Pat Summitt homage, Lady Vols' renovated locker room part of NCAA tournament in Knoxville

Dan Fleser
Knoxville
Michael Beaumont, Lady Vols' director of basketball operations chats with Meme Jackson inside the Lady Vols locker room on Thursday, March 15, 2018.

Thursday was a day of practice and interviews for the four women's basketball teams convening in Knoxville for the NCAA tournament.

Here's the best and worst of the day, which involved everything from a Tennessee coaching legend to managing time travel.

BEST OF THE DAY

Paying respects to Pat Summitt

Western Kentucky took note of where it's playing this weekend, referencing Tennessee and former Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt.

"There's a lot of history here for women's basketball," Lady Toppers forward Ivy Brown said. "It will be a great opportunity to play on the court where Pat Summitt coached."

Coach Michelle Clark-Heard, a former Western Kentucky player who played against UT,  described the opportunity as "surreal."

"I played here my senior year," she said. "I was recruited by Pat Summitt. She is women's basketball. When you think about what she has done and what this program means to women's basketball, I'm really excited that my players will be able to play on their floor and experience it."

Along with Western Kentucky, Oregon State and Liberty also have played in Knoxville before.

More:University of Tennessee familiar ground for Lady Vols NCAA opponent Liberty's coach

Moving day

The Lady Vols moved back into their renovated locker room in time for the tournament. The new digs feature a living room-like lounge with a couch, chairs and two flat screen TVs. There's also a kitchen area with tables.

"We're really fortunate to have something like this," freshman guard Evina Westbrook said.

The team spent the regular season in makeshift surroundings. Westbrook said she saw  the old locker room just once while on a recruiting visit and doesn't remember it.

"We were supposed to be in here before SEC play," Westbrook said. "Now that we're finally here, the wait is over."     

WORST OF THE DAY

Oregon State time traveling 

Oregon State's players have had to adjust their body clocks to NCAA tournament time, which has sent them across three time zones. The Beavers' interview session Thursday began at 7:50 a.m. Pacific time, and Friday's game time against Western Kentucky is 9 a.m. 

"I think for us it helps getting here a couple days early," guard Katie McWilliams said. "It helps us get used to the time difference. ... We've had some early games throughout the year, 11 o'clock on Sunday, so we're used to getting up early."

Teammate Marie Gulich hasn't spent much time thinking about it.

"I think those are all outside factors that you really can't control," she said, "so I think we are just here to play our game and have a good time." 

Friends couldn't avoid each other

From a personal standpoint, Oregon State coach Scott Rueck isn't happy being matched against Western Kentucky.

"I don't like seeing it because I love Michelle," he said, referencing Lady Toppers coach  Clark-Heard. "You don't like playing your friends."

Rueck and Clark-Heard were assistant coaches for the U.S. Pan American team in 2015.

"It's been fun to study them and watch what she'e done," Rueck said. "... They're playing with a confidence that comes from her. ... They play right and don't beat themselves."

Clark-Heard said she's accustomed to such encounters.

"I've been in similar situations coaching against (Louisville's) Jeff Walz," she said. "(Scott) really is a good friend. He's a phenomenal coach and a better person."