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Adams: New team, same goals next year
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TAMPA, Fla. - In the midst of a national championship season, Lady Vols junior forward Alex Fuller sometimes couldn't help but look ahead. When she did, she envisioned an altogether different role.
She will continue to give UT a versatile player who can play inside or on the perimeter. But she also will be the team's strongest connection to UT's back-to-back national championship seasons.
Fuller, a former high school All-American from Shelbyville, played as a backup the last two seasons. Next season, she will have to be a leader on a team that returns no starters and adds six recruits.
"I've obviously thought about it a lot," Fuller said. "We're going to have a young team next year, and I'm going to be the leader - the mother-type thing.
We'll have to build up to where we are now. This year's freshmen will have to help the freshmen coming in next year. It will be exciting to see how mature (the freshmen become)."
It also might be frustrating at times for a program that has won eight national championships and hasn't won fewer than 29 games since the 1991-92 season.
The Lady Vols might lack experience. They won't lack talent.
Although they don't return any starters, they return five high school All-Americans. Moreover, five of the six incoming freshmen are McDonald's All-Americans.
In addition to the six freshmen, UT is counting on sophomore point guard Cait McMahan and freshman center Kelley Cain returning from injuries. Both have progressed well from knee injuries and are expected to be OK for next season.
"I've had meetings with Pat, trying to know every position of every play, to do everything I can to get us ready for next year," McMahan said.
She could start at point guard, and the 6-foot-6 Cain should be the starting center.
"I haven't seen anyone post up as well as Kelley does," Lady Vols athletic trainer Jenny Moshak said. "Not that I'm a coach. But she posts up better than anyone I've seen go through this program."
Cain could be the centerpiece to one of the tallest teams in UT history. Freshman Vicki Baugh, who played as a reserve this season, is 6-4, and Fuller is 6-3. Three of the incoming recruits, including Webb's Glory Johnson, are 6-3.
If coach Pat Summitt wants to upsize, she can put Cain, Baugh and Fuller on the front line, with freshman Angie Bjorklund (6-0) at off-ball guard and incoming freshman Shekinna Stricklen (6-2) at point guard.
Stricklen should figure prominently in next season's plans. She has quickness, size and could play any one of three positions.
Incoming freshman Briana Bass, who is only 5-3, likely will share the point guard duties with McMahan.
Bjorklund, who has the potential to become the program's best all-time 3-point shooter, will be counted on to up her 8.8 points-per-game scoring average. Fuller averaged 6.4 points this season, which included a 19-point game against DePaul and 18 against Florida, Bjorklund, who has made as many as seven 3-pointers in a game, scored a season-high 29 points against Arkansas.
Despite all the different roles and new players, UT still should be favored to win the SEC. LSU, which won the SEC regular-season championship, also loses five starters from its Final Four team. No one else in the SEC was close to those two this season.
As always, the Lady Vols will be thinking about winning more than a conference championship.
McMahan and Cain have bonded this season while going through the drudgery of rehab and the frustration of being unable to play. No one is looking forward to next season more than they are.
"Kelley and I always walk out onto the floor together," McMahan said. "When we walked out (before the Final Four semifinal game with LSU on Sunday), I just looked around and said, 'Kelley, this is us next year.'
"It's an awesome feeling."
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knoxnews.com
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by threesdown on April 9, 2008 at 10:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I am so excited about seeing what Pat is going to do with these young girls...I live down in Woodstock where Alicia Manning is and she is just one example of how this team is going to be next year...She's a stud...if you can say that about a girl.
GO LADY VOLS! I loved seeing you shut the media up...how can you go against that team?!? Was it the Candace Parker shoulder injury? I think that was the rallying point for all of the other seniors...I think all five could play in the WNBA or overseas...Pumped about next season!
Posted by rrvolfan on April 9, 2008 at 11:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
JOHN ADAMS BYLINE = IGNORE ARTICLE
Posted by mparker on April 9, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My take on next year:
Pat will press and use a variety of defenses to confuse opponants. I think she would like to go at least 9 deep in the rotation.
I am wondering whether Samllbone will stay. She doesn't seem to fit in, but maybe there's more to her than we have seen. It had to have been an awful year for her.
It will be VERY interesting to see if the LV's have an offense next year. Will someone be able to shoot?? will they just count on offensvie boards???
Mark this, tho, they WILL pressure all over the court.
Posted by piledriver on April 10, 2008 at 7:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is any of the in-coming a future Parker??? Man I'm gonna miss her. I've just become a fan of the LA Sparks, kinda like I became a Colt fan because of Peyton. That tall lineup, whew mercy I can't wait to see it!
Posted by jawbreaker on April 10, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can you imagine how much easier winning the tournament championship would have been if Bjorklund had not lost her shooting touch? Here's hoping she finds it again.
Posted by Ashley on April 10, 2008 at 8:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Can you imagine how much easier John Adams life would be if his brain wouldn't have slipped out his ear hole.
Posted by mparker on April 10, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley, one thought;
Adams' column has to a degree cleared some air. I've said all along that it is okay to ger on Phil's back about decision-making, but it is NOT okay to attack his character.
IMHO, CPF has been in the public eye long enough, and haa exhitibited character ENOUGH times, to be cut some slack.
Hell, he's under more intense scrutny than ANY state politician, and most US senators!!!!
Posted by mparker on April 10, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I live away from TN, and I can tell you that this stuff goes on everywhere, to some extent. Most states have an 'all-sports' radio station, and one of the keys to that station is having sportstalk shows with fans bLitching and moaning.
Add to that the infiinte number of blogs, and you have all the ingredients necessary for people to bake crab!
I mean, you would be amazed at the amount of crabbing going on in states like Indiana, Iowa, New Mexicok, whereever, over how the football coach can't control the program, the basketball coach can't win the 'big one', and on and on.
So, yeah, Adams' was full of crap to write the article, but in a way he just reflects a part of the fan base.
I keep going back to this: if you want to fire Phil, fire him for being a winp at Alabama and punting on 4th and short TWICE!!! when Bama's offense was eating us alive. I mean, how stupid is this logic: Phil punts for 30 net yards of fileld position, which Bama makes back in 2 pass plays. UT was moving okay against Bama's D at the time...but Phil showed no faith. He lost the game on those 2 decisions.
See?? That's grounds for firing. Consistantly breaking NCAA rules, or being on probation, is a cause. To me, the actions of a bunch of kids who have been raised to be prima donnas, and who for the most part aren't real bright to begin with, is NOT. CPF does what he can, but it's pretty hard to reign in a kid full of hormones, self-pride, and opportunity to have some fun.
This is happening EVERYHERE. With the internet, it's now an 'instant news story'. It's all the same stuff college kids, and athletes in particular, have been doing ever since college was invented, but of course we love to say 'how awful' with a smug little curl of the lip, since of course WE did nothing like that....
Pretty rambling post, I know, but I'll leave with one final thought: back in the late-60's to early 80's, the nummber of poeple who admitted to smoking weed was at about 75-80 percent of so. Those same people, if questioned today, would say 'No, not me, I never smoked pot'. You know why?? Out of fear it would harm their reputation, would hurt their standing in society.
I hate to say this, but society has turned squarely back to what the boomer generation rebelled against: tight-a$$ed, judgemental, my way or the highway...
Thank you for reading this op-ed piece!!
Posted by littleorange on April 10, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John is at times a competent writer.......but make no mistake he will take every opportunity to hurt the Vol programs. The Vol Nation does not deserve his self serving agenda......
Posted by johnlg00 on April 10, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good one, mparker! Here in N. Carolina, the issue of Roy Williams wearing a Kansas sticker on his shirt at the championship game was almost as big an issue as why the 'Heels lost to Kansas in the semis! I think sports fans as a group are just one big dysfunctional family; they are a whole world in themselves, with personalities and opinions clashing in all directions--until something or someone from the outside intrudes, whereupon they all come together to attack the interloper. We happy band of Big Orange fans have a LOT to be thankful for, and it would be well for us remember that.
Posted by FlushTheJohn on April 10, 2008 at 11:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley
You are awesome! You count down the days to Football season and you hate John Adams. It doesn't get any better than that!!
Flush the John! Send Adams around the bowl and down the hole, where he belongs!!!!
Posted by Bigger_Al on April 10, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
John Adams sneezes on the food at Hometown Buffet.
Posted by marc_ash on April 10, 2008 at 1:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Posted by mparker on April 10, 2008 at 8:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ashley, one thought;
Adams' column has to a degree cleared some air. I've said all along that it is okay to ger on Phil's back about decision-making, but it is NOT okay to attack his character.
MP, I completely agree. What I would like to see from Adams (and I haven't seen this yet) is some means to make up for what he did. He did attack CPF's character. And to not even launch an apology for his pitiful article, I think that shows arrogance and lack of class.
I remember the article that Griff wrote when the basketball team was in Europe. He blamed being late on Coach Pearl and tried to pass the buck. This bothered me a great deal, and I saw that same mentality from Adams.
My suggestion to you John Adams....apologize. And write some dang good articles that reflect that you are invested in Knoxville and the UT Vols. You have a lot of work to do, lets hope you at least know not to wear LSU colors to a Lady Vols tourney game in the future.
Posted by TheVolMan on April 10, 2008 at 2:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yes Weenies, please continue to ignore John's articles. LOL...
Posted by TommyJack on April 10, 2008 at 2:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Adams...good article
Posted by sgtvols on April 11, 2008 at 4:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think Pat consideres character first talent second, but you'd better have both.
Posted by jorido on April 12, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Those of us who live outside of Knoxville enjoy the opportunity to read about our Lady Vols. Sifting through the "children-posters" is a part of the process.
Playing for the Lady Vols is a priviledge and playing time is earned. It is moot to spend time on who will start because with the talent and the youth lots of rotations are possible. However count on rebounding and defense being stressed.
Posted by wewhite on April 12, 2008 at 12:19 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Great incoming class, Pat! Let's show 'em that, contrary to belief, it's not WHO you have on the court, but WHAT they do and how you can teach them to do that better and better and better and...
Posted by wewhite on April 12, 2008 at 12:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I... I can't believe it! I actually left a comment about a John Adams column without taking a dig at his smarmy, self-righteous writing. Must be the new medication.
Posted by TommyJack on April 12, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mparker 9:01 Sounds about right.
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