The Auburn women’s basketball team has spent the past two years trying to live up to the 2008-09 team, the one that won the SEC regular season title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Tigers went 30-4 that year. They’ve gone 31-32 since.

“It’s been hard. It’s hard on you psychologically and it’s tough on your fans, because your expectations are just so high,” Auburn coach Nell Fortner said. “We’ve had some things that didn’t go our way, in recruiting — in some ways — and then just in some tough times.

“I feel like we’re through that. We’re past it.”

Auburn begins its next attempt at recapturing the magic with its regular season opener on the road against Mercer, Friday night at 6.

And even though preseason expectations aren’t exactly sky high — the Tigers were picked to finish ninth in the SEC in the preseason polls — Fortner said there’s plenty to like about this team.

“I’m excited about the possibility of this team,” Fortner said. “We’re a lot faster than we have been. Everybody’s working hard for time on the floor, and this has been the most competition we’ve had since I’ve been here.

“It’s very deep.”

That’s what happens when you lose only three players — Alli Smalley, Morgan Toles and Jordan Greenleaf — off last year’s team.

Fortner’s core is still young for the most part — Morgan Jennings, Parrisha Simmons and Chantel Hilliard are the Tigers’ only seniors — but she’s seen the right combination of size, strength and quickness to tell her this team can be special.

Auburn showed some of its potential — albeit against a less talented team — in an 85-25 exhibition win over Georgia College on Oct. 30, with sophomore guard Camille Glymph pouring in 15 points off the bench and Hilliard recording a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds.

And it still wasn’t quite enough for Fortner.

“I was hoping we would score more points, actually,” Fortner said. “But I think it showed me that our defense can really create a lot of our offense. We just have to make sure we’re finishing shots on that end.”

That offense will have to come from 3-point specialists like Glymph and Blanche Alverson, players like Chantel Hilliard in the post and players like freshman Hasina Muhammad, who can do a little of everything.

The 6-foot-1 freshman from Memphis, Tenn., scored 13 points in her first game action with the Tigers and showed Fortner enough to crack the starting lineup in her first official collegiate game.

“She’s just tough. She’s got 3-point range, with the ability to put it on the floor,” Fortner said. “She really stretches the defense and can get around them when she wants to.

“Kind of like (former Auburn All-American and current WNBA player DeWanna) Bonner did.”

Auburn (0-0) at Mercer (0-0)
WHERE: University Center; Macon, Ga.
WHEN: 6 p.m.
RADIO/TV: WMXA (96.7 FM)/None

PROJECTED STARTERS, AUBURN*: G Hasina Muhammad, 6-1, Fr. (high school); G Mordan Jennings, 5-8, Sr. (3.4 ppg, 1.8 rpg); F Blanche Alverson, 6-3, Jr. (10.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg); F Chantel Hilliard, 6-2, Sr. (6.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg); F Jassany Williams, 6-2, So. (3.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg)

PROJECTED STARTERS, MERCER*: F Ry’van Buchanan, 5-11, Jr. (junior college); G Briana Williams, 5-7, So. (18.0 ppg, 2.8 rpg); F Alex Phillips, 6-3, Jr. (7.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg); G Sharnea Boykin, 5-5, So. (3.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg); G Precious Bridges, 5-6, Fr. (high school)

NOTABLE
—Mercer also played Georgia College in an exhibition, winning 73-43
—Auburn beat Mercer, 79-61, in last year’s season opener at Auburn Arena.
—Williams, Freshman of the Year in the Atlantic Sun last season, scored 23 against the Tigers in last year’s opener.
* – Stats from last season.