KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- As the women's college basketball regular season slips into its last week, it's interesting to riffle through old notes, read pre-season comments and see how they measure up to actual results.

KNOXVILLE NOTES

MOUNT SUMMITT: LSU nearly upset the Lady Vols, but two missed free throws and a last-second shot allowed Tennessee to squeeze out the victory Sunday afternoon. Tennessee did not deploy its zone defense in the first half although Summitt's assistant coaches -- Mickie DeMoss, Holly Warlick and Al Brown -- wanted to. Summitt resisted. "I was too mad to play zone," she said. However, Summitt relented and UT did go zone after the break. "In the second half, it's a matter of let's win the ball game. It's not any longer about trying to prove a point or inspire them to play out of their man." "HOME" GAMES: One of the reasons Summitt cited for wanting to end the popular home-and-home series with UConn was that Tennessee was in a "crunch" for games as it was seeking "home" contests for out-of-state players Michelle Snow, Kara Lawson and April McDivitt. "For Michelle's game near Pensacola, Fla., we are looking at setting up a game with Florida State University. I talked to them (last week) and we are currently working to set up a date for that game. For Kara Lawson, we will play a game in the Washington, D.C., area against a team like George Washington or Georgetown. For April's game, we are hoping to start a series with Indiana University." TOURNEY ATTRACTION: Two top players -- Tamika Catchings of Tennessee and Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova -- are gone for the NCAA Tournament. Both are still player of the year candidates, but fans won't be seeing them in the post-season (although Catchings is hoping to make a late return). Summitt recently was asked about the injuries and the impact on the postseason. "First of all, I think that it is very unfortunate for those two players to have suffered those injuries. It is very much like two Heisman Trophy candidates going down with injuries from two of the top teams," Summitt said. "I also hate it for both individuals, since they both love the game and are great team players. Both have contributed greatly to the success of their respective teams. I wish they both could have had the opportunity to play in the postseason and showcase their talents." However, their absence might generate more interest in the NCAA Tournament because it could level the playing field a little more for other teams. "Many people feel that the race is much more wide open this season and there are a number of teams that can win the championship," Summitt said. " ... This wide-open kind of situation may help the women's game and generate more interest."

Tennessee, coming off a 75-73 last-tenth-of-a-second win Sunday over LSU in Baton Rouge, appears to be right where it thought it would. The top-ranked Lady Vols (26-1, 12-0) close the season at home Thursday against Vanderbilt and then travel to Auburn on Sunday.

"You never know how hard a team will work," UT coach Pat Summitt said in October. "This team has really had a real good level of intensity (in practice). From a coaching standpoint, you get to teach. If you can maintain that intensity, it's a real plus."

Last week, Summitt seemed shocked at how quickly the season has unfolded.

"I can't recall a season that has gone at this pace," Summitt said. "It has been incredible. When we started in November and December, I thought it was long and slow, which has something to do with our travel schedule. Once we got into January, though, it has seemed to be very short."

Summitt's most-recent media conference centered on the team's inspired play since the knee injury to Tamika Catchings. Summitt referred to it as "a committee of players who have stepped up."

"Initially, the player who stepped up the tempo the most was Kara Lawson," Summitt said. "She has become more aggressive on offense and in the half-court situation. I talked with her one-on-one and told her that she had to get her numbers up whether she was playing at the No. 1 or No. 2 spot, and she has responded."

Summitt said she told the team as a group that "everyone needed to take on more responsibility. ... Gwen (Jackson) took that to heart and I have seen her with a different intensity on the boards and on the offensive end."

Summitt also cited the aggressive play of freshman center Ashley Robinson and sophomore April McDivitt's offensive skills and ability to push tempo. Freshman Tasha Butts also has received Summitt's seal of approval. "Even before Tamika's injury, I thought that Tasha would be the key off the bench for us and she has really responded," Summitt said.

In the preseason, Summitt cited depth as the team's strongest point. She said senior leadership -- despite the presence of Catchings, Semeka Randall, Kristen "Ace" Clement and Kyra Elzy -- was still a question mark. "I'm not going to say that our (senior) leadership is in great shape; I'm going to wait and see. I hope it is." Summitt said in October.

"Those four, if they want to win a championship, that's just part of their responsibility as a senior class. And I think they know that."

Summitt said a "great leader" puts the needs of other players first and leads even when her game is off. Summitt cited Clement as the most natural leader on the team. During the season, Catchings -- always a quietly effective player -- emerged as a vocal leader, and the freshmen followed her example. When Catchings went down, she continued to lead from the bench.

On the floor, "Semeka Randall and Kristen Clement have led by example and that is what Tamika did so well for us," Summitt said. "Those two have also committed to more than just scoring, including things like becoming better screeners, better passers and playing better defense."

Senior leadership and a balanced scoring attack were Summitt's primary concerns in the preseason. Those have been settled, but Summitt still has one thing to worry about.

"Someone asked me what my biggest concern was between now and the NCAA Tournament is and I had to tell them that it was injuries," she said. "With injuries, you never know when it is going to happen, and it leaves you very frustrated."