Home › Women's Basketball
For Hornbuckle, it's words to play by
STORY TOOLS
More Women's Basketball
- Report: Randall to be named coach at Ohio
- Lady Vols hire Charles-Furlow
- Warlick OK with staying put with Lady Vols
Share and Enjoy [?]
Get Reprints
When Alexis Hornbuckle closes her eyes and bows her head to pray, she never asks about results.
"You can't pray for a win or a loss,'' the Tennessee women's basketball guard said.
She's more inclined to seek help.
"I pray every night and every day,'' Hornbuckle said. "I say, 'Lord bless me to play with the most energy that I can (have).' Luckily, I've been able to do that."
Her good fortune has been Tennessee's, which arrived in Oklahoma City on Friday in advance of the Midwest Regional semifinals.
The top-seeded Lady Vols (32-2) face No. 5 Notre Dame (25-8) at 9:30 p.m. Sunday (TV: ESPN2). The game follows No. 2 Texas A&M versus No. 3 Duke at 7.
The winners meet Tuesday for a trip to the Women's Final Four in Tampa, Fla.
Through two NCAA tournament games, Hornbuckle has been a full-service senior. She's averaging 13.5 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game while shooting 52.6 percent from the floor (10 for 19). She's more accurate on 3-pointers at 55.6 percent (5 for 9).
Those impressive numbers haven't been achieved at the expense of her trademark defense. She arguably was better on that end of the floor Tuesday against Purdue. Seven of her career single-game-high eight steals came in the first half. She almost single-handedly robbed the Boilermakers of any chance of competing.
"We need that,'' fellow senior Nicky Anosike said. "I mean it means the world to us, just to have a guard out there playing like an All-American right now. We've been looking for that all year."
So far, Hornbuckle's offensive production is a far cry from last March, when she averaged a relatively quiet 7.5 points per tournament game and shot 34.5 percent (20 for 58) from the floor. UT coach Pat Summitt has called her out on this shortfall on numerous occasions.
"It's definitely in the forefront of my mind,'' Hornbuckle said. "I didn't want to be silent offensively in the tournament like I was last year."
Summitt took a different tack as the tournament approached. Hornbuckle needed encouragement more than anything after averaging 6.7 points for the final seven games of the regular season and shooting the same 34.5 percent from the floor. She was a shadow of the scorer who averaging 12.4 points per game for the first 12 games of the season and shot 50 percent from the floor.
Hornbuckle revived her production with 30 total points and 48 percent field goal shooting in the first two games of the SEC tournament, only to finish 1 for 8 with two points in the championship game against LSU.
Summitt convened a film session with her wayward guard and re-emphasized shot selection and shooting with proper balance. Judging by Hornbuckle's attempts and her accuracy in the first two rounds, it was time well spent.
"I've been really pleased with her shot selection, just her composure offensively,'' Summitt said. "I think she took maybe one shot that was off-balance."
A squared-away Hornbuckle is more confident and better able to answer the postseason call.
"I just know coach has been talking about guard play, just asking them to show up I guess,'' Anosike said. "So, like I said, I guess she's taken that to heart. Now she's trying to give us everything she has."
Hornbuckle has heard the same talk and taken it more as incentive than as a burden.
"Coach always kind of says the team goes as I go,'' she said. "I look at that not as they're on my back, but I want to be the defensive fire.
What Hornbuckle wants to do is perhaps best summed up by what she's written on her basketball shoes. On one there's "Give me strength." On the other it's simply: "Spirit."
As directives go, they are specific and powerful. Words to pray by and play by.
© 2008, Knoxville News Sentinel Co.
- It's official: Maze signs with UT
- Staley overtaking Warlick for South Carolina job
- Warlick OK with staying put with Lady Vols
- Maze would be good fit, coach says
- Pearl can take the heat - and jokes - at roast
- Lady Vols hire Charles-Furlow
- Adams: A compelling reference for Maze
- Teague will delay response to Vols' offer
- Adams: Graduation is better than a touchdown for Staley
- Running back from Alaska to walk on
Posted by vollady on March 28, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You young ladies are so special. I just don't want this season to end.
Posted by LadyVolFanForever on March 29, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't say enough about what Lex has brought to this team throughout her career and she has been on fire the last few games. "Heart & hustle" is how Candace described her and I totally agree. As a fan, I salute you Lex. Thank you for your heart & hustle, you have been a pleasure to watch !
These young women are so much more than just basketball players and as fans, sometimes we forget or overlook that. They make us proud. Coach Summitt and her staff turn out not just great basketball players but great young women who will be as successful as they want to be in whatever endeavor they chose. Best of luck to all the Lady Vols !
Posted by dopedawg on March 29, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
You go girls!!! We love ya!!
Posted by hnicole11 on March 29, 2008 at 10:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Candace COULDN'T have said it better! "Heart and Hustle" is a Great way to explain Lex! I can't wait for the start of the games, just to see what Lex has planned from posession to posession...Not only does she get her fellow teammates fired up, But her crowd LOVES HER!
Good Luck to all the Ladies! We are so proud of all of them!
Posted by johnlg00 on March 29, 2008 at 10:58 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lex has really been bringing it the last several games. While maintaining the fire, she has toned down the flash, and her improved efficiency is a huge boost to this team's chances to repeat as champions. Keep it up, girl! Play like the All-America you were recruited to be! GO LADY VOLS!!! BRING HOME THE EIGHTH!!!
Posted by Hacksaw57 on March 29, 2008 at 11:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ladies, it's time to square up, get down and put your nose to the rock!
Intensity + Desire + Fortitude = National Championship!
Lets get with it and get it done like we have in the past!
GO BIG ORANGE! GO LADY VOLS!
Posted by 98reax on March 29, 2008 at 12:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ever notice how the network (ESPN) doesn't spend a lot of resources on the women's game? They play the same old tired spots to death. The Mighty Macs feature has been run into the ground. The analysis is hurried with little substance. What's up with that? Why, oh why does the NCAA Tournament for women always have to be treated as an "Oh, by the way?" I just want to slap them silly for being so blatantly biased. Why do they even have to play at the same time as the fellows?
I'm crying in my oatmeal this morning. Looks like the Louis gals and the Heels get to dance now. You know I'm rootin' for the Louisville today, but not so much.
Let's get some chatter going on in here. Our time together may be coming to an end soon. There's stuff to discuss. Don't you think?
Posted by wewhite on March 29, 2008 at 12:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I seem to remember General Neyland once being asked why he never prayed for victory before a football game. He said something to the effect that "If God is worried about the outcome of a football game, then we're all in trouble."
Go, Pat! Go, girls! "Og y[e]dal Slov!" as we used to yell in UT Pep Band.
Posted by 98reax on March 29, 2008 at 1:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What does that mean, wewhite? (Og ydal Slov) Could it possibly mean: 'Get out there, secure that rebound and put that ball back thru the basket'? Probably not apropos for a Pep Band?
I agree and disagree with General Neyland. First of all, God worring is an oxymoron. I don't believe we should ever pray for victory in a contest that means nothing in the grand scheme of things. I do however believe in praying to be the best person we can be. We should, in everything that we do, do it for God's glory. That's not my opinion, that's an admonition from Devine inspiration. When we pray to use our God given talents in a way that will benefit the world around us, those prayers are definitely heard and answered, IMHO.
We never know the magnitude of one simple act. It can have an infinite rippling unbeknown effect on the universe.
I've heard Hornbuckle mention prayer on several occasions. I'm impressed that she has such conviction. Her spirituality will bode well for her as she enters the professional arena where coaches don't often take on the roll of mentor, teacher or friend. It is a security that doesn't leave you, no matter where life's road takes you.
I always inspired to hear Nikki McRea and Chamique Holdsclaw as teammates on WNBA's Washington Mystics, give God the glory for their success. I suppose the pro basketball road gets rather lonely in that dog-eat-dog atmosphere, even more so if they play overseas. The transition from college to pro play takes a toll on so many good athletes. Chamque was one of them, unfortunately. I still miss seeing her play.
I've gotten way off topic, I suppose. I'm already missing basketball season. And Oh by the way; a National Championship will make the off season seem shorter.
(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.