Rutgers women face another No. 1
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer doesn’t want to think about Tennessee’s ranking, she’s just worried about finding a way to beat the Lady Vols. “I’m getting a little nervous,” Stringer said.
“What I have to think about is the exact detail and breakdown of Tennessee.”
Stringer knows the Lady Vols (21-1) pretty well. The Scarlet Knights’ last three seasons ended with losses to Tennessee in the NCAA tournament, including last year’s 59-46 defeat in the national championship game.
This time, there’s more than a chance to avenge those losses for No. 7 Rutgers (19-3) – there’s a chance at history less than a week after the Scarlet Knights upset No. 1 Connecticut.
If Tennessee, currently No. 2, replaces UConn at No. 1 in this week’s poll – released hours before the Rutgers-Tennessee game – the Scarlet Knights would have a chance to become the first team to knock off two No. 1 teams consecutively.
“I never thought about it like that,” Rutgers forward Essence Carson said.
“I thought of it just as the chance to play two great teams, who year after year are always in the race for a national championship.”
Tennessee coach Pat Summitt knows a thing or two about a tough schedule. Her Lady Vols boast the top RPI in the country.
Summitt thinks Rutgers’ strong schedule – they’ve got the third-best RPI – has helped them become a better team than a year ago.
“They are not going to back down from anyone,” she said. “They will come in here with great confidence. I think they will come in here with something to prove, a little chip on their shoulder.”
Summitt said the Scarlet Knights have improved their inside game, and will try to press more and come with a deeper lineup.
The all-time winningest coach has something else to worry about.
Her star player, Candace Parker, may not be available for the game after bruising her knee in a win at Mississippi State on Thursday.
Parker leads the Lady Vols with 20 points per game and 8.6 rebounds.
“We would not risk anything,” Summitt said.
“But I think we have people that can step up and play bigger roles.”
Among them is guard Alexis Hornbuckle, who’s second to Parker in scoring with an 11-point average and 5.4 rebounds per game.
“We know they are coming in all fired up after the UConn win as well as us knocking them out last year, so we don’t want to let them come into our house and beat us,” Hornbuckle said.
Stringer is hoping guard Epiphanny Prince stays sharp after a career-best performance against the Huskies. Prince scored 27 of her 33 points in the second half.
The sophomore didn’t fare so well last season against the Lady Vols.
“Normally if she misses a shot, she doesn’t want to shoot,” Stringer said.
“The last time we played Tennessee she didn’t take any shots. No shots in the Final Four game. She knows what she can do to play like that.”
When Prince and her teammates take the court Monday, they’ll be sporting a new look, too.
Rutgers is trading in its trademark scarlet for hot pink uniforms and shoes with pink details as part of the ‘Think Pink’ campaign aimed at raising breast cancer awareness.
Tennessee men’s coach Bruce Pearl has hinted he may show up for the game in head-to-toe pink, too.
Summitt said she’s excited about supporting the campaign, but won’t be taking it that far.
“A suit with a pinstripe that’s pink,” she said.
Copyright Associated Press 2008