This team went 11-19 last season. This team lost in the first round of the America East Conference tournament to Albany last year. And this team lost center Laine Kurpniece to graduation last spring.

What team is this? If you guessed the 2007-08 Binghamton University women’s basketball team, you would be correct.

It is a new year, however, and a new era for women’s basketball. With five new freshmen, the Bearcats have considerable new talent on hand. Most importantly, their new head coach, Nicole Scholl, plans to take Binghamton to the next level.

So, why will Scholl be a good coach for the Bearcats?

She will not need an adjustment period.

Last year, when Binghamton’s men’s basketball hired Kevin Broadus, the team started 1-7 as they took time to adjust to Broadus as a coach and person. There will be no need to do that with Scholl. She has been an assistant coach for the Bearcats since 1999, and believes that this will help her take control of the program early.

“I think the biggest thing is I’ve been here, obviously, and I have a good feel for what our returners can do,” Scholl said. “It’s very nice to not have to get used to a new program.”

With Scholl settled in early as the head coach for Binghamton, she will be able to make an immediate mark.

The new recruits are solid.

Confidence in this year’s recruiting class for women’s basketball abounds. Orla O’Reilly is awfully talented. Viive Rebane led the team in scoring with 10 points in the team’s opening game. Andrea Holmes figures to split time with Jackie Ward at the point guard position as a freshman. Such talented freshmen have Scholl excited for the season, and even willing to change the team’s system to accompany their talents.

“We have a lot more speed this year — especially from the guard positions — than we’ve had in the past,” Scholl said. “In the beginning we will have our ups and downs, but I think we will get better as the year goes on. I think we’ve brought in a nice recruiting class. I see Holmes coming into her own at the point guard position.”

The returners are talented as well.

The Bearcats have lost some talented players to graduation this season. However, they still have a slew of talent returning from last year to help develop the makings of a good team. Laura Franceski, Jackie Ward, Muffy Sadler and Erica Carter all figure to have solid seasons for the Bearcats. Scholl seems to believe that these players will help her cause in 2008-09 tremendously.

“Laine is a big loss, but we see Laura as our inside presence,” she said. “I really think she is going to come into her own this year. Muffy and Erica will look to step up their play and provide leadership.”

Scholl may be a first-year head coach, but she has coached successfully before.

She previously worked for North Dakota State University as a graduate student, where she helped with recruiting and scouting for a team that won five Division II national championships. Scholl also has head coaching experience, when she brought Hastings High School to a state championship. Scholl believes that her previous experience will help remove the perception that she will be a novice here at Binghamton.

“Being a head coach at Hastings High will help me here at Binghamton,” Scholl said. “We had a very successful team. I learned a lot both offensively and defensively, strategy and player-wise. This is not my first-ever head coaching job.”

While Scholl will be a positive for Binghamton, she has tried to temper expectations somewhat.

“We do have high expectations,” Scholl said. “The only thing is that we are experienced but very inexperienced. We have five freshmen. Anytime you have that many new players it takes time to gel.”

Binghamton women’s basketball struggled last year, and may take some time to settle in and get its footing this year with a roster with six new faces. However, Scholl is no stranger to Binghamton sports and has a very productive plan to get the Bearcats going in the right direction. The Bearcats in 2008-09 will be a competitor for the America East Conference crown, and a big reason for that will be their new coach.