This has to be Mercer's year in women's basketball, right?
The Lady Bears return their top nine scorers from last season's 25-win team that missed winning the Southern Conference because of a 61-59 loss to the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
Mercer has dropped the past two league tournament title games to the Mocs, with last season's the most excruciating for the Lady Bears. They let a second-half 13-point lead evaporate and watched as a jumper by Linnea Rosendal that would have tied the game as time expired bounced around the rim before rolling off.
With talent - and a chip on their collective shoulder - returning, there's no reason that they shouldn't be the overwhelming favorites to win the league this season.
Today, the Times Free Press takes a look at the league and predicts the order of finish:
1. Mercer: Two-time SoCon player of the year Kahlia Lawrence and four-year starting point guard Sydni Means lead the Bears, while talented junior Keke Calloway is a talented, explosive scorer.
2. UTC: The Mocs lost three of their top six scorers and will rely on a talented freshman class to fill the void, but senior guards Aryanna and Keiana Gilbert as well as sophomore Lakelyn Bouldin will lead the way.
3. UNC Greensboro: Nadine Soliman leads a talented sophomore class of players that came on strong late and led the Lady Spartans to their first 20-win season since 2001-02. UNCG went 10-4 over its final 14 games.
4. East Tennessee State: The Lady Buccaneers feature perhaps the most indispensable player in the league, 5-foot-6 guard Tianna Tarter, who was among the league's top 10 in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals last season. They could take a step forward if transfer Shy Copney - who has played at both Middle Tennessee State and UT-Martin - can help.
5. Furman: The Lady Paladins' season came unglued late after the loss of point guard Whitney Bunn to injury. Sophomore Le'Jzae Davidson, one of the top shooters in the league, may shift over to fill that void, or senior Stephania Oramas could resume duties, as she did after Bunn's injury.
6. Western Carolina: The Catamounts nearly defeated Mercer early in the league schedule and beat UNCG late, and with five seniors and some talented juniors, they could wage their way up in the standings this season.
7. Wofford: Junior Chloe Wanink's return should aid a team that took major steps forward under new coach Jimmy Garrity. The Terriers lost six league games by single digits and had wins over ETSU and UNCG.
8. Samford: The Lady Bulldogs struggled at times last season and will be young this year. Lone senior Hannah Nichols could help a roster otherwise filled with sophomores and freshmen.
» Player of the year pick: Tianna Tarter, ETSU.