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Adams: Parker makes sure promise paid in full
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NASHVILLE - Tennessee's Candace Parker stretched out on the floor in front of her teammates as the Lady Vols posed for pictures with the SEC tournament trophy Sunday night at the Sommet Center.
Her position was appropriate. She deserved a rest after UT defeated LSU 61-55 for the tournament championship.
Parker never left the game, physically or figuratively, until coach Pat Summitt gave her a well-deserved opportunity for a curtain call with 8.5 seconds to play.
Never mind that Parker had played virtually the full 40 minutes. She still had a bounce in her step.
Parker skipped joyfully down the UT bench in celebration. There was plenty to celebrate.
Not only had the No. 3-ranked Lady Vols won the conference tournament and clinched a No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. They had avenged their embarrassing 78-62 regular-season loss to LSU on their home floor.
Parker proved something as well.
In last year's SEC tournament loss to LSU, she looked nothing like a two-time All-American. She made only two of 11 field-goal attempts and scored just four points.
"I've never seen Candace play so poorly," Summitt said. In that assessment, she included all the games she had seen Parker play in high school and AAU ball as well as college.
"I couldn't believe Candace played the way she played," Summitt said. "But I think she learned from that ... After that game, she took total responsibility.
"As all the Tennessee players will tell you, Candace said that would never happen again. And it hasn't."
Even in this year's one-sided loss to LSU, you couldn't blame Parker. She had 26 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and six steals.
She was just as dominant in the rematch with 28 points, six rebounds and three steals in winning the tournament MVP award. None of those numbers were any more significant than her 40 minutes played.
"I feel like I was a little bit winded after playing three games in three days," Parker said. "But honestly, my teammates had my back. Nicky (Anosike) was in my ear (reminding her) just to play hard on every possession. And I think toward the end, I used that and stepped up."
Summitt monitored Parker's staying power from the bench.
"I think we had an understanding that she could come out if she wanted to," Summitt said. "She just chose not to in the end.
"She had talked to (assistant coach) Dean (Lockwood), and Dean said that she may need a timeout somewhere around the 15-minute mark of the second half. I asked her if she wanted to come out then, and she said, 'no.' "
If fatigue were a factor, it didn't show on Parker's jump shot. She made the biggest basket of the game with 1:57 to play, the score tied, and the shot clock racing toward zero.
"They passed to (Alexis Hornbuckle) further out toward the 3-point line, so I called her name and threw up my hand," Parker said. "She made a nice pass.
"I knew the shot clock was winding down, so I pump-faked and got a nice look."
When the shot hit home, coach Van Chancellor felt the impact on the LSU bench.
"That was the difference in the game," Chancellor said. "The shot clock (was) down, the ball was outside with six (seconds), they were in disarray. They just throw it to her, and she makes a great play."
Parker was just as strong in the early going. She had 10 of UT's 18 points in the first eight minutes. Her success contrasted with the struggles of LSU 6-foot-6 All-American Sylvia Fowles, who missed six of her first eight shots.
Fowles finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds. But she missed three of four free throws and had five turnovers.
And unlike last year's SEC tournament, she was clearly outplayed by Parker.
"There's nothing you can do to stop her," Fowles said. "You can only try to slow her down, and that's what we tried to do."
But Parker didn't slow down until she posed for pictures Sunday night.
Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by LargeOrange on March 10, 2008 at 12:11 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by yemmusdarb on March 10, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice article, John.
Ignore these idiots that READ all your articles then try to pretend they hate you and they're boycotting you, haha. Pathetic.
Posted by yemmusdarb on March 10, 2008 at 12:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Nice article, John.
Ignore these idiots that READ all your articles then try to pretend they hate you and they're boycotting you, haha. Pathetic.
Posted by PLEASEGETRIDOFTHENOTSOSLIMONE on March 10, 2008 at 12:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
agree yemmusdarb....The truth hurts sometimes
Posted by anthony on March 10, 2008 at 12:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
poor john adams, he is a lonely man, hates the vols one day and has to love them the next. Seems like there's an easier way to make money. Maybe he just does it for the fun of it? I guess he just loves to be hated. ps a monkey could have written this article. So why does he go to the trouble?
Posted by cdldoc on March 10, 2008 at 12:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John, at least bradsummey likes your occasional good articles on Tennessee sports.
Posted by FireJohnAdams on March 10, 2008 at 3:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Time to retire John....go home....Looooosiana, that's the place for you..
Posted by dvol on March 10, 2008 at 5:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John, Keep writing thr truth about our Beloved Vols. The good (Men & Women's Basketball, Women's Softball). The Bad, Men's Baseball.(Things will get better there) and the Ugly Men's FOOTBALL. (Things will get worse there, Before something is done.) The longer this mess is allowed The longer it will take to get back.The best thing we who trully love Tennessee Football is to leave Neyland Stadium about half empty. Cut off their all precious dollar and they will make a change at the Top.
Posted by bmaples on March 10, 2008 at 6:13 a.m. (Suggest removal)
John -- Good article. I read just about everything there is to read about the Vols, and hadn't heard about the "promise" from CP.
She clearly outplayed Fowles last night, and deserved every bit of the MVP for the tourney. Apparently losing the POY to Fowles gave CP some motivation -- here's hoping it's motivation for SIX MORE GAMES!
Way to go, Lady Vols! And Candace -- thanks for all you've done. Keep on keeping on, CP, and you'll be able to hoist one more banner before it's over!
Posted by Pullingguard on March 10, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Don't think John dislikes the Vols, it's just that he has a one minded opinion of Fulmer and that takes away from the creditability of his writing. Be honest John, write facts, and don't let your personal feelings toward Fulmer enter into your coverage of the Vols football program. And, John be realistic, you have let your rifle approach view and personal feelings enter into your writings, therefore, people are not thrilled with you or your writings.. Just report facts, not opinions, and the above article was very good.
Posted by agentorange on March 10, 2008 at 9:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I don't bother to read adams articles. I just skip to the bottom and start b*tching about him. there's a ticketcity.com ad for LSU basketball tickets on here. how appropriate. fire john adams. he's lost control of his staff.
Posted by threehundredbowler on March 10, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
POY trophy usually goes to the player that helped lead their team to the league championship and that is what happened this time .Same thing for the Tournament Champion.
Posted by kcabutti on March 10, 2008 at 9:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Congrats to the Lady Vols, what a great win !!! Parkers comment, " It is post play and we always step it up. If we would have played like this through out the season we would be undefeated." This sums it all up for those of you who have doubted the Lady Vols.
Posted by ggriggs939 on March 10, 2008 at 11:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The POY goes to the player who is most popular with the coaches. I suppose it is hard to like somebody who rubs your nose in it whenever you play them.
I think adams' problem is that Phillip and the athletic department will not cater to him. I am sorry that Dickey didn't correct the system before he left. He was responsible for letting the relationship get to the present point. But I don't know how you would handle somebody like adams who bitched about the freebies the department provided.
I don't believe you can correct stupidity; you just have to try to accommodate it.
Posted by ggriggs939 on March 10, 2008 at 11:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The POY goes to the player who is most popular with the coaches. I suppose it is hard to like somebody who rubs your nose in it whenever you play them.
I think adams' problem is that Phillip and the athletic department will not cater to him. I am sorry that Dickey didn't correct the system before he left. He was responsible for letting the relationship get to the present point. But I don't know how you would handle somebody like adams who bitched about the freebies the department provided.
I don't believe you can correct stupidity; you just have to try to accommodate it.
Posted by feathersax on March 10, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey Adams...you looked mighty cute sitting at the media table in Sunday wearing LSU colors! Go ahead & tell us that wasn't a "shot". You are pathetic.
Posted by marc_ash on March 10, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Just curious as to why John Adams wore yellow to the game last night? Must be boycotting himself.
Posted by sdye16 on March 10, 2008 at 12:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with those who appear to like Adams' articles. He is an opinion writer, so he writes what he sees. When the Vols are doing well, he says they are doing well. When they are not, he says it. If you have a problem with that style of writing, the best thing you can do is to just not read it. Simple as that.
Posted by LazhilUT on March 10, 2008 at 12:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If we win the National Championship again this year, we need to start finding a street to name after her on campus...
Posted by 98reax on March 10, 2008 at 12:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"That was the difference in the game," Chancellor said. "The shot clock (was) down, the ball was outside with six (seconds), they were in disarray. They just throw it to her, and she makes a great play."
Van Chancelor, a man of many words. He sometimes blows my mind with his colloquialism, but he's right on target with that statement. CP# had a good tournament. I do wish Bjorkland could find herself by NCAA games. We will need that scoring punch. Looks as if she's not working to find and come off her screens. Dean will be working with her on that, I trust. Scouting reports have revealed that about Angie that she's a sure "open shot" shooter. That's just too easy to guard. I'm looking forward to watching the progress of Baugh. When she wakes up as a defending SEC Tournament Champion sophomore, realizing she has a winning season, in her resume, she'll be ready to make a name for herself too. Smallbone, on the other hand reminds me of Brynae Laxton who played in the amazing '96 season. Laxton broke all kinds of high school records, Gatorade finalist, Ms Basketball, TN/GA All Star, all that stuff but struggled as a Lady Vol. She had a huge heart, played some valuable minutes with flashes of greatness, Academical All-American. I'm going to be pulling for Smallbone's progress with the team. You never know who might step up. I know Pat saw something there or she would not have recruited her. Could she be a Shana Zolman type?
Posted by HotlantaVol on March 10, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You guys do realize that this is an article about Lady Vols Basketball, right?
I'll go read it again to make sure, but I don't think he called for CPF's firing once the whole article. In fact, I don't recall him calling for Fulmer's firing in any other article since his initial out-of-line article. As disappointed as I was at JA for that horrid article, I am just as disappointed in our fans who can't get past it and who won't let other sports have their time in the Big Orange spotlight.
People, let it die. Way to go Lady Vols!!
Posted by Volfan1 on March 10, 2008 at 2:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
It doesn't need to die until Adams is gone. He is a cancer that won't keep eating at the UT program until he is removed.
Again, his junk is a "no read", but skip to the comments.
Adams = no credibility.
Thrilled about the Lady Vols. But to comment on them, go to another article written by another person, and comment to your heart's desire.
Posted by marc_ash on March 10, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For the record, I did what Volfan1 just suggested....haven't read the article, but skipped to the comments. Funny, I wonder how many other folks have done that hahaha..thought it was just me.
Posted by Volchaz on March 10, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't read the article either marc_eh, most readers can't handle his bias. Poor guy.
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