Auburn Women's Basketball team opens play Sunday with an exhibition game against Georgia College and State University.
The Tigers ended the 2008-2009 regular season with a 29-3 record along with the SEC Championship before going to the second round of the playoffs, finishing the season with a 30-4 record.
Auburn has already had to change its starting line up due to early injuries.
At the end of July, sophomore guard Morgan Jennings, who was a projected point guard for this year, tore her ACL and is undergoing rehabilitation, and junior guard Reneisha Hobbs tore her ACL Oct. 25.
"It's unfortunate," said head coach Nell Fortner. "Reneisha has dealt with injuries for pretty much the whole time that she's been here. You can look at it one of two ways. You can be mad and upset about it, but what it does is it gives some opportunities for some others to step in and play."
Because of the injuries, sophomore Parrisha Simmons and freshman Blanche Alverson have stepped up as the backups for Hobbs' spot on the roster.
"Blanche Alverson is a real versatile player," Fortner said. "At 6-3, she can play the three or the four. Parrisha Simmons is a tremendous rebounder and gives us a great presence at that spot. We definitely have some options and they'll just be called upon to fill that need."
The Tigers graduated four seniors and only have one starter from the championship winning team, junior Alli Smalley.
They also gain back redshirt junior Jordan Greenleaf, who sat out last season due to an ACL injury.
Smalley was recently named to the Preseason All-SEC Second Team.
"I'm excited," Smalley said. "I'm not necessarily feeling any anxiety. I'm just ready to get going, which I'm sure everyone else on the team is too. We're just hungry to get out there and show what we got."
Greenleaf is starting to take on more of an offensive role, and Fortner said she has developed nicely into the new position.
Nov. 13 marks the official season opener for the Auburn Tigers Women's Basketball team against in-state rival Troy. The Troy game opens a four-game home streak for the Tigers in November, with Alabama A&M, Texas A&M and Georgia Southern University following.
"The crowd is the sixth man, with them it's easier to win," Greenleaf said. "It makes us want to give back. It gives us that extra push to win."
With great support from the SEC Championship, the team feels it's truly necessary to get everyone back into Beard-Eaves Coliseum again.
"People are going to be gunning for us," Greenleaf said. "Other teams may think that because we lost DeWanna (Bonner) and Sherrell (Hobbs) that it's going to be an easier time against us, but we're eager. We've got a lot of secret weapons that we're ready to show, so it's going to be tough to take the championship away from us."
Also opening exhibition play this weekend is Auburn Men's Basketball, playing Miles College Friday.
"We're excited about our last year in the arena and looking forward to the new one," said head basketball coach Jeff Lebo. "I can't wait to get over there. Everything seems to be on schedule."
The men's team plays 11 games against 2008 postseason tournament teams and opens up regular season play Nov. 13 with Niagara University, who only lost one player from last season's National Invitational Tournament team that won 26 games.
To prepare for both Miles and Niagara, the Tigers have been working on basic offenses, man-to-man defense, out of bounds plays and overall execution. Lebo said the execution has been better, and he is pleased with overall intensity.
"The energy is great," Lebo said after last Tuesday's practice. "They probably have been one of the best groups that we have had as far as coming and competing every single day."
The Tigers are coming off a season when it recorded the second most wins in Auburn history, going 24-12.
Auburn will work to replace four-year starters guard Quantez Robinson, guard Rasheem Barrett, and forward Korvotney Barber with a good incoming class.
"I think Earnest Ross and Andre Malone are physically ready," Lebo said. "I think early, like most freshmen, they will struggle when we start to add things, but they've been good so far."
Senior guard Tay Waller said practice and preparation for the season has been going well and everybody is working hard and fighting for playing time.
"It has been very competitive right now," Waller said after last Tuesday's practice. "We've been working on offense and defense, but most importantly defense, because we feel like we can beat anybody if we can stop them."
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