Tennessee coach Kellie Harper believes the shadow of Pat Summitt still looms over the Lady Volunteers, along with the expectations that come with leading the program that has more wins than any other in the history of women’s college basketball.
Harper, in her second season as head coach at her alma mater, also knows the program is a shadow of what it was under Summitt – and that trying to be her is not the way to build a contender.
“That’s just not going to work,” Harper said. “And what I can do is be the best me that I can possibly be. A me that learned from her, that played for her, that gave everything I had to the program. But at the end of the day, you’re going to sell yourself short if you’re trying to be somebody that you’re not.”
One lesson Harper learned well while winning three national championships playing for Summitt is to be willing to schedule games against the best teams in the nation – anywhere, anytime. That’s why No. 25 Tennessee (9-2) will host the third-ranked University of Connecticut Huskies (8-0) for the first time in 15 years Thursday night in the second game of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Revival Series.
The Lady Vols lost to UConn 60-45 a year ago, the first time these programs had met in 13 years. This showdown will cap the 10th annual “We Back Pat” week to support Summitt and the foundation in her name fighting Alzheimer’s. Summitt died on June 28, 2016, at age 64, five years after she was diagnosed with the early onset form of the disease.