Story Poster
UT's Holly Warlick
SC's Dawn Staley
UK's M. Mitchell
UGA's A. Landers
MSU's V. Schaefer
LSU's N. Caldwell
Arkansas' J. Dykes
Florida's A. Butler
AU's Williams-Flournoy
Vandy's M. Balcomb
Mizzou's R. Pingeton
Bama's K. Curry
Ole Miss' M. Insell
Texas A&M Women's Basketball

Media Days: Another deep SEC awaits in women's hoops

October 21, 2014
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — This time of year a quick glance at the Associated Press poll typically reveals the top 10 is infested with Southeastern Conference teams.

This year is no different. It always seems to be that way in football and women’s basketball.

The preseason AP poll includes No. 3 Tennessee, No. 8 South Carolina and No. 10 Kentucky. Texas A&M was ranked 15th.

However, South Carolina was picked No. 1 in the SEC preseason media poll, while A&M is ranked third.

It’s kind of like football now. We’ve always had a top half and a bottom half, but the bottom half didn’t mess with you. That’s not the case now. There is no one in our league that you look at and say, 'We’re going to beat those guys.' - UGA coach Andy Landers {"Module":"quote","Alignment":"left","Quote":"It’s kind of like football now. We’ve always had a top half and a bottom half, but the bottom half didn’t mess with you. That’s not the case now. There is no one in our league that you look at and say, \u0027We’re going to beat those guys.\u0027","Author":"UGA coach Andy Landers"}
All that really means is the SEC women’s basketball race figures to be as competitive as the SEC West Division race has been this football season.

“It’s kind of like football now,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said on Tuesday at SEC basketball media days. “We’ve always had a top half and a bottom half, but the bottom half didn’t mess with you. That’s not the case now.

“There is no one in our league that you look at and say, 'We’re going to beat those guys.'”

Perhaps, but nobody will be counting on beating the top teams in the league.

All five starters from last season are back for South Carolina, which reached the Sweet 16. Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley also signed the second-ranked recruiting class in the country.

“We want to be one of the best teams in this league, which means we can be one of the best teams in the country,” Staley said.

No doubt, the SEC could again produce several teams with the potential to reach the Sweet 16 and beyond. Tennessee returns four starters from a Sweet 16 team. A&M has four starters back from a team that reached the Elite Eight. Kentucky has two starters and a top reserve back from a Sweet 16 team.

Of course, LSU, which is picked seventh in the SEC media poll and finished just 7-9 in conference play last season, also reached the Sweet 16 and has a couple of returning starters.

Matt Sachs, TexAgs The addition of Gary Blair's Aggies has given the SEC even more depth and strength at the top. {"Module":"photo","Alignment":"right","Size":"large","Caption":"The addition of Gary Blair\u0027s Aggies has given the SEC even more depth and strength at the top.","MediaItemID":42277}
Landers said expansion — all the way back to adding Arkansas and South Carolina — as well as better coaches have made a traditionally strong conference even stronger.

“When you bring in Texas A&M and Missouri (two years ago) you bring in two quality teams,” he said. “A&M won a national championship (in 2011). Missouri plays a different style than anyone else in our league. South Carolina was brought into the league; they might be the No. 1 team in the country.

“The traditional powers in the conference haven’t changed. What has changed is the number of coaching changes. It feels to me that Dawn Staley is a good fit at South Carolina and Amanda Butler is a good fit at Florida.”

Experience isn’t required

First-year Arkansas coach Jimmy Dykes has never before been a head coach. In fact, the last few years he served as a college basketball analyst for ESPN.

However, his 0-0 career record is of no concern to his players, who are aiming to improve on a 19-11, 6-10 showing last season.

“Nobody ever gave a second though to Coach Dykes not being a head coach before,” senior guard Callie Berna said. “He has knowledge. He was a respected TV commentator. He’s been to thousands of practices. He knows the game.”

Dykes was a three-year letterman at Arkansas under Eddie Sutton. He’s been an assistant coach at Arkansas, Sacramento State, Appalachian State, Kentucky, Arkansas-Little Rock and Oklahoma State.

High fives

Rebounding is no doubt quite competitive in Tennessee’s practices and intra-squad games. The Lady Vols have 10 players who are at least six feet tall and eight of those are taller than 6-2.

Not surprisingly, Tennessee was third in the nation in rebounding margin last season.

I shot a lot more in transition. Now, I have a lot more confidence with my shot. Shooting when I was tired was my focus. - Kentucky G Bria Goss

Firing when tiring

Kentucky senior guard Bria Goss made 32 of 90 three-point attempts last season. She’s hoping a change in her offseason practice routine will raise her total number of three-pointer as well as her percentage.

She always worked on her shot. But usually she was getting the ball from a machine for spot up shots. This year she stressed shooting on the run.

“I shot a lot more in transition,” said Goss, who averaged 10.2 points a year ago. “Now, I have a lot more confidence with my shot. Shooting when I was tired was my focus.”

Semper fi Tigers

LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said the Tigers adopted militay-style training techniques in the offseason to boost leadership and mental toughness.

The football team had borrowed fitness workouts from the Marines and Caldwell asked if the demanding regiment could be applied to women’s basketball.

“It gives you a sense of appreciation for the men and women who keep us safe,” Caldwell said. “We ask them to put their lives on the line for us. The least we can do is hustle after a basketball.”
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Media Days: Another deep SEC awaits in women's hoops

8,956 Views | 2 Replies | Last: 9 yr ago by biobioprof
Olin Buchanan
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Media Days: Another deep SEC awaits in women's hoops
Ronnie Woodard
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Videos from all the coaches has been added.
biobioprof
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Thanks for all of this, Ronnie and Olin!

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