a the largest upfront signing bonus installment payment in team history

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessees Mercedes Russell wants to build on the momentum she established in the NCAA Tournament and meet the considerable expectations that surrounded the 6-foot-6 junior since her arrival on campus.Russell averaged a double-double in the tournament and had a 25-point, 15-rebound performance in a regional semifinal victory over Ohio State. She delivered the production many Lady Volunteers fans anticipated from Russell when multiple recruiting services rated her the nations No. 1 overall prospect in the class of 2013.It definitely helped my confidence, I would say, in a lot of ways, said Russell, of Springfield, Oregon.Her development is critical as the Lady Vols deal with a lack of frontcourt depth following the graduation of Bashaara Graves, one of only five players in school history to combine 1,000 career rebounds and 1,500 points.Overall depth is a concern for Tennessee, which opens the season Nov. 11 at James Madison. Tennessees roster includes 11 players, but only nine of them are available this season because of injuries to sophomore guard Tea Cooper and junior forward Cheridene Green.But the lack of proven performers is particularly evident in the frontcourt.I definitely have a lot of responsibility just because Im the only returning post, Russell said. As an upperclassman, I know I have to step up and help the other posts. I know the responsibility I have in the frontcourt is huge.Tennessees coaches have made that clear.Assistant coach Dean Lockwood says the staff hasnt set particular numbers for Russell to target but adds that she needs to be a pretty consistent double-double performer. Coaches say Russell is stronger and gained confidence and assertiveness.We need to get Mercedes the ball more, coach Holly Warlick said. Thats difficult when people are keying in on her, running a zone and packing it in on her. Thats hard because Mercedes shoots a great percentage, so weve got to find ways to try to get her the ball a little bit more, and she has to work a little harder (to get the ball). I think shes doing that right now. Its a compliment to her, but it also forces her to take her game to another level.Russell has been accustomed to dealing with high expectations. She was Tennessees highest-ranked recruit since Candace Parker signed with the Lady Vols in 2004.Injuries and inconsistency have made it tough for Russell to live up to that ranking, although she has been productive.Russell spent her entire freshman season dealing with foot problems that limited her effectiveness. She eventually underwent surgeries on both of her feet and sat out the entire 2014-15 season to recover.Last year was really truly Mercedes freshman year, Warlick said. Her (actual) freshman year, her feet were bad. She couldnt even run up and down the floor.She returned to action last season and averaged 9.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 1.8 blocks, although her real breakthrough came in the postseason. She had 13 points and 10.3 rebounds per game and shot 68.6 percent from the floor in the NCAA Tournament.Russells emergence helped Tennessee make a surprising run to a regional final as a No. 7 seed during a season in which the Lady Vols went 22-14 and set a school record for losses. The Lady Vols need her to make even more strides as they chase their first Final Four appearance since their 2008 championship season.Her being a high school player of the year, people say, `Oh gosh, we expect to see Breanna Stewart or Tina Charles, Lockwood said. She hasnt been that yet, but at the same time, shes been very consistent. Last year she was very consistent for us in terms of productivity, field-goal percentage and rebounding.We want more -- and I think she knows shes capable of more. 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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- UConns winning streak remains alive, just barely.Napheesa Collier scored 28 points and had a big block down in the final few seconds to lead the third-ranked Huskies to a 78-76 win over No. 12 Florida State on Monday night. UConn extended its winning streak to 76 games, the third longest streak in college basketball history.Florida State had a chance to beat the third-ranked Huskies at the end, but Imani Wrights 3-pointer was short allowing the four-time defending national champions to hold on in their opener.There are a lot of happy coaches that watched tonights game saying you got out of there with that one but your time is coming, coach Geno Auriemma said.This is the Huskies first single-digit win in the regular season since a six-point victory over St. Johns in 2013. It is also the first time since the 2011 Sweet 16 against Georgetown (68-63) that they have won by five points or less.The Seminoles trailed 65-59, but had a chance to tie it with 13.7 seconds left when Brittany Brown was fouled on a 3-point attempt by Kia Nurse. She made the first two to get within 77-76, but missed the third. The Huskies could not secure the ball and FSU (1-1) retained possession when it went out of bounds.Shakayla Thomas then drove the lane, but her shot was blocked Collier. Crystal Dangerfield made the first free throw, but missed the second. Imani Wright missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer.I think this kind of woke us up and showed us that we are a different team than last year. We cant just win on talent. We have to play good, fundamental basketball, said Collier, who also had eight rebounds.Saniya Chong scored 16 points and Katie Lou Samuelson added 14 for the Huskies, whose winning streak sits only behind the team record of 90 straight set from 2008-10 and the UCLA mens record of 88 consecutive victories.Wright led Florida State with 25 points while Brown added 16 points and 10 rebounds.I wish we were sitting here obviously on the other side of this having won it, Florida State coach Sue Semrau said. We gave ourselves a chance. We got the ball into two great scorers at the end. Theres no moral victory here. The victory is our growth as our basketball tteam.ddddddddddddIG PICTUREUConn: Auriemma said before the game that this was a new world they were entering after the graduations of Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson. He also said he wasnt going to judge this team based on what happened in November, but considering they were able to hold on to win at the road, that has to give his team a little bit of confidence.Florida State: The Seminoles hung tough without starting point guard Leticia Romero, who missed her second straight game with a hamstring injury.TURNING POINTThe Huskies trailed by four at halftime and then were down 37-30 with 9:08 remaining in the third quarter, which is the largest deficit they have faced during the winning streak. They then went on a 14-2 run to take a five-point lead. The Seminoles would tie it three more times in the second half but could never take the lead.Collier and Chong each scored four points during the run while Samuelson had a 3-pointer at the end.It was a miracle we were down four at halftime. They (Florida State) got everything they wanted in the first half. If we were down 14 that might have been the end, Auriemma said.STAT OF THE NIGHTFlorida State had 16 offensive rebounds but could rarely convert as it was 26 of 72 from the field. That translated to UConn having a 30-24 edge in points in the paint and 12-7 advantage in second-chance points.POLL IMPLICATIONSUConns tough week will continue with second-ranked Baylor up next on Thursday and another road game Sunday against LSU. Florida State might drop a spot or two from 12th, but proved it can stand with the best teams in the country.UP NEXTUConn: The Huskies will have their home opener on Thursday against No. 2 Baylor. UConn is 53-10 against teams in the top 10 since the start of 2008-09 season.Florida State: The Seminoles continue a string of four straight home games to start the season on Thursday against Jacksonville.---More AP college basketball at http://collegebasketball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25---Follow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy ' ' '