Tennessee coach Pat Summitt has tinkered with her starting lineup, watched her team get off to slow starts, witnessed horrendous free-throw shooting and seen teams stay closer than they should sometimes.

But she says she knows one thing: This Lady Vol squad will be in St. Louis for the Final Four. Her confidence is based on how a team improves throughout the season, and so far, she likes what she sees.

"I think this team is going to be real good in March," Summitt said, and she answered "of course" when asked if she expected Tennessee to be in Missouri on March 30, the day the Final Four gets under way.

As far as other teams, Summitt gives the nod to Connecticut and cited Notre Dame, Georgia and Duke as legitimate Final Four contenders. Summitt said Purdue also has been impressive.

"I think what might happen, the teams we're talking about right now, how much they improve from January to the beginning of March, that might determine who is going to go to St. Louis. Some teams have more room for growth than others or for improvement," Summitt said.

And does that favor Tennessee?

"That definitely favors Tennessee," Summitt said. "Because we put in so many new looks offensively and because of the role Ashley (Robinson) is playing and the minutes Tasha (Butts) has been able to receive."

Summitt said Robinson, a 6-foot-5 freshman center, is playing better with her back to the basket. Summitt hopes another post player will step up to spell sophomore Gwen Jackson, who has gotten winded in recent games. Jackson is physically stronger this year and has been logging more minutes.

"I see us improving and I'm a pretty harsh judge ... The schedule will make us grow up," Summitt said.

Summitt has often said rebounding wins championships, and this team has rebounders at every position. Forward Tamika Catchings had 11 in the win over LSU last week with six of those coming on the offensive end.

Catchings said the team's goal is to out-rebound each opponent by 10.

"We go into every game knowing rebounding is all heart," Catchings said. "If we want to win the game we have to rebound."

But the top teams shouldn't make their reservations for "Arch Madness" just yet.

"I think you'll have a surprise team," Summitt said. "I think there will be an upset."

Summitt just doesn't think it will be Tennessee.

UConn tops latest RPI
The latest RPI ranking in women's basketball has Connecticut No. 1 with Tennessee No. 2. The schools are separated by .00087 in scoring, which measures strength of schedule and strength of opponents' schedule. Rounding out the top five are Notre Dame, Georgia and Duke.

You can check the daily rankings at collegeRPI.com.

The WBCA/Summerville RPI also ranks teams. It also has Connecticut No. 1 with Tennessee No. 2 by the margin of .00763. You can check the daily rankings at WBCA.org.

The strongest conferences, in order, are the SEC, Big Twelve, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-10 and the Big East.

Dunn likes what she sees
Lin Dunn, head coach of the WNBA's Seattle Storm, was in attendance at last week's Lady Vols game against LSU in Knoxville. Dunn has the first pick in the WNBA draft this spring and a slew of seniors will be available, Catchings among them.

"I think there's no doubt Tamika is a legitimate prospect to be the top pick," Dunn said in a courtside interview.

Dunn also cited seniors Ruth Riley of Notre Dame and Shea Ralph and Svetlana Abrosimova of Connecticut as players expected to go near or at the top of the draft. Australian center Lauren Jackson also has been mentioned as a No. 1 pick.

Contact Maria M. Cornelius of The Knoxville News-Sentinel in Tennessee at http://www.knoxnews.com.