Last season, head coach Terri Williams-Flournoy became the new face of Auburn women's basketball.
This season, Auburn fans will say hello to eight more newcomers for a program on the rise in one of the nation's toughest conferences.
"Right now, we look very young," Williams-Flournoy said during Wednesday's SEC Media Days in Birmingham. "There's a lot of teaching, patience and explaining in practice going on right now. The day (the players) figure out why we're doing what we're doing, then the light will go off for us."
But the eight newest Tigers -- six freshmen and two junior college transfers -- are not alone.
Auburn returns three starters from last season's team, which finished with a 19-15 record and a quarterfinal run to the Women's NIT. Senior Tyrese Tanner and junior Hasina Muhammad, who averaged 14 points each in Williams-Flournoy's first season, are joined by senior Peyton Davis as the core of this Auburn team.
"I'm looking forward to this season," Tanner said. "Our preseason was really good. I feel like we're conditioned enough to run our press for 40 minutes."
The press defense is a major part of Williams-Flournoy's coaching style, and new rules to women's college basketball could make a defense that broke a school steals record last season even more intimidating.
"It's not punishment for us to run and be in shape because that's how we play," Williams-Flournoy said with a chuckle. "We press all the time."
The "10-second rule" from men's college basketball and the NBA is now in the women's game. Offenses cannot control the ball in their own backcourt for more than 10 seconds, giving an advantage to pressing teams like Auburn.
"I was so excited when they changed (the rule)," Williams-Flournoy said. "It's not going to allow offenses that stand in there and pick our defense apart. It'll make teams play a little bit faster than they want to play against us."
While inexperience is a negative for Auburn's eight newcomers, they provide a welcome amount of depth for a team that is built to run full-speed for both halves.
"Their work ethic is high," Tanner said. "We didn't have as many players last year, and I expect a lot out of our freshmen this season. They showed a lot during pickup and workouts this summer."
After the departure of Najat Ouardad, Auburn is looking for a new starting point guard. Williams-Flournoy said newcomers Kiani Parker, Allina Starr and Meagan Tucker are stepping up in the battle to become the team's floor general.
"It's tough being a point guard in this league," Williams-Flournoy said. "And it's really tough being my point guard. Our expectations are really high -- we expect you not only to be great on the offensive end but on the defensive end as well."
Other newcomers at the guard position have shown promise in long-range shooting, an area that was dominated by Blanche Alverson. The four-year starter and former Miss Homecoming averaged 13 points for the Tigers last season, leaving another open area for Auburn's fresh faces to make their mark.
"[Freshman] Brandi Montgomery is really a sharpshooter," Williams-Flournoy said. "Katie Frerking, she's another freshman that can flat-out score. She's got a mid-range game, and she can attack the basket as well. Those two have shown that they can step up and become the offensive scorers we need."
Williams-Flournoy's up-tempo Tigers are predicted to finish eighth in the SEC, but Tanner says she as her eyes on the ultimate goal in her senior season.
"Just for my last year, I would like to play in the NCAA Tournament," Tanner said. "I felt like we could've gotten further in the SEC Tournament last year. But I think for this season -- with the new people we have and the added depth -- we can make it to the tournament."
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