Login | Member Center | Contact Us | About Us | Site Map | Archive | Alerts/Photos | Subscribe to the paper | knoxnews.com

Home › Columns

Adams: Lady Vols sure of selves when it really counts

By John Adams (Contact)
Originally published 08:30 p.m., April 7, 2008
Updated 08:30 p.m., April 7, 2008

TAMPA, Fla. - Early in the season, when it was obvious the Lady Vols once again had national championship talent, I couldn't resist comparing them to UT's unbeaten 1997-98 team.

My conclusion: This team had deeper talent but lacked the killer instinct that was so apparent with the 1997-98 national champions.

But the critique has become slightly outdated as UT prepares to play Stanford for the national championship this evening.

These Lady Vols might not be as intent on breaking the will of their opponents by halftime. But when the game's outcome is hanging in the balance, they're every bit as sure of themselves.

How else do you explain their last two victories?

First, they defeated Texas A&M in the Elite Eight despite making only five field goals in the second half. Next, they made only 30.4 percent of their field-goal tries, went 2-for-7 at the foul line and still pulled out a last-second, 47-46 victory over LSU in the Final Four semifinals Sunday night.

The Lady Vols play the game as though they're acting in a movie. So what if they go nine minutes without a field goal or if All-American Candace Parker is playing with one healthy shoulder. They've read the script. They know the ending.

It ends with them hugging each other, donning national championship caps and cutting down the nets.

Senior guard Alexis Hornbuckle embodies this everything-will-work-out-OK attitude. She misses layups against Texas A&M, then nails a clutch 27-foot, 3-pointer. She misses her first seven shots against LSU, then hits the game winner in the last second.

This isn't just about self-confidence. It's about team confidence.

"You have to have a whole lot of confidence," Hornbuckle said. "But your teammates and coaching staff have to have a whole lot of confidence in you.

"It's a post-season game and you're shooting very poorly, and you feel like you're letting down your team possession after possession. It's kind of tough to keep picking yourself up.

"But you have teammates in your ear saying, 'We need you; we know something good is going to happen.' When you have that, it makes it easier."

Confidence alone doesn't win championships. The Lady Vols figured that out during the regular season when their high level of confidence wasn't necessarily a virtue.

Coach Pat Summitt was asked Monday if she thought her team had become over confident prior to its one-sided loss to LSU in mid-February.

"Oh, definitely," she said. "I mean, they thought they were going to win every game. They thought they were real good.

"I'm not sure they thought they had to work as hard as they worked the previous year. I think that goes with winning a championship."

Following the 78-62 loss to LSU, Summitt blasted her team in a players-coaches meeting. Then, the players met amongst themselves. As the team boarded a bus to Nashville, Summitt was still concerned about how her team would respond against Vanderbilt.

Junior Alex Fuller dropped a note in Summitt's lap on the bus.

"Coach, everything is going to be OK," the note read. "We've had a meeting. We're ready to play. This won't happen again."

Since then, the Lady Vols have played up to the note. They have won 13 consecutive games, and some of their fans have become as confident as their team.

Take Whitney Dailey, for example. Confidence is as much a factor in her being at the Final Four as it is her favorite team.

Dailey, who is a UT student from Birmingham, is here on UT's dime. Hers was the second name drawn from a pool of UT students who had to attend at least 10 Lady Vols home games to qualify for a promotional drawing.

The prizes included free tuition for a year, a free meal plan, an all-expense paid trip for two to the SEC women's basketball tournament

The student whose name was drawn first picked the free tuition. Dailey then picked the Final Four trip, realizing that if UT failed to make it that far in the NCAA tournament, she wouldn't go, either.

But Dailey, who played high school basketball and attended Lady Vols summer camps, was confident enough in the team to choose the Final Four trip.

And if her name had been drawn first, she would have been just as confident.

"I had talked it over with my dad (before the drawing) since he pays my tuition," she said. "I still probably would have picked the Final Four trip."

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com.

       12 Comments

Posted by ncvol17 on April 7, 2008 at 8:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Free tuition vs a Final Four trip. Hey the game is on TV. We are in a recession you know

Posted by gate12 on April 7, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good idea - Helping the so-called "recession" by spending more money.

Posted by bmaples on April 7, 2008 at 10:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Now THAT'S a fan!!

Confidence is good. Confidence backed up by results is even better. This team has produced the results since that loss to LSU -- SEC Tourney title (including beating LSU), #1 seed in the NCAA, another solid run to another Final Four. Finally, another win over a great LSU team -- while scoring below 50 points for the first time in over 900 games.

So, where will confidence get this team tomorrow night? Confidence alone isn't going to stop the Cardinal -- not Ice, or Appel, or the others. Confidence alone isn't going to make the ball go in for Hornbuckle, Bobbitt, and the other players. Confidence alone isn't going to heal Parker's shoulder(s).

BUT -- if confidence becomes determination -- determination for the entire game because down deep you know you CAN win this -- then THAT confidence can win this game.

Ladies, each of you has to have a Pat 2007 moment -- "We are NOT leaving here without a championship!!" Here's my wish for you -- DETERMINATION. Go Lady Vols!!

Posted by bmaples on April 7, 2008 at 10:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)

And by the way -- your confidence isn't shared by many others. Most are picking Stanford. Since I'm the one commenting about confidence, here's my prediction:

Halftime -- 42-35, Stanford
Final -- 72-66, Tennessee

Posted by murrayvol on April 7, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bmaples: I'll settle for a 67-66 final.

Posted by scvols on April 8, 2008 at 3:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)

If these ladies do not start hitting some shots, they are going to be watching the other team cut down the nets. Stanford can shoot the rock, just ask UCONN. Come on Lady Vols, just one more to go.

Posted by johnlg00 on April 8, 2008 at 10:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

HUGE challenge for the gals in orange tonight! I hope Alex Fuller in particular lives up to the sentiments in that note she wrote. She and a couple of others need to step up BIG time tonight! I have yet to see a full 40 minutes of REAL Lady Vol basketball in a game this season. That "we can turn it on when we want to" attitude isn't going to get it done tonight! We just haven't shown enough offense to come back if we let Stanford get out to a fast start. BUCKLE DOWN, LADIES!!! BRING HOME THE EIGHTH!!!

Posted by 98reax on April 8, 2008 at 10:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Lady Vols Score Season Best When Points Count Most — TAMPA, Fla.
Candace Parker was treated to a going away shower by her supporting cast Tuesday night in the National Championship game. The Naismith Player of the Year needed only to watch as her teammates rained three-point shots at a steady clip from tip-off to final buzzer.

Tennessee's stingy defensive play stifled the Stanford Cardinal forcing turnovers which led to breakaway opportunities for the high octane Lady Vols. The Cardinal could not match the transition game Coach Pat Summitt had implemented for the title game.

Shannon Bobbitt and Alexis Hornbuckle led the Lady Vols' scoring with 28 points each followed by Nicky Anosiki's 8 for 8 accuracy from the field in the face of Jayne Appel. Anosiki earned 6 trips to the foul line for a perfect 100%. The senior post player scored a career high 27 points to compliment her Title game record 26 rebounds.

Alberta Auguste broke the record for steals in a National Championship game scoring 12 takaways. "She is my worst nightmare", said Wade Trophy winner, Candice Wiggins. "She was all over me like a that d___ dancing tree." The Junior College recruit posted 6 assists off her picks and scored 9 points off her 3 treys.

The All American, All Everything Parker was gracious in giving her team props as she accepted the MVP award for her nights work, 17 points, 10 rebounds, 11 blocked shots and 10 assists.

Posted by Volfantm on April 8, 2008 at 12:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Love it 98reax!

Posted by johnlg00 on April 8, 2008 at 12:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Your keyboard to God's eyes, 98reax!

Posted by wewhite on April 8, 2008 at 4:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

This team reminds me of a lot of some of the championship teams of previous years. They've struggled with poor shot percentages in both the SEC and NCAA tournaments, but they compensate by unmercilessly haranguing the opposing team into making mistakes, grabbing defensive rebounds, and stealing ball after ball. The result: More possessions, which lead to more shots on goal, which lead to more points on the board, which, well... you get the idea. If they're anything like the former championship teams, they'll come out tonight relaxed and well-tuned and shoot the lights out.

Tsk tsk, Stanford. You shoulda let 'em win in December. Just look what happened to LSU.

Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)

Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them. You agree not to post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned. Click here for our full user agreement.

Username:

Password:
(Forgotten your password?)

Your Turn: