1997-98 TENNESSEE LADY VOLS

Backstory
Pat Summitt took over a 25-2 program when she started coaching Tennessee’s women’s basketball team in 1974, but she amazingly made it bigger and better, to the point where a recruiting year like 1997 — getting four players who were Miss Basketballs in their state, two of whom had gotten the award twice — seemed no surprise. Especially after two straight national titles.

The regular season
The Lady Vols went 33-0, beating 11 ranked teams along the way. They outscored opponents by 30 points per game. The only team to come within 10 points of them was Alabama — 73-66 in the regular season, and 67-63 in the SEC championship. Even when Tennessee fell behind, it was no big thing. The Lady Vols were down 41-19 against Illinois in the first half, but came back to win 78-68.

The key to the team was the “Meeks” — junior Chamique Holdsclaw, and freshmen Tamika Catchings and Semeka Randall. The latter two were Summitt’s two-time Miss Basketball recruits.

Postseason
The Lady Vols’ opening-round game was against another undefeated team, Liberty. Tennessee won, 102-58. The only single-digit margin was in the regional final, a 76-70 defeat of North Carolina.

Tennessee won its third straight title by beating Louisiana Tech 93-75.

Postscript
Holdsclaw was among many who declared 1998-99 would be even better, what with just about everyone back. But injuries racked the team, and not only would the Lady Vols fail to repeat, they wouldn’t win another title until 2007.

The greatest regular seasons ever Introduction 1934 Chicago Bears 1971-'72 Los Angeles Lakers 1972 Miami Dolphins 1976-'77 Montreal Canadiens 1979-'80 Philadelphia Flyers 1990-'91 UNLV Runnin’ Rebels 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers 1995-'96 Chicago Bulls 1997-'98 Tennessee Lady Vols 2001 Seattle Mariners 2003-04 Arsenal FC VOTE: Which was most impressive?

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