KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- In an interview in early January, University of Tennessee women's basketball coach Pat Summitt exuded confidence.

	Ashley Robinson and the Tennessee freshmen have come up big for the Lady Vols.

It was one of those drive-by interviews a writer sometimes has to do with Summitt. She had completed her post-game press conference, charmed the fans with her live radio show in Thompson-Boling Arena and was headed across the court toward the locker room when approached for a few questions.

"Walk with me," Summitt said when it was apparent if she stood on the court she would be surrounded by well-wishers and might never get to the next place she needed to be.

We walked. She talked. My initial questions were about Tamika Catchings' draft status -- this was just days prior to Catchings' injury -- and the WNBA draft as a whole. The next inquiry was about Tennessee and its development as a team. By the time Summitt finished her answer, we had reached the door to the locker room.

The final question was whether Tennessee would be in St. Louis for the Final Four. Summitt stopped, smiled and nodded.

She seemed in no hurry now. She explained why her team would be there: It had a lot of room for improvement. This team had shown signs of its offensive and defensive potential but had not sustained it throughout the game. By March, it would.

She seemed to have no doubt.

Summitt and her team are a month ahead of schedule. The Lady Vols are conjuring up comparisons to the 1998 undefeated team that demolished opponents with its full-court attack and offensive explosions. Last year's team was good -- it faltered, but still reached the Final Four -- but it lacked a killer instinct. That team never seem to really put opponents away.

This year's team does. And it does it with depth and an awesome display of athleticism. It seems anyone facing the Lady Vols lately is setting records -- for worst loss ever. And Tennessee is putting up triple digits on the scoreboard.

Last Thursday, Tennessee scored its most points ever in an SEC game rolling past Ole Miss, 119-52. That surpassed the 118-44 win over Florida in the first-ever women's SEC tourney on Feb. 8, 1980, exactly 21 years ago. Ironically that team was coached by current Lady Vol assistant Mickie DeMoss.

"She didn't speak to me for a month," Summitt said to laughter.

Tennessee dismantled Florida in Gainesville on Sunday, 103-73. Florida was the No. 6 team in the country but could not stay with the Lady Vols in the second half. Everyone who was healthy played, and the Lady Vols stopped pressing when the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Freshman Tasha Butts is showing the 3-point accuracy she had in high school, sophomore Gwen Jackson should be a first-team All-American this season, Kara Lawson and April McDivitt are hitting long-range shots and opening up the inside for the 6-5 centers, Michelle Snow and Ashley Robinson. Robinson, who Summitt said is playing more aggressively every game, has logged the most minutes of the four freshmen.

"I think it all comes down to working hard at practice, learning to run the floor and maturing a lot," Robinson said on her improvement from October to February.

Summitt revamped the offense this season to take advantage of the perimeter shooters and post players. Tennessee at times has played Snow and Robinson at the same time, creating matchup problems for opponents.

"I said all along it would probably take until late January or early February before we really got comfortable with the offense," Lawson said.

Summitt said, "Even when we go to the bench, it doesn't really seem to break our rhythm offensively. ... This team is playing with a lot of confidence."

With Catchings out with a season-ending knee injury, first- and second-year players had to step up. Leadership comes from seniors Kristen Clement and Semeka Randall. It's hard to find a weak spot right now.

But Summitt is far from satisfied.

"We're still trying to see improvement in all phases of our game," Summitt said.

That sounds like title time in Tennessee, again.

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