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Volunteering an upset

KNOXVILLE, Tenn.-The UA women's basketball team doesn't need to be told their opponent tonight has won six national titles, are the No. 2 team in the country and are coached by a member of the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.

Nor do they want to be told that Tennessee is 25-0 in NCAA Tournament first and second round games because becoming another victim to the Volunteers­ domination has not even crossed their minds.

"This is a dream opportunity because you don't get very many chances to play Tennessee," senior guard Lisa Griffith said. "The stage is set for us to pull off an upset and there is no doubt on this team that we can win this ballgame. We have the talent, the experience and the depth to do this. So we are excited, very, very excited."

Eighth-seed Arizona (25-6) faces top-seeded Tennessee (29-3) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament tonight at 7:05 (Tucson time) in Thompson-Boling Arena after downing Kent 73-61 Saturday.

Tennessee defeated Furham 90-38 on Saturday.

"There is certainly not going to be any lack of motivation on our parts," senior forward Tatum Brown said. "Everyone in the country is probably picking against us, but our team is going to have so much heart out on the court and will use every ounce of energy against them. If we play the way we know we can, there's no limit to what our team can do, and that includes beating Tennessee."

UA head coach Joan Bonvicini has prided her team on possessing a deep roster that can cover all aspects of the game.

If Arizona can exhibit that balance by hitting outside shots, scoring in the paint and defending Tennessee inside and out, Arizona will be in position to beat the Volunteers and advance in the tournament, she said.

Though Tennessee has defeated Arizona in both previous outings by a combined margin of 54 points (65-63 in 1993 and 109-57 in 1995), UT head coach Pat Summitt is wary of the Wildcat squad that her team faces this year.

"From everything that I have read, they have really wanted to play us to begin with," Summitt said. "I don't think they'll be intimidated, I think they'll come here and leave it all on the court. They have speed and quickness, it will be a real challenge for us."

While Arizona has the unenviable task of trying to match-up against UT's starting lineup, a veritable college all-star roster, perhaps most difficult will be junior forward Tamika Catchings, the 2000 Naismith Player of the Year.

"They get out and run better than anyone else in the country and they can fill they lanes too," Bonvicini said. "Then you have a player like Catchings who can play the post, but really is a guard. They have some great players, but I'm most impressed with how hard they play."

Arizona is not only looking at this game as an opportunity to advance in the tournament, but to establish themselves as a women's basketball powerhouse on the West Coast.

"If you want to be up there with the Tennessees, Connecticuts and the Rutgers, you have to beat team like that in order to be compared to those teams," Griffith said. "And until you do, you won't be able to say you're one of the elite teams in the country. They're awesome and we know we're going to have our hands full."

Entering the game, associate head coach Denise Dove-Ianello said she will remind her team who they are not playing tonight.

"We are looking at the game like we are playing the 1999-2000 Tennessee basketball team, we are not playing the Tennessee tradition," Dove-Ianello said. "Obviously this is an impressive arena, and sure, the banners are bigger than the blanket on my bed, but you just have to go play against them and not against all the glory that their program possess."

"Coach B said earlier that if we play this team 10 times, they'd probably win eight times, but all you need is that one chance and ours is (tonight)," Brown said. "I want this, Coach B wants this and the team wants this. So, our doubters can forget about Tennessee just cruising to the next round."