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Junior college twosome a Final Four hit
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TAMPA, Fla. - Tennessee's Shannon Bobbitt and Alberta Auguste are one victory away from a perfect 2-for-2 college career: two seasons, two national championships.
They haven't just helped UT win one national title and play for another. They also have changed coach Pat Summitt's theory on junior college recruiting.
The old theory could be summed up in a question: "Why recruit two-year players when you basically have your pick of the top high school players in the country?"
But two years ago, the Lady Vols needed help - fast. And high schools couldn't provide it.
Enter Bobbitt and Auguste.
UT might have won six national championships without junior college transfers, but it couldn't have won a seventh. And it wouldn't be playing for an eighth tonight against Stanford.
"If you look what Shannon and Alberta brought to our team (against LSU on Sunday night), without those two, we don't win," Summitt said. "I just go back to my staff and thank them for bringing those two in."
Auguste made five of nine field-goal attempts and scored 10 points in the 47-46 Final Four semifinal victory. Bobbitt was 4-for-7 from the field and scored 11. The rest of the Lady Vols combined to make only 12 of 53 shots.
Scoring doesn't account for their full value. Bobbitt has been UT's starting point guard for the last two years. Auguste has played her way into the starting lineup mainly because of her stout defense.
But this isn't the first time she and Bobbitt have had a scoring impact at the Final Four.
In last year's national championship victory over Rutgers, they combined for 23 points. Bobbitt made four of eight 3-point tries and scored 13 points. Auguste came off the bench to hit three of five shots and went 4-for-4 at the foul line.
Auguste has a simple plan for her championship game encore.
"I just plan on bringing the same intensity I've been bringing," she said. "Just come out ready to play, and bring that scoring as well as my defense."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by andefromtn on April 8, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Two outstanding young women who UT is lucky to have on the team. I know that Pat is proud of both these young ladies. It was a unique opportunity for them to join the Lady Vols and they have taken it and ran. They are quaility players and I am glad they wear the orange of UT. I hope one of them has a hot hand tonight to help take some of the pressure of CP3. Go Lady Vols.
Posted by Goodvol on April 8, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We'll need them tonight, for sure! Pat hasn't won for this long without knowing when to change with the times. This is a perfect example. These two young ladies have made a great impact on this program. They are as much a part of the Lady Vols family as any 4-year player. I hope we can put a ring on each hand for them!
Good luck tonight against Stanford. I hope Parker knows to limit her shooting to inside the paint! Her shot-chart shows you where she is most effective.
Posted by rockytopron on April 8, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad they are on our team!
Posted by johnlg00 on April 8, 2008 at 8:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
These terrific gals have really shown how to step up at championship time! Now if they can just show Alex Fuller, Angie Bjorkland, and Vicky Baugh how to do it, they can complete their 2-for-2! It's going to take everything we can get from everybody on the roster to do it tonight. GO LADY VOLS!!! BRING HOME THE EIGHTH!!!
Posted by richvol on April 8, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I sure hope Pat has got her eye on another point guard for next year. Every time we have subbed this year the level of play and their athletic ability has declined greatly.
We are all praying for you girls to play your best tonight...if you do we will win.
Posted by Alphafemale on April 8, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love watching Shannon Bobbitt play.
Posted by 98reax on April 8, 2008 at 2:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My attire of choice today is my 1997 Lady Vol National Championship T-shirt. Everybody picked against us that year too. "Every individual Lady Vol player made a contribution to the winning cause" said Coach Summitt when asked how they accomplished such an unlikely feat. "And unlike some of our championship teams, they handled success better because they learned to deal with adversity and overcame it."
Won't it be tremendous to once again prove the analysts wrong to pick against a Lady Vol team? A truly phenominal leader, Chamique Holdsclaw, and her wounded, just out of rehab, point guard Kellie Jolly led 2 unlikely heros into a repeat Title game. Those two rookies, Kyra Elzie and Niya Butts came out with fire in their eyes and claimed the prize, their first National Championship ring.
Posted by wewhite on April 8, 2008 at 3:45 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Amen, Alphafemale. Someone forgot to tell Shannon Bobbitt that she's more than likely the shortest player on the court. When she sees an opening to the basket, she goes for it. Lesser players would think, "Gee, Fowles is waaayyy too tall and aggressive for a player of my stature to take on"; Shannon just dives in.
She reminds me of a little dog protecting her yard: You think, "Ha ha. What a cute little dog. She's thinks she's a big, mean German Shepherd." But then that little dog buzzes out on the sidewalk, whips around your legs, and takes a good size chunk out of your ankle. You say, "YE-OUCH!! Wished I'd been paying more attention to what she was doing!"
Posted by miamiVOL on April 8, 2008 at 7:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the time is now ladies
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