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How will Lady Vols respond if top-scorer Parker is parked?
Tennessee's Candace Parker, right, battles for a rebound with Danielle Gant of Texas A&M during Tuesday's game in Oklahoma City.
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Tennessee considers time to be more of an ally than an adversary in its women's basketball preparations for the Final Four.
The perspective applies specifically to star player Candace Parker's recovery from twice suffering a dislocated left shoulder during Tuesday night's 53-45 Midwest Regional final victory over Texas A&M at Oklahoma City. Her playing status will have a huge bearing on the Lady Vols' play in a national semifinal game against LSU at 9:30 p.m. Sunday (TV: ESPN) in Tampa, Fla.
Connecticut and Stanford meet at 7 in the other semifinal. The winners play Tuesday night for the national championship.
"At this point I don't know,'' UT coach Pat Summitt said Wednesday regarding Parker's condition for Sunday. "But between now and Sunday she has a lot of time with (athletic trainer) Jenny (Moshak) and the rehab and rest. I feel good about it."
The official word from UT Wednesday was that Parker was being treated symptomatically and would undergo further evaluation before the team leaves for Tampa tonight. The prevailing symptom was soreness. Judging by Summitt's conversation with Parker, the 6-foot-5 forward wasn't solely preoccupied with the state of her shoulder.
"She was concerned about whether she could keep her hair appointment,'' Summitt said.
Whatever it takes, the Lady Vols need their All-American in the best form possible. Each Final Four team has one of its own. Parker, LSU's Sylvia Fowles, Stanford's Candice Wiggins and Connecticut's Maya Moore were named Wooden All-Americans on Wednesday, the day after they made The Associated Press first team.
Of immediate concern to Tennessee is Fowles. The 6-foot-6 senior center was anticipating this possible rematch before the sweat had dried from UT's 61-55 victory over the Lady Tigers in the conference tournament championship game March 9 in Nashville.
"We ain't looking for payback,'' she said after that game, "but once we meet up again we'll do a whole lot better than what we did in this tournament.''
With Parker's condition and ultimately her effectiveness still in question, the overall state of Tennessee's offense is another pressing matter.
Without Parker, the Lady Vols went nine minutes, 16 seconds without scoring against Texas A&M.
With Parker, Tennessee's scoring has become dangerously one-dimensional. In the two NCAA games in Oklahoma City, Parker's 60 points amounted to 47 percent of UT's 127 points.
Summitt will address the near-meltdown against the Aggies by watching film with point guard Shannon Bobbitt, who committed seven turnovers.
"I did not think Shannon had a good game,'' Summitt said. "After watching the tape it was clear to me that they did bring the heat to Shannon. I don't know if it was the game or the pressure of the defense, but I think she got a little frustrated."
Along with pressuring Bobbitt, the Aggies also smothered Angie Bjorklund, which accounted for UT's top two 3-point shooters. Between them, they produced one trey by Bobbitt.
Bjorklund's one basket required her to pump fake a defender before getting off a foul-lane jumper.
Since combining for six treys in the tournament opener against Oral Roberts, Bobbitt and Bjorklund have produced six in the next three games. During that span, Bjorklund - a double-figure scorer for most of the season - is averaging three points per game. The Lady Vols really could use more points from the 6-foot freshman forward, who had seven treys in a game three times this season.
"At this point, encouragement is probably the best thing for her,'' Summitt said. "We'll also look at a couple of things we can do to free her up."
At least Tennessee has senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle firing away at a decent clip. She's averaging about 12 points per tournament game and rebounded from two missed layups against A&M to hit a huge 3-pointer with 50 seconds left. Upon further review, the shot was closer to 26 feet than the 24 feet originally reported.
"I think she ought to feel like she's definitely stepped up for us,'' Summitt said. "She has to be looking to make plays for us."
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by Gigavol on April 2, 2008 at 10:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I hope Parker gets better and can play. I also hope she does not push herself too hard and hurt herself. She has the WNBA ahead of her.
Posted by BigOrangeVol on April 3, 2008 at 12:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Since the end of the regular season (SEC Tourney and the NCAA Tourney) Angie has shot 30% from the field and 23% from behind the arc while averaging 2 boards, 4 points, 2 assists and 2 turnovers per game. Those numbers are as pitiful as Smallbone's! No question Bird is playing better than that but her assist/turnover ratio is killing us! Lex is doing well but Nicky and Shannon have got to step up and play like they are capable of playing. It sure hasn't looked like we’ve had five seniors on the floor these last three games. Looks to me like Lex and CP3 are the only ones that want to be playing next Tuesday night.
I love the LV's but I sure don't see the heart, drive, teamwork and determination that you would expect from this group. Shooting 25% in the second half last night, committing 32 turnovers in the last two games and only bringing down eight total offensive rebounds last night should be an embarrassment to this team. Stop turning the ball over, block-out and crash the freakin boards already!
It's time to step on LSU's neck for 40 minutes and then do the same to whoever they meet Tuesday (and that shouldn't matter a hill of beans who it is)!!! WE ARE THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE! Take no prisoners.
HOOYAH Lady Vols!!!
Posted by 98reax on April 3, 2008 at 1:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Dan Fleser, if you wrote that headline, you should be ashamed of yourself. That's just Dumb, Corny, Cheesy. I could think of a dozen or more appropriate headers. You've got to be kidding. You've had 3 hours to think about it. Please tell me you haven't sent this to press.
The Lady Vols will do just fine whether or not CP3 is 100%. We all hope and pray she is healing and will be OK, but if she is not, do not underestimate the power of a wounded hungry animal. Pat Summitt and her team will be geared up to play high velosity defense against the Tigers like they've not seen since the SEC Tournament. We know we can beat LSU.
Posted by pdhuff on April 3, 2008 at 5:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Man, that sounded familiar around this farmhouse. #1 matter - hair appointment. Ma would put off surgery to get dooed up weekly.
That shows me Candace is just fine. Now, as LO says, let's do some bidness with LSU!
Posted by lnbadger320 on April 3, 2008 at 7:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
anosike needs to step up and actually jump, it's amazing that she's 6'4. when she jumps she's 6'5. i can't understand how she never developed into a more consistant ballplayer on the offensive side. she has to step up against LSU or we're going to lose.
Posted by smokymtman on April 3, 2008 at 8:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Without Parker, the Lady Vols just need to stay parked in Knoxville because they won't have a prayer against LSU and Sylvia Fowles. Bobbitt, the turnover queen, can't see the court to direct the team; Anosike shoots like she's throwing bricks; Hornbuckle could keep us in the game but stays in foul trouble; Bjorklund plays like a Freshman (totally confused under pressure); and the only one of certainty on the bench is Fuller, but Pat won't play her. Again, without Parker, there is no team.
Posted by mparker on April 3, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It's kinda simple in a way:
_Bobbitt is a spot-up shooter, she needs to quit driving
_Hornbuckle can drive and dish
_Bjorklund can drive and dish
_Angie and Lex need to drive and break down the D somewhat; Bobbitt is just too short
_Anosike isn't the player from last year. She was my favorite in 2006/2007, I thought she provided the steady play we needed.
My overall theory: let Lex handle the ball, and Angie can handle it some too. Run Bobbitt to screens, other places where she can spot up.
LSU, at the least, is going to faceguard Candace; at the most, they will double-team her, and challenge the LV"S to make shots.
Bobbitt plays best when she isn't all full of attitude. Taking away ball responsibilities might help with that. She is a pretty decent shooter.
Finally, a thought for Candace: try to get Anosike involved against LSU. Feed her in the paint, get her to shoot. Maybe the first five shots of the game shoud be Anosike. This will force LSU to look for her. right now, most teams sag off Anosike, even underneath.
Hey, it's a chat board, it's fun to long-distance coach. I don't envy Pat this game, she knows she has real problems. No depth, no pg, possibly no Candace....I'd almost bet you the LV's don't get into this situtation with depth EVER again.
Posted by janchattn on April 3, 2008 at 9:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Remember what we did against DePaul, all nine Lady Vols in the game scored, several of them in double figures, and Candace was out the entire first half. We can do it. LSU is tougher than DePaul and definitely has plans to knock us out in this game, but we know them and we know what we have to do to win. GO GIRLS!!!
Posted by wewhite on April 3, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
In order for us to advance:
a) Bobbitt will have to ratchet her nearly out-of-control ball handling back a notch.
b) Bjorkland will just have to get over it and fire those long-range threes like she did up until March.
c) Anosike will have to have another stellar defensive game but up her offensive output.
d) The bench will need to step up and take responsibility for where their team is going.
e) Candace will need to play at least part of the time. Even if she doesn't score a point, she makes defenses paranoid when she steps on the court, and paranoid defenses make mistakes.
Posted by cazirkle on April 3, 2008 at 11:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good luck to a great team that has the potential to be even greater. Pat can bring the cream to the top and the ladys need to play at 100% whether Candice is well or not. LSU is a tough team and U Conn is tougher. No love lost with UConn. Go Lady Vols. Give it best, as always. Even the greatest (and documented that our program is) have rough games.......Chuck Mt Pleasant, SC
Posted by 98reax on April 3, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
mparker, good post. I agree/disagree. Bobbitt has to interfere/disrupt White's game, play smart with continuous pressure, make her life miserable. White runs her team's offense, a coach on the floor. When she needs to, she can stop on a dime and knock down perimeter shots. Bobbitt/Auguste must confuse/frustrate her — no easy task. She's a veteran, make her find other options. That's where Hornbuckle is key — deflect passes, get steals, drive to the hoop under control, get their bigs, mainly Fowles, in foul trouble early on. Don't get the charging whistle. Pull up and knock down the jumper.
As for Anosiki, there's no winning if she don't step up on offense and make Sylvia guard her. Nicky cannot be reluctant with her shot. She absolutely has to go hard at the basket with focus and determination to finish. If we can park Fowles on the bench for long spells and knock down shots, we have a real good chance.
All we can do is hope Angie finds her shot. She's a liability on defense. Cannot be made to handle the ball — very foul prone.
Fuller had a great game at DePaul. Hope she will find her shot. Doesn't feel good to think team will NOT step up and bring their heart and desire to this game.
As for depth problems, no way to avoid that. Injuries are inevitable. Unfortunately, some recruits do not maturate as a coach would hope for. Smallbone has not been helpful for this team thus far. She's nothing more than a practice player it would seem. We have a couple of these types every season, in crunch time when you need points and strong defense, practice players are a liability.
I shutter to think of that circus atmosphere of playing the team from the east. Just want to think about defeating LSU. smokymt, a very negative post. It's just wrong right now.
Agree with mparker, it's just a chat board and it's fun to coach from here, none need care who likes or dislikes what they post, BUT, do you have to be so negative? Just asking.
Candace will play and play well. Anybody remember little Auburn point guard, Tiffani Krantz, with the dislocated shoulder ate our lunch in the semi-finals of '97 SEC Tourney in Chattanooga? She played four straight tournament games, defeating Florida in the championship game, with left upper arm strapped to her body. Amazing.
Happy ending — Lady Vols lost SEC, won National Championship. Says a lot for a wounded tiger, says more about staying the coarse.
Posted by thegoat0248 on April 3, 2008 at 11:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Candace has had to carry this team on her shoulders all season long!! Now it's time for them to step up and carry her for once! The only way they can win if everyone gives 100% for 40 minutes!!
Posted by thegoat0248 on April 3, 2008 at 11:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Candace has had to carry this team on her shoulders all season long!! Now it's time for them to step up and carry her for once! The only way they can win if everyone gives 100% for 40 minutes!!
Posted by LazhilUT on April 3, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Candace is too strong of a warrior to not at least try to play through pain.
She bleeds orange, period.
She has more balls than any male or female athlete UT has. Besides she wants to prove once and for all that She is the SEC player of the year, that we are the best SEC team and that Pat is better than Geno the Cheato.
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on April 3, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with LazhilUT.
I will take Parker at 50% strength (especially in the postseason) anytime !!!
Keep the faith....win or lose it has been a heck of a run.
Posted by Embarrassed on April 3, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
http://www.courant.com/sports/college...
Posted by mparker on April 3, 2008 at 4:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think we all tend to agree:
Bobbitt, take care of the ball, spot up, don't penetrate.
Hornbuckle, take good shots, play your game, it's been good this eyar.
Anosike, assert yourself!!!
Where I disagree with some: Bjorklund plays decent D, and handles the ball okay. She can drive and pull up just fine. She's in a 3 slump, it is in her head. She takes WAY too long getting the shot off now, like she's planning every little twitch. Heck, girl, there are other ways to score. Bobbitt is just fine shooting 3's, set her up. Take your pullup 2's.
To beat LSU may take more of an effort than to beat UConn OR Stanford.
Posted by tinmantn3 on April 7, 2008 at 12:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
well again,, U CANT rely on 1 player,, CP3 is hurt, i dont care what u say, after the game last night they should be ashamed at the way they played, The others have to step up BIG TIME< if were gona win another! And it makes me mad to see them standing around on offence ,when i played if we were standing around we were SOON on the bench. AN missing free throws MAN! all the girls are close to being a pro, an wow if u cant hit free throws , Again i dont care what u think practice makes perfect,, NO 1 is but lord u could still be ALOT better then what they are at them. GO LADY VOLSSSSS < step up and gitrrrrrr DONE!!!!!!
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