Appalachian State head coach Darcie Vincent

Appalachian State narrowly lost to Samford last year in the championship game. What are the emotions and expectations going into the season?

We still feel the sting with such a hard fought game by both teams.  But, we believe sometimes you have to play in a game like that in order to learn how to win it.  Samford’s experience, and composure proved too far to exceed ours.  However, we found a belief in ourselves that hopefully carries forward into this season.

The program has had a huge turnaround since you were named head coach. The Mountaineers won a conference title and had a WNIT appearance. What are you doing to keep this momentum going in order to continue the program’s success?

Continued focus and constant reminders of taking a bunch of common young ladies and dong things that are uncommon.  This program possesses a lot of competitive spirit and that alone keeps us moving forward.

You return five seniors, three juniors and two sophomores. How is their experience going to help the Mountaineers this season in conference play?

We remind ourselves daily just how important that experience  is to our upcoming season.  We have a lot of minutes in these players.  It is so refreshing daily to be able to enjoy all the growth we have gone through as a program.  The hard work as a coaching staff implementing our philosophies and expectations of our program puts a smile our on face as you see such strong women fighting with one purpose on a daily basis.  They just get it! We will have our bumps along the way –  but we will get through them the App State way.

College of Charleston head coach Nancy Wilson

You add four new players to your roster this season. What type of role are you looking for them to fill?

All four newcomers will need to contribute for us. Jazz Green is a 1-2 guard with a lot of athletic ability and potential. She will play both positions and needs to come along quickly at the point. Courtney McKenzie is an undersized post with natural rebounding tendencies. She will be a big help on the boards and will add quickness to our game. Mikaela Hopkins is a 6’5” post loaded with potential. It might take a while for her to be as strong as she needs to be but her size will help us out on defense and the boards. Christy Hewitt is a versatile gd-forward. Christy shoots well from the three and is tenacious on defense. She can also post up if we need her to.

The Cougars open their season at East Carolina, play at Georgia and South Carolina, as well as hosting UConn before beginning conference play. How will these games help the team prepare for the tough conference schedule?

These games and Coastal are all going to be very tough. We will need to measure our success by how much better we get with each game. I like the spirit of this group. We are going to fight but we will have to make sure they come out of this pre-season part of the schedule with some confidence, whether through wins or statistical improvement.

Last year the team struggled on the road. What steps have you taken to help the team improve when they aren’t playing on their home court this season?

We won’t know if we have improved on the road until we get there. We are a new entity. We have no seniors and our two leading scorers from last year are gone. This is a team we have not seen before. They cannot ride off of past successes or claim past failures.

Davidson head coach Michele Savage

You enter your second season as the head coach of the Wildcats, what improvements are you looking to make now that you have a year of experience behind you?

The most obvious would be to improve on our record from last year. There were several games last year where we lost in the last few minutes of the game. This year we are looking to improve our decision-making on the court in last four minutes of the game.

You return nine letterwinners and three starters, including All-SoCon First Team member Sophia Aleksandravicius and Freshman of the Year Laura Murray. How is their experience going to help your team this year on the hardwood?

The fact that we have so many returners has helped with the chemistry of our offense and defense this year. The freshmen have been able to blend in with the team and catch on to what we are doing. Having an experienced team has also allowed us to teach at a faster pace because everyone is familiar with what the coaches expect.

Last year Davidson won three of its last five games, including a win over College of Charleston in the conference tournament. What can you take away from the way your team played to close out the season?

We were really excited about winning the first game of the tournament and that win and the following lost has inspired the team to want to go further in this years’ tournament.

Elon head coach Charlotte Smith

This is your first season as the head coach at Elon, how has the transition been for you?

Things have been going really well and I must credit that to the fact that we were fortunate to walk into a situation where we were going on a European Tour.  We were able to get a head start on the season so when practice started it was basic review of the things we implemented in August.  The team is working really hard and are excited about the season!

As the most decorated player in North Carolina history, what are you bringing from your experience at UNC to Elon?

A championship mentality!  We have been really emphasizing what it takes to be a champion.  We have stressed the importance of discipline and focus each day in practice.  I really want the players to understand the importance of operating with a spirit of excellence in all that you do!  This is a quality that you should allow to transcend every aspect as it will carry you very far in life.

Elon had the longest postseason run of any SoCon team last season, as the Phoenix played in the Women's Basketball Invitational. What is the team taking from the postseason experience into the season?

Postseason play is an exciting time and we want to be right there in the mix of the NCAA Championship this year!  But we all realize that it starts with what we do every single day in practice.  We have to make it happen in practice in order for it to happen in games!

Furman head coach Jackie Carson

The Paladins have a challenging non-conference schedule with teams like Clemson, South Carolina Georgia and Charlotte. How do you hope these games prepare the team for their conference schedule?

I believe in order to prepare for the upper tier teams in the Southern Conference, you must compete against teams that are comparable or better. I believe our schedule does just that. Our goal is not only to win a Southern Conference championship but also to prepare our team for NCAA Tournament play. We want to instill the mindset that we can compete with BCS level teams across the country.

You return only two starters this season. What type of impact are you hoping the six newcomers make for this Furman team?

Our newcomers are going to be very important when it comes to the success of our program this season. All of our newcomers fill some void that we either had last season or lost because of graduation. We are more athletic and can hopefully use that to our advantage. Our upperclassmen have done a great job of "laying the foundation" by showing our rookies what I expect from our student-athletes. Our newcomers will be an instrumental piece however it is going to take an entire team effort to accomplish the goals we have set for this season.

Last year, Furman won six of its last 10 games. What can you take away from the way your team played to close out last season?

Last year was not only about introducing a completely new system to the team but also about changing the mindset. I believe our success at the end of the season was a direct correlation of the girls "buying in".  They learned that they can compete against anyone on our schedule, regardless if it is home or away. I am proud of how they evolved into a confident team that showed a lot of heart and passion at the end of the season and hope those intangibles carry over to this season.

UNCG head coach Wendy Palmer

This is your first year as a head coach at UNCG, how has the transition been for you?

It has been an incredible experience so far, full of challenges and excitement. UNCG has such a unique culture, and this is clearly a special place that loves and supports the game of basketball. I have thoroughly enjoyed building relationships with my players, the administration, and the University. I have used every experience prior to this to prepare for the day I became a head coach, so I have really just tried to apply the lessons I have learned in my previous stops here at UNCG.  

As an 11-year WNBA veteran and former All-American at Virginia, what advice and lessons are you giving to your players as they begin the 2011-2012 season?

Obviously my staff and I are working tirelessly to equip these young ladies to succeed on the basketball court, but more importantly we are stressing to them how this experience will prepare them for the bigger "game" of life. I am a huge believer in using the game of basketball as a means to teach lifelong lessons of leadership, integrity, fortitude, and excellence. It is critical that we take advantage of this rich season in our student-athletes' lives to develop their character and shape their perspectives. It has been encouraging to see the way our players have responded thus far. 

What do you see as the biggest challenge entering the season?

Our biggest challenge entering this season is to develop a winning culture of excellence on and off the court. Our student-athletes have so much potential in the classroom, on the court, and in the community, and my staff and I are committed to helping these ladies reach that potential. 

Georgia Southern head coach Rusty Cram

The Eagles begin their season with four challenging non-conference games against Arizona, Georgia, Mercer and Alabama. How are you going to use this competition to prepare for Southern Conference action?

Welcome to Division I basketball to the freshmen. You’re not in high school anymore! Gets the athletes attention and they generally become more receptive to what we are teaching afterwards. Also it helps prepare us for conference and should we get into the NCAA tournament then we know what to expect. You don’t get better unless you play better people.

You return three starters from last year, while adding three newcomers how will the experience on the court help Georgia Southern this season?

Leadership in the off-season and into this season, they are expected to set the tone with their experience and produce.

Georgia Southern held Western Carolina to only five baskets in the second half, but the Catamounts were able to come back and win the opening round of the SoCon Tournament. What does the team take away from that game into the new season?

A loss! Western (Carolina) fought through, we did not. We have to learn to fight and finish what we start.

Samford head coach Michael Morris

Samford won its first tournament title since joining the SoCon in 2008. What do you think will be the biggest challenge in order to defend your Southern Conference Championship title?

Our goal every year is to win the SoCon championship and go to the NCAA tourney every year. These goals are very challenging regardless of what you may have accomplished the previous year. Each year is different.

The Bulldogs lost Emily London, who was the program’s all-time leading scorer, and Savannah Hill who ranks third on the school’s career scoring list. However, three of five starters return from last season. How can they replace the production of London and Hill?

You cannot replace players the caliber of Emily and Savannah, however I feel we have several players that are ready to step up in production. Paige Anderson and Ruth Ketchum are proven guards who have the ability to be all conference. Also, Jazz powers as a senior point guard is prepared and eager to have an outstanding senior season.

Samford played in the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. What was that like and what does it do for your program? 

Playing in the NCAA tourney was a tremendous experience for our team. It gives your program a platform for national exposure and national credibility. I just wish it lasted longer than one game.  

Chattanooga head coach Wes Moore

Last season was the first time in 11 years that Chattanooga did not win the regular season title. How has the competition in the league grown over the years?

SoCon Women’s Basketball has definitely gotten better the past couple of years, as every school has made a real commitment to winning in our sport. I think this year is a good example of the parity that now exists, where I see several programs putting themselves in a position to compete for the title.

You return Whitney Hood who led the conference last year in scoring. What type of impact are you looking for her to make this season?

With Whitney being a senior, and realizing this is her last go around, I’ve seen a new level of maturity on her part. I know she worked hard over the summer, and she brings a little more urgency to the court and to her teammates on a daily basis. Not having a senior on the roster last year, I believe we missed that. Hopefully, Whitney and our other seniors, will be a strong influence with our younger players and instill that sense of urgency in our team.

The Mocs will participate in the Preseason WNIT and the Cancun Challenge taking on teams such as UAB, Idaho State and Cincinnati before conference play opens. How will you use  these games to prepare for conference action?

Again, I do believe our conference has stepped up the level of competition, so it’s important that we play a challenging non-conference schedule. With the games you mentioned, plus Baylor (pre-season #1 in the country) in our WNIT bracket, and Tennessee (#3) also on the schedule, we will definitely have ALL our weaknesses exposed before we jump into SoCon play. Our goal, as always, is to be playing our best basketball in March. We believe this schedule, along with the great challenges we’ll face in league play, provides us with an opportunity to reach that goal.

Western Carolina head coach Karen Middleton

You return 10 players from last year and add four fresh faces. What are you hoping the more experienced players pass on to the four newcomers?

We are off to a very good start.  Our returners are setting a great example and really helping our newcomers acclimate to the pace of the game. The older players are challenging the freshman, and helping them learn what we are doing quickly.  It makes such a difference when you have a group that understands expectations and HOW to do something the correct way.  Off the court, we are family. They are sisters to each other and our returners have helped the younger players adjust to Western and college in general.  Overall, this is a great group and are working very hard.

Among your returners are All-Freshman Team member Rena Wakama and junior guard Kailia’Shea Menendez, who had a career season. What are your leadership expectations of those two as you enter the season?  

We want Rena and Kaila to continue to work hard each day, improve each practice, and set a great example for our team.  Both have been vocal and encouraging of their teammates each day of this pre-season. Kaila is incredibly competitive and leads by example with her work ethic and her ability to push herself mentally. Rena loves to play the game and worked very hard this summer to become even better. Both are having an excellent pre-season and are hungry to keep advancing our program to compete for a SoCon championship. 

Western Carolina bested it’s 2009-10 season record last year as the Catamounts logged nine wins. How is the team going to use that momentum this year as they look to break that record again? 

Obviously, we have been rebuilding and have fought through adversity with major injuries and health situations. Year after year, we continue to improve and make progress toward our goal of competing for and winning a championship.  Our team is a group of incredible young ladies that are motivated and work extremely hard.  Our identity is competing extremely hard every game.  We will have more depth this year, the most we have had since we have been here, and we are more experienced and talented than ever before.  Our focus is to continue to improve every single day.  This can be a big year for us as we take the next step toward our goals.    

Wofford head coach Edgar Farmer

Wofford defeated UNCG last year in the first round before falling to Chattanooga in the quarterfinals. Is the team bringing a lot of that momentum back this season?

We are very excited about this season and the Southern Conference Tournament was a great springboard into our postseason workouts.  That same energy and enthusiasm has been evident during practice and I am very proud of our effort.

You return April Moorhouse for her senior season, who was the leading scorer for the Terriers in the first round game of the SoCon Tournament. What kind of leadership role are you expecting from her?

I have nothing but effusive praise for April Moorhouse!  She is role model in every sense of the word and I am looking forward to her senior season.  I expect her to continue her strong play and her great presence in the locker room.  I believe this will be her best season as a Wofford Terrier.

This year Morgan Wrightson will be able to play for Wofford after sitting out last season following her transfer from Bucknell. What type of immediate impact are you looking for her to make this season?

Morgan has been working hard getting ready for her Southern Conference debut.  She has done a very good job of competing on a daily basis in practice and will contribute to the team’s success.