Over the years, Tennessee has had its share of superstars.

	Kara Lawson, Tennessee's emotional leader, could be the Lady Vols' next legend.

Holly Warlick and Cindy Brogdon in the 1970s. Daedra Charles and Bridgette Gordon in the '80s. Chamique Holdsclaw and Tamika Catchings in the '90s.

But when Catchings left the program, coach Pat Summitt was left without a superstar to lean on. So last season, the Lady Vols relied on depth more than on any one individual, and on balance more than a bonafide star. Summitt scrambled more than ever, using 16 different starting lineups and depending heavily on unproven underclassmen.

Although the Lady Vols reached their 13th Final Four, the season ended on a sour note with a humbling 24-point loss to arch-rival Connecticut in the national semifinals. For the first time since 1997, Tennessee failed to win at least 30 games.

But all those growing pains might prove to be worth it in 2002-03 as all those underclassmen are now experienced and game-tested instead of unproven. With the exception of Courtney McDaniel, each of Tennessee's returners started at least one game last season and averaged double-digit minutes, providing former role players like Tasha Butts and underclassmen such as Loree Moore, Brittany Jackson and Shyra Ely the opportunity to make a big impact this season.

Tennessee, which scored nearly 15 more points and grabbed 8.5 more rebounds than opponents while harassing foes into almost 20 turnovers a game, also returns more than 70 percent of last season's offense, losing only one double-digit scorer in Michelle Snow. So despite losing reserve Michelle Muñoz and April McDivitt, who transferred away over the offseason, all the pieces appear to be there for Tennessee to win its first NCAA title in five years.

Along the way, someone might emerge as the next Lady Vol legend. It could be senior Gwen Jackson, one of the best wings in the country who helped fill in after Catchings went down in January 2001 with an ACL tear that ended her college career.

But Tennessee's most likely candidate for superstar-status this season is senior Kara Lawson, who is one of the most competitive players in the game. The 5-foot-8 guard, who holds the program's career mark for 3-pointers made (179), averaged a team-high 15.1 points and shot 46.6 percent from the field en route to landing a spot on the All-SEC first team.

Lawson is a tremendous scorer and clutch shooter -- remember the game-winning shot with a minute to play to hold off Georgia last February, then the buzzer-beating, running floater from 15 feet to cap the come-from-behind win over Mississippi State four days later? She just needs to continue to work on driving to her left as opponents continue to force her to her weaker side.

Can Lawson carry the Lady Vols like Holdsclaw or Catchings did? She has the chance to be that type of player.

But more importantly, Lawson and her teammates have the chance to be one of the best teams Summitt has had in her 29 years at Tennessee.

ESPN analyst Nancy Lieberman and Melanie Jackson, who oversees ESPN.com's women's college basketball coverage, contributed to this report.