 |
|
| Thursday, November 4 Updated: November 9, 1:43 PM ET Catchings tabbed Player of the Year Basketball News |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
It's not easy to step out of a shadow. After excelling outside the glare of the spotlight, not everyone can make the adjustment to being the star.
Fortunately for the Tennessee Lady Volunteers, Tamika Catchings won't have that problem. She has been groomed for this since coming to the Tennessee program two years ago, and she already has a national championship on her mantle. Plus, who could be better to learn the game from than Chamique Holdsclaw, a player widely considered to be the best women's collegian ever? Catchings is more than just a scorer. Her 16.6 scoring average last season ranked her second on the Lady Vols behind Holdsclaw, but her game is much more diverse than just putting the ball in the basket. She's a solid free-throw shooter, and her 7.3 rebounding average makes her a force on both ends of the floor. As if that isn't enough, she was second on the squad in assists in 1998-99, handing out three a game. Beyond the numbers, her fearlessness and leadership also make her valuable. Forget the fact she's a two-time All-American. Never mind that there is a ton of pressure on her to produce. When it comes down to the end of the game, Catchings wants the ball in her hands. She wants to be the one to win it or lose it, and she doesn't often miss. Months may have passed, but the pain of last year's failure to win the national title is still fresh to all of the Lady Vols. Some experts predict they'll be down this season, but with Basketball News Preseason Player of the Year Tamika Catchings on their side, they'll once again be very, very tough to beat.
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
