KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- While the Tennessee Lady Vols work
toward another NCAA Tournament, Tamika Catchings will try to recover from a severe knee injury in time to play in it.
Catchings, No. 2 Tennessee's leading scorer and rebounder who
suffered a torn ligament in her right knee Monday against Mississippi State, attended
practice Tuesday and began what could be a miraculous comeback.
"One of my original goals coming in was to have two national
championships before I left. I have one. I don't have the other. I
feel like this team will pull together," said Catchings, a
freshman when Tennessee won the 1998 title. "Right now, my main
focus is helping this team even though I can't be on the court with
them."
While the other Lady Vols prepared for Thursday's game against No. 4 Georgia, Catchings sat propped up on a courtside
table, smiling and yelling out to her teammates as trainers and
team doctor Jenny Moshak massaged her knee. She won't have surgery until the swelling subsides.
"I hate watching practice. I definitely would rather be out
there," Catchings said. "But just watching them, they seemed so
motivated and so ready to play. I like that."
A healthy Catchings or not, Tennessee isn't quitting.
"We still intend to be in St. Louis," coach Pat Summitt said
of the NCAA Tournament. "A lot of people look at us now as less of
a threat nationally. It's important how we handle this."
There were no tears, sluggish sprints or half-hearted shots at
Tennessee's practice Tuesday.
"We had a really good practice. We're going to be focused,"
senior guard Semeka Randall said. "This season is definitely
dedicated to Tamika. This is going to be our payback."
By the time the Final Four rolls around, Catchings expects to be
healthy. The usual rehabilitation period for ACL tears is several
months.
To recover in two months would be monumental -- but not
impossible.
"I wouldn't put anything past this kid," Moshak said.
Other Lady Vols have battled back from severe injuries.
Point guard Kellie Jolly recovered from a torn ACL in 1997 in
three months and two weeks.
Moshak couldn't compare Jolly's and Catchings' injuries. Surgery
will show how much damage Catchings suffered.
But Catchings shook her head to indicate she could beat Jolly's
time. "I'm going to try it," she said.
Meanwhile, Tennessee will have to deal with her loss on the
court.
"We don't replace it with another Tamika Catchings because we
only have one. She's selfless, tenacious, high energy," Summitt
said. "We're not asking one player to make that up. We're asking
them to individually commit."
Catchings is only the second Lady Vols player -- after Chamique
Holdsclaw -- to reach 2,000 career points and 1,000 career rebounds.
After Monday's game, Catchings had 2,113 points and 1,004 rebounds.
As a result of the injury, Randall will play Catchings' forward
position. Senior guard Kristen Clement, a reserve most of the
season, will start in Randall's place at guard.
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