Today On Rocky Top: Fans React To Lady Vols’ Loss

Mar 30, 2014; Louisville, KY, USA; Tennessee Lady Volunteers center Isabelle Harrison (20) and forward Bashaara Graves (12) battle Maryland Terrapins center Alicia DeVaughn (13) for a rebound in the semifinals of a women

From WBIR

"The loyal fans of Big Orange Nation now join the Lady Vols basketball team coping with a tough loss.The TV’s were all flipped to the same channel at Doc’s All American Grille. But the fans didn’t see what they were hoping for.“Makes me sad obviously. But we always have very high expectations for the Lady Vols year in and year out. Because they have such a wonderful history,” said Lady Vols fan Roberta Anderson.“I’m so sad. My madness is done. We only follow Vols. Men and Women’s. Never missed a game. I’m sad it’s over,” said Vols fan Lisa McDonald.These fans also understand the devastation that these players have to deal with.“I feel bad for Meighan. I think that’s awful. She started her career at the Yum! Centerwith her first match. And Now it’s her last one. I just feel bad for her. I think it is really sad. Bittersweet. But I honestly am really disappointed in them. They acted like they didn’t want it,” said McDonald."

From ABC News

"Maryland coach Brenda Frese wanted her Terrapins to send a reminder that they’re still playing too. They did just that by sending home an eight-time national champion and putting themselves a win away from a Final Four.Alyssa Thomas scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as fourth-seeded Maryland upset No. 1 seed Tennessee 73-62 on Sunday in the Louisville Region semifinal.Maryland celebrated with a brief message on a board in the locker room: “THEY KNOW OUR NAME NOW!”“Maybe people will start talking about Maryland and what Maryland’s accomplished,” Frese said. “We have a story too. We have tradition. I’m so proud of how these kids fought.”The Terrapins (27-6) reached their ninth regional final and first since 2012. They did it against a program the Terps had beaten only four times previously and never before in the NCAA tournament. Maryland improved to 5-10 against Tennessee (29-6) with a little revenge for their previous tournament loss in the 1989 Final Four.Guard Katie Rutan said Frese fired them up before tipoff."

From ESPN

"Marquette officials met Sunday with Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin, and there is significant interest from the Golden Eagles in hiring Martin away from the Vols, multiple sources told ESPN.com.Sources told ESPN.com that discussions are underway between the two parties, but Tennessee still has an opportunity to keep Martin.Marquette is pursuing a replacement for Buzz Williams, who left after six seasons to take over as coach at Virginia Tech.Martin’s buyout with the Vols goes down from $2.6 million to $1.3 million on April 1, according to a source.Martin led Tennessee to a 24-13 record this season, 11-7 in the SEC. The Vols lost to Michigan in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Indianapolis after beating Iowa in the First Four in Dayton then UMass and Mercer in the rounds of 64 and 32, respectively, in Raleigh last week.Martin, who took the Vols to the NIT in his first two seasons in Knoxville after replacing Bruce Pearl, played at Purdue and was a head coach at Missouri State before landing at Tennessee. Martin’s Midwestern roots make him a solid fit for the Milwaukee-based school."