D-II South Sports Review

2004-05 BASKETBALL PREVIEWS

Believe it or not, basketball season is just around the corner. And the clocks haven't even been turned back yet. For the next several weeks, D-II South Sports will preview the 2004-2005 basketball season, starting with the Gulf South Conference, followed by the Peach Belt Conference, and the SIAC. So, without any further ado, here goes!

NOTE: Predicted order of finish courtesy of conference websites.

Source: Gulf South Conference website: http://www.gulfsouthconference.org

GULF SOUTH CONFERENCE--WOMEN

EAST DIVISION

West Florida--After seeing much of the campus destroyed by Hurricane Ivan, which resulted in the cancellation of the volleyball and soccer seasons, many people within the UWF athletic community longed for any kind of good news. And they got it, in a way, with the women's basketball team being picked as the pre-season favorite to win the GSC East. The Lady Argonauts will look to preseason All-GSC members Michelle Gibson and Erin Vierling to carry the load.

Lincoln Memorial--The Lady Railsplitters will look to improve upon last season's 21-9 record with two newcomers in junior college transfer Allison Aubuchon and freshman Ashley Trosper. Despite yet another 20-win season, LMU fell to eventual NCAA D-II Final Four participant Henderson State in the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference tournament. It'll be interesting to see if the Lady Railsplitters can take the next step, and land an NCAA tourney berth.

West Georgia--After finishing 9-18, and advancing to the Gulf South Conference tournament, the Lady Braves look to go one step further. Senior Milan Cary hopes to lead the UWG women to that next step. West Georgia's non-conference slate includes a pair of games against defending Peach Belt Conference tournament champion Georgia College & State University.

West Alabama--The Tigers look to win another GSC East title, as well as advance to a second-straight NCAA Division II tournament after finishing 22-8 overall, including a 12-2 mark in conference play. Head Coach Amanda Marks welcomes back six letterwinners and four starters from last season. However, UWA must replace three seniors from last year's team: Margo Porter, Nikki Jones and Randianne Sears. The Tigers face a tough early-season schedule, which includes games against NCAA tournament participants Christian Brothers and Henderson State.

Valdosta State--The Lady Blazers (17-10) lost four straight games to end last season, which ended in the first round of the Gulf South Conference tournament with a loss to Henderson State. 5-11 forward Candice Ferrell hopes to lead VSU deeper into the GSC tournament this time around. But the Lady Blazers again have one of the toughest schedules in the South, if not the nation, with non-conference games against NCAA tournament participants Armstrong Atlantic State, Georgia College & State University, and West Alabama.

Alabama-Huntsville--The Lady Chargers look to bounce back after going 12-14, and narrowly missing the GSC tourney a year ago.

North Alabama--The Lady Lions face an uphill battle after finishing last in the GSC East last season, finishing a disappointing 9-17 overall and 3-11 in conference action.

Montevallo--UM has a brand-new head coach in Roy Dixon, who, as an assistant coach, helped lead the men's team to the GSC title and NCAA tournament berth. Whether that experience will rub off on the Lady Falcons remains to be seen.