Senior Alaina Coates comes into the 2016-2017 season as an All-American, a member of the preseason All-SEC team and one of two seniors on a team expected to win the SEC Tournament.
The accolades come with their own set of challenges.
“I do feel like it’s high expectations,” Coates said. “I do feel like, you know, we have a target on our back.”
At this point, such expectations are nothing new for Coates, who has played in three consecutive SEC title games and just as many NCAA Tournaments. Coates understands the duality of their nature: added pressure combined with a push for continued success.
“I don’t think it ever gets any easier. It’s kind of like with beating a team more than once, you know, it’s always harder and harder as the next time comes around,” Coates said on winning the SEC Tournament.
Aside from the expectations, Coates said the other constant is support from Gamecock fans.
“It’s just a real supportive community, and it really doesn’t matter what event is going on, they’re going to support no matter what because we’re bringing pride to our school, and we’re trying to bring pride to our state,” the Irmo, South Carolina, native said.
Although the expectations and support remain, the team's composition is largely different. From last year's team, the Gamecocks have lost three starters and eight total letter-winners. This year’s roster includes seven new players, including four freshmen.
Coates also faces the challenge of filling a new role on the team. Though the senior has already made her impact on the team, holding three career records for rebounding alone, this season she is responsible for making a less tangible impact as a co-captain.
“It’s different now because I am a captain and it’s not just, OK, I’m going to take leadership over my position, it’s more I have to take leadership over everyone,” the center said. “So it has it’s challenges, but for the most part you know everybody’s been good.”
Coates said she is using last season’s ending as a way to motivate herself and her teammates. She does not want this team to feel what last year’s did.
Last season, the Gamecocks suffered only one loss in the regular season. After winning the SEC Tournament for a second year in a row, their postseason ended when they lost to Syracuse in the Sweet 16.
Coates is determined to ensure that this team leaves a different legacy, because now she has a more encompassing perception of what those expectations really mean — how it feels to meet them, and now how it feels to fall short.
“I told my teammates time and time again, I don’t want to go out like that,” Coates said. “I want to go out with us standing on a pedestal with a bunch of confetti, and for us to, you know, get our rings.”