The losing streak — though by no means embarrassing, considering it could be worse and is much worse in certain parts — has reached the point that no matter the mitigating circumstances, an Auburn win over Tennessee today would be viewed as a revelation.

It’s still Tennessee. It’s still 18 Final Four appearances. It’s still 14 SEC Championships. It’s still eight National Championships. It’s still Pat Summitt.

But not since 1997 — the last time Auburn beat the Lady Vols — have the cards been in the Tigers’ favor more than today.

Auburn starts four seniors and touts an undefeated 19-0 record. Tennessee, meanwhile, is rebuilding with a number of talented, but still inexperienced freshmen and has looked vulnerable early in conference play.

“I feel like we have a better team, but they’re going to come out ready to play just like everybody else,” senior DeWanna Bonner said. “We just have to be focused.”

The likely record-setting crowd at Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum will not be a factor in Auburn’s focus, coach Nell Fortner said Friday, in between chasing her tiny Pomeranian dog around the women’s basketball wing of the 40-year-old arena.

She was relaxed and she guaranteed her team would be, too, regardless of the countless reasons a player could justify being overexcited for today’s game.

“I believe that this Auburn team has a lot more poise and experience than we’ve ever had in any past Tennessee games that we have played,” Fortner said. “This is different for us this year.”

Different for Tennessee, apparently, is not being undefeated and considered the team to beat in the SEC. The Lady Vols do come into town perhaps as beatable as ever, but are still certainly formidable.

All three of Tennessee’s losses have come against ranked opponents. Three of the Lady Vols’ starting five are true freshmen, but have already made an immediate impact.

Freshmen forwards Glory Johnson and Shekinna Stricklen average a combined 25.4 points and 13.1 rebounds per game. Sophomore Angie Bjorklund has emerged as one of the top deep threats in the country, averaging 12 points and two 3-pointers per game.

“They have some tremendous, young talent,” Fortner said. “They are big, long, they can cover a lot of space, they have very good shooters. They just have a tremendous amount of talent, but just younger than what Pat Summitt has had in the past.

“But they are still very, very good.”

So are the Tigers, and they know it. Proving that to the remaining doubters will just have to involve a major buck to the established norm.

“They haven’t beaten them, but they have stepped on the floor with Tennessee with a lot of experience, history, and they understand what is going on here,” Fortner said. “I think they will step on the floor Sunday with a lot of confidence, but not any kind of over confidence.”

| 737-2561