Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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2003-2004 SEC and rival preview Clemson Tigers Men’s Outlook: New head coach Oliver Pumell has his work cut out for him in the ACC, but he returns four starters from last year’s 15-13 team. The Tigers have leading returning scorer Sharrod Ford to boost the team, as veil as two new juniors ind one freshman. Women’s Outlook: The Tigers are trying to L /ebound from th? r first losing season in 1' years, but will have four returning starters to do it Clemson lost All-ACC guard Chrissy Floyd and will need to replace her play and more to get back to the postseason. I Alabama Crimson Tide ‘ Men’s Outlook: The men lost four starters off of their 17-12 team from last season, including 2002 SEC Player of the Year forward Erwin Dudley. Returning starting forward Kennedy Winston and guard Antoine Pettway will look to lead the Tide back to the NCAA Tournament this season. Women’s Outlook: I. While the women finished at ! the bottom tier of the SEC last ■ 1 year, going 13-15 overall and , 3-10 in conference. Forward Natasha Gamble leads the l Tide again this year, as she led 1 the team in scoring and rebounds last season, j m 1 • Arkansas Razorbacks Men’s Outlook: Arkansas starts the 2003 2004 campaign coming off a 9-19 season - a far cry from the dominating teams of the Nolan Richardson years. The Razorbacks return their two top scorers from last year’s team but lose the other three starters. Women’s Outlook: The Lady Razorbacks notched their ninth apnearance in the NCAA Tournament last season, advancing to the second round. Arkansas will be returning its top scorer and top rebounder from last season’s squad and will try to improve on its 7-7 conference record from last year. Auburn Tigers Men’s Outlook: Auburn only finished 8-8 in the SEC last year but put together a run to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are returning three starters from last season’s 22 12 team, including forward Marco Killingsworth, who led the conference in field goal percentage last season. Women’s Outlook: The women’s team is returning all five starters from its 2003 WNIT Championship team. There is still room for improvement, though, since the Tigers only went 5-9 in SEC play. Natasha Brackett, who led the team with 16.4 points a game, returns. Florida Gators Men’s Outlook: The men are returning three players off of the 25-8 team that finished second in the SEC East. Florida got the boot in the second round of the SEC Tournament and the second round of the NCAA Tournament, so the Gators will need players like SEC Freshman of the Year Anthony Roberson to advance further. Women’s Outlook: The women will need all five returning starters to turn around last year’s 9-19 team that finished a dismal 2-11 on the road. Forward Bernice Mosby is Florida's main threat this season after leading the team in scoring last season. Georgia ^Bulldogs Men’s Outlook: The men’s team put together an impressive run last year, going 19-8 overall and 11-5 in the SEC before being ruled ineligible for postseason play because of NCAA violations. Georgia returns three players but loses its top two scorers from last year’s team. -/Women’s Outlook: The Lady Bulldogs are welcoming back four starters from a team that went 21-10 and advanced to the NCAA Regionals last year. Forward center Christi Thomas, who led the team in points and rebounds per game, will be coming back for her senior season. 0 Kentucky Wildcats Men’s Outlook: The only thing missing from last season's men’s team was the national championship. UK was undefeated in the SEC, advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight and three starters from that team are back this year. Top rebounding forward Chuck Hayes and guard Gerald Fitch, who was second on the team in scoring last year, look to get back to the top this year. Women’s Outlook: The Kentucky women didn’t finish so well, going 11-16 and losing in the first round of the SEC Tournament. Still, the Wildcats are returning four players from last year’s team, including guard Sara Potts. LSU Tigers Men’s Outlook: LSU is coming into this season off a 21-win performance last year, but the team only went 8-8 in the SEC and were sent home in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers will have a tough time improving, though, after losing three starters. Women’s Outlook: The Lady Tigers bring back three players from a squad that went 30-4, won the SEC Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight last year. Returning point guard Seimone Augustus led the team in scoring last year and was named last season’s SEC Freshman of the Year. -----~5 Miss. State Bulldogs Men’s Outlook: Mississippi State is losing three members of last year’s team that made it to the SEC Tournament finals. Top scorer and rebounder Mario Austin is gone, so guard Tommy Bowers will have to step into the top spot this season. Women’s Outlook: The Lady Bulldogs look to build off their success last season, after advancing to the SEC Tournament semifinals and to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. Guard Tan White, who was second on the team in scoring with 18.1 points per game last year, will be expected to lead Mississippi State this year. Ole Miss Rebels Men’s Outlook: The season doesn’t look promising for the men, who only return two players from their 14-15 team last year. However, last season's top scorer and rebounder, toward Justin Reed, is coming back for his senior year. Women’s Outlook: The women didn’t finish much the men, going only getting one year. The Rebels four of five including Watts, who led statistical