SEC Coverage

Obviously any time you get news like that, it’s not going to put a smile on your face. But she’s a very strong woman and I talked to her earlier today (Tuesday) and she said ‘I’m going to be OK, I’m just focused on winning a national championship’. That speaks volumes on her character. I’m just going to keep praying for her and her family and keep in touch and make sure she’s doing alright.

She’s definitely in high spirits, but that’s just her. She sees that battle but she still has a job to do. She loves basketball, she loves those girls, so she’s going to do whatever it takes to continue to help the program.

This process has been playing out for two-plus seasons for a team that's dominated by a seven-player junior class. Most arrived right after Tennessee had won consecutive national championships, which Summitt thinks might have distorted their perspective.

"It's not easy; it's hard,'' she said. "I've been doing this now for 37 years and yes, yes, eight championships are one thing. But I can think of all the ones that got away."