2010 NCAA Tournament Game Notes • Tennessee First/Second Rounds • Mar. 20 & 22 TENNESSEE IN THE 16 GAME SEC FORMAT Tennessee won the first SEC title under the new 16-game format for 2010. Previously, the SEC schedule had consisted of a 14-game schedule. The Lady Vols were picked to win the SEC by the coaches while the media had Tennessee finishing second behind LSU. In the new expanded format, the Lady Vols faced Florida, South Carolina, LSU and Ole Miss in home-and-home games this season, and Vanderbilt twice as the “natural rival” in SEC play. AMAZING AT HOME VS. THE SEC Since Tennessee began contesting games with SEC opponents, the Lady Vols have produced a 17812 record in home games. Only six SEC teams have ever managed a victory over the Lady Vols in Knoxville – Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU and Ole Miss. Georgia has won three games on UT’s turf while Auburn, Kentucky, Ole Miss and LSU have registered two wins each and Florida one win. Georgia was the only team to defeat UT at home in the 1990s (1991 & 1996). LSU and Florida are the only SEC teams to defeat UT at home in the 21st century. IT WAS INCREDIBLE From 1980-1997, the Lady Vols claimed a total of six SEC regular season titles in 17 years. From 19982004, Tennessee captured seven consecutive SEC regular season crowns producing an amazing 109-4 record. UT’s only league losses were to Vandy, Georgia and LSU (twice) during this stretch. EIGHT WAS GREAT Over the years, eight Lady Vols teams have gone undefeated in SEC play: 1993, ‘94, ‘95, ‘98, 2001, ‘03, ‘04 and ‘07. UT WINNING STREAKS VS. SEC TEAMS School Win Streak and last loss Alabama 36 in a row, since 3-3-1984 Arkansas 16 in row, since 12-29-1996 Auburn 1 in a row, since 3-7-09 Florida 3 in a row, since 2-8-09 Georgia no streak, since 1-21-10 (1 loss) Kentucky 2 in a row, 2-19-09 LSU 2 in a row, since 2-26-09 Mississippi 19 in a row, since 2-4-1996 Mississippi State 31 in a row, never lost to MSU South Carolina 38 in a row, since 1-23-1980 Vanderbilt 4 in a row, since 1-11-09
later it was a road loss at LSU, 63-61. This season, Georgia tagged the Lady Vols with a regular season SEC loss for the first time since the Bulldogs prevailed 78-51 on Jan. 17, 2000. BJORKLUND NAMED SEC PLAYER OF THE WEEK Angie Bjorklund was named SEC Player of the Week (Feb. 8-14) after leading UT to wins at No. 22-ranked Vanderbilt, 69-60, at Ole Miss, 61-58, and over Florida, 83-44. It is the first time the Spokane Valley, Wash., native earned the honor after being named SEC Rookie of the Week numerous times as a frosh. For the week, Bjorklund averaged team-bests of 15.3 ppg while shooting 41.5 percent from the field and making 12-of27 three pointers (44.4 percent). STRICK HONORED AS SEC POW THREE TIMES Lady Vol sophomore Shekinna Stricklen was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week and Lady Vol Athlete of the Week for the third time this season (Feb. 22-28) after leading the No. 4/4-ranked Lady Vols to a 3-0 week and clinching the 15th SEC regular season title in school history. For the week, Stricklen shot 63 percent from the field, and averaged a teambest 15.0 ppg, to go with 6.7 rpg and 3.3 apg with wins over LSU, Kentucky and Ole Miss. She earned her second SEC honor (Nov. 30-Dec. 6). Against George Washington, Stricklen notched her fourth career double double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. She was 8-of-13 from the field to help Tennessee to a 93-53 win. Against #17/17 Texas on Dec. 6, Stricklen tallied her 27th career double figure scoring game with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting. She also added six rebounds and five assists against the Longhorns. She was also named SEC Player of the Week and Lady Vol Athlete of the Week (Nov. 9-15) after leading the No. 8/9-ranked Lady Vols to a 74-65 win over the No. 7/4-ranked Baylor Lady Bears on Nov. 15. She scored 25 points, grabbed a career-best 14 rebounds, dished out five assists and tallied three steals.
SEC COACHES TAB LADY VOLS The SEC unveiled its sixth annual women’s basketball preseason All-SEC first and second teams, Thurs., Oct. 30.In the closet vote yet, Tennessee was predicted to win the SEC regular season championship over LSU by one vote. The Lady Vols were 22-11, 9-5 in the SEC last season, while LSU finished 19-11, 10-4 in conference play. LSU senior guard Allison Hightower was named SEC Player of the Year. Joining Hightower on the All-SEC First Team were Arkansas’ C’eira Ricketts, Georgia’s Ashley Houts and Angel Robinson, LSU’s LaSondra Barrett, Mississippi State’s Alexis Rack and Tennessee’s Angie Bjorklund and Shekinna Stricklen. Second team consists of Alli Smalley (AU), Porsha Phillips (UG), Victoria Dunlap (UK), Bianca Thomas (UM), Armelie Lumanu and Chanel Mokango (MSU), Glory Johnson (UT) and Merideth Marsh and Hannah Tuomi (VU).
RARE SEC ROAD LOSSES FOR SUMMITT Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt’s teams rarely lose on the road in the SEC but last year was the exception with five losses on the road against just two wins. Last year, the loss to Vanderbilt on Jan. 11, 2009 was the 30th SEC road loss suffered by a Summitt-coached Lady Vol team and halted a 17-game SEC road winning streak. Two weeks later, UT also lost, this time at #6/5 Auburn and two weeks after that #11/13 Florida UT PICKED NUMBER TWO BY MEDIA defeated the Lady Vols. Add another two weeks and Tennessee was predicted to finish second in the another SEC road loss for UT, this time a 66-56 decision a the hands of the Kentuckyy Wildcats and a week SEC this season following a vote by a select media panel while LSU was picked to win. Two Lady 2009-10 SEC COACHES’ PRESEASON POLL Vol players were recognized on the preseason School (points) 08-09 SEC 08-09 Overall All-SEC Team as the media picked sophomore 1. TENNESSEE (112) 9-5 22-11 Shekinna Stricklen for the First Team and junior 2. LSU (111) 10-4 19-11 sharpshooter Angie Bjorklund for the Second 3. Mississippi State (100) 8-6 23-10 Team. LSU’s Allison Hightower was the over4. Georgia (91) 7-7 18-14 whelming choice of the media for the Player of the 5. Vanderbilt (86) 10-4 26-9 Year. Preseason Media Poll :LSU 206, Tennes6. South Carolina (56) 2-12 10-18 see 190, Georgia 156, Vandy 126, Miss. S. 120, Florida 105, Arkansas 92, Auburn 85, Ole Miss 7. Florida (55) 9-5 24-8 70, South Carolina 61, Kentucky 40, Alabama 8. Auburn (51) 12-2 30-4 24. 9. Arkansas (49) 6-8 18-14 10. Ole Miss (39) 5-9 18-15 11. Kentucky (27) 5-9 18-15 12. Alabama (13) 1-13 13-17
SEC NOTES TENNESSEE’S SEC FINISHES THROUGH THE YEARS Year 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980
Record Finish 15-1 First 9-5 Fourth (tie) 13-1 Second 14-0 First 11-3 Second 13-1 Second 14-0 First 14-0 First 13-1 First 14-0 First 13-1 First (tie) 13-1 First 14-0 First 8-4 Fifth 9-2 First 11-0 First 11-0 First 11-0 First 10-1 Second 6-3 Third 8-1 First 8-1 Second 8-1 Second 6-3 Fourth 5-4 Fifth 4-4 Third (E) 7-1 Second(E) 7-1 First (E) no official standings no official standings no official standings
Tournament SEC Champs Lost in semis SEC Champs Lost in semis SEC Champs SEC Champs Lost in semis Lost in finals Lost in semis Lost in semis SEC Champs SEC Champs SEC Champs Lost in semis SEC Champs Lost in finals SEC Champs Lost in quarters SEC Champs Lost in finals Lost in finals SEC Champs SEC Champs Lost in semis Lost in quarters SEC Champs Lost in quarters Lost in semis Lost in finals Lost in quarters SEC Champs
AGAINST THE SEC Tennessee owns a 425-66 record all-time record vs. 12 teams from the SEC. UT maintains a winning record against every team in the SEC. SEC LEAGUE PLAY UT owns a league best record of 289-40 (.878) against all SEC teams dating back to the 1982-83 season. SEC REGULAR SEASON STORY UT’s last SEC win at home: Ole Miss, 75-63, 2-28-10 UT’s last SEC win away: Alabama, 74-67, 2-18-10 UT’s last SEC loss at home: LSU, 78-62, 2-14-08 UT’s last SEC loss away: UGA, 53-50, 1-21-10 16 SEASONS OF AT LEAST 10 SEC WINS After only winning nine SEC games in 2009, UT rallied and hit double-digits again in 2010. Alltime, the Lady Vols have registered double-digit victories in conference play an incredible 16 times. Since the 1991-92 season when SEC play expanded, the Lady Vols have won at least 10 games in the following years: 1992-10 wins, 1993-11, 199411, 1995-11, 1998-14, 1999-13, 2000-13, 2001-14, 2002- 13, 2003- 14, 2004-14, 2005- 13, 2006-11, 2007- 14, 2008-13 and 2010- 15 wins. ONESIES UT’s six single SEC games this season are: home versus Kentucky, Arkansas and Auburn and on the road at Georgia, Alabama and Miss. St.
Lady Vol Basketball • Eight-Ti Eight-Time NCAA Champions (1987-89-91-96-97-98-2007-08)