Alabama Women?s Basketball Releases 2007-08 Schedule
9/15/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. ?? The University of Alabama women's basketball team, preparing to enter its third season under the direction of head coach Stephany Smith, released its 2007-08 schedule today. The schedule has the Crimson Tide playing in the comfortable confines of Coleman Coliseum 16 times this season.
One would think playing in the SEC, which boasts five NCAA Tournament teams, three Elite Eight qualifiers, two Final Four participants and the national champion from last season would be challenging enough. Smith is making the schedule even tougher with her choice of non-conference opponents. Those additions have the Tide lacing it up 17 times against last year's post-season tournament participants.
"Eleven of our 13 players are freshmen and sophomores," said Smith. "That's not an excuse, it's just a fact. But I believe playing a competitive non-conference schedule is imperative when you compete in the SEC. It is difficult to simulate what we'll face come January, but we've put together a great group of opponents that will hopefully prepare us for conference play."
Among the non-conference teams appearing in Coleman Coliseum this season will be Conference USA champion Tulane, Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech and a traditionally talented team in Arkansas State. The Tide will also play host to in-state rivals Alabama A&M and Jacksonville State.
Highlighting life on the road, the Tide will compete in the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas with the potential to take on North Carolina State, which advanced to the Sweet 16 a season ago. Alabama also travels to Samford, Belmont, Tennessee Tech and Chattanooga in non- conference road action.
Alabama hosts South Carolina, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Vanderbilt, Tennessee and Ole Miss in SEC play and will travel to Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Auburn, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.
The Tide welcomes back seven players who made their Division I debuts a season ago, with six of those seven being freshmen who accounted for 130 of the 200 minutes played in each game. Alabama won eight straight home games early in the year, its best home win streak in 10 years and defeated a pair of NCAA Tournament teams in non-conference play.
"The experience our freshmen gained last year is certainly beneficial to our continued growth," said Smith. "What a difference a year has made in their maturity and confidence as SEC players. The hard work they put in this summer and have continued through the pre-season is a testament to their dedication and pursuit of excellence as a program."
Smith welcomes five additions with her second signing class. It is full of prep stars which bring with them a host of impressive accolades.
"I'm excited about our newcomers," said Smith. "Their individual talents are a great complement to our team. It remains to be seen how quickly they will adjust to the college game, but each of them has shown much potential."
The Tide opens its season with a pair of exhibition games in Coleman Coliseum. West Alabama opens the exhibition slate on October 31, with Mississippi College scheduled to face UA on November 4. The regular-season opener is scheduled for Nov. 10 against Tulane, with the first road game at Samford on Nov. 13. Alabama opens SEC play at home against South Carolina on Thursday, January 10.
To better accommodate the Alabama faithful, weekday game times have been changed to 6 p.m. while weekend games will remain at 2 p.m. Game times are tentative awaiting television broadcast schedules.
Alabama women's basketball season tickets are available for purchase through the Athletic Ticket Office at 205-348-2262 (BAMA), toll free at 877-TIDETIX, or by logging on to www.rolltide.com
