GAME 36 - NCAA FINAL FOUR SEMIFINALS
The number one-seeded and #3/4-nationally ranked Tennessee Lady Vols (32-3 overall, 14-0 SEC) ) advance to the Final Four for an incredible 17th time in the NCAA Tournament taking on one-seeded and #2-ranked North Carolina (34-3) in one NCAA Final Four semifinal game on April 1. The winner from the UT-UNC game will advance to the Final Four title game and face the winner of the contest between Rutgers and LSU on Tues., April 3 at the 2007 Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio.
LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE
This is the Lady Vols' 33rd season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 945-180 overall record... Is just 55 wins away from a remarkable 1,000 career victories...Collected her 900th coaching win with a 80-68 decision over #19-ranked Vanderbilt on Jan. 19, 2006... She passed Dean Smith (879 wins) for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time with a 75-54 victory over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005 ...Her 2005-06 squad advanced to the NCAA Elite 8...Finished with a 31-5 overall record and were the SEC Tournament Champions...
LOVE US, HATE US ... GOTTA R-E-S-P-E-C-T US
The #3/4-ranked and #1-seeded Tennessee Lady Vols continues play in their 26th consecutive NCAA Tournament - the only team to have garnered an invitation to every "Big Dance." All-time, UT has received 12 automatic bids and been selected as an at-large team 14 times. The Lady Vols' 2007 number one seed marks the 18th time Tennessee has earned a top billing. UT has never been seeded lower than fourth (1986) and has been seeded in the #2 slot four times (1982, 1987, 2002, 2006) and #3, three times (1984, 1985, 1997). Tennessee has a phenomenal 96-19 record in 115 NCAA Tournament games - all under head coach Pat Summitt.
UT IN THE 2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT
FINAL FOURSOME TO ROCK ON IN CLEVELAND
The Tennessee Lady Vols have advanced to their 17th NCAA Final Four and the 21st in school history (including four AIAW Final Fours). After missing out on the 2006 Boston Final Four, Tennessee is back for the 10th time in the last 13 years dating back to 1995. UT has a 17-10 record in Final Four play and has reached 11 title games winning six - 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, and 1998. The Lady Vols are joined in Cleveland by fellow SEC school LSU, who is making a fourth consecutive appearance. UT defeated LSU in the Final Four semis in 2004 in New Orleans, 52-50. The Lady Tigers are 0-3 at the Final Four. North Carolina is making its third appearance in the Final Four. Last year, the Tar Heels lost to eventual NCAA Champion Maryland in the semis, 81-70. UNC captured the 1994 NCAA title with a dramatic buzzer-beater, 60-59 victory over Louisiana Tech. UNC is 1-2 all-time at the Final Four. Another member of the "Final Four Club" is Rutgers. Rutgers is making its second appearance. The Scarlet Knights were in the 2000 Final Four in Philadelphia where they lost to Tennessee in the semifinals, 64-54.
LADY VOLS RULED THE GLASS SLIPPER BRACKET
When the brackets were announced on March 12, the Tennessee camp was in agreement that the Lady Vols had been dealt the toughest road to the Final Four with obstacle teams such as Ohio State, Middle Tennessee, Maryland and Oklahoma littering the highway to Cleveland. In the end, the Dayton Regional bracket turned in to a Cinderella saga with Marist and Ole Miss vying for top glass slipper rights. And it was those teams, who shredded the likes of Ohio State and Middle Tennessee then Maryland and Oklahoma, to play Tennessee in two "when the clock strikes midnight games." Tennessee overwhelmed Marist, 65-46, and sent Ole Miss packing, 98-62, to dominate Dayton.
ORANGE TRAVELS WELL
Hats off to the Tennessee Lady Vols fans that traveled to Pittsburgh and Dayton for UT's first two stops in the 2007 NCAA Tournament. A sea of orange greeted the Lady Vols at each venue and the players remarked that the arena at Dayton looked like a home game for Tennessee. With the Lady Vols in town, a total of 32,620 fans attended games at Pittsburgh and Dayton with 6,601 in attendance for UT vs. Drake, 8,791 for the Lady Vols and Pitt, 9,023 when Marist and UT met and 8,205 for the Dayton Regional Championship game versus Ole Miss.
DÉJÀ VU AT THE Q
LSU is going to have to excuse Tennessee, North Carolina and Rutgers if the trio of schools acts like they know their way around the Quicken Loans Arena and the city of Cleveland. The "trio" were bracket mates in the Cleveland Regional last year, along with Purdue as the fourth. Tennessee defeated Rutgers, 76-69, before going down in defeat to North Carolina in the Regional Championship game, 75-63.
YOU WHO? IT'S US. . .WE'RE AT THE FINAL FOUR. . . AGAIN
After attending four consecutive Final Fours twice (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 and 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005) and winning three consecutive titles (1996, 1997 and 1998), the Lady Vols missed the festivities in 1999, 2001 and 2006. UT did make an appearance at the 2000 NCAA Final Four in Philadelphia, Penn., and lost to the Connecticut Huskies for the title. The Lady Vols have now advanced to their 17th NCAA Final Four and will be looking to grab an unprecedented seventh title.
UT IN NCAA TITLE GAMES
Tennessee has appeared in 11 NCAA title games (6-5 overall) since 1982 and won six championships. The Lady Vols have an overall 17-10 record in Final Four play. In the old AIAW days, UT made two title game appearances (1980 and 1981).
MOST PARTICIPANTS EVER
All-time, a total of 91 Lady Vol team members (including four this year, Cait McMahan, Elizabeth Curry, Shannon Bobbitt and Alberta Auguste) will have participated/played in 17 Final Fours. That ranks first among all schools. Louisiana Tech is second with 65 participants all-time in 10 Final Fours.
NO PRESSURE, BUT EVERY LADY VOL HAS PLAYED IN ONE
Every Lady Vol hoopster (since 1976) has played in at least one Final Four during her career at Tennessee. Lady Vol seniors Sidney Spencer, Dominique Redding and Elizabeth Curry have gone to three Final Fours during their careers at UT -- the 2004 Final Four in New Orleans, La., (losing to UConn in the Championship game) and the 2005 festivities in Indianapolis, losing to Michigan State, 68-64, in the semifinals.
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK
OVERALL: 96-19
68 Opponents from 24 conferences |
| GAMES | RECORD | TEAM |
| 9 | 8-1 | Virginia |
| 7 | 2-5 | Connecticut |
| 5 | 4-1 | Georgia |
| 5 | 2-3 | Louisiana Tech |
| 5 | 5-0 | Rutgers |
| 4 | 3-1 | W. Kentucky |
| 3 | 3-0 | Auburn |
| 3 | 2-1 | Mississippi |
| 3 | 2-1 | North Carolina |
| 3 | 1-2 | Southern Cal |
| 3 | 3-0 | Texas Tech |
| 2 | 2-0 | Clemson |
| 2 | 1-1 | Duke |
| 2 | 1-1 | Iowa |
| 2 | 2-0 | Long Beach St. |
| 2 | 2-0 | Louisiana St. |
| 2 | 2-0 | Notre Dame |
| 2 | 2-0 | Old Dominion |
| 2 | 2-0 | Stanford |
| 1 | 1-0 | Alabama |
| 1 | 1-0 | Alabama State |
| 1 | 1-0 | Appalachian St. |
| 1 | 1-0 | Arizona |
| 1 | 1-0 | Arkansas |
| 1 | 1-0 | Army |
| 1 | 1-0 | Austin Peay |
| 1 | 1-0 | Baylor |
| 1 | 1-0 | Boston College |
| 1 | 1-0 | Brigham Young |
| 1 | 1-0 | Cheyney |
| 1 | 1-0 | Colgate |
| 1 | 1-0 | Colorado |
| 1 | 1-0 | DePaul |
| 1 | 1-0 | Drake |
| 1 | 1-0 | Florida A&M |
| 1 | 1-0 | Florida Intl. |
| 1 | 1-0 | Furman |
| 1 | 1-0 | George Washington |
| 1 | 1-0 | Georgia State |
| 1 | 1-0 | Grambling |
| 1 | 1-0 | Jackson St. |
| 1 | 1-0 | James Madison |
| 1 | 1-0 | Kansas |
| 1 | 1-0 | LaSalle |
| 1 | 1-0 | Liberty |
| 1 | 1-0 | Marist |
| 1 | 1-0 | Maryland |
| 1 | 1-0 | Memphis St. |
| 1 | 1-0 | Middle Tennessee |
| 1 | 1-0 | North Carolina A&T |
| 1 | 1-0 | Northwestern |
| 1 | 1-0 | Ohio State |
| 1 | 1-0 | Oregon |
| 1 | 1-0 | Penn State |
| 1 | 1-0 | Pittsburgh |
| 1 | 1-0 | Purdue |
| 1 | 1-0 | Radford |
| 1 | 1-0 | Saint Mary's |
| 1 | 1-0 | S. Carolina St. |
| 1 | 1-0 | SW Missouri |
| 1 | 1-0 | Tennessee Tech |
| 1 | 1-0 | Vanderbilt |
| 1 | 1-0 | Villanova |
| 1 | 1-0 | Virginia Tech |
| 1 | 1-0 | Wake Forest |
| 1 | 1-0 | Western Carolina |
| 1 | 0-1 | Michigan State |
| 1 | 0-1 | Xavier |
TRY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT
Typically, when Tennessee participates in the Final Four, there is usually a majority of players who have participated in the Big Dance. Not so this year. Seniors Sidney Spencer and Dominique Redding went to the Final Four as freshmen and sophomores. Spencer played in all six tournament games as a rookie but sat out her sophomore Final Four after suffering a torn ACL which cut her super sophomore season short by a month. Redding played in the championship game versus Connecticut as a rookie but missed playing against Michigan State as a sophomore. Nicky Anosike and Alexis Hornbuckle earned a trip to the 2005 Final Four during their rookie campaigns and both earned starting nods against Michigan State. Candace Parker and Alex Fuller were in attendance as well, in street clothes, as both were red-shirting their rookie seasons after undergoing knee surgeries.
PARKER IS THE BEST IN DAYTON
Lady Vol sophomore All-American Candace Parker was named the Most Outstanding Player in the 2007 NCAA Dayton Regional. Parker, who averaged over 20 points and 11.5 rpg in wins over Marist and Ole Miss was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Lady Vol junior point guard Shannon Bobbitt, Armintie Price and Ashley Awkward from Ole Miss and Oklahoma's Courtney Paris.
THE SEC RULED IN DAYTON
The Tennessee Lady Vols traveled to its 26th consecutive trip to the Sweet 16 - a feat unchallenged in the women's game. In the Dayton Regional with the Lady Vols, Marist made its inaugural trip to the Sweet 16. The Red Foxes were a 14th seed in 2004 (losing to Oklahoma, 58-45), a 14th seed in 2006 (losing to Georgia, 75-60). Before losing to Tennessee. 65-46, Marist won two games in the 2007 Tournament as a #13-seed knocking off Ohio State, 67-63, and Middle Tennessee State, 73-59. Oklahoma was in its sixth Sweet 16 (1986, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006 and 2007) and advanced from the West Regional in 2002 to the NCAA Championships in San Antonio with Tennessee, UConn and Duke. Tennessee has never faced Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament but did play on the Sooners home floor in the 2004 NCAA Midwest Regionals in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma was upset by Stanford, 68-43, in the NCAA Second Round game. Ole Miss attended its 10th Sweet 16 (1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992 and 2007) and has now played in five Elite 8 contests. Ole Miss and Tennessee have faced each other in two Sweet 16 games over the years...in 1983, UT defeated Ole Miss, 90-83 (3OT - longest game in Lady Vol history) while the Lady Rebels returned the favor in 1985 knocking UT out of the tourney, 63-60. UT defeated Ole Miss, 98-62, to capture the Dayton Regional title.
Tennessee has been to 26 Sweet 16's and captured 17 Regional titles to date. The Lady Vols won the East in 1988, 1989, 1996; the Mideast in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003, and the Midwest in 1997, 2002 and 2004. In 2005, UT won the Philadelphia Regional and in 2007 the Dayton Regional. After advancing from 16 previous regional championships, Tennessee captured NCAA titles in 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998.
NEVER BEEN TO DAYTON
The Tennessee Lady Vols have played far and wide over the years but has incredibly visited the state of Ohio only six times. UT has traveled to Cincinnati (1987 Communiplex Classic and 1997 NCAA Final Four), Cleveland (2000 Women's College Basketball Classic and the 2006 NCAA Cleveland Regional), Columbus (at Ohio State, W, 72-56, Jan. 31, 1980) and Youngstown (at Youngstown State, W, 78-54, Feb. 9, 1993). Tennessee has taken on eight state of Ohio schools including Akron, Cincinnati, Dayton, Miami of Ohio, Ohio State, Toledo, Xavier and Youngstown. Dayton traveled to Knoxville and faced the Lady Vols on Dec. 4, 1986 and took home a 66-40 loss. UT's "Cinderella Season" of 1997 found the Lady Vols winning NCAA title number five in Cincinnati at the Riverfront Coliseum. Last March in Cleveland, UT was denied a trip to the 2006 Final Four losing to North Carolina, 75-63, in the Cleveland Regional Championship game.
2007 NCAA TOURNEY TIME FOR TENNESSEE
The Lady Vols are playing in the postseason for the 32nd time in Coach Pat Summitt's 33-year career at Tennessee. Tennessee started the tournament on the road in Pittsburgh, Pa., for the NCAA First/Second Rounds and collected wins over Drake (76-37) and host Pittsburgh (68-54). This marked just the third time in 26 years that UT was on the road for the opening rounds. The Lady Vols also traveled in 2004 (Tallahassee, Fla.) and 2006 (Norfolk, Va.). The University of Tennessee served as host for NCAA First /Second Rounds from 1982-2003 and 2005. The Lady Vols then moved on to the Dayton Regional and took a 65-46 win over Marist in the Sweet 16. Tennessee defeated a familiar foe in SEC sister school Ole Miss, 98-62, to advance to the 2007 Final Four in Cleveland, Ohio.
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK
AGAINST THE 2007 TOURNAMENT FIELD
This season, Tennessee has faced in 18 teams in 22 games from the 63-team (plus UT) NCAA bracket. Overall, the Lady Vols have turned in a 19-3 record. UT has defeated: Chattanooga (102-72), Arizona State (83-74), Stanford (77-60), Middle Tennessee (88-64), George Washington (85-62), West Virginia (66-51), Old Dominion (75-59), Notre Dame (78-54), Connecticut (70-64), Georgia (52-41, 73-57), Vanderbilt (67-57 and 73-53) Mississippi (81-69 and 98-62), LSU (56-51) Drake (76-37), Pittsburgh (68-54) and Marist (65-46). The Lady Vols' three losses came against Duke 70-74, North Carolina 57-70 and LSU 54-63.
TENNESSEE EARNS RECORD #1 SEED
The University of Tennessee has earned 18 number-one seeds all-time in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. UT has been seeded number two on four occasions, number three, three times and number four just once. From 1988-96, the Lady Vols had nine consecutive number one seeds. Only 28 schools have ever received number one seeds over the years. Teams with the most number one seeds through the years: 1. Tennessee 18, 2. (tie) Louisiana Tech and Connecticut 10, 4. Stanford and Duke, 6, 6. (tie) Texas, Old Dominion 5, 8. (tie) Georgia, USC 4, 10. (tie) Penn St., Vandy, Auburn, Virginia, Long Beach 3.
THEY CALL IT DAYTON BUT WE'RE GOING TO THE MIDEAST
The Lady Vols have been placed in the Dayton (Mideast) bracket of the NCAA Tournament for the 17th time. Previously, the Lady Vols were placed in the Mideast Regional and advanced to the Final Four nine times -- in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000 and 2003. In 2006, the Lady Vols were in the Cleveland (Mideast) bracket. UT has been in the Midwest bracket of the NCAA Tournament three times. Tennessee has advanced to the Final Four from the Midwest every time: in 1997 (claiming the NCAA title in Cincinnati, Ohio), in 2002, where the team lost to UConn in the Final Four semis in San Antonio and in 2004, where the team lost to UConn in the NCAA title game in New Orleans. In 2005, UT was placed in the Philadelphia Region (East) for the sixth time in 24 trips to the Big Dance. Tennessee advanced to the Final Four from the East in 1988 (finishing in 3rd in Tacoma, Washington), again in 1989 (winning UT's second NCAA title while playing in Tacoma, Wash.), in 1996 (winning UT's fourth NCAA title at the Final Four in Charlotte, N.C.) and 2005 (finishing third in Indianapolis at the Final Four. While advancing from the East produced two NCAA titles and two third place finishes, the East Regional is more remembered for what failed to occur for the Lady Vols. In 1990, the Lady Vols were sent to the East Regional at Old Dominion where two wins separated the Lady Vols from playing for a national championship on their home floor in Knoxville, site of the 1990 NCAA Final Four. UT got by Clemson, 80-62 in the Sweet 16 and then lost in overtime to Virginia, 79-75, failing to play in the NCAA Final Four in Knoxville. Instead of "Tennessee and the Final Three," the Lady Vols served as hostesses for the event. Almost a decade later, the East Regional would serve up another dark day in Lady Vol hoops history. In 1999, UT was going for its fourth consecutive NCAA title after winning in 1996, 1997 and 1998. Current Western Carolina head coach Kellie Jolly Harper was the Lady Vol point guard and her sidekick was four-time All-America Chamique Holdsclaw. The duo helped UT get by Virginia Tech, 68-52, in the Sweet 16 in Greensboro, N.C. However, Duke dashed Tennessee's dream of a fourth consecutive title with a 69-63 win. It marked UT's last trip to the East until 2005.
| Team | UT Record | UT Last Game/Result |
| Drake | 1-0 | 3-18-07, N, W, 76-37 |
| Pittsburgh | 4-0 | 3-20-07, A, W, 68-54 |
| James Madison | 2-0 | 3-24-88, N, W, 72-52 |
| Middle Tennessee | 15-0 | 11-26-06, H, W, 88-64 |
| Gonzaga | 1-0 | 11-25-05, N, W, 79-65 |
| Ohio State | 8-1 | 3-18-96, H, W, 97-65 |
| Marist | 1-0 | 3-25-07, N, W, 65-46 |
| Marquette | 1-0 | 11-23-96, N, W, 83-68 |
| Louisiana-Lafayette | 0-0 | never played |
| Oklahoma | 2-0 | 12-21-03, A, W, 71-55 |
| S.E. Missouri | 0-0 | never played |
| Mississippi | 30-7 | 2-15-07, H, W, 81-69 |
| TCU | 4-0 | 12-19-04, H, W, 82-55 |
| Maryland | 10-3 | 11-26-05, N, W, 80-75 |
| Harvard | 0-0 | never played |
| NCAA 1st & 2nd ROUND HISTORY |
| 1982 NCAA First Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 13 | Jackson State | 72 | 56 |
| 1983 NCAA First Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 19 | South Carolina St. | 86 | 51 |
| 1984 NCAA First Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 17 | MTSU | 70 | 52 |
| 1985 NCAA First Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 16 | Virginia | 65 | 55 |
| 1986 NCAA First Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 16 | Iowa | 73 | 68 |
| 1987 NCAA First Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 15 | Tennessee Tech | 95 | 59 |
| 1988 NCAA Second Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 18 | Wake Forest | 94 | 66 |
| 1989 NCAA Second Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 18 | LaSalle | 91 | 61 |
| 1990 NCAA Second Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 17 | Old Dominion | 87 | 68 |
| 1991 NCAA Second Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 17 | S.W. Missouri St. | 55 | 47 |
| 1992 NCAA Second Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 21 | Rutgers | 97 | 56 |
| 1993 NCAA Second Round, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 20 | Northwestern | 89 | 66 |
| 1994 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 16 | N. Carolina A&T | 111 | 37 |
| Mar. 19 | Clemson | 78 | 66 |
| 1995 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 16 | Florida A&M | 96 | 59 |
| Mar. 18 | Fla. International | 70 | 44 |
| 1996 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 16 | Radford | 97 | 56 |
| Mar. 18 | Ohio State | 97 | 65 |
| 1997 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 15 | Grambling State | 91 | 54 |
| Mar. 17 | Oregon | 76 | 59 |
| 1998 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 14 | Liberty | 102 | 58 |
| Mar. 16 | W. Kentucky | 82 | 62 |
| 1999 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 13 | Appalachian St. | 113 | 54 |
| Mar. 15 | Boston College | 89 | 62 |
| 2000 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 18 | Furman | 90 | 38 |
| Mar. 20 | Arizona | 75 | 60 |
| 2001 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 16 | Austin Peay | 80 | 38 |
| Mar. 18 | St. Mary's (Calif.) | 92 | 75 |
| 2002 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 15 | Georgia State | 98 | 68 |
| Mar. 17 | Notre Dame | 89 | 50 |
| 2003 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 22 | Alabama State | 95 | 43 |
| Mar. 24 | Virginia | 81 | 51 |
| 2004 1st and 2nd Rounds, Tallahassee, Fla. |
| Mar. 20 | Colgate | 77 | 54 |
| Mar. 22 | DePaul | 79 | 59 | |
| 2005 1st and 2nd Rounds, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 20 | Western Carolina | 94 | 43 |
| Mar. 22 | Purdue | 75 | 54 |
| 2006 1st and 2nd Rounds, Norfolk, Va. |
| Mar. 19 | Army | 102 | 54 |
| Mar. 21 | George Washington | 66 | 53 |
| 2007 1st and 2nd Rounds, Pittsburgh, Pa. |
| Mar. 18 | Drake | 76 | 37 |
| Mar. 20 | Pittsburgh | 68 | 54 |
| FIRST ROUND RECORD: | 20-0 |
| SECOND ROUND RECORD: | 20-0 |
| OVERALL RECORD: | 40-0 |
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK
SUMMITT'S NCAA RECORDS
Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has coached in 1,125 basketball games to date producing an incredible 945-180 (.839) overall record. What's even more amazing (at least to me) is that she has coached in over 100 NCAA Tournament games --- her record in the NCAAs, 96-19 (.829) in 115 NCAA contests. On the women's side, Georgia's Andy Landers trails Summitt in NCAA Tournament appearances with 24 - Summitt has 26. Summitt has coached in 115 NCAA Tournament games -next best is former Louisiana Tech legend Leon Barmore who coached in 75 games. Summitt has collected 96 NCAA wins...UConn's Geno Auriemma has won 61 games to rank second. Comparing Summitt to the men's side, Dean Smith (UNC) coached in 92 tournament games while Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has coached in 88 games. Krzyzewski passed Smith recording 68 NCAA wins. Summitt has appeared in all 26 (consecutive) NCAA Tournaments, and is ahead of Lute Olson (Arizona) and Smith with 23 consecutive appearances.
CHECK OUT TENNESSEE'S NCAA RECORD
In the 1980s, Tennessee fashioned a 26-6 (.815) record in eight years of NCAA play highlighted by NCAA titles in 1987 and 1989. The Lady Vols put together a 38-6 (.863) winning record in the NCAA Tournament in the 1990s while winning four NCAA titles in 1991, 1996, 1997 and 1998. Thus far in the 2000's, the Lady Vols have a 32-7 (.800) record in seven years of NCAA competition for an overall slate of 96-19 over 26 years of play.
17 FOR SUMMITT
Over the last several years, Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has passed legendary John Wooden of UCLA in a number of NCAA Tournament categories. Most significantly, Summitt has passed Wooden for most trips to the Final Four with 17 to Wooden's dozen.
UT IN NCAA TITLE GAMES
Tennessee has appeared in 11 NCAA title games (6-5 overall) since 1982 and won six championships. The Lady Vols have an overall 17-10 record in Final Four play. In the old AIAW days, UT made two title game appearances (1980 and 1981).
3 LADY VOL CLASSES HAVE GONE FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS
There have now been three classes of players in Lady Vol history to go to the Final Four all four years of their Lady Vol careers. First to do it was the class of Sheila Frost, Bridgette Gordon and Melissa McCray (1986, 1987, 1988 and 1999) - that trio won NCAA Championships in 1987 and 1989. The next player to do it was Laurie Milligan (1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998). Milligan was onboard for three consecutive titles, 1996-97-98. The latest group to do it was the class of Shyra Ely, Brittany Jackson and Loree Moore - they went in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
SHE LOVES MARCH AND APRIL, TOO
Let's unite March and April Madness and coin it "Marpril Madness." Tennessee Lady Vol basketball coach Pat Summitt loves to kick things up a notch in the months of March and April. Summitt, who has now coached in 1,125 collegiate contests and sports a 945-180 overall record in 33 seasons, has gone into battle 223 times in the months of March and April. She has come out a winner in 178 games losing just 45 basketball games (.795). Her teams are 60-2 at home, 10-1 away and 108-42 at neutral sites in the third and fourth months.
2007 LADY VOL SENIORS
Over the past four years, Tennessee's seniors Elizabeth Curry, Sidney Spencer and Dominique Redding have accumulated an overall record of 124 wins and just 17 losses - an 88 percent winning percentage. Against SEC opponents, they have a phenomenal 53-5 record! The seniors have made two trips to the NCAA Final Four, captured two SEC regular season crowns and the 2005 and 2006 SEC Tournament Titles.
FACING THE RANKED
Tennessee faced their 14th ranked opponent of the 2006-07 season in the loss to #11/10-ranked LSU on Mar. 3. UT is 11-3 in games versus ranked teams out of 35 total contests.
FACING THE UNRANKED
When taking on an unranked opponent such as Mississippi, the odds have typically tipped in Tennessee's favor. In her 33 years at the helm of the Lady Vols, UT head coach Pat Summitt has fashioned a 563-32 (.947) record when going up against unranked teams. The victory over Old Dominion this season was Summitt's 550th over an unranked foe.
UT's NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
| 1982 Mideast Regional, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 19 | Memphis State | 78 | 63 |
| Mar. 21 | Southern Cal | 91 | 90 (OT) |
| 1983 Mideast Regional, South Bend, Ind. |
| Mar. 25 | Mississippi | 90 | 83 (3 OT) |
| Mar. 27 | Georgia | 63 | 67 |
| 1984 Mideast Regional, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 23 | Alabama | 65 | 58 |
| Mar. 25 | Georgia | 73 | 61 |
| 1985 Mideast Regional, Bowling Green, Ky. |
| Mar. 22 | Mississippi | 60 | 63 |
| 1986 Mideast Regional, Iowa City, Iowa |
| Mar. 20 | Georgia | 85 | 82 |
| Mar. 22 | Louisiana State | 67 | 65 |
| 1987 Mideast Regional, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 19 | Virginia | 66 | 58 |
| Mar. 21 | Auburn | 77 | 61 |
| 1988 NCAA East Regional, Norfolk, Va. |
| Mar. 24 | James Madison | 72 | 52 |
| Mar. 26 | Virginia | 84 | 76 |
| 1989 East Regional, Bowling Green, Ky. |
| Mar. 23 | Virginia | 80 | 47 |
| Mar. 25 | Long Beach St. | 94 | 80 |
| 1990 NCAA East Regional, Norfolk, Va. |
| Mar. 22 | Clemson | 80 | 62 |
| Mar. 24 | Virginia | 75 | 79 (OT) |
| 1991 Mideast Regional, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 21 | W. Kentucky | 68 | 61 |
| Mar. 23 | Auburn | 69 | 65 |
| 1992 Mideast Regional, West Lafayette, Ind. |
| Mar. 26 | W. Kentucky | 70 | 75 |
| 1993 Mideast Regional, Iowa City, Iowa |
| Mar. 25 | North Carolina | 74 | 54 |
| Mar. 27 | Iowa | 56 | 72 |
| 1994 Mideast Regional, Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Mar. 24 | Louisiana Tech | 68 | 77 |
| 1995 Mideast Regional, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 23 | W. Kentucky | 87 | 65 |
| Mar. 25 | Texas Tech | 80 | 59 |
| 1996 East Regional, Charlottesville, Va. |
| Mar. 23 | Kansas | 92 | 71 |
| Mar. 25 | Virginia | 52 | 46 |
| 1997 Midwest Regional, Iowa City, Iowa |
| Mar. 22 | Colorado | 75 | 57 |
| Mar. 24 | Connecticut | 91 | 81 |
| 1998 Mideast Regional, Nashville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 21 | Rutgers | 92 | 60 |
| Mar. 23 | North Carolina | 76 | 70 |
| 1999 East Regional, Greensboro, N.C. |
| Mar. 20 | Virginia Tech | 68 | 52 |
| Mar. 22 | Duke | 63 | 69 |
| 2000 Mideast Regional, Memphis, Tenn. |
| Mar. 25 | Virginia | 77 | 56 |
| Mar. 27 | Texas Tech | 57 | 44 |
| 2001 Mideast Regional, Birmingham, Ala. |
| Mar. 24 | Xavier | 65 | 80 |
| 2002 NCAA Midwest Regional , Ames, Iowa |
| Mar. 23 | Brigham Young | 68 | 57 |
| Mar. 25 | Vanderbilt | 68 | 63 |
| 2003 Mideast Regional, Knoxville, Tenn. |
| Mar. 29 | Penn State | 86 | 58 |
| Mar. 31 | Villanova | 73 | 49 |
| 2004 Midwest Regional, Norman, Okla. |
| Mar. 28 | Baylor | 71 | 69 |
| Mar. 30 | Stanford | 62 | 60 |
| 2005 Philadelphia Regional (East) |
| Mar. 27 | Texas Tech | 75 | 59 |
| Mar. 29 | Rutgers | 59 | 49 | |
| 2006 Cleveland Regional (Mideast) |
| Mar. 26 | Rutgers | 76 | 69 |
| Mar. 28 | North Carolina | 63 | 75 |
| 2007 Dayton Regional (Mideast) |
| Mar. 25 | Marist | 65 | 46 |
| Mar. 27 | Ole Miss | 98 | 62 |
2007 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK
TOTALLY OUTTA KNOXVILLE FOR JUST THE THIRD TIME EVER IN MARCH
The 2007 NCAA Second Round game with Pittsburgh marked the first time UT has played on an "AWAY" floor in the NCAA First/Second Round in tournament history. In the 2004 NCAA Tournament, for the first time in postseason play, the Tennessee Lady Vols did not play a post-season play-off game in Knoxville. The time has come again with UT traveling to Pittsburgh for the 2007 NCAA First/Second Rounds. (Last year, the Lady Vols traveled to Norfolk for the 2006 NCAA First/Second Rounds). Previously, Tennessee had won 46 consecutive NCAA play-off games at home since 1982 (34-0 in NCAA First/Second Rounds and 12-0 in six NCAA Mideast Regionals hosted in Knoxville). When you add in the AIAW years, Tennessee has won 52 consecutive (since Mar. 15, 1980) post-season AIAW/NCAA games at home. Overall, UT has won 54 out of 55 games in Knoxville since Mar. 10, 1979. UT's only loss in post-season play at home was a 74-72 AIAW Region II defeat to Old Dominion on Mar. 10, 1979. That year, the winner of the Region II Tournament was given the higher seed in the AIAW Regional Championship Tournament (Sweet 16) while the loser was sent to a tougher regional bracket. As the Region II winner, Old Dominion traveled to Tennessee Tech for the AIAW South Regional while Tennessee earned a trip to the Bronx, N.Y. (Fordham Univ.) for the East Regional. Both ODU and Tennessee advanced to the AIAW "Final Four" in Greensboro, N.C.
OPENING ROUNDS BIG POINTS
The Lady Vols turned in their highest point total ever in the NCAA Tournament scoring 113 versus Appalachian State in First Round action on Mar. 13, 1999. Other century marks include 111 points against North Carolina A&T on Mar.16, 1994, 102 points against Liberty on Mar. 14, 1998 and 102 points versus Army on Mar. 19, 2006 -- all in NCAA opening round play. UT's 113 points against ASU was the fifth most ever scored in NCAA First/Second Round action.
UT'S NCAA OT GAMES
UT has played in five overtime games in the NCAA Tournament producing a 4-1 record including two overtime wins in the Final Four. UT defeated Southern Cal, 91-90, in the first overtime game in NCAA tourney history. UT advanced to the NCAA's first Final Four in 1982 in Norfolk, Va., from that overtime affair. The Lady Vols played in the first triple OT in NCAA history when UT defeated Ole Miss, 90-83, in 1983. In UT's most heartbreaking loss in the program's history, Virginia defeated UT, 79-75 in OT, for the 1990 NCAA East Regional title in Norfolk, Va., denying the Lady Vols from playing in the 1990 Final Four on its home court. In 1991, UT returned the overtime favor to Virginia and defeated the Cavaliers in the first overtime NCAA title game, 70-67 in New Orleans. Tennessee's last extra stanza game in the NCAA Tournament came at the 1996 Final Four with a dramatic, 88-83, victory over Connecticut in the Final Four semifinal game.
RANKED TEAMS - DAYTON REGION
In the AP and USA TODAY/ESPN polls, six teams from the 2007 NCAA Dayton Regional are ranked led by #3/4 Tennessee. The next highest ranked team is Maryland (#6/6), and is followed by Ohio State (#8/7), Oklahoma (#9/10), Middle Tennessee (#17/16) and Marquette (#22/21).
UT'S NCAA FINAL FOUR HISTORY
| 2005 Indianapolis, Indiana |
| vs. Michigan State (Semifinal) | 64-68 |
| 2004 New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Defeated LSU (Semifinal) | 52-50 |
| Lost to Connecticut (Championship) | 61-70 |
| 2003 Atlanta, Georgia |
| Defeated Duke (Semifinal) | 66-56 |
| Lost to Connecticut (Championship) | 68-73 |
| 2002 San Antonio, Texas |
| Lost to Connecticut (Semifinal) | 56-79 |
| 2000 Philadelphia, Penn. |
| Defeated Rutgers (Semifinal) | 64-54 |
| Lost to Connecticut (Championship) | 52-71 |
| 1998 Kansas City, Missouri |
| Defeated Arkansas (Semifinal) | 86-58 |
| Defeated La Tech (Championship) | 93-75 |
| 1997 Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Defeated Notre Dame (Semifinal) | 80-66 |
| Defeated ODU (Championship) | 68-59 |
| 1996 Charlotte, N.C. |
| Defeated Connecticut (Semifinal) (OT) | 88-83 |
| Defeated Georgia (Championship) | 83-65 |
| 1995 Minneapolis, Minn. |
| Defeated Georgia (Semifinal) | 73-51 |
| Lost to Connecticut (Championship) | 64-70 |
| 1991 New Orleans, La. |
| Defeated Stanford (Semifinal) | 68-60 |
| Defeated Virginia (Championship) (OT) | 70-67 |
| 1989 Tacoma, Washington |
| Defeated Maryland (Semifinal) | 77-65 |
| Defeated Auburn (Championship) | 76-60 |
| 1988 Tacoma, Washington |
| Lost to Louisiana Tech (Semifinal) | 59-68 |
| 1987 Austin, Texas |
| Defeated Long Beach (Semifinal) | 74-64 |
| Defeated La Tech (Championship) | 67-44 |
| 1986 Lexington, Kentucky |
| Lost to Southern Cal (Semifinal) | 59-83 |
| 1984 Los Angeles, California |
| Defeated Cheyney (Semifinal) | 82-73 |
| Lost to Southern Cal (Championship) | 61-72 |
| 1982 Norfolk, Virginia |
| Lost to Louisiana Tech (Semifinal) | 46-69 |
AIAW "FINAL FOUR" HISTORY
| 1981 Eugene, Oregon |
| Defeated Old Dominion (Semifinals) | 68-65 |
| Lost to La Tech (Championship) | 59-79 |
| 1980 Mt. Pleasant, Michigan |
| Defeated South Carolina (Semifinals) | 75-72 |
| Lost to Old Dominion (Championship) | 53-68 |
| 1979 Greensboro, N.C. |
| Lost to Louisiana Tech (Semifinals) | 84-102 |
| Defeated UCLA (Conso-Final) | 104-86 |
| 1977 Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Lost to Delta State (Semifinals) | 58-62 |
| Defeated Immaculata (Conso-Final) | 91-62 |
FINAL FOUR MVP
| 1998-Chamique Holdsclaw |
| 1997-Chamique Holdsclaw |
| 1996-Michelle Marciniak |
| 1989-Bridgette Gordon |
| 1987-Tonya Edwards |
FINAL FOUR ALL-TOURNAMENT
| 2004- Shanna Zolamn |
| 2003-Gwen Jackson, Kara Lawson |
| 2000-Tamika Catchings |
| 1998- C.Holdsclaw, T. Catchings, Kellie Jolly |
| 1997-Chamique Holdsclaw, Kellie Jolly |
| 1996-M. Marciniak, C. Holdsclaw, T.Johnson |
| 1995-Nikki McCray |
| 1991-Dena Head, Daedra Charles |
| 1989-Bridgette Gordon, Sheila Frost |
| 1987-Tonya Edwards, Bridgette Gordon |
| 1984-Mary Ostrowski |
LADY VOLS BY DOUBLE DIGITS
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LIVE VB Video vs. Alabama - 11/8
TV - ESPN - Mike Patrick withDoris Burke. Sideline Holly Rowe and Mark Jones
Radio - Mickey Dearstone
