Last Season: 29–5, Final Four

	Lawson will be the Vols backbone this season.

Though the Lady Vols have only 11 players on their roster, Pat Summitt believes less is more: "I blame my husband for us playing with 14 last year. He's always telling me I live on the edge, but I prefer smaller numbers. We can develop better rhythm and chemistry." That shouldn't be a problem for a squad with two big-time seniors: All-America combo G Kara Lawson (15.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and PF Gwen Jackson (10.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg). Tennessee also expects big things from its talented sophs: F Shyra Ely (9.3 ppg in just 21 mpg), wing Brittany Jackson and combo G Loree Moore. If Summitt gets more production from her juniors -- including 6'5" C Ashley Robinson and vastly improved F/C Courtney McDaniel -- something tells us she'll be riding the edge right into April.

One Step Ahead: Did we mention those 11 players were all prep All-Americas? The key word here is intensity: When everyone has a chance to play, the practices are full tilt, the full-court pressure is stifling and every game is an audition for the next. When Summitt says chemistry, what she really means is maximum burn.

One Step Behind: Quick, name UT's all-time three-point leader ... tick ... tick ... tick ... Actually, it's Lawson -- and that's the problem. As the primary ballhandler the past three years, she's drawn double-teams down the stretch because the Vols lacked another deep threat. Jackson and frosh deadeye Shanna Zolman could change that.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
WOMEN
1. Duke Blue Devils	5. LSU Tigers
2. Tennessee Volunteers	6. Texas Tech Red Raiders
3. Kansas State Wildcats	7. Texas Longhorns
4. UConn Huskies	8. Stanford Cardinal

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.