Scarily, the SEC could be even better

With five teams returning at least four starters, the powerful SEC might be even more of a best this year -- and that's saying something.

In 2006-07, the conference sent two teams to the Final Four in Cleveland and laid claim to the nation’s best player, so talk of improvement is serious talk indeed. There is one challenge, though: Five ‘new’ coaches will roam the sidelines, and they will all have adjustments to make. But Van Chancellor at LSU, Tom Collen at Arkansas, Matthew Mitchell at Kentucky, Renee Ladner at Ole Miss, and Amanda Butler at Florida all coaches have previous SEC coaching experience, which should smooth the transition.

1. Tennessee (34-3, 14-0): After a well-known ESPN analyst dubbed last year’s squad “the least talented Tennessee team in program history”, the Vols stormed through the SEC regular season unscathed en route to a perfect 6-0 record in the NCAA Tournament. Four starters return from the national championship team, including Wade Trophy recipient Candace Parker, dynamic combo guard Alexis Hornbuckle, and lightning quick point guard Shannon Bobbitt. Add to that the top-rated recruiting class of 2007— which includes the 6-4 Victoria Baugh, 6-0 guard Angie Bjorklund, and 6-6 center Kelley Cain — and Tennessee appears to have plenty of talent this season. In addition, expect to see improved rebounding and long distance shooting from Tennessee this season. Though the roster only stands at ten players, every player on it is capable of making a significant contribution to the team. As long as the Vols can avoid major injuries, they will be in position to defend their national title in Tampa in April.

2. LSU (30-8, 10-4): The Pokey Chatman Era in Baton Rouge officially ended last March, but her influence on the team will remain at least through this season. Van Chancellor, whose success with the Houston Comets makes him a women’s basketball icon, inherits a team loaded with experience and talent. Sylvia Fowles, who spent a portion of her summer working out with the USA Senior National team, returns to lead LSU in her senior season. The consensus All-American became the first player in league history to record a double-double in every SEC game last season. With Fowles leading the way for a second straight year, senior guard Quinna Chaney regaining her shooting form from her prep days, and Erica White managing the attack as a senior point guard, the Tigers have all the pieces in place to reach the Final Four for the fifth straight season.

3. Georgia (27-7, 11-3): After last season’s up-and-down affair, the Lady Bulldogs are looking for consistency. Led by All-American forward Tasha Humphrey and standout sophomore point guard Ashley Houts, Georgia has a formidable inside-outside combination. Helping out Humphrey up front are senior forwards Rebecca Rowsey and Megan Darrah, and sophomore center Angel Robinson. The Bulldogs will have to find a way to replace the consistent three-point shooting and ball-handling provided by Cori Chambers and Janese Hardrick. Freshman guard Angela Puelo and Tennessee transfer Lindsey Moss will attempt to fill their shoes, with sophomore wing Christy Marshall also in line to be a significant contributor. Look for Georgia to remain competitive with Tennessee and LSU, but just a cut below.

4. Auburn (21-13, 6-8): A candidate for this season’s surprise team, the Auburn Tigers return all five starters from last season’s 20-win squad. Leading the way will be 6-4 (not a typo) shooting guard DeWanna Bonner, one of the most underrated players in the country. Bonner, who spent the summer training with the USA U21 team, is quickly becoming one of the SEC’s most dominant players. Joining Bonner on the perimeter are standout guards Sherrill Hobbs and Tamela McCorvey. The Tigers have the talent on the perimeter to challenge the top teams in the conference, but they appear to be suspect in the post in 6-7 Keke Carrier’s absence. If Carrier returns for the second half of the season, the Tigers pose a threat to the upper tier SEC teams. With Bonner, McCorvey, Hobbs, and perhaps Carrier leading the way, the Tigers could find themselves playing during the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend.

5. Mississippi State (18-14, 7-7): Though picked to finish 12th in the SEC a season ago, a youthful Mississippi State team stunned the prognosticators by upsetting the likes of Florida State, Georgia Tec, and Ole Miss (all NCAA Tournament teams). Despite missing that tournament, the Lady Bulldogs laid a solid foundation that they will attempt to build upon this year. Leading the way for MSU are senior forward Imesia Jackson, junior point guard Marneshia Richard and sophomore combo guard Alexis Rack (a freshman All-America selection last season). Each member of the talented trio will contend for All-SEC honors, but it will be up to the supporting players to provide consistent efforts every game. With a bit more playable depth available in 2007-08 than a season ago, coach Sharon Fanning should be able to guide this team back to the NCAA Tournament.

6. Kentucky (20-14, 6-8): The 2006-07 Kentucky Wildcats entered the season with a preseason Top 15 ranking and a number of expectations, which included challenging for the SEC championships. This season, however, the (Wild)cats are looking more like (under)dogs. With former head coach Mickie DeMoss moving on to Texas to serve as an assistant, new head coach Matthew Mitchell takes over a Kentucky squad that desperately wants to forget about last season — and he has the talent to make that happen. Returning for their senior season in Lexington are wing Samantha Mahoney and center Sarah Elliott, and the inside-outside duo of Mahoney and Elliott is one of the best in the SEC. Point guard Carly Ormerod returns for her third season as a starter with the intent to improve her shooting range. The Cats welcome back redshirt junior Eleia Roddy, who missed the 2006-07 campaign with a torn ACL. Mitchell also inherits a Top 10 recruiting class, which includes standouts Victoria Dunlap and Catina Bett. Mitchell has all the pieces in place to get this team into the NCAA Tournament, and anything short of the NCAAs would be a disappointment.

7. Vanderbilt (28-6, 10-4): Though it seemed like Dee Davis and Carla Thomas suited up for Vanderbilt much longer than the indicated four seasons, the dynamic duo — along with sharp-shooting guard Caroline Williams — no longer dons the gold and black for the Commodores. Attempting to build upon their legacy (which includes two SEC Tournament championships) is a group of talented yet largely untested players. Leading the way is underrated wing Tina Wirth, who returns as the only double-digit scorer from a season ago. Liz Sherwood, the SEC’s sixth woman of the year, will spend the bulk of her time in the starting lineup, while Meredith Marsh, Jessica Mooney and Jennifer Risper provide punch on the perimeter. Without a consistent athletic post presence to battle against the talented big women of the SEC and without experience at the point, the Commodores could be involved in a heated battle for an NCAA Tournament bid come March.

8. Florida (9-22, 2-12): Despite lofty preseason expectations, the Florida Gators plummeted to the bottom of the SEC standings and failed to record double-digit wins last season. The disappointment cost Carolyn Peck her job and sent Florida on a rather intriguing national search for a high-profile replacement — and finally having to settle for handing the reins to alum and former Charlotte coach Amanda Butler. Butler inherits a team that has talent (Sha’ Brooks and Marshae Dotson will contend for All-SEC honors, and Depree Bowden is a solid SEC performer) but lacks consistency. Butler, who led Charlotte to back-to-back NIT appearances and experienced success in the A-10 both seasons, looks to establish Florida as an annual NCAA contender. Though lacking for quality size, the Gators will likely play a style that caters to its perimeter strength — something that Butler orchestrated well at Charlotte. This season’s Gators lack the pieces necessary to challenge for the SEC championships, but they will be fun to watch and could play a spoiler role come March.

9. Ole Miss (24-11, 9-5): If you didn't see Armintie Price play prior to last March, you saw exactly what you’d been missing the previous three seasons. After spending the bulk of her career in the shadows of standouts from higher profile SEC schools, Price made a name for herself on a national stage by leading Ole Miss to its first Elite Eight since 1992. Six months later, the Lady Rebels must replace Price, two of her teammates (point guard Ashley Awkward and center Jada Mincy), and the coach who orchestrated the Elite Eight run: Carol Ross. Luckily, there are some significant ties remaining to last year’s team. New head coach Renee Ladner served as an assistant under Ross during her tenure at Ole Miss, and super sophomore guard Alliesha Easley took on sort of an apprenticeship role to Price and Awkward last season. Easley’s role will change this season from third option to leading scorer, and she will have help from junior Shawn Goff and senior Danetra Forrest inside. Despite the notable returnees, the 2007-08 Lady Rebels will have a new look and could struggle early on until the team establishes an identity.

10. Arkansas (18-13, 3-11): Despite beginning the 2006-07 campaign with 15 straight wins, the Arkansas Razorbacks posted only three SEC victories and failed to reach postseason play. The disappointing downward spiral cost Susan Gardner her job, and the administration replaced her with former Louisville head coach Tom Collen. In his first season as head coach, Collen will face a tough test — playing in the SEC with a depleted roster (rising sophomore Donica Crosby did not return to the team and freshman Whitney Zachariason left the team during the preseason), but Collen received a bit of good news when Sarah Pfeifer was granted a sixth year of eligibility. Senior center Lauren Ervin (who averaged a double-double last season) and senior point guard Brittany Vaughn (who led the SEC in assists) will have to take on expanded roles for the ‘Backs this season. As was the case a season ago, lack of post options will limit Arkansas’ ability to find success in SEC play.

11. South Carolina (18-15, 6-8): After losing its 60% of its scoring from a season ago from a team that finished in the bottom half of the SEC in scoring, the South Carolina Gamecocks must find a way to generate offense if it expects to compete for wins in the SEC. Returning to the Gamecocks are two talented SEC caliber posts, 6-3 LaKeisha Tolliver and 6-4 Demetress Adams. Tolliver and Adams will be joined in the staring lineup by a young backcourt, led by 5-9 guard Jordan Jones (a former teammate of freshman sensation Maya Moore of UConn). Jones’ reputation as a deep threat should open up more scoring opportunities for Tolliver and Adams inside, but the Gamecocks will still have to find someone to run the show at point guard. Despite having the pieces to contend for wins in the SEC, the youth and inexperience in the backcourt should cost South Carolina several games in SEC play.

12. Alabama (10-20, 0-14): The rebuilding project in Tuscaloosa continues for the Alabama Crimson Tide. With only two upperclassmen on the roster (neither of whom receives significant playing time) and news of promising young point guard Nikki Davis not returning to the team, Alabama appears to be a sure bet to finish last in the SEC for a second straight season. Gone are experienced guards Navonda Moore (who made the Minnesota Lynx roster this past summer) and Kate Mastin. Returning for the Crimson Tide are a bevy of sophomores who made a significant impact on the team as freshman: Talisha Chandler, Courtney Strauthers, Alyson Butler, and Tamara Williams. Chandler, in particular, will be depended on to lead the post attack. Without experienced guards, however, the Crimson Tide appears to be headed for another long season in the SEC.