Briana Bass

ESPN's GAME COVERAGE INFORMATION

ESPN will be televising all 63 games of the NCAA Women's Tournament. The 48 First and Second Round games from March 21st - March 24th will be regionalized. Below is a link to the Women's Basketball homepage on ESPN.com, where we have posted our first round regionalization Maps and Channel Guides. The maps designate what areas will receive which game.

If you are not located in a home market protected area (colored in black), you will receive coverage of the best action from four different games on both your SD and HD channels.

Important Notes:

If you are a cable subscriber watching your ESPN/ESPN2 HD Channel within a home market protection area you will need to ... tune into your "original" ESPN/ESPN2 SD channel to view your game in its entirety. If you stay on the HD channel, you will receive the most compelling action from multiple games.

If you are a satellite subscriber turn to a pre- determined alternate channel which will be posted on ESPN.com

ESPN's TV Coverage Map

THE GAME

The #18/23-ranked and fi fth-seeded Tennessee Lady Vols (22-10, 9-5 SEC) open play in its 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament at 8:30 p.m. CT (approx.) on Sun., Mar. 22, 2009 taking on the MAC Tournament Champ and #12-seeded Ball State (25-8, 14-2 MAC) in Bowling Green, Kentucky, at the E.A. Diddle Arena in First Round action. The winner advances to the NCAA Second Round and will take on the winner of #4-seed Iowa State vs. #13-seed ETSU contest on Tues., Mar. 24 at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2.

LADY VOLS AT A GLANCE

This is the Lady Vols' 35th season under Head Coach Pat Summitt...She has compiled a staggering 1,005-192 overall record... Registered her record-breaking 1,000th win over Georgia, 73-43, on Feb. 3, 2008 in Knoxville... 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 2006-07 and 2007-08 squads were crowned as the NCAA Champions producing the program's seventh and eighth titles...Last season, UT fi nished with a 36-2 overall record and were also the SEC Tournament Champions... This year, UT returned fi ve letterwinners, a redshirt freshman and welcomed a talented six-pack rookie class...The Lady Vols sport the youngest team and starting line-up in Summitt's 35 seasons at the helm...

OUR SCHEDULE THIS WEEK

It's time to "Survive and Advance." Tennessee will play in the 2009 NCAA Tournament First/Second Rounds in Bowling Green, Kentucky, with the winner advancing to the Berkeley Regional, Mar. 28 & 30.

ON THIS DAY IN LADY VOL BASKETBALL HISTORY

UT is 6-2 all-time on Mar. 22, with a 1-0 mark in Knoxville, a 0-0 record on the road and a 5-2 slate on neutral courts. The last time the Lady Vols were in action on Mar. 22, #3-ranked UT defeated Purdue, 75-54, in the Second Round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament in Knoxville. UT coach Pat Summitt passed Dean Smith for most NCAA collegiate basketball wins of all-time recording her 880th victory.

LOOKING BACK

Last year at this time, the #3/3-ranked Lady Vols were 31-2 (13-1 SEC) on the campaign after defeating Oral Roberts, 94-55, in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in West Lafayette, Ind.

TENNESSEE'S NCAA TOURNAMENT APPETIZERS

• Tennessee is the only school to have attended every NCAA Tournament (28)
• The Lady Vols have won 8 NCAA titles -- 1987, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2007, 2008
• Tennessee has played in more NCAA Tournament games than any other school -- 123
• Under Coach Pat Summitt's direction, the Lady Vols have a 104-19 record (.838) in the NCAAs
• Tennessee has advanced to a record-setting 18 NCAA Final Fours... Including the old AIAW days with four Final Four trips between 1977-81, the Lady Vols have attended an amazing 22 overall
• The Tennessee women and UCLA men have both earned 18 trips to lead the NCAA Final Four
• UT's NCAA Final Four overall record is 21-10; 13-5 in semifi nals and 8-5 in title games
• Tennessee has advanced to the NCAA Championship game 13 times and won 8 titles
• UT has been granted 19 number one seeds in 28 NCAA Tournaments since 1982
• From 1988-96, the Lady Vols received nine consecutive number one seeds
• The Lady Vols have never lost an NCAA First or Second Round game, 42-0
• UT has advanced to every Sweet 16 game (27 consecutive) since 1982 (overall 23-4)
• UT has advanced to 23 Elite 8 games since 1982...Overall record is 18-5
• In Elite 8 games, Tennessee has faced SEC opponents seven times trying to advance to the Final Four and produced a 6-1 record... The next most often-faced conference in this round is the ACC in six meetings and a 3-3 record... UT is 3-0 vs. the Big 12 in the Elite 8
• In 2009, Ball State will become the 160th all-time Lady Vol opponent
• In 2009, Ball State will become the 71st different opponent for UT in the NCAA Tournament
• The Mid-America Conference will be the 26th different conference UT has faced in the NCAAs
• Tennessee's average score in an NCAA First Round game is 89.1-51.7 or +37.4 margin
• UT's smallest margin of victory in an NCAA First Round, +5, 73-68 over Iowa in 1986
• UT's largest margin of victory in an NCAA First Round, +74, 111-37 over N.C. A&T in 1994
• Most points UT has scored in the NCAA First Round, 113 vs. Appalachian State, 1999
• Fewest points UT has scored in the NCAA First Round, 65 vs. Virginia, 1985
• Coach Summitt has faced two former Lady Vol players, who are now in the coaching ranks, in NCAA First Round games: Lea Henry, Georgia State, 2002, and Kellie Jolly Harper, Western Carolina, 2005. Henry lost 98-68 on Mar. 15 and Jolly Harper dropped a 94-43 game on Mar. 20.
• Tennessee's average score in an NCAA Second Round game is 81.5-58.9 or +22.6 margin
• UT's smallest margin of victory in the NCAA Second Round, +8, 55-47 over SW Mo St., 1991
• UT's largest margin of victory in the NCAA Second Round, +41, 97-56 over Rutgers in 1992
• Most points UT has scored in the NCAA Second Round, 97 vs. Rutgers 1992 and Ohio St. 1996
• Fewest points UT has scored in the NCAA Second Round, 55 vs. SW Mo. State, 1991
• Coach Summitt registered a milestone victory in an NCAA Second Round game. She became the winningest coach in NCAA history with 880 wins by passing UNC's Dean Smith (879 wins) with a 75-54 victory over Purdue on Mar. 22, 2005 in Knoxville, Tenn., in an NCAA Second Round game.

THE LINE-UP CAROUSEL

Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt started her 12th different line-up of the season in the win over Vanderbilt in Knoxville. There has been no "common denominator" player to start in all 32 games. Freshman forward Glory Johnson started 23 consecutive games before being replaced by RS-freshman Kelley Cain. Johnson missed two starts, returned to the starting rotation but was replaced against Vanderbilt by Sydney Smallbone. In the last two NCAA title years, UT utilized fi ve different line-ups in 2008 and only four line-ups in 2007. Summitt changed the starters seven times in 2006 and a whopping 10 times in 2005. In that 2004-05 fruit-basket turnover line-up, there was no common denominator player for the fi rst time in fi ve years, either.

UT'S OFFENSIVE OPPORTUNITIES

In all games, this is how Tennessee has shot from the fi eld: 60% FG: none; 50%FG: Florida2 (.532), Miss. St. 2 (.518), MTSU (.517), Alabama2 (.500), Gonzaga (.500); 40%FG: WCU (.475), Auburn (.473), LSU (.469), Vandy2 (.458), Georgia (.456), Alabama (.451), Arkansas (.448), Oklahoma (.429), South Carolina (.429), LaTech (.429), DePaul (.427), Virginia (.413), Stanford (.403), San Francisco (.400), Rutgers (.400); 30%FG: Vandy1 (.393),ODU (.386), Fla. (.368), KY1 (.361), GWU (.353), Ole Miss (.351), KY2 (.350), UT-Chattanooga (.344), Miss St. (.339), Auburn2 (.333), Texas (.333), Duke (.321); 20%FG: none.

DEEE ----- FENSE

In all games, this is how the opposition has shot from the fi eld: 50%FG: Oklahoma (.534), Virginia (.500), 40%FG: Auburn (.482), Auburn2 (.472), Vandy1 (.462), LSU (.455), KY1 (.455), KY2 (.444), Florida2 (.421), Alabama (.419), Duke (.418), MTSU (.412), Arkansas (.404), GWU (.404), Rutgers (.404); 30%FG: Vandy2 (.385), ODU (.385), South Carolina (.379), Ole Miss (.375), DePaul (.373), Gonzaga (.371), Fla. (.370), Texas (.369), UT-Chattanooga (.365), Miss. St. (.362), Stanford (.362), Georgia (.354), Miss. St. 2 (.352), LaTech (.313), Alabama2 (.300), 20%FG: WCU (.298); 10%FG: San Francisco (.186)

2008-09 WON-LOSS DIFFERENTIAL

Wins: +35 (1), +30 (1), +29 (2), +27 (1), +21 (1), +19 (3), +14 (1), +12 (2), + 10 (1), +9 (2), +7 (1), +5 (2), +4 (2) +3 (1), +1 (1).
Losses: -20 (1), -16 (1), -14 (2), -10 (2), -8 (1), -9 (1), -2 (1), -1 (1)

THE DICKENS YOU SAY

Please excuse Lady Vol Coach Pat Summitt if she sounds like she is pulling a page or two out of Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities," when comparing her young 2008-09 team to the previous two Lady Vol NCAA title teams of 2007 and 2008. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only."

In other words, the youngest team in Lady Vol history has taken Summitt on a ride of extremes while securing their spots in Lady Vol lore. They have been a team known for a number of negative numerical fi rsts -- lowest seeding ever in an NCAA Tournament (fi ve)... First Lady Vol team to play on the fi rst day of the SEC tournament since 1997... First Lady Vol team to drop out of the Associated Press Top 10 poll in 211 weeks -- dating back to 1985... Hovering around the worst team fi eld goal shooting percentage in history at .415... Two losses to unranked teams in the same season (Kentucky and LSU) -- Summitt's teams are 603-34 overall against unranked teams in 35 seasons... Things like that.

But numbers are just numbers and hope springs eternal during March Madness. Let the games begin!

LADY VOLS vs. CARDINALS THE RANKINGS

UT is 18th in the AP & 23rd in the ESPN/USA Today polls Ball State is receiving votes in the AP poll.

RECENT RESULTS

No. 19 UT lost to No. 6 Auburn, 78-58, in SEC Tournament Semifinals.

Ball State topped Bowling Green, 55-51, in the Mid- American Conference Tournament championship game.

UPCOMING GAMES

Tennessee, the No. 5 seed in the Berkeley Region, will meet Ball State, the No. 12 seed, in the first round on Sunday, March 22. The winner of the UT-Ball State game will play the victor of the meeting between No. 4-seeded Iowa State and No. 13 East Tennessee State in the second round on March 24.

COACHES' RECORDS

UT's Pat Summitt is 1,005-192 (.840) in 35 years BSU's Kelly Packard is 25-8 in her first year at the helm for the Cardinals

SERIES RECORD

No previous meetings

2008-09 STATISTICS

UT VS. MID-AMERICAN

The Lady Vols have taken on six teams from the Mid-American Conference all-time, going undefeated in 11 meetings with league teams. Tennessee's last meeting with a MAC opponent came on Dec. 18, 1997, against Akron. The Orange and White claimed a 98-63 victory over the Zips at the UAA Sports Center in Anchorage, Alaska. UT has never faced a MAC team in postseason play. Current members of the MAC include Akron, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Toledo and Western Michigan.

RECORDS VS. MID-AMERICAN TEAMS

BALL STATE VS. SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE

The Cardinals have faced five teams from the Southeastern Conference in program history, going 0-5 all-time against those squads. BSU has taken on Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. Ball State met Alabama during the regular season, falling to the Crimson Tide, 81-75, in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Dec. 30.

BALL STATE RECORD VS. SEC TEAMS ALL-TIME

TOP-25 OPPONENTS

Tennessee has taken on 12 ranked opponents this season, including six which were among the top 10 at the time. The Orange and White went 4-8 against top-25 teams this year. Ball State has faced just one ranked opponent this season, falling to then-No. 13/15 Louisville, 82-51, on the road on Dec. 7. U of L earned the No. 3 seed in the Raleigh Region.

COMMON OPPONENTS

Tennessee and Ball State have faced one common opponent this season. Both the Cardinals and the Lady Vols took on Alabama during the 2008-09 campaign, with the Orange and White sweeping two meetings with the Crimson Tide. BSU fell to Alabama, 82-51, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. UT topped UA, 80-61, at home on Feb. 12, before bouncing the Crimson Tide from the SEC Tournament in the first round on March 5 with a 68-49 win at Alltel Arena in North Little Rock, Ark.

TENNESSEE VS. COMMON BSU OPPONENTS
Feb. 12 Alabama Knoxville, Tenn. W, 80-61
Mar. 5 Alabama North Little Rock, Ark. W, 68-49
BALL STATE VS. COMMON UT OPPONENTS
Dec. 30 Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. L, 75-81

BALL STATE NOTES

SEED AND BID: No. 12 Berkeley, automatic bid
NCAA APPEARANCES: 1

FIRST TIMERS

Ball State's selection to the NCAA Tournament field marks its first in program history. Thanks to a 55- 51 victory over top-seeded Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament final on March 15. The Cardinals are one of just three newcomers to the Big Dance, joining South Dakota State and Drexel in their tournament debut. Last year, eight teams made their first-ever trip to the NCAA Tournament, compiling a 1-8 record. No. 7-seeded UTEP was the only first-timer to record a victory in 2008, notching a 92-60 win over No. 10 Western Kentucky before bowing out to No. 2 Stanford in the second round.

HOT, HOT, HOT

The Cardinals enter the NCAA Tournament on quite the hot streak after capturing their first MAC Conference Tournament title in program history. BSU has not lost a game since Feb. 3, an 11-game streak that saw it out-score opponents by an average of 10.7 points per game. On top of that, Ball State has won 18 of its last 20 games, dating back to the start of league play in January.

ALL LINED UP

Getting to the foul line could be a key for Ball State in advancing in the NCAA Tournament. The Cardinals have hit 78 percent of their free throws this season, ranking ninth in Division I. BSU has taken over 600 free throws this season, earning 475 points from the charity stripe. Ball State is 19-2 this season when shooting more free throws than its opponent and is shooting a sizzling 83.3 percent from the line in the past 11 games.

THE ROOKIE

After coaching the Colorado Chill of the National Women's Basketball League to back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006, and serving as an assistant coach with Colorado State from 1991-99, Ball State Head Coach Kelly Packard took the reigns for the Cardinals in May 2008. With help from five upperclassmen, Packard has put together a dream season for a rookie coach. First, the Cardinals captured their second straight MAC West Division title, then knocked off top-seeded Bowling Green to take home the first MAC Tournament title in program history and earn BSU's initial NCAA Tournament bid. With Ball State making its first trip to the Big Dance, Packard will be looking to continue her success.

CRYSTAL BALL

After being tabbed as the favorite to win the MAC West by coaches in the preseason, the Cardinals did that and more. With a school-record 14 wins during the league campaign, Ball State earned its second straight West No. 1 seed and topped the preaseason pick to win the conference tournament, Bowling Green. in the title game, earning its first ever trip to the Big Dance. Preseason All-MAC picks Emily Maggert and Porchia Green also lived up to expectations, earning spots on the third and first teams, respectively. Joining Green and Maggert among the All-MAC honorees was third-team pick Danielle Gratton, who led the Cardinals in blocks and rebounding, and finished the regular season as the second-leading scorer.

DISPATCH FROM DOWNTOWN

Ball State comes into the NCAA Tournament with one of the top three-point shooting teams in the country, averaging 7.2 treys per contest this season, good for 17th in Division I. Junior guard Audrey McDonald has been living downtown for the Cardinals, ranking in the top 25 in the nation in three-point field goal percentage and in the top 15 in threes per game. McDonald leads the squad, shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc and scoring 72 percent of her 11.4 points per game on treys.

MATCHING GAME

As a No. 12 seed in the tournament, Ball State enters the Big Dance with the odds stacked against it. If the past five tournaments are any indication, however, the Cardinals could come away from the No. 5-No. 12 match-up with an upset. Though the No. 12 seeds in each of the last two tournaments combined to go 0-8, from 2004-06 one 12th-seeded squad made it to the second round in each tournament. In 2006, No. 12 Tulsa topped No. 5 North Carolina State, 71-61, while in 2007, the Wolfpack was the victim again, falling to No. 12 Middle Tennessee, 60-58. No. 12 Maryland did the honors in 2004, downing No. 5 Miami, 86-85. All-time, 12-seeds have pulled off the upset 15 times in the 20 tournaments in which the No. 5 and No. 12 faced off. Three times in the four No. 12 seeds have knocked off their fifth-seeded opponents.

THEY KEEP GOING AND GOING AND GOING...

Nothing outlasts the starters on Ball State's squad this season. Four of the five have started every contest this season for the Cardinals and each is averaging at least 27 minutes per game. Seniors Porchia Green and Kiley Jarrett, juniors Danielle Gratton and Audrey McDonald and sophomore Emily Maggert have played nearly 80 percent of BSU's total minutes and account for 1,925 of the team's 2,376 points this year. Leading the way is Maggert, whose 54.2 field goal percentage ranked fourth in the MAC and 21st in Division I during the regular season.

HELPING HAND

Senior guard Kiley Jarrett has been Ball State's biggest assist asset this season, dishing out five helpers per game. The Bloomington, Ind., native ranked second in the MAC and was among the top 50 in Division I. Jarrett notched a career-high 13 assists in an early win over Robert Morris on Nov. 21, tying for the third-best single-game performance in BSU history. Jarrett enters the NCAA Tournament just one assist away from tying for seventh all-time at Ball State.

WINNER, WINNER...CHICKEN DINNER

Ball State set a school record for victories in a season this year, notching 25, while dropping just eight contests. The Cardinals' win over Bowling Green improved upon the 24 wins each by the 2006-07 and 2001-02 squads, while BSU's 14 conference victories also set a new standard for the program. Meanwhile, the Cardinals' current 11-game winning streak is tied for the longest in the school record books. The last time Ball State notched 11 straight wins was during a span in 2000-01 that stretched from December to January. The streak also is currently the 10th longest in Division I.

TOPPING THE CHARTS

Ball State hasn't only been breaking records for wins, as this season will go down in the Cardinals' record books as one of the best in program history. The 2008-09 squad enters the NCAA Tournament ranked among the school's top five in nearly every single season statistical category, and among the top three in points, blocks, field goals, three pointers, three-point attempts, free throws, free throw attempts and free throw percentage. This year's edition of the Cardinals will finish the season as the top shot-blocking crew in program history, notching 112 swats to top the 2006-07 squad's previous record of 99. The team also sits in the No. 1 spot on the free throw percentage chart, hitting 78 percent of its foul line shots this year.

QUITE THE EXPERIENCE

Though Kelly Packard is in her first season as a collegiate head coach, she has surrounded herself with an experienced staff of assistants. Associate head coach Lisa McDonald is in her ninth season as an assistant and her eighth year at Ball State. Last year, McDonald served as interim head coach for the final 20 games of the campaign, guiding the Cardinals to a 12-8 record and an 11-5 mark in MAC play. Assistant coach Carter Shaw joined the staff this season after 11 years serving as an assistant at UC Santa Barbara, Colorado State and Utah. Shaw has assisted on eight NCAA Tournament teams, including an 11th-seeded UCSB squad that upset No. 6 Colorado and No. 3 Houston to reach the Sweet 16 in 2004. Together McDonald and Shaw have helped guide teams to 10 regular season conference championships and 15 postseason berths.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

It's no surprise that the Cardinals conquered Bowling Green in the MAC Tournament to earn the league's automatic NCAA bid, as they ranked second in the conference in defensive rebounding, first in assist-to-turnover ratio and boast the MAC Defensive Player of the Year among their ranks. Ball State finished the regular season averaging over 25 defensive boards per game, thanks, in part, to senior guard Porchia Green's 6.9 rebounds per contest. Green became the second player in BSU history to earn the league's top defensive award, leading the squad in steals and ranking 14th all-time in career rebounds. Green is just one swipe away from moving into a tie for eighth all-time at Ball State. The Indianapolis, Ind., native also became the Cardinals' third two-time selection to the All-MAC First Team.

E.A. DIDDLE ARENA

When it comes to familiarity with E.A. Diddle Arena, the Lady Vols win the match-up. Tennessee has played at Western Kentucky six times in program history, including three NCAA Tournament contests. Ball State, on the other hand, has made just one appearance in Bowling Green, Ky. That game, however, came this season when the Cardinals defeated Western Kentucky in overtime on Dec. 20. Ball State was led by Emily Maggert and Porchia Green in the game, posting 16 and 20 points, respectively, while Kiley Jarrett put away the last-second bucket to secure the win. Tennessee's last trip to Diddle Arena saw it top Virginia and Long Beach State in the first and second rounds of the 1989 NCAA Tournament en route to the Final Four in Tacoma, Wash. Current Tennessee assistant coach Daedra Charles-Furlow was a member of that 1989 squad that took home the Lady Vols' second NCAA title.

BLEEDING RED

With the Cardinals making their first trip to the NCAA Tournament, a few notable Ball State alumni will likely be keeping an eye on the 2008-09 squad. Late night talk show host David Letterman, current New Orleans Hornets guard/forward Bonzi Wells, San Diego State football head coach Brady Hoke, Kansas City Star sports columnist Jason Whitlock, Garfield creator Jim Davis and Papa John's Pizza founder John Schnatter all count themselves among Ball State's alumni.

SPREADING THE LOVE

This season, Ball State has seen each of its starters lead or tie for the team-lead in scoring at least four times. Sophomore forward Emily Maggert was the team's leading scorer in 11 games this season, posting double digits each time. Meanwhile, junior guard Audrey McDonald and senior guard Porchia Green each led or tied for the scoring lead seven times this season. Junior forward Danielle Gratton was the top scorer six times during the campaign, posting five double-doubles.

HOOSIER TIES

Seven Indiana natives will take to the court in the match-up between Tennessee and Ball State. Lady Vols Brianna Bass (Indianapolis) and Sydney Smallbone (Granger) will face off against fellow Hoosiers Porchia Green (Indianapolis), Kiley Jarrett (Bloomington), Kyleigh Jones (Elwood), Audrey McDonald (Kokomo) and Amber Clark (Huntington). During their high school days, the group collected three state titles and nine regional titles across three divisions.

2009 NCAA TOURNEY TIME FOR TENNESSEE

The Lady Vols are playing in the postseason for the 34th time in Coach Pat Summitt's 35-year career at Tennessee. UT starts the tournament on the road in Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the NCAA First/Second Rounds. It marks just the fi fth time in 28 years that UT has been on the road for the opening rounds. The Lady Vols also traveled in 2004 (Tallahassee, Fla.), 2006 (Norfolk, Va.), 2007 (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and 2008 (West Lafayette, Ind.). The University of Tennessee served as host for NCAA First /Second Rounds from 1982-2003 and 2005.

BREAKING DOWN THE BERKELEY BRACKET--HOW WE'VE FARED ALL-TIME

Of the other 15 teams in the Berkeley bracket, Tennessee has faced 10 schools all-time. Against all teams in this bracket, UT has a 141-27-1 (.840) record all-time.

(Bold indicates NCAA Tournament game; italics indicates 2008-09 UT opponent)

AGAINST THE 2009 TOURNAMENT FIELD

This season, Tennessee has faced in 16 teams in 20 games from the 63-team (plus UT) 2009 NCAA bracket. Overall, the Lady Vols have turned in an 11-9 record. UT defeated: Western Carolina (83-56), DePaul (88-67), Middle Tennessee (81-52), then- #3/4 Stanford (79-69 OT), at Gonzaga (77-58), at then-#15/14 Rutgers (55-51), against Mississippi State (63-56 and 82-68), Georgia (73-43), versus then-19/21 Vanderbilt (75-66), and versus then #21/18 Florida (71-67). The Lady Vols' losses came against then-#15/15 Virginia (82-83), at then-#6/5 Texas (59-73), at then-#24 Vanderbilt (58-74), versus then-#6/5 Auburn (68-82 and 58-78), at then-#2 Oklahoma (70-80), at then-#11/13 Florida (57-66), versus then-#7/10 Duke (54-62), and at LSU (61- 63).

FIRST TIME JITTERS

Seven Lady Vols will join the roll call against Ball State earning their fi rst playing time in the NCAA Tournament -- Briana Bass, Alyssia Brewer, Kelley Cain, Amber Gray, Glory Johnson, Alicia Manning and Shekinna Stricklen. Coach Pat Summitt and staff are like anxious parents teaching their kids to ride a bike for the fi rst time without training wheels. Last season, the three rookies in 2008 had a nice showing in their NCAA tourney debut versus Oral Roberts. Forward Angie Bjorklund scored a team high 16 points and gathered seven rebounds in 18 minutes. Vicki Baugh tossed in eight points, grabbed fi ve rebounds and rejected two shots. Fellow frosh Sydney Smallbone scored seven points, snagged three boards and added two assists in her fi rst NCAA action.

LOVE US, HATE US ... GOTTA R-E-S-P-E-C-T US

The #18/23-ranked and #5-seeded Tennessee Lady Vols open play in their 28th consecutive NCAA Tournament - the only team to have garnered an invitation to every "Big Dance." All-time, UT has received 13 automatic bids and been selected as an at-large team 15 times. Last year, the Lady Vols' 2008 number one seed marked the 19th time Tennessee has earned a top billing. Prior to this season's fi fth place seeding, UT had 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 104-19 record in 123 NCAA Tournament games - all under head coach Pat Summitt.

WE'LL BE HOSTING NEXT YEAR IN KNOXVILLE

The University of Tennessee will be hosting an NCAA First/Second Round site next year in Thompson- Boling Arena in Knoxville, Tenn., on March 20 & 22. The Lady Vols have hosted 23 First/Second Round games and the Mideast Regionals six times.

OVER 100 NCAA TOURNAMENT WINS

The Tennessee Lady Vols and coach Pat Summitt reached an incredible milestone in the 2008 NCAA Tournament -- 100 victories. The win over Purdue in the 2008 NCAA Second Round was number 100 for UT. It's hard to imagine that one-tenth of Summitt's 1,000 career victories have come in the NCAA tourney.

WE TURN UP LIKE A HEADS UP PENNY

After attending four consecutive Final Fours twice (1995, 1996, 1997,1998 and 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005) and winning three consecutive titles (1996, 1997, 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. UT returned to the 2007 Final Four and captured an unprecedented seventh NCAA title and followed that up with an 18th trip to the Final Four and the eighth NCAA Championship in 2008.

NCAA FIRST ROUND NOTES

Tennessee has won 21 First/Opening Round games in the NCAA Tournament dating back to 1982 and sports an 21-0 record. There were six years where the Lady Vols had a First Round bye (1988- 93). Tennessee averages 89.3 ppg in NCAA First Round contests and holds its opponents to just 51.8 ppg or an average win margin of +37.5 ppg. Tennessee scored a then-NCAA record 111 points against North Carolina A&T in the 1994 First Round. AT tallied 37 points to give UT a 74-point winning margin. In 1999, Tennessee tallied 113 points against Appalachian St. for the then-fifth most scored points in an NCAA First or Second round. The Lady Vols closest game in the First Round was a fi ve-point win over Iowa in 1986, 73-68. Virginia held UT to just 65 points in 1985. The Lady Vols won the game 65- 55.

Tennessee's First/Opening Round opponents through the years have included: Jackson St., South Carolina St., Middle Tennessee State, Virginia, Iowa, Tennessee Tech, North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Radford, Grambling, Liberty, Appalachian St., Furman, Austin Peay, Georgia State, Alabama State, Colgate, Western Carolina, Army, Drake and Oral Roberts.

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 fi fth most ever scored in NCAA First/Second Round action.

NO #1 SEED FOR UT THIS YEAR

The University of Tennessee has earned 19 number-one seeds all-time in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. UT has been seeded number two on four occasions, number three, three times, number four just once and the lowest all-time seeding, fi fth in 2009. From 1988-96, the Lady Vols had nine consecutive number one seeds. Only 30 schools have ever received number one seeds over the years. Teams with the most number one seeds through the years: 1. Tennessee (19), 2. Connecticut (12), 3. Louisiana Tech (10), 4. Duke (7), 5. Stanford (6), and 6. North Carolina, Texas and Old Dominion (5).

THESE SEEDS SENT UT HOME

Tennessee has played in an incredible 123 games in the NCAA Tournament since 1982. Eight times the Lady Vols have brought home NCAA titles to Knoxville. On the 19 occasions when UT lost in the tournament, the number one seeded team provided the honors nine times. The Lady Vols have never lost to a team seeded lower than #4 all-time in the tournament. The following seeds showed the Lady Vols the door in the tourney:

#1 seed--1982, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006
#2 seed--1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 2004
#3 seed--1999
#4 seed--1992, 1994, 2001

THE BERKELEY REGIONAL BRACKET

The Lady Vols have been placed in the Berkeley bracket of the NCAA Tournament in 2009 -- back in the day, that would be considered the old West Regional. This marks the fi rst time in 28 trips to the "Big Dance" that the Lady Vols have been sent to the West.

Typically, the Lady Vols are placed in the "Mideast Regional" and advanced to the Final Four 10 times -- in 1982, 1984, 1986, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2003 and 2007. In 2007, the Lady Vols were in the Dayton Regional (Mideast) bracket and in 2006 UT was in the Cleveland Regional.

UT has been in the "Midwest" bracket of the NCAA Tournament four 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), in 2004, (where the team lost to UConn in the NCAA title game in New Orleans) and in 2008, when the Lady Vols won the eighth title and back-to-back with a win over Stanford in the Championship game).

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 (fi nishing 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 (fi nishing third in Indianapolis at the Final Four. While advancing from the East produced two NCAA titles and two third place fi nishes, 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 fl oor 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.

OUTTA KNOXVILLE FOR JUST THE FIFTH TIME EVER IN MARCH

In the 2004 NCAA Tournament, for the fi rst time in postseason play, the Tennessee Lady Vols did not play a post-season play-off game in Knoxville. The Lady Vols started the tournament in Tallahassee that year.

Once again this season, the Lady Vols are on the road for NCAA play traveling to Bowling Green, Kentucky and (hopefully) Berkeley, California. In 2008, UT traveled to West Lafayette, Ind., and Oklahoma City, Okla. , for Regional play. In 2007, UT traveled to Pittsburgh for the 2007 NCAA First/ Second Rounds. In 2006, the Lady Vols traveled to Norfolk for the NCAA First/Second Rounds. Prior to 2004, 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 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 postseason 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. that year. After playing hostess for so many years in Knoxville, the Lady Vols have started to have its share of games on home courts. In 2007, UT had to defeat host Pittsburgh on its home court to advance to the Dayton Regional. In 2008, UT had to get by Purdue on its home fl oor to advance to Oklahoma City.

UT'S NCAA OT GAMES

UT has played in fi ve 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 fi rst overtime game in NCAA tourney history. UT advanced to the NCAA's fi rst Final Four in 1982 in Norfolk, Va., from that overtime affair. The Lady Vols played in the fi rst 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 fi rst 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 semifi nal game.

SUMMITT'S NCAA RECORDS

Lady Vol coach Pat Summitt has coached in 1,197 basketball games to date producing an incredible 1005-192 (.840) overall record. What's even more amazing is that she has coached in over 100 NCAA Tournament games --- her record in the NCAAs, 104-19 (.843) in 123 NCAA contests. On the women's side, Georgia's Andy Landers trails Summitt in NCAA Tournament appearances with 26 - Summitt has 28. Summitt has coached in 123 NCAA Tournament games -next best is UConn's Geno Auriemma who has coached in 80 games just passing former Louisiana Tech legend Leon Barmore who coached in 75 games. Summitt has collected 104 NCAA wins...UConn's Geno Auriemma has won 65 games to rank second among active coaches. Comparing Summitt to the men's side, Dean Smith (UNC) coached in 92 tournament games while Duke's Mike Krzyzewski has coached in 90 games. Krzyzewski passed Smith recording 69 NCAA wins. Summitt has appeared in all 28 (consecutive) NCAA Tournaments, and is ahead of 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 40-7 (.837) record in eight years of NCAA competition for an overall slate of 104-19 over 27 years of play.

18 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 signifi cantly, Summitt has passed Wooden for most trips to the Final Four with 18 to Wooden's dozen.

UT IN NCAA TITLE GAMES

Tennessee has appeared in 13 NCAA title games (8-5 overall) since 1982 and won eight championships. The Lady Vols have an overall 21-10 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 95 Lady Vol team members have participated/played in 18 Final Fours. That ranks fi rst 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.

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 1,197 collegiate contests and sports a 1,005-192 overall record in 35 seasons, has gone into battle 227 times in the months of March and April. She has come out a winner in 182 games losing just 45 basketball games (.800). Her teams are 60-2 at home, 10-1 away and 112-42 at neutral sites in the third and fourth months of the year.

20 WIN SEASONS

With a victory over Vanderbilt on Mar. 1, 2009, Tennessee reached at least 20 wins in a season under Coach Pat Summitt for the 33rd consecutive time. Despite the current 22-10 overall record, this Lady Vol team is still ahead of several other former UT teams who struggled to record 20 wins in a season. The 1984-85 team achieved 20 wins on Mar.3, 1985; the 1980-81 team picked up the 20th win on Mar. 10, 1981; the 1981-82 squad logged its 20th win on Mar. 13, 1982 and the 1983-84 squad picked up win number 20 on Mar. 17, 1984. With the exception of the 1984-85 three ACL injury-plagued team, the other squads advanced to the Final Four.

11 IS THE MOST ALL-TIME

Tennessee is sitting on 10 losses on the season. Should the team drop another game, it would tie for the most losses in school history with 11. Young Pat Head suffered 11 losses in her second year on the job in Knoxville, going 16-11 in 1975-76. The Lady Vols have recorded fi ve previous 10 loss seasons. UT was 29-10 in 1996-97 (NCAA Champs), 24-10 in 1985-86 (NCAA Final Four semis), 22-10 in 1984- 85 (Sweet 16), 23-10 in 1983-84 (NCAA Final Four Runner-up) and 22-10 in 1981-82 (NCAA Final Four semis).

2008-09 RANKED TIDBITS

Tennessee is 4-8 against ranked opponents this season. UT claimed its fourth win over a ranked team this season avenging a regular season loss with a win over #21/18 Florida in the SEC Tournament, 71-67. After jumping out by fi ve at the half against #6/5-ranked Auburn in the SEC semi's, the Lady Vols lost badly, 78-58. A week earlier, UT picked up ranked win number three with a 75-66 home win over Vanderbilt. UT lost to #7/10 Duke (62-54) after dropping a pair of games to ranked teams losing on Feb. 2, 2009, to #2-ranked Oklahoma, 80-70, and #11/13-ranked Florida, 66-57 on Feb. 8. The Lady Vols previously lost a pair of games to SEC ranked foes on the road -- Jan. 25, 2009, falling to #6/5-ranked Auburn, 82- 68 and two weeks earlier, #24-ranked Vanderbilt sent UT home, 74-58. Previously, UT took a road win over a ranked team with a 55-51 win at #15/14 Rutgers on Jan. 3. Number 3/4-ranked Stanford is the highest ranked opponent the Lady Vols have defeated this season (a 79-69 OT win)... The Lady Vols lost at #6/5-ranked Texas, 73-59... Virginia was Tennessee's fi rst ranked opponent of the 2008-09 season... The Cavs were ranked #16/15 when they defeated the #5/6 Lady Vols, 83-82... Last season, Tennessee faced a total of 20 ranked opponents in 38 games and produced a 18-2 record...

FACING THE UNRANKED

When taking on an unranked opponent such as Ball State, the odds have typically tipped in Tennessee's favor. In her 35 years at the helm of the Lady Vols, UT head coach Pat Summitt has fashioned a 603-34 (.948) record when going up against unranked teams. This year, however, two unranked foes knocked off Tennessee -- at Kentucky and at LSU.

LAST LOSS TO AN UNRANKED TEAM?

Twice this season unranked teams have picked off the Lady Vols. LSU was the latest to do it on Feb. 26 with a 63-61 victory. A week earlier, unranked Kentucky turned the trick in Lexington with a 66-56 win on Feb. 19, 2009. Prior to that, it was in the 2005-06 season. Florida became the second unranked team in the 2005-06 season to knock off the Lady Vols, when they won 95-93 OT on Feb. 26, 2006. Exactly one month earlier, unranked Kentucky turned the trick with a 66-63 win over#1/3-ranked Tennessee on Jan. 26, 2006 at Rupp Arena. Previously, it had been four years since an unranked team upset the Lady Vols. So before Florida and Kentucky had their way with UT, when was the last time Tennessee lost to an unranked team? That would have been to LSU on Mar. 2, 2002 at the SEC Tournament in Nashville, Tenn. LSU had been in and out of the Top 25 polls in late January and February. Prior to that, UT's last loss to an unranked team was fi ve years previous (to the day) losing to Auburn on Mar. 2, 1997 at the SEC Tournament.

2009 LADY VOL SENIOR

The Tennessee Lady Vol Basketball Senior Class of 2009 -- Alex Fuller -- has accumulated an overall record of 123 wins and just 20 losses with her teams going 31-5, 34-3, 36-2 and currently, 22- 10. This senior has played in the NCAA Final Four twice ... winning the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Championships! She has also helped to capture an SEC regular season crown (2007) and three SEC Tournament Titles (2005, 2006, 2008).

LADY VOL STREAKS

The Lady Vols last lost at home was against Duke, 62-54, since then UT has won two home game. Duke's win snapped a 10-game Lady Vol home winning streak since fellow ACC foe Virginia won 83-82 on Nov. 17, 2008. The last time UT lost on the road was on Feb. 26, 2009 at LSU, since then, UT has not played a road game. The last time the Lady Vols lost on a neutral court was against Auburn, 58-78, on March 7, 2009. Since that time, UT has not played on a neutral court.

ONE OF THOSE VUJA DE THINGS

Kind of like deja vu but with a twist... The 1997 season thing keeps cropping up. The latest installment centers around Tennessee facing Auburn in the 1997 SEC Tournament semifi nals. It was the fi rst time UT had to play on the Tournament's fi rst day... the Lady Vols got by the fi rst two opponents to face Auburn in the semis. See the similarities to 2009? UT lost to Auburn in the semis, 61-59, and it was the last and 10th loss of the season. The Lady Vols then ran the table in the 1997 NCAA Tournament, including upsetting undefeated Connecticut in the Elite Eight, to record NCAA title number four.

Could history repeat? The Lady Vols once again suffered loss #10 of the 2009 season to Auburn in the SEC semifi nals and enter the NCAA Tourney with 10 losses and a 22-10 record. Is their a six-game tournament run in the Lady Vols future? By the way, the 1997 season was documented on HBO, it was called the "Cinderella Season."

HI HO! LONE SENIOR

This marks the ninth time in program history with just a lone senior on the squad in Alex Fuller. It has been awhile since one individual had to shoulder the load as the "mother hen" to a group of players -- 11 seasons actually. Point guard Laurie Milligan was the only senior when the Lady Vols went undefeated in the 1997-98 season. Prior to that time other solo seniors were: Nikki Caldwell (1993-94), Daedra Charles (1990-91), Tonya Edwards (1989-90), Pam Marr (1985-86), Lea Henry (1982-83), Susan Clower (1981-82) and Marcia Garner (1975-76).

YOUNGEST LINE-UP IN LADY VOL HISTORY

When rookies Shekinna Stricklen, Glory Johnson and Briana Bass started the game versus Middle Tennessee (Dec. 11, 2008), with sophomores Vicki Baugh and Angie Bjorklund, it marked the youngest starting lineup in Lady Vol history. Three rookies have started in three other lineups in the past but never with a couple of sophomores as their wing men. Previous three freshmen lineups: 1980-81 - Tanya Haave (Fr.), Mary Ostrowski (Fr.), Pat Hatmaker (Fr.), with Lea Henry (So.) and Cindy Noble (Sr.); 1984-85 - Karla Horton (Fr.), Kathy Spinks (Fr.), Dawn Marsh (Fr.), with Shelley Sexton (So.) and Shelia Collins (Sr.); 1997-98 - Tamika Catchings (Fr.), Semeka Randall (Fr.), Teresa Geter (Fr.), with Chamique Holdsclaw (Jr.) and Kellie Jolly (Jr.).

THE NATIONAL YOUNGSTER WATCH

Tennessee has a young team this season but there are a few other schools also up to their elbows in Pampers and Desenex. The Lady Vols have the fourth youngest team in the nation. Youngest Teams: 1. Tennessee-Martin, T2. Idaho, San Jose State, T4. Tennessee, Illinois, 6. UMBC, 7. Elon, T8. Central Arkansas, Arkansas, 10. Northeastern. Most Underclassmen: 1. UMBC 13, T2. Elon 12, T2. Northeastern 12, 4. Tennessee 11, T5. Green Bay 10, T5. McNeese 10. Most Freshmen: 1. Elon 9, T2. UMBC 8, T2. McNeese 8, T2. Northeastern 8, T5. Georgetown 7, T5. Nicholls 7, T5. Tennessee 7

GOOD AND BAD MEMORIES OF E.A. DIDDLE ARENA

It has been 20 years since the Lady Vols visited the E.A. Diddle Arena on the Western Kentucky campus. Tennessee's last time there, the Lady Vols were en route to the 1989 Final Four in Tacoma, Wash., after winning the East Region Championship in Bowling Green. All-time the Lady Vols hold a 5-1 record on the court losing only to #6-ranked Ole Miss, 63-60 on March 22, 1985. With the victory, the Lady Rebs avenged a Tennessee SEC Tournament Championship won in Oxford just a few week earlier.

LEADING AT THE BREAK

The Lady Vols have led at halftime in 20 of 32 games this season, tied in three games and trailed in nine. Tennessee was tied at the half with Texas (31-all), Arkansas (32-all) and Kentucky (29-all)... the Lady Vols trailed 33-13 after 20 minutes at Rutgers... Vandy jumped out to a 31-23 halftime lead in Nashville... Auburn had a 31-26 lead, Miss. State was up 36-34 in Knoxville, LSU held a 15-point lead at the half, 35-20, Vandy also led in Knoxville 34-31 and Alabama had a 31-30 halftime lead. Oklahoma fashioned a fi ve-point, 41-36 lead over the Lady Vols at the break and Duke was up 28-23. On average, UT holds a 33.1 to 30.1 halftime lead. The Lady Vols have outscored the opposition 37.1 to 33.3 in the second stanza.

FRESHMEN, SHESH-MEN

Yes, yes... we all know Tennessee has a young team facing a typically tough slate. How tough?? Entering the NCAA Tournament, UT had the number ONE strength of schedule (SOS) in the nation. The Lady Vols' RPI ranked between is 8th and 10th.