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Homework assignment for Lady Vols
Purdue will be loud; so is Summitt
Alexis Hornbuckle gets ready in the visiting locker room at the Mackey Arena in West Lafayette, Ind., for Monday's practice. The Lady Vols play Purdue today in the NCAA tournament.
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Natasha Bogdanova remembers her visit to Knoxville two years ago as a sight to behold.
"Lots of orange,'' Purdue's junior forward said.
There was lots of history, too.
The Boilermakers suffered a 75-54 loss to Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA women's basketball tournament and Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt was celebrated for career victory No. 880, which made her the winningest coach in Division I history.
"They had already given out (newspapers) 10 minutes before the game ended,'' Bogdanova said. "A little frustrating."
The teams meet again at 7 tonight at Mackey Arena in a second-round game of the Midwest Regional (TV: ESPN2). The winner advances to a regional semifinal game Sunday in Oklahoma City.
The evening's color scheme definitely will be different. Purdue black and gold and Tennessee orange isn't something you'd blend together for painting the garage. But it suits March Madness
"It's going to be like a house divided,'' Bogdanova said. "It's going to be fun to hear them yell and go at it."
The historical storyline also has shifted. If there's going to be anything to rival the milestone of two years ago, it's up to the Boilermakers to produce it."
"Tennessee is such a great team,'' Bogdanova said. "It would be making history if we could beat them."
The event would be positively seismic. Tennessee (31-2) is the regional's top seed and is 41-0 in NCAA first-/second-round play. No. 9 seed Purdue (19-14), which lost top players Lindsay Wisdom-Hylton and Jodi Howell to injuries before the season, likely wouldn't be here without first winning the Big 10 tournament, which provided an automatic NCAA berth.
And now, after a 66-59 first-round victory over Utah, comes this glorious chance.
"Every game, we've been able to take something and learn something from it," said Purdue guard FahKara Malone of a season that included a 100-50 home loss to Connecticut on Jan. 6. "It just prepared us more for this great opportunity we have ahead of us."
Oddly enough, the Boilermakers have been receiving a helping hand of sorts from Summitt. She's been trying to drum up a crowd from the moment she arrived here.
"Purdue had to play us at home a few years back, so the last thing that I would ever do is sit here and say 'I can't believe I might have to play Purdue on their home court,' '' she said Saturday. "I would rather have a packed gym and have them boo us for 40 minutes than have a sparse crowd and get complacent."
She reiterated her feeling on Monday.
"I wasn't in the gym for the first game last night but (associate head coach) Holly (Warlick) came around the corner and she goes 'It's loud out there,' '' Summitt said. "I said, 'well good' because I think when we struggle is when people are not in the gym."
Just in case, Summitt supplied some added incentive. She brought Shannon Bobbitt, Alex Fuller and Alberta Auguste to Monday's press conference and essentially introduced them as three players who needed to improve on their performances in Sunday's 94-55 first-round victory over Oral Roberts.
Bobbitt is squarely in the cross hairs after a relatively ineffectual six points and three assists against the Golden Eagles.
"I told Shannon Bobbitt that she better come to this gym as one of the best point guards in the country when we play Purdue because she was not on top of her game (Sunday),'' Summitt said. "I expect her to respond."
Bobbitt was hearing her coach loud and clear.
"I have to set the tone for this team,'' she said. "I'm the point guard."
In a quiet corner of the locker room, teammate Nicky Anosike took her own roll call.
"I think the starters let the team down (Sunday),'' she said. "I think we have to key on getting the team off to a good start. That's definitely a key.''
Given all the names being bandied about, it sounded like the Lady Vols were trying to drum up a crowd in their own locker room.
For them, it's a good place to start. Lots of orange in there.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
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Posted by anthony on March 25, 2008 at 2:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This time it's in their house. I was there two years ago, and sat in the LSU section 3 or 4 rows from the floor. Great games. Did you see where LSU was playing on its own court tonight? And also Stanford??
Posted by richvol on March 25, 2008 at 9:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What an inovative psychological ploy by Coach Summitt to bring underachieving players to the press conference. That should set a fire burning in their gut to perform at the level expected. It focuses everyone's attention on their play and addresses a problem thats been endemic all year.
This is one of the most purely talented teams that Pat has put on the floor yet they have repeatedly played only as focused as they felt was needed to win. I love the Lady Vols and always wish them the best but they have been frustrating to watch several times this year. I hope they understand how they will look back on their time at Tennessee in later years of their lives. Beating UCONN would be something to treasure.
Posted by johnlg00 on March 25, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the Lady Vols will thrive in a packed house at Purdue. Arguably two of the biggest regular-season wins this bunch has had were at UConn last season and at Duke this season. Hard to imagine two more hostile environments than those. GO LADY VOLS!!! BURST THE BOILERMAKERS!!! ON TO TAMPA!!!
Posted by jh43 on March 25, 2008 at 10:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The fire burns hot and cold with this team. It is time for them to turn up the heat and not let the flame flicker the rest of the way. We have the talent to win number 8, but so far this year, we have not shown we have the desire. Maybe Pat has gotten their attention.
Go Lady Vols!
Posted by 98reax on March 25, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
richvol, you are so on target with your analysis. I'm sure they would relish beating UConn for Pat, for the fans and most definitely for the team. Our seniors would leave a nice departing gift to their underclassmen in the form of a National Chrystal Ball. I'm not totally convinced their opponent will be the Huskies, and I'm not ready to go there just yet, because we have to get by Purdue. The Boilermakers on their home court will be no cakewalk. They have a very smart coach, an experienced coach who would love to take her team on the road to OK City as well. Purdue came from behind to upset a very good Utah. They will not be intimidated by the Orange. Nor will the road ahead be a red carpet as the Sooners will most likely be 'hosting' our arrival in OK. We've had success on the road but as you stated in your post, LVs have some terribly bad habits which can be costly in regional competition. I was sarcstically scolded for posting such criticism on another of today's articles, but the truth is in the pudding. The pudding, in the way of stats will tell the tale of lackluster, sloppy play. So what, if we won by 40? That does not mean we will meet another team that we can 'wear down' in the closing minutes of a regional contest. Purdue will not lie down tonight. Frankly I don't see a team advancing tonight who will allow us to play sloppy ball and beat them. richvol, I agree they have been frustrating, more so because they are so talented. I cannot imagine the sleepless nights Pat must have spent thinking that very thing, "Why can't they play fundamental basketball? Why do we have to give up the ball being cute? Why do we have one of the best, purest 3-point shooters in the country who will not work to get open? Why do I have a veteran post player who will not impose her will in the paint? Why does Alexis think she needs a highlight move to make a simple pass or an open shot? Why can't I get 40 minutes of Tennessee Lady Vol effort from the most talented group of athletes which I hand picked, nurtured and coached every day their life since they put on the Orange uniform? My hat's off to Coach Pat Summitt. There's no doubt in my mind if she went to battle with Geno, win or lose her body would be lying in a puddle of blood and sweat totally emptied of any guts and glory because she would have left it all on the court having given her all for the battle. That's all she expects from her team as well.
Posted by pendav on March 25, 2008 at 12:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey 98reax
You say beating Purdue on their court will be cakework. If UT is concerned about Purdue then they have no chance of getting to the final 4 or beating Uconn as Uconn beat Purdue at Purdue 100-50.
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on March 25, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
pendav, you are in such a hurry to say something negative regarding the Lady Vols and/or their fans, you didn't take time to read correctly.
98reax said it would NOT be a cakewalk to beat Purdue.
Let's put it all together Lady Vols....just 5 more games and you can hang banner #8. At least give it your best shot cause there is no tomorrow in this season !!!
Posted by volboy81 on March 25, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The Lady Vols can win anywhere, any time, against anybody, under any circumstance!
Lets get #8 this year!!!!
GO BIG ORANGE!!
Posted by 98reax on March 25, 2008 at 12:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I did not say that at all. I said beating Purdue will be NO cakewalk. And we better be concerned about Purdue and ONLY Purdue today because if we don't take care of business tonight, there will be no tomorrow. It makes no difference how UConn beat Purdue. We are not UConn. We are Tennessee and we need to play Tennessee basketball for 40 minutes no matter who our opponent is. Get back with me tomorrow and tell me how easy it was to get the victory. If you are right that Purdue was an easy win in their own house, I will be a happy, happy fan.
Posted by garyfmtn on March 25, 2008 at 2:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SURVIVE AND ADVANCE.......That has GOT to be the catch phrase of the Tourney....SURVIVE AND ADVANCE!!!!!!!!!!!! Go Lady Vols
Gary
Knoxville
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