As the LSU football team takes a month-long hiatus and fans begin to put away their tailgating gear, many students and other football enthusiasts may wonder what is next. There is always the option of sitting in front of a small television screen inside a cramped dorm room or possibly working endlessly at a dead-end job that no one in their right mind could enjoy. Or LSU fans could get ready for another season of Southeastern Conference women’s basketball and watch the No. 9 Lady Tigers compete for their fourth NCAA Final Four appearance in as many years. But whatever fans choose to do, the fact remains that LSU cannot make it to the Final Four without first going through 11 other conference teams that stand its way.
SEC WESTERN DIVISION
Alabama Crimson Tide (7-2): The Crimson Tide are working to erase any lasting memories of this past season’s dismal 9-19 record. After returning just five players – four seniors and one sophomore – starting over may be easier than expected. “We are still so young,” Alabama coach Stephany Smith said. “We have six freshmen, seven newcomers, and for the most part the majority of them are still trying to define themselves.” Smith said she looks at the recent 7-2 start to begin this season as something this team needs to build on before starting SEC play. “Because we are so young, and because of the lack of recent success, we are going to sit down prior to SEC play and see where we stand,” Smith said. “I think if we continue to find ways to win games going into the Christmas break, then people will think of us and see us an entirely different Alabama team when we start conference play.”
Arkansas Lady Razorbacks (9-1): After compiling a 13-15 overall record and reaching the second round of the Women’s National Invitational Tournament this past season, Arkansas coach Susie Gardner believes the returning seniors are a vital part to the team’s success. “[We have] a group of seniors that really believe in the coaching staff and are positive leaders,” Gardner said. “They are seniors that I can count on as a coach but also returning players that are examples of what I expect on the court.” Seniors Sarah Pfeifer, the team’s top scorer a year ago, and Danielle Allen, the team’s best rebounder in 2005, lead a team returning seven players from this past season.
Auburn Tigers (8-2): Auburn puts a team on the court this season that returns eight players from this past season including three starters. A youthful roster that includes three freshmen and six sophomores is something Auburn coach Nell Fortner feels will not slow the team down. “The most positive thing from last season is we had a lot of freshmen that got a lot of playing time,” Fortner said. “We didn’t win as many games as we wanted to win, but we got some experience coming back. Youth is a tough thing in this league, but I think that experience our players got will help us this year.”
Mississippi State Lady Bulldogs (4-2): The Lady Bulldogs need just two wins to match this past season’s total of six. After compiling a 6-22 record, three starters returned to try to turn around the struggling Mississippi State program that has won only 28 percent of their All-Time SEC matches. “When you go through tough times, I believe that makes you stronger,” Mississippi State coach Sharon Fanning said during SEC Media Day. “We have certainly had our share of tough times. At this time last year we came in here having lost 70 percent of our scoring. This year we return 70 percent of our scoring.”
Ole Miss Rebels (6-2): Four returning starters should help the Rebels improve on last season’s disappointing 17-14 record, which ended with a second-round loss to Pittsburgh in the WNIT. “Last season was not one of our shining moments,” Ole Miss coach Carrol Ross said. “We expected to be in the NCAA Tournament. We ended up in the NIT, and that wasn’t where we wanted to be. We’re a little bit more hungry and motivated to not let that happen again.” All-American candidate and the team’s leading scorer Arminitie Price has led the team to a strong start and was named the SEC Player of the Week for the week of Nov. 27 to Dec. 3 after posting the first triple-double of her career.
SEC EASTERN DIVISION
Florida Gators (4-4): After finishing the 2005-2006 season with an overall record of 21-9, the Gator’s have slipped into a rut and currently find themselves with the worst record of any SEC team. The Gator blues may continue the entire season for a Florida squad that returned just one starter from this past season. Although the lone returning starter sophomore Sha Brooks is leading the team in scoring, her 21 turnovers and 30 percent shooting from the field this season are worst on the team.
Georgia Lady Bulldogs (7-0): The Bulldogs are coming off a season in which they led the conference in 3-point percentage, free-throw percentage and ended the 2005-2006 campaign No. 4 behind powerhouses such as LSU, Tennessee and Vanderbilt in field-goal percentage. The offensive success is something that Georgia coach Andy Sanders is hoping will give the Bulldogs an advantage this season. “I thought we were very efficient offensively last year,” Landers said. “We shot the ball well from the floor. We shot the ball well from the line. We had a great turnover to assist ratio. They really shot it well from 3-point range. We were just a really efficient offensive team, and I would like to continue that into this year.” Kentucky Wildcats (4-3): The Wildcats may be the most complete team of any in the SEC after returning all five starters from this past season’s roster, which finished the 2005-2006 season with an overall record of 22-9 and reached the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1999. Kentucky coach Mickie DeMoss said the accomplishments the team achieved this past season will be placed aside as the team works to reach the Final Four. “As a coach I have to challenge my players,” DeMoss said during SEC Media Day. “What we accomplished last year was last year. This is a new year. If any of our players were completely satisfied with last year, I won’t let them be. We can get better. You have to keep raising the bar for your team.” South Carolina Gamecocks (5-3): After losing their two top scorers prior to this past season, Gamecocks coach Susan Walvius feels very fortunate to return 12 players, including all the team’s starters. “I’m excited,” Walvius said during SEC Media Day. “We return 97 percent of our scoring. What really helps is that we have not had a group of seniors for about two years. Having that this year, getting teaching and maturity, this helps.”
Tennessee Lady Vols (6-1): Another women’s basketball season at Tennessee means another year full of NCAA Final Four expectations for a team that has lost only one starter from this past season’s roster. “I would say expectations are always high with our program,” Tennessee coach Pat Summit said. “That’s not going to change. I like what we’ve added to our team from a year ago. I think this team can generate more offense from defense.” Although the team lost Shanna Zolman, the second-leading scorer in 2005, players such as junior Alberta Auguste and sophomore Alex Fuller have stepped up to compensate for the missing offense. Vanderbilt Commodores (8-0): The Commodores’ 21-11 record this past season was just enough for the team to advance to their seventh-straight NCAA Tournament. After loosing just one starter and four bench players who contributed very little on the offensive side of the ball, Vanderbilt coach Melanie Balcomb said senior point guard Dee Davis is vital for Vanderbilt’s chances of reaching an eighth-consecutive tournament this season. This past season Davis averaged 7.8 points, 6.8 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game. “I think obviously Dee Davis is the key,” Balcomb said during SEC Media Day. “She has been the key for the last three years. I think that she has to stay healthy. She has struggled with a knee injury for three years.”
—–Contact Jay St. Pierre at jstpierre@lsureveille.com