PAT SUMMITT TO START SYDNEY SMALLBONE INSTEAD OF BJORKLUND?

Pat Summitt is reaching to the far end of Tennessee’s bench to make a change in the Lady Vols’ starting lineup for Sunday’s SEC women’s basketball game at LSU.
UT’s coach said Friday that guard Sydney Smallbone will start in place of Angie Bjorklund against the Lady Tigers.
Summitt made the decision after reviewing Bjorklund’s 3-for-11 shooting and six turnovers in Thursday night’s 53-50 loss at Georgia.
Bjorklund watched the same video and wondered whether she was suffering from a case of basketball amnesia.
“I honestly thought I didn’t know how to play basketball there a couple of possessions,” Bjorklund said.
Smallbone hasn’t committed a turnover or missed a shot lately. The 5-foot-10 junior hasn’t played in the last three games. Her last action was nine playing minutes in a 75-48 victory at Mississippi State on Jan. 10. Overall, Smallbone has played in 13 games and averaged 9.6 minutes.
“She’s the only player on this team I haven’t given a chance to,” Summitt said. “You look at how many games she hasn’t gotten in.”
Summitt is sticking with Shekinna Stricklen as the starting point guard. She shot 3-for-11 against Georgia and had seven turnovers. For the past three games, the 6-foot-2 sophomore has nine assists and 19 turnovers.
Summitt wouldn’t commit to an expanded role for backup point guard Briana Bass.
Her follow-up to a decent effort against Vanderbilt last Sunday was being yanked after committing a turnover against Georgia.

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The Pride of the LadyVols on the LINE vs Baylor

Hello ladyvolnation! Well the two exhibition game are over and done with..defeating Carson Newman by 90, and then defeating Delta State by 33. We all watched how potent our offense can be, when Angie Bjorklund is hitting shots. She was 9-14 for 21pts, and the freshman phenom, Taber Spani…oooh the girl has a shot that is just beautiful, but what I love most is her “nose” for the ball. She has managed to grab 19 rebounds in her first two games as a Lady Vol, with 14 of those being offensive boards. With those two hitting on the perimeter, it opened up the inside game, and we watched Kelly Cain and Glory Johnson go to work against Carson Newman. However against Delta St. Glory was hampered by foul trouble, and at times what looked like fatigue. Without Vicki Baugh on the floor, Glory has to be a presence, no excuse me, Glory must be the ENFORCER. Don’t forget, she was ranked #2 in the country when she came in last season. She is very capable of wreaking havoc on the boards, and scoring in the post.

That brings me to the reason I spoke of “pride” of our LadyVols…last year this team manage to “fail” at almost everything possible. Yeah it was extremely hard for me to type that sentence, but unfortunately it’s true. Last season, teams really believed they could come into the Summit and beat them..and that happened way too much then, but this can be an embarrassment on a whole other level. The last dunks to come in womens basketball all belong to LadyVols, except for the one dunk Sylvia Fowles got in her last season at LSU. Michelle Snow, and Candace Parker have both dunked in games on other opponents floor, most notable Parker in Connecticut. No opponent has dunked on a LadyVol team…EVER! We know Brittney Griner is “itching” to be the first to ever do that…but Kelly Cain has a different thought towards that…NOT IN OUR HOUSE! Kelly is playing great, but most importantly, she looks healthy. She stands at 6’6 and with Griner at 6’8, that battle in the post is going to be something. No matter what, and at ALL cost..there will not be a dunk by Brittney Griner at the expense of the “Big Orange” cause even if we win the game…sportscenter will show that dunk over and over. So memo to all of our post players…you have 5 fouls, use them.

The lineup that worked well together: Cain,Stricklen,Bjorklund,Spani, and Manning. Johnson seemed to flourish coming off the bench. Yet, no matter what 5 players start on Sunday, we should have our way with Baylor. Hopefully our ladys will strap that Orange on…and seek REDEMPTION. As far Cain and Griner…Cain when asked about the game Sunday said; “I’m ready for EVERY GAME”…I’m ready! Brittney get your weight up…your height is superior, but you don’t weigh enough.

 

LadyVolNation Introducing UT LadyVol:Angie BBBjorklund!

Well let’s start this introduction off like this: Wooden Award Announces Women’s 09-10 Preseason Candidates-Los Angeles–Richard “Duke” Llewellyn, John R. Wooden Award Chairman and founder, announced the 2009-10 preseason candidates for the Women’s Wooden Award today. Included on the list is University of Tennessee Lady Vol basketball junior guard/forward Angie Bjorklund (Spokane Valley, Wash.). The list is comprised of 31 student athletes who, based on last year’s individual performance and team records, are the frontrunners for one of college basketball’s prestigious honors.

Bjorklund, a 6’0″ sharpshooter, will be the elderstateswoman of a Lady Vol team with no seniors on the roster. Last year, she averaged 12.3 ppg and 3.0 rpg while leading Tennessee from the three-point with 62 treys on 40.8 percent accuracy.

Now that we have those “particulars” out the way, LadyVol fans understand that Angie getting her shot this year will be just like watching Shanna Zolman in her senior year. How you say? Because with Glory Johnson, Lyssi Brewer, Kelly Cain, and Shekinna Stricklen on the floor, the defense head is going to be SPINNING! Angie shot was off last year because she had to work real hard just to get her shot off, but now that she has a team with a year of experience under it’s belt, teammates with a Rock of Gilbrator on their shoulder, all 34 regular season opponents better be scared. In her own words: “We worked hard today and you can tell the effort that we put in over the summer. Everyone`s attitude is great, our confidence is high and our conditioning is strong,” said junior Angie Bjorklund. “We went through our testing this morning with Heather (Mason, Lady Vol Strength & Conditioning Coach) and everyone had a great performance. I’m very proud of the work we did over the summer in the gym on our own and in our strength and conditioning programs.” The only thing I want to Angie to understand is that she is 6’0, and most of the 2 guards she goes against are a lot shorter, they can’t block your shot…take the jumper.lol
LadyVolNation I hear the sound of something don’t you? I hear the sound of Angie B making it rain. Say goodbye to the all-time 3pointers made (at 7, in which she is tied with Shanna Zolman)! I can’t wait!

 

Stricklen Suffered from Sublaxation of the Patella, no ligament damage!

Summitt on Stricklen’s status for Duke: We’re planning on her being there

By Dan Fleser (Contact)
Originally published 05:45 p.m., February 13, 2009
Updated 05:45 p.m., February 13, 2009

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* More pain, but Lady Vols drop Alabama, 80-61
* Stricklen diagnosed with subluxation of patella
* Backcourt’s struggles a reflection on Lady Vols

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Jenny Moshak was clinical. Pat Summitt sounded confident.

No matter the source, a sense of optimism prevailed Friday regarding Tennessee women’s basketball guard Shekinna Stricklen’s recovery from a right knee injury.

Summitt, the Lady Vols coach, went so far as to say Stricklen is part of UT’s plans for Monday night’s game against Duke at Thompson-Boling Arena.

“We’re planning on her being there,’’ Summitt said. “She looks good.”

The 6-foot-2 freshman remaining on crutches Friday after suffering a subluxation of her right patella during Thursday night’s 80-61 SEC victory over Alabama.

Moshak, the Lady Vols’ associate athletics director for sports medicine, didn’t budge from listing Stricklen’s status as day to day.

“She’s rehabbing well and progressing nicely,” Moshak said.

Summitt counts time and Moshak as Stricklen’s best allies in her recovery.

“We have some days; I have a lot of faith in Jenny Moshak,’’ Summitt said. “If (Stricklen’s) not ready, she’s not ready (Monday), but I’m optimistic.”

Asking For Support: Tennessee sophomore guard Angie Bjorklund has written a letter appealing to Lady Vols fans in general and UT students in particular to attend Monday’s game, which is a fund-raiser for breast cancer research.

“This is a cause that is near and dear to the hearts of everyone involved with women’s basketball,’’ Bjorklund wrote. “We all know someone who has gone through the battle with cancer. With the recent loss of coach Kay Yow at North Carolina State, the event is even more important this year.”

All-American Honors: Lady Vols signee Taber Spani of Lee’s Summit, Mo., is one of 20 players who’s been selected for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s High School All-America game, which will take place April 4 in St. Louis. The game is held in conjunction with the Women’s Final Four.