Appalachian State Head Coach Darcie Vincent
Last season, your team won the Inaugural Women's Basketball Invitational, what do you hope to have to gain from that this season?
Having the opportunity to compete in the WBI tournament and being fortunate enough to win the championship game in the manner in which we did is an experience that is forever ingrained in our hearts and minds. That confidence and belief in ourselves is irreplaceable as a young team; we have to continue to build our foundation. Learning how to win is sometimes the biggest battle in becoming champions, and hopefully we are taking that mentality forward with us into this season.
You return some good talent this season with all-freshmen Ashlen Dewart, the MVP of the WBI, and Anna Freeman coming back. While they are still young, they have plenty of experience. How are you counting on them to become leaders on this team?
Our team is growing up every minute right before my eyes. Without a doubt, we began last season as infants and quickly advanced to strong competitors. It was quite a pleasant surprise for all of us. Anna and Ashlen were a big reason for all of that. However, our real strength came through Sam Ramirez, our junior all conference guard. The complement of her strength, Anna's basketball IQ and Ashlen's inside dominance gives us a strong compliment of leaders. Of course, we are looking for even better things this season...besides every coach knows - "the best thing about a freshman"
Appalachian State welcomed five new players to the team this season. What type of immediate impact do you see your recruits having?
We had some holes in our team offensively and defensively last season. My staff did a wonderful job bringing in quality character young ladies that will add some depth in every needed position. Primary emphasis was giving Sam some help from the perimeter. I feel very optimistic our group of newcomers will fill the cracks in our game quite well.
College of Charleston Head Coach Nancy Wilson
Last season, your team made it to the semi-finals in the Women's Basketball Invitational before losing to SoCon foe Appalachian State. What are you looking to build upon from that postseason experience?
I want to capitalize on the excitement of being picked for postseason play. This is what every player wants. You have to have a great season to be picked to continue playing, and we are very proud to have been in that company.
Last season, Charleston posted back-to-back 20-win seasons for the first time since joining Division I. What has the recent success meant to this program?
It has expanded our recruiting opportunities. It also gives us a standard to continue seeking with this young team. The bar has been set. We want to work to raise it.
You return senior Tonia Gerty, who was a first-team all-conference selection last season and led the conference in assists and assists-to-turnovers. What type of leadership are you looking from her this season to help this program continue to be successful?
Toni has been our best defensive player, floor leader and one of our leading scorers. We will continue to ask the same of her with an emphasis on improving court communication with her young teammates. She will be excellent.
Davidson Head Coach Michele Savage
This is your first season as the head coach at Davidson, how has the transition from assistant coach to head coach been for you?
I am excited to begin my first season at Davidson College. The community has been extremely welcoming to me and my staff. People both on the Davidson campus and in the Lake Norman area seem genuine when they ask "how can I help?" The support I receive from the administration and from the other coaches has been tremendous and much appreciated. Basketball is very important to this campus, and we are working hard to get ready for our season opener on November 12th. Although we don't play our first home game until Friday, November 19th (vs. William and Mary), I have had a lot of people tell me they will be in Belk Arena to cheer us on. Our players are outstanding representatives of Davidson College and people that have the chance to interact with them instantly become fans.
Being at a school like Davidson, I am not surprised the players have proven to be quick studies and have adapted well to my terminology and the different concepts. In addition to being new to the head coaching ranks, I am still developing my "head coaching voice" - I will never be a "yeller and a screamer" on the sidelines but I am finding ways to get the players attention.
I speak to my former boss, Lisa Stockton from Tulane, regularly. Lisa has been a good sounding board in helping me put together the structure of my practices. I really thank Lisa for having exposed me to so many different areas of the coaching world while I was at Tulane. Once the season starts up, I know I will have her on speed dial. Championship expectations are what I am used to and that is exactly what I want from my players, staff and even from our fans. We have the makings for something special here at Davidson and I am anxious to get underway.
Last season, the team relied heavily on the three-pointer, as the Wildcats led the conference in three-point percentage. However, the top two three-point threats graduated last season. How does that affect Davidson this season and how does it impact the style of basketball you like to coach?
From what I have been told and from what I see watching old game films, Davidson lost a lot in last year's graduation. Not only were AT (Alex Thompson) and Monica (Monica Laune) great three point threats, but the entire graduating class, AT, Monica and Julia Paquette, were Davidson diehards - they loved their experiences here and made their mark with our fans. There is no question that we have lost a majority of our perimeter scoring and that is something we collectively as a team will have to solve. Where can we find other scoring opportunities? Can we create a little offense from our defense? Can we get to the foul line more than we did as a team last year? If we push the ball on offense will we get some quick scores? Not only was Alex Thompson a dynamite three point threat shooting close to 39%, she was also the best from the line at 80% - that type of consistency is going to be difficult to replace.
Sophomore Sophia Aleksandravicius had a big year last year as a freshman, as she was towards the top in the conference in scoring, rebounds and blocks. What part of her game has she been working on during the offseason to increase her inside dominance in the SoCon?
I have enjoyed working with Sophia and our other post players Logan Hartman, Kristen Johnson and Amanda Ottaway on continuing to develop their post moves. "KJ" has a good grasp on how I want the offense to flow, while "Otto" is fundamentally one of the more skilled post players I have been around. With Soph, in particular, I am encouraging her to go to the basket more. If she can learn to score with contact I think she can improve her overall numbers and help to replace some of the points missing from last year's graduates. The entire group works hard to get a body on people when the shot goes up - I just have to get them to do this automatically and not selectively. "Sophie the Swatter" may surprise us all and mix in a defensive charge or two as well. Seriously, when Sophie gets in a defensive stance she is an imposing defender and moves very well...she will be a big part of our defensive success this season. Our entire frontline will be challenged in the early season while we wait for sophomore Sarah Davis to get healthy. Sarah had a productive freshman year and her presence around the basket is sorely missed.
Elon Head Coach Karen Barefoot
You return the freshman of the year in the conference last season Ali Ford. How has she improved her game during the offseason to help lead the Phoenix this year?
Ali has one season under her belt, and her experience and maturity will help us with on court leadership. She worked really hard on her strength, conditioning and endurance during the off-season, and it's showing on the court. She's a fierce competitor, and she's been instrumental in helping the newcomers adjust to the pace of our exciting up-tempo system.
As you enter your third season at Elon, what has been the most difficult barrier to overcome, coaching in the Southern Conference?
The Southern Conference is one of the most competitive and exciting conferences in the country. On any given night teams have to bring a solid performance to secure a victory. The biggest barrier I've had to overcome the past several years is continuously having to prepare my team to be mentally, physically and emotionally tough to compete in this conference. I feel going into this third season that we are more prepared and ready to compete than the previous seasons.
With only two seniors on the roster, you have another young team this season, but one with playing experience. Who are you looking to step up and lead this team this season?
I feel like this team has a lot to offer and will surprise many with their will to win. Our focus is teamwork, and I feel there are multiple players that have the leadership ability to continue to take us to another level. It's hard to single out one person. This group came in committed to work and has bought into our playing system this preseason. I feel this young team has a lot of energy that will be hard to match and fun to watch.
Furman Head Coach Jackie Carson
You return to alma mater, where you won all-conference accolades as a player, as a head coach. What are you looking to accomplish in your first year at the helms?
It is great being back at Furman as the head coach of my alma mater. It is still very surreal for me to have this opportunity; however, I am looking forward to helping the Paladins reach the level of success that I experienced as a player. The league is very competitive, but our goal every year will be to win the Southern Conference and graduate our student-athletes on time. Short term, my staff and I are "laying the foundation" by implementing a new system and style of play. I am very excited about how the players have responded to every challenge thus far.
You are taking over a team that lost a lot of experience during the offseason. Who are hoping will step up and become a leader of this team?
Our coaches and student-athletes have had countless talks on leadership since my arrival in April. It has taken a long time for leaders to emerge, but seniors Kelly O'Connor and Kendra Berry will be keys to our success this year. Kelly is our most vocal leader and by far the smartest player I have ever coached. Kendra has done a great job of leading by example on the court and helps our younger players adapt to our new system. Since starting practice on October 4th, Kendra and Kelly have proven to be a strong "inside-outside" offensive threat that this team will need over the course of the season. Both young ladies know that this is their final shot at winning the Southern Conference and are doing a great job of providing leadership to a very young team.
You have four freshmen joining the squad this season. What type of immediate impact are you looking for them to have?
When you go through a coaching change and implement a new system, the entire team is viewed as freshmen. My expectations for my first-year players are exactly the same as my expectations for the returners. We are counting on all four young ladies to make an immediate impact during their first year. They have done a great job of adjusting to the speed, strength and intensity of the college game. The biggest challenge thus far for each of them is staying healthy. The "injury bug" has been running rampant through all the first-year players, but I am hopeful they will be healthy and ready to go by the start of the season.
Georgia Southern Head Coach Rusty Cram
What type of attitude have you seen from your team in the offseason that makes you feel good about the upcoming season?
I have seen a great work ethic and a sense of togetherness from this team. The upper classmen are leading in areas we need them to, and the younger ones are picking up the system well.
You are returning 10 letter-winners to a team that finished in the upper half of the conference last season. How is their experience going to help the Eagles this season in conference play?
There is no substitute for experience. With 10 players returning from last season, it should make the change from role players to go-to players a little less complicated.
You lost your top two scorers from last season but return senior guard Jamie Navarro, who was in the top of the conference in scoring last season. What type of role are you looking from her in leading this team and who else are looking to step up and help out with the team's scoring?
Jamie is our team captain this year. Everyone is more calm when she is on the floor. She makes everyone else better. She could have scored more last year, but put the ball in other people's hands. She will have to score more as well as know her teammates strengths, and put them in those situations to be successful.
UNCG Head Coach Lynne Agee
Your return top-scorer in Amanda Leigh this season, what type of leadership are you looking for her to provide to this team this season?
Amanda needs to lead this team with emotion and confidence. She will obviously play a significant role and must score in other ways than just shooting 3's. She is fit and strong and has worked very hard over the summer. She will continue to be our "go-to" in clutch situations, and she is trying to challenge our team on a daily basis.
Last year, the team struggled on the road. What steps have you done to help your team improve on playing away from home this season?
Playing away from home is about a mindset that no gym and no rim is different. Each player must have confidence and feel prepared and mentally come with the same kind of intensity that is created by competing at home. Everyone is excited to play at home but a good team is excited to play anywhere. We must be able to win more on the road this season to be competitive in our league. Because of our facility and its layout, we do actually practice on different courts at different times. I would hope that we can focus on the court itself and not the crowd or other distractions.
Last year, you closed out the regular season with two conference wins and a conference tournament win before falling to the eventual tournament champion Chattanooga. What, if anything, can you take away from the way your team played to close out last season?
We remained competitive throughout the season despite the issues with injuries. We were playing well heading down the stretch and that is always a good sign. We have worked hard to recruit some depth in the post position and our players and coaches are excited to get started. This team is competitive and very excited to begin the season.
Samford Head Coach Mike Morris
Last season, Samford made it to the SoCon championship and made it to the second round of the Women's NIT. How are you using last season's success to build upon the program for this year?
Each team and season are totally separate from each other; however, hopefully our returning players gained a better understanding of what it takes to be in postseason and use that experience to accomplish more this season.
You return your two top scorers from last season in Emily London and Savannah Hill. What type of leadership are you hoping they bring to the team this year?
Everything will start with Savannah and Emily. They are talented young ladies, who are two of our hardest workers. They will be counted on to lead by example and lead vocally.
Last year, your team was in the top two in most of the scoring categories, including free throw percentage, field goal percentage and three-point percentage. What has the team worked on during the offseason to make sure the Bulldogs stay at the top again this season?
The main thing for us to be a good offensive team is to fill the gap left by Megan Wilderotter and Monica Maxwell. Megan created good shots for other people, and Monica is the program's all time three-point leader. I believe Jazz Powers is ready to step into the point guard position and Paige Anderson, Ruth Ketchum and Jasmine Martine can fill the shooting guard position.
Chattanooga Head Coach Wes Moore
Last season, Chattanooga clinched its 11th consecutive regular season championship, which is the second longest streak in women's basketball and the second longest current streak. What has the success meant for the program and how have you continued the winning tradition year-in and year-out?
Winning and success can be contagious in that it can lead to more winning and more success. The key to our success here at UTC has been the type of people we have in our program - from the players, to the support staff, to the assistant coaches - we have been blessed with talented and high character individuals. Success has allowed us to continue to attract these type of people over the long haul.
You have only four letter-winners returning this season. What type of immediate impact are you looking for from the new faces this season, and who has impressed you the most this preseason?
This year is going to be a great challenge. Due to personnel losses, we have taken a step back. At the same time, the rest of the league continues to get better. Whitney Hood, a transfer from the ACC, will have to step in and make an immediate impact on the block. Two players that have been dealing with knee injuries the past couple of years, Bailey Dewart and Kiara Smith, will need to stay healthy. Kylie Lambert, who has been out more of the preseason with a fractured big toe, needs to have a breakout season. Finally, some of the freshman will have to grow up in a hurry and make contributions.
What will be the biggest challenge this season for you in order to defend your Southern Conference championship?
The biggest challenge this season will be to get and stay healthy, and to continue to work hard and improve as the season progresses. With a brutal schedule that includes Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky, and a lot of new faces on the court, we will have to hold things together early. Then, with the conference stronger than ever and a target on our back each and every game, we'll have to play hard and get better if we hope to be competitive again.
Western Carolina Head Coach Karen Middleton
You enter your second season as the head coach of the Catamounts, how are you hoping to improve on last season now that you have a year of experience of SoCon basketball underneath your belt?
Last season was a time of transition for our program. Anytime a new system is implemented, a process of daily progress needs to take place. As the season went on, we did see improvement and began to see all the little things we stressed from Day One. With that being said, we have started this season with more confidence and comfort with what we are doing and have a definite understanding of what it takes to be successful. Our core of returners are setting a great example by helping the newcomers recognize what it takes to compete and win a SoCon championship. We are focused on improving every day.
You have scheduled a challenging non-conference schedule with teams like North Carolina and Florida State. How do you hope playing such tough opponents early in the season will prepare you for conference play?
We do have a challenging non-conference schedule. Our team wants to compete and be challenged. Our schedule will prepare us for competing at the highest level. We will know the intensity and mind set it will take to put ourselves in a position to compete for a championship. We must come ready to bring our BEST EFFORT every night and play with a TEAM FIRST attitude and energy.
You have six letter-winners returning and welcome five new faces to the team this season. How has the chemistry been with such a young team with little experience playing together?
Our challenge, as a team, is to find a rhythm on the court. We have a great group of returners and good leaders that have welcomed our newcomers and push them to do their very best. The returners know and understand we need everyone to compete at a high level each day. Our team truly gets along well on and off the court and are playing very hard for each other. The chemistry on the court will take time, and it will come, but the effort and togetherness is definitely evident. It has been a joy to work with and be around this group of young women every single day. The bond this team has is what coaches strive to create and will make the difference for us down the stretch.
Wofford Head Coach Edgar Farmer, Jr.
You have ten returning letter-winners this season. How do you hope having such experience on the team impacts the team's success this season?
I am excited about having all of those players back because it provides strong chemistry. Chemistry is a key ingredient for a successful season, and I feel like we have a very cohesive team. These young ladies enjoy being around one another and truly embody the phrase: "it is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit."
You return your top scorer and top rebounder this season in Mahagony Williams. What type of leadership are you looking for her to provide to this Terrier squad this season?
I expect Mahagony to lead the team with her ability to change the game on both ends of the floor. She has the unique ability to guard every position on the floor defensively, as well as open up the floor on the offensive end. She has a knack for being in the right spot when the ball comes off the rim and has a passion for rebounding.
Last season, the team ranked towards the bottom of the conference in turnover margin. What have you been working on during the offseason to improve in that category?
We have been working on the little things because this allows us to shore-up our deficiencies from last season. We have focused on making better decisions with the basketball. We are committed on getting a little bit better each and every day. If we continue this for the journey of the season, then we will see a change in our negative turnover margin.