lady Vols were placed in the Philadelphia (East) bracket of the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in 24 trips to the Big Dance. Tennessee advanced to the Final Four from the East in 1988 (finishing in 3rd in Tacoma, Washington), again in 1989 (winning UT's second NCAA title while playing in Tacoma, Wash.), in 1996 (winning UT's fourth NCAA title at the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C.) and now in 2005. While advancing from the East produced two NCAA titles and a third place finish, the East Regional is more remembered for what failed to occur for the Lady Vols. In 1990, the Lady Vols were sent to the East Regional at Old Dominion where two wins separated the Lady Vols from playing for a national championship on their home floor in Knoxville, site of the 1990 NCAA Final Four. UT got by Clemson, 80-62 in the Sweet 16 and then lost in overtime to Virginia, 79-75, failing to play in the NCAA Final Four in Knoxville. Instead of "Tennessee and the Final Three," the Lady Vols served as hostesses for the event. A decade later, the East Regional served up another dark day in Lady Vol hoops history. In 1999, UT was going for its fourth consecutive NCAA title after winning in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Current Western Carolina head coach Kellie Jolly Harper was the Lady Vol point guard and her sidekick was four-time All-America Chamique Holdsclaw. The duo helped UT get by Virginia Tech, 68-52, in the Sweet 16 in Greensboro, N.C. However, Duke dashed UT's dream for four consecutive title with a 69-63 win. TENNESSEE'S AVERAGE SCORE IN THE ELITE 8 Known as the toughest 40 minutes in collegiate basketball, in 20 all-time games in the Elite 8, the Lady Vols have averaged 71.8 ppg and gave up 64.1 ppg to the opposition for a winning differential of just +7.7. The four times Tennessee lost an Elite 8 game, UT averaged just 64.3 ppg while the opponents tallied 71.7 ppg giving the Lady Vols a losing average of -7.4. In six Elite 8 games played in Knoxville, the Lady Vols doubled their overall winning average, outscoring the visitors 78.0 ppg while holding them to 65.2 ppg for a +12.8 winning margin. ADVANCING FROM THE ROUND OF 16 SURE IS SWEET The Lady Vols have been fortunate to advance to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament for 24 consecutive years. Additionally, Tennessee has made it to the regional finals in 20 of the last 24 trips to the Sweet Sixteen. The Lady Vols did not advance to the regional finals in 1985 (losing to Ole Miss, 63-60), in 1992 (losing to Western Kentucky, 75-70), in 1994 (losing to Louisiana Tech, 71-68) and in 2001 after a devastating loss to Xavier, 80-65. BUT GETTING TO THE ROUND OF 8 SURE IS ELITE The Lady Vols have been fortunate to advance to the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Tournament for the 20th time in 24 consecutive years in NCAA Tournament. Additionally, Tennessee has advanced to the Final Four in eight of the last 10 years. Elite 8 games:
AFTER THE ELITE 8 RANDOM NOTES Last year, in the 23rd year of the NCAA Women's Basketball Championships, Tennessee Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt coached in her 100th game in tournament play with a victory over Stanford to advance to the 2004 Final Four. Summitt's current overall record in NCAA play (including 2005 games) is a phenomenal 89-17 (.833) in 106 NCAA contests. UT's 1982 win over the Southern Cal Women of Troy, who were led by Pamela and Paula McGee in the first NCAA Tournament, also marked the first overtime game in NCAA women's tournament history. UT also played in a Regional Final overtime affair in 1990 but lost to Virginia, 79-75. UT has faced seven different conferences in Elite 8 games: ACC, Big East, Big 10, Big 12, PAC 10, SEC and WAC. Of the 19 all-time games, UT is most likely to see a team from the Southeastern Conference - six times. UT has advanced to the NCAA Final Four five times after defeating an SEC team. Tennessee has faced the ACC the next most times to advance to the Final Four - five times. The Lady Vols have earned three Final Four spots after defeating ACC teams. 20th time Tennessee has advanced to the Elite 8 and 10th time out of the last 12 years. AGAINST THE 2005 TOURNAMENT FIELD Tennessee has faced in 19 teams in 23 games from the 63-team (plus UT) NCAA bracket. Overall, the Lady Vols have turned in a 19-4 record. UT has defeated: Texas Tech, 75-59, Rutgers, 59-49, Purdue, 75-54, Western Carolina 94-43, LSU 67-65, DePaul 78-63, Georgia 77-70, Mississippi 99-67, George Washington 71-41, Old Dominion 68-58, TCU 82-55, N.C. State 64-54, Temple 52-48, Louisiana Tech 70-59, UConn 68-67, Stanford 70-67 and Vanderbilt 79-65, 72-63, 76-73. The Lady Vols' four losses have come against LSU 58-68, Texas 59-74, Duke 57-59 and Rutgers 51-65. THE SEED HAS BEEN PLANTED You can call it longevity. You can call it coaching and performance. You can call it strength of schedule. Whatever you call it, the University of Tennessee has earned 17 number-one seeds all-time in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Additionally, UT has been seeded number two on three occasions, number three, three times and number four just once. From 1988-96, the Lady Vols had nine consecutive number one seeds. Only 27 schools have ever received number one seeds over the years. 2005 #1 SEEDS The four number one seeds in the 2005 NCAA Tournament has three teams who have been there before as Tennessee leads with 17 number one seeds in 24 NCAA Tournaments, LSU (2003 and 2005) and North Carolina (1997 and 2005) have had number one seeds twice and Michigan State has earned their first top seeding. GARDEN PARTY Teams with the most number one seeds through the years: 1. Tennessee 17 YOU'D THINK AFTER 31 YEARS After last season, Tennessee coach Pat Summitt declared, "we need to lighten our schedule." Except, she has said that each and every year she has coached the Big Orange. So this season's "lightened" schedule of non-conference teams featuring 13 opponents who had all played in the 2004 NCAA Tournament. Perhaps we need Summitt's definition of "light." 2005 NCAA TOURNEY TIME FOR TENNESSEE The Lady Vols are playing in the postseason for the 30th time in coach Pat Summitt's 31-year career at Tennessee. Tennessee started the tournament back home in Knoxville this season for the NCAA First/Second Rounds after traveling last year for the first time ever attending the NCAA Midwest First and Second Round in Tallahassee, Fla. In the new NCAA format this year, eight teams descended on Knoxville and Thompson-Boling Arena, March 20 & 22, representing the Chattanooga (Mideast) and Philadelphia (East) Regionals. On March 20, #9-seeded Arizona upset #8 seeded Oklahoma, while #1-seeded LSU defeated #16-seeded Stetson. LSU then defeated Arizona, 76-43, to advance to the Mideast Regional Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. In the Philadelphia (East) bracket, #9 seeded Purdue upset #8 seeded New Mexico, while top-seeded Tennessee destroyed #16-seeded Western Carolina. Tennessee then defeated Purdue, 75-54, and advanced to the Philadelphia Regional defeating Texas Tech, 75-59 and Rutgers, 59-49, to advance to the 2005 Final Four. OUTTA KNOXVILLE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN MARCH In last year's NCAA Tournament, for the first time in 25 years of postseason play, the Tennessee Lady Vols weren't playing a post-season play-off game in Knoxville. Tennessee has won 46 consecutive NCAA play-off games at home since 1982 (34-0 in NCAA First/Second Rounds and 12-0 in six NCAA Mideast Regionals hosted in Knoxville). When you add in the AIAW years, Tennessee has won 52 consecutive (since Mar. 15, 1980) post-season AIAW/NCAA games at home. Overall, UT has won 54 out of 55 games in Knoxville since Mar. 10, 1979. UT's only loss in post-season play at home was a 74-72 AIAW Region II defeat to Old Dominion on Mar. 10, 1979. That year, the winner of the Region II Tournament was given the higher seed in the AIAW Regional Championship Tournament (Sweet 16) while the loser was sent to a tougher regional bracket. As the Region II winner, Old Dominion traveled to Tennessee Tech for the AIAW South Regional while Tennessee earned a trip to the Bronx, N.Y. (Fordham Univ.) for the East Regional. Both ODU and Tennessee advanced to the AIAW "Final Four" in Greensboro, N.C. that year. KNOXVILLE'S NOT FRIENDLY TO THE OPPOSITION The average score of an NCAA First/Second round game against the Lady Vols in Knoxville typically does not bode well for the opposition. The Lady Vols defeat its NCAA Tournament opponents in Knoxville by a score of 91.2-51.6 - or an average victory margin of 39.6 ppg. UT GETS THE POINT The Lady Vols turned in their highest point total ever in the NCAA Tournament scoring 113 versus Appalachian State in First Round action on Mar. 13, 1999. Previously, Tennessee had scored 111 points against North Carolina A&T on Mar.16, 1994 in NCAA opening round play. UT's 113 points against ASU was the fifth most ever scored in NCAA First/Second Round action. THESE SEEDS GREW Tennessee has played in an incredible 103 games in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Six times the Lady Vols have brought home NCAA titles to Knoxville. On the 17 occasions when UT lost in the tournament, the following seeds bounced the Lady Vols. #1 seed-1982, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003 #2 seed-1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 2004 UT'S NCAA OT GAMES UT has played in five overtime games in the NCAA Tournament producing a 4-1 record including two overtime wins in the Final Four. UT defeated Southern Cal, 91-90, in the first overtime game in NCAA tourney history. UT advanced to the NCAA's first Final Four in 1982 from that overtime affair. The Lady Vols played in the first triple OT in NCAA history when UT defeated Ole Miss, 90-83, in 1983. In UT's most heartbreaking loss in the program's history, Virginia defeated UT, 79-75 in OT, for the 1990 NCAA East Regional title denying the Lady Vols from playing in the 1990 Final Four on its home court. In 1991, UT returned the overtime favor to Virginia and defeated the Cavaliers in the first overtime NCAA title game, 70-67. Tennessee's last extra stanza game in the NCAA Tournament came at the 1996 Final Four with a dramatic, 88-83, victory over Connecticut in the Final Four Semi game. RANKED TEAMS - PHILLY REGION In the AP and USA TODAY/ESPN polls, seven teams from the 2005 NCAA Philadelphia (East) Regional are ranked led by third-ranked Tennessee. The next highest ranked team is Ohio State (#7/8), and is followed by Rutgers (#9/10), Texas Tech (#14/14), Temple (#15/15), N.C. State (#21/22) and Wisconsin-Green Bay (#24/21). NAMED TO THE KODAK ALL-DISTRICT TEAM Lady Vol senior forward Shyra Ely has been named to the Kodak All-American, All-District team. The Indianapolis, Ind., native now appears on the national ballot for consideration as one of the 10 Kodak All-American for 2005. Ely was named to the Kodak team as a junior last season. CHECK OUT THAT NCAA RECORD IN THE 90's The Lady Vols put together a 38-6 (.863) winning record in the NCAA Tournament in the 1990s while winning four NCAA titles in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. FIVE SEC TEAMS DANCE - TWO STILL GOING The Southeastern Conference had five teams start to dance in March. In the Mideast (Chattanooga) Regional, the SEC's natural regional site, LSU and Georgia were represented. The West (Tempe) Regional featured Ole Miss; Tennessee traveled to the East (Philadelphia) Regional, while Vanderbilt was sent to the Midwest (Kansas City) Regional. Tennessee, LSU, Georgia and Vanderbilt all advanced to the Sweet 16. Tennessee and LSU have advanced to the Final Four. Ole Miss suffered a first round loss. SEC TITLES AND NATIONAL FINISHES The Lady Vols have won 13 SEC titles and 11 SEC Tournament titles since 1980. This is how UT fared in the NCAA Tournament after winning the SEC Tournament: 2005-Beat LSU for the SEC title; in progress
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