Our “test” against Stanford, we failed miserably…and I know Pat said Stanford just played great defense, and though they defense wasn’t “bad”, but what I seen was more of us not hitting open shots. So what will it take to become champions this season? When it looks as if Uconn is invincible. I believe we are seeing the same thing with this group, only the final four is definitely in this groups future (if you remember we lost in the elite 8 with that Candace Parker group). When we got the #1 recruiting class in 2004, I know we all believed that winning would come right then, yet it took that group 2 years to get it together. But nonetheless, our once “babyvols” are maturing into champions. Everytime I watch them on the floor together, there seems to be no “interaction” between the two. I’m hoping to see Johnson and Stricklen really get there act together on the court. The teams chemistry on the court is very evident this year…although I’m still not sure about a couple of players, who seems to not be able to play off each other. I am very happy about how we have started off this season. LadyvolsNation stand up…our beloved team is sitting at 10-1, after playing 6 ranked teams in those 11 games. “I can’t tell you she’s going to be doing this all the time. In starting Williams, Summitt is mindful of filling a key role with a player who she has criticized this season for suspect work habits and a casual demeanor.
“I think it all depends on situations in the game,’’ Summitt said. Summitt said the decision was based on UT going to its zone defense and utilizing the Lady Vols’ height. The role of backup point guard Briana Bass, on the other hand, remains in flux. Stricklen scored all nine of her points against South Carolina in the second half. I think she saw (Sunday) that she has some help.”
“I think she’ll be more comfortable when she knows she has help. “I think her not feeling the burden of playing that position all the time will be good,’’ Summitt said. Summitt thinks the lineup change ought to be a relief to Stricklen. Williams, who played point and shooting guard at Northeast High in Clarksville, Tenn., ran the point while Stricklen was at the wing during portions of last Thursday’s 85-56 victory over Auburn. Summitt and associate head coach Holly Warlick compiled a DVD of five set plays for Williams to study and she did her best to get a better handle on UT’s offense. Williams’ role was upgraded after Stricklen suffered through a three-game stretch in January in which she committed 19 turnovers. “We’ve always told her she has such potential,’’ UT teammate Angie Bjorklund said after Sunday’s game. South Carolina coach Dawn Staley described Williams as “a luxury” as a reserve and said that her size created a matchup problem for South Carolina’s players. Even after Stricklen returned in the second half, the 5-foot-11 Williams manned the point for some key possessions down the stretch. Williams relieved Stricklen at South Carolina and responded with a season-high 17 points and a team-high four assists in a 60-55 comeback victory. Off the bounce, she’s the best we’ve got.” “I think she’s more serious now than at any point in time.
“I think she truly wants to help our team and she knows she can,’’ Summitt said of Williams. Sophomore Shekinna Stricklen, who had been the starting point guard, will line up for the opening tip against the Razorbacks at a wing position while continuing to help at the point. UT coach Pat Summitt said Monday that Williams will start Thursday when the Lady Vols face Arkansas in an SEC women’s basketball game at Thompson-Boling Arena. Tennessee’s Kamiko Williams (4) drives for the basket as South Carolina’s Samone Kennedy (4) and Ashley Bruner (21) look on during the first half of the game in Columbia, S.C.Īfter Kamiko Williams’ strong supporting performance, the Tennessee freshman will be playing the lead role at point guard.
0 kommentar(er)
