University of Tennessee Athletics
COACH SUMMITT ANSWERS QUESTIONS FROM THE MEDIA IN WEEKLY TELECONFERENCE
January 03, 2006 | Women's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2006
Tennessee Lady Vol Head Coach Pat Summitt
Opening Statement:
"Well, the Notre Dame game was a game in which we struggled to make shots. It was a great atmosphere, obviously. I thought their defense disrupted us at times, ran a box and one on (senior Shanna) Zolman which limited her touches. We weren't in a very good rhythm, but that's good to know because we're going to see more and more of it. Against Old Dominion, I thought she handled things a lot better and it's just a matter of going up against different defensive schemes. In the end of the Notre Dame game I was very pleased with our boards, with our inside game. We managed to get inside late and come up with some big plays with our post game. From that standpoint, it was very good. With Old Dominion, they're tough, they're extremely quick. It was good for us because it challenged us to defend one-on-one and I felt like as the game wore on, we executed a lot better on the offensive end and we obviously shot the ball well and that's something we didn't do at Notre Dame. South Carolina's off to a great start. They had a big win at Clemson last night. We started watching tape this morning, so we're still doing our scouting and I have a lot of work to do to get more familiar with them. Clearly, they move the basketball well offensively, have a good rhythm and certainly we're going to have to bring our defense. Anytime you're on the road and a team's at home and they're in their comfort zone, obviously our defensive play will be key. We're playing Connecticut on Saturday, it's a full week for us. That's always a game that most everybody in women's basketball circles on their calendar and we know it will be a big chance for us. We just have to get better at South Carolina and come home and get ready to play Connecticut."
Any difference between this year's South Carolina squad versus previous squads?:
"I haven't seen enough to really comment. My assistant, Holly Warlick, says there's a marked improvement there and she feels like it will be a big challenge for us. They run a lot offensive sets. She made mention of their passing and ball movement being a lot sharper, a lot better and obviously a bigger challenge for us."
Is South Carolina one of the few teams that can match up with Tennessee size-wise?:
"I definitely think they match up with us. For us right now, the one encouraging factor is within our post defense. That's where we really challenge our front line to step up their defense and clearly they'll be challenged in this game."
On whether there is a chance of a letdown with the Connecticut game following:
"The good news is that we're opening up the SEC schedule. SEC play has always been circled on our calendar and this opening road game is a good challenge for us. From that standpoint, you would hope that we could focus on one game at a time, but in particular take into account that this is a big test for us on the road and it's that first SEC game that we want to win."
On what problem's Connecticut poses:
"When you look at their team, the personnel changes, but the team does not change that much in that they do an outstanding job of spacing and passing and cutting and they're just solid on the defensive end, no matter what they're in, man or zone. It's tough to get good looks. I think offensively they really spread you out defensively. Certainly with (Husky sophomore Mel) Thomas having the kind of year she is with her outside shooting. (UConn senior Ann) Strother has made big shots in big games, and we're going to have to be ready to defend."
On whether excitement is still there for Connecticut game:
"You're going to have a huge audience in Thompson-Boling (Arena), plus national television coverage. It's a big game, and yet a lot of people say is the rivalry still what it used to be? I don't think it's going to be any different. Both teams are going to be excited to play and come out ready to do."
On freshman Candace Parker's progression so far:
"I think Candace is about where we expected her to be. Obviously not having played last year, I think it takes players time to get in their rhythm. She's been playing the 3 and the 4 for us and has done a good job with grasping all the offensive schemes and defensively, that's a place where she can really be very imposing with her size and her range. She's getting better there."
On whether amount of media attention has distracted Parker:
"It's sometimes unfair with all the hype she's had, but I do think she's very grounded and very mature. She wants to be a great teammate, and she wants to win. She's done a great job on really focusing on getting better as a player. I don't think it's been a distraction, per se."
On Parker's adjustment from high school to college:
"I would expect, because of her size and that she has great reach, she has had to learn to defend more on the perimeter and that's a little bit of a challenge for any player who's played a lot in the paint, hadn't really get out and defend guards, so from that standpoint, that's probably been her biggest challenge. I do think she's getting better in that aspect of her game, just defending away from the paint.
On memories of Connecticut freshman Renee Montgomery during recruiting process:
"Absolutely, I really like Renee, and I like the game (she brings). We had looked and recruited Renee. She does a great job of pushing tempo and can obviously shoot the 3-ball and put it on the floor. I was very impressed with her at the high school level."
On challenge for Montgomery, a freshman, playing in a game of the magnitude of the Tennessee game:
"Each individual will handle the situation and handle it probably in a different fashion. I think it just depends on the focus and toughness of players. Some freshman can go in and look like upperclassmen and some play like freshman. You hope as a coach that they will go in and play their game and not try to do too much and certainly not try to hide. That's what I always hope for our young players is that they do what they do, bring their strengths to the team."
On how the team has responded from missing Sa'de Wiley-Gatewood:
"I think the team has really handled things well. Anytime there is adversity, you have a chance to see how teams will respond. I think they have moved forward. Alexis (Hornbuckle) has been playing some of the best basketball of her career. We have to find a way to get her some rest in games, and she has to be mindful not to get in foul trouble. Shanna (Zolman) has been playing at the point, and she is very comfortable there as a senior."
On the importance of beating Connecticut on the road last year:
"That was a game that could have gone either way, and we were able to win. Anytime you beat a team as talented as Connecticut on the road, with all the respect we have for its program, you are excited about it. We had struggled against UConn for a number of years with being able to hang in there and put ourselves in a position to win. The time before that when we were there, we felt like we had a shot, but we did not close out the game. We were fortunate to come away with a `W' last year."
On similarities in which Tennessee and UConn approach the season with expectations to claim national titles every year:
"I think that is a good question. Certainly, I have felt that one thing that is important to us and our program is that every year we want to go to the Final Four and want to put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship. You have to get there to have that. I think it is a situation if you strive to be number one, you may have a chance to finish in the top four. If you want to finish in the top 10, then perhaps you are aiming much lower than you should. I can't even remember ever wanting to just finish in the top 10. I think the mentality of our program and of UConn's is to be the best team in the country every year. With those high goals, that is a big challenge for players."
On what beating Connecticut did for the team's confidence last year:
"I think it was a big boost for our confidence overall. We needed it. At that time, we had taken some hard losses. That team, at that point, needed a big win, and that was a big win for us. When you have a lot of young players, you can start to doubt yourself. It really helped our confidence."
On whether the game against UConn can change the perspective of a season:
"I think you have to keep it in perspective because we are just opening up Southeastern Conference play tomorrow night. It is a good way to measure where your team might be at this point in time with how they play in that atmosphere. We went to Notre Dame, and I did not think we played as well as we could until the end when we had to close it out. I liked the way we closed the game. It can only help to be in an environment like that, but you have to keep it in perspective. This is January."
