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Experience factor Summitt says Lady Vols not short on talent
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee coach Pat Summitt didn't forget about media day. She had to hold it later than usual this season. Looking at the roster -- and who's not there -- shows why. "I wanted to really assess the talent and give you a little bit more specific information as we've tried to blend this group together," Summitt said Tuesday to open her first news conference. The Lady Vols began practice Oct. 13. They have an exhibition game on Sunday and open the season Nov. 16 at Chattanooga. Summitt is still working on a starting lineup, which for the first time in four years won't include Tamika Catchings, Semeka Randall and Kristen "Ace" Clement. Tennessee's three seniors are centers Michelle Snow and Shalon Pillow and reserve Amanda Canon. Snow, guard Kara Lawson and forward Gwen Jackson return as the most used players on last year's team that went 31-3 and lost 80-65 to Xavier in the regional semifinals of the NCAA tournament. Three juniors, four sophomores and four freshmen make up the bulk of the team. Sophomore center Ashley Robinson, who started in some games ahead of Snow, had surgery to repair torn ligaments in her left knee and won't be ready to play until probably January. While not all the names are well-known, they were all considered top prospects coming out of high school. "I'll tell you right off this team is not short on talent," Summitt said. "If you have a healthy Ashley Robinson, I think you would have to say we have assembled players at all positions. I told them they have been hand-picked to wear orange uniforms and represent us." Once again Summitt is pushing vintage Tennessee basketball with defense, rebounding and hustle as she prepares a young team for big-time competition. The Lady Vols have packed the schedule again with powerhouses like Connecticut, Louisiana Tech, N.C. State, Old Dominion and Stanford. Summitt pointed to Snow and Lawson, who played mostly as the point guard the last two years, as key players. She said Lawson will play more at the two-guard this year to get her more involved with the offense. Summitt wants to see more out of Snow under the basket. "The challenge for Michelle is defense and board play," she said. "I think she's really responded well to trying to become a better defensive player and much more aggressive offensively. But dominant board play is a must because that's an area right now for concern." The four freshmen -- Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson, Loree Moore and Michelle Munoz -- don't have long to get acclimated to collegiate play or Summitt's style. Lawson said the freshmen are competitive in practice and that helps the whole team. "That helps put practice up to another level just because they're not worried about being freshmen or scared of the upperclassmen," she said. "I've been really pleased with their maturity." Summitt said she is not concerned about not having named starters. Last year she changed the lineup several times. "I think what you have to do is find out what five people - it's not always your best five players - that will get you off to the best start," she said. So far, she likes Lawson and junior April McDivitt in the backcourt with Snow and Gwen Jackson inside. The three spot may go to sophomores Tasha Butts or LaToya Davis or Ely.
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