AIKEN, SC--Losing four starters and seven letterwinners would worry most coaches. The loss of three starters that combined to play in 316 games over the last four years and rank first, third, and fifth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 3,854 points would lead most observers to believe the following season is a “rebuilding year”. Don’t tell that to head coach Mike Brandt.

“I recruited at a level that I wanted to be able to compete for a [Peach Belt Conference] championship,” Brandt said, 19-13 in his second year at USCA.

Despite coming into a situation that featured four returning starters off a team that was the defending conference champions, Brandt faced what all first-year coaches have to deal with, adapting your personnel to mesh with your philosophy and style. One win short of the program’s third-consecutive 20-win season is not a bad mesh.

Now, however, with his first recruiting class, Brandt can focus more on the style of play he believes in and plug the players in to match it.

“From top to bottom, I’m pleased with the recruiting class. I think some of them will need to step up and contribute right away for us to be successful. I think there is a lot of versatility in this class,” Brandt said.

Unfamiliarity will not be a problem typical of most incoming classes as four of the newcomers played for Brandt two years ago when he was the head coach at Northeastern Junior College. Lana Mandic, Benazura Serbecic, and Beata Szabo all played their freshmen season under Brandt. Haylee Reichert played her freshman and sophomore seasons for Brandt before transferring to Missouri Western State.

So what can fans expect to see in the style of play for in 2003-04?

“Similar to last year, but the players that are here will be a lot more comfortable with it. It’s not really going to be new to them. Some of them will be used to playing in that system, so obviously it will be more effective,” Brandt said. “Our inside players can run the floor really well so we will be more aggressive and push the ball up the floor more to take advantage of our better team speed.”

With players representing nine different states and three foreign countries, team chemistry is obviously going to be a key to the overall success of the season.

“I think team chemistry is going to be important. With eight new players, from all around the world, chemistry will be an important part of our team’s success,” Brandt said. “I really think it’s excellent right now.”

The five returners, especially seniors Erica Larsen, Sarah Kendrick, and Katie Mitchell, will be looked to for leadership to help the newcomers adjust to the elite level of competition in the NCAA Division II. Brandt and assistant coach Dana Richter will count on this core group to convey the importance of playing well in the conference and demonstrating leadership on the practice floor.

The rest of the coaches around the Peach Belt Conference are going to make the Lady Pacers earn back the respect they had built up over the past few seasons. After being picked no worse than third since the 1999-2000 PBC preseason coaches’ poll, USCA was tabbed 10th this year. Armstrong Atlantic State was chosen as the coaches’ choice to defend their title followed closely by Columbus State and North Florida.

According to the predicted order of finish, USC Aiken is picked fourth in the North Division behind Augusta State, USC Spartanburg, and Lander.

With one year under his belt, Brandt may not agree with the 10th place prediction, but he understands it.

“I think [the PBC] was a little more competitive last year than I initially thought it would be. Once conference play started, the intensity level rose up and the competition was excellent,” Brandt said.

“I think this year the Peach Belt from top to bottom is going to be extremely competitive as well. I don’t think you can go down on the schedule and say we are going to win this one,” Brandt said. “I think any opponent can go in and beat anyone on a given night and I don’t see it as a huge upset, especially when playing at home.”

GUARDS
For the first time in four seasons, USC Aiken will feature a new point guard running the offense, but not a new face. Sophomore Mindy Allee spent her freshman season in 2002-03 serving as the understudy to Jami Cornwell, the school’s all-time assist leader. Allee, who averaged 3.3 points in 14.0 minutes per game last year, will be counted on to take that wisdom gained and direct this team on the floor.

“For us to be successful in our system, it all starts with the point guard, and I have all the confidence in the world in Mindy. She learned a lot last year from the senior guards that we had. She’s very confident, hard nosed, and a solid point guard offensively and defensively,” Brandt said.

Gezel Virella is a freshman that will also see some time at the point. A high school standout, Virella averaged 14.5 points and 6.0 assists at the largest high school in New Jersey. She is characterized as having the potential to develop into a strong point guard, but will have to learn playing at the college level.

Sarah Kendrick is the lone returning starter from last year’s team and is expected to keep that shooting guard spot in the lineup. Kendrick made 29 starts and was third on the team in scoring at 8.6 points per game while finishing as the team’s leading rebounder with 148 on the season.

“Sarah is consistent on defense, rebounding, and hustles. That was a given last year and will be this year. She can score from the outside, taking it to the hole, and posting up inside,” Brandt said.

Kasey Mills is a newcomer that will add some depth at the two-guard slot. Mills transferred to USC Aiken from the College of Eastern Utah where she led the team in scoring with 10.8 points per game. She is considered by Brandt to be a similar style player to Kendrick. Both Kendrick and Mills will be available to help out at the point if necessary.

Amy Ransom and Shannon Coyle are a pair of freshmen guards that will look to learn the system and adapt to the college level of play while adding depth to the Lady Pacer roster.

“Amy gives great effort and has improved by leaps and bounds. Shannon is going to be an excellent three-point shooter in this league in the future,” Brandt said.

FORWARDS
One returner and two newcomers will compete for playing time at the small and power forward positions.

Katie Gebhardt, the lone returner, has improved each season and now as a junior will look to up her minutes per game. Last season, she averaged 0.9 points and 1.0 rebounds in 24 games.

Beata Szabo and Reichert are a pair of new faces that will add height and depth to the forward position.

Szabo averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds last season for the Plainswomen of NJC.

Before transfering to USCA last December, Reichert was scoring 3.7 points and pulling down 2.4 boards per contest for the top-ranked Missouri Western State Griffons.

“Haylee is a strong on the ball defender while Beata does a little bit of everything well,” Brandt said. “Katie is a smart player and a good shooter.”

POST
One area of constant concern for the Lady Pacers over the past four years has been post defense. Dominant post players from around the conference, and the region, have taken advantage of a thin front line. This will be the case no more.

“Size was a big factor in recruiting. We’ve got some nice, good sized bodies out there,” Brandt said. “We must be stronger than last year. I think our depth at the inside position will be a lot stronger and allow us to play more aggressively.”

Lana Mandic and Bena Serbecic are two newcomers that will join Katie Mitchell as contenders for minutes at the post. Mitchell was sixth on the team in scoring averaging 7.4 points and 2.6 rebounds.

“Mitch has good size, a soft touch, good quick first-step, and can post strong on the block,” Brandt said.

Mandic averaged 12.2 points and 6.9 rebounds at Northeastern Junior College last season while Serbecic nearly averaged a double double at 9.2 points and 8.1 rebounds.

“Lana is hard to match up against because she can shoot the three or post up down low,” Brandt said. “Bena is similar to Katie Mitchell with the ability to penetrate, and ads strong rebounding.”

USC Aiken opens the 2003-04 season on Saturday, November 15 versus Florida Tech in Jacksonville, Fla. in the Lady Osprey Tip-Off Classic.

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