Last we saw Pat Summitt, she was knocking heads in Knoxville, running her demoralized Lady Vols team through a rigorous practice just days after the season was over. Yes, over.Her Tennessee team lost a first-round NCAA Tournament game for the first time in the history of the program to upstart Ball State and she was making a point, one that's still clearly and quickly articulated five months later.
"Losing is unacceptable at Tennessee," Summitt said Monday after finishing up a workout with several of her players. "They were the first team to be in that situation. They were obviously hurt and embarrassed. There's no question they knew that the former players were really disappointed and really upset about it. That had an impact too."
Yep, it was a long, unprecedented free-fall from defending national champion to first-round exit. But something had been off all year in Knoxville. Five starters left after winning the 2007 and 2008 titles and took the magic with them. Tennessee lost 11 games last season, eight to ranked teams. Not one player made the all-conference first-team. The Vols' No. 5 seed in the NCAA Tournament was their lowest-ever.
Last year's young Lady Vols tested Summitt's steely resolve, her sanity and generous nature. By the end of the season, they had lost their practice gear, their locker room and they were doing their own laundry.
But time heals wounds and frustrations. Summitt and her players have had the summer to digest, evaluate and, at least in the coach's case, go to the beach.
Summitt said she cut back on her public speaking schedule this summer and tried to carve out some time to rejuvenate with her feet in the sand.
"I feel like I have more energy," Summitt said. "I can tell a big difference."
Well, not THAT big of a difference. The locker room door is still locked. And Summit's clarity isn't exactly rose-colored.
"I was too patient with them. I needed to be impatient," Summitt said. "I thought I had to teach this and that. I spent too much time on offense and I thought we suffered defensively."
Summitt said she mulled last season as much as any year in memory. But break time is over. School's back in session in every way for the Tennessee players. The NCAA allows teams to get together for two, two-hour sessions each week once classes are back in session, coaches allowed to work with only four players at a time.
Summitt said she's focusing on defense.
"We didn't play a lot of that last year," Summitt said.
Tennessee will return all five starters, having been gutted by graduation losses after the 2008 national title game.
Players such as junior guard Angie Bjorklund and sophomores Glory Johnson, Shekinna Stricklen and Kelley Cain logged major minutes in the roller-coaster ride of a year ago and much will be expected of them this year.
Junior Vicki Baugh, who has seen her first two college seasons cut short by ACL injuries in the same knee, is making a "cautious" return. Meanwhile, the experience of sophomore Amber Gray has brought a heavy dose of perspective. Gray had brain surgery to repair an aneurysm and is recovering. She returned to campus for the first time this week. There is no timetable for her return to the court.
"It brings your team so much closer together when one of your teammates is fighting for their lives," Summitt said.
All in all, the winningest coach in the history of college basketball seems satisfied that her program is headed back on the right track.
"The players have worked very hard in the offseason, the feedback I got from our strength coach, who has been her maybe eight years, said they put in more workouts than any team since she's been here. And it's showing on the floor now."
