As the tipoff of the Southern Conference basketball season approaches, something feels a little bit different.

For the first time in three seasons, nobody in the league has to worry about Stephen Curry.

While at Davidson (27-8, 18-2 SoCon - 2008-09), Curry lit up scoreboards and televisions across America, selling out arenas and leading the Wildcats to the NIT last season and, of course, a run to the Elite Eight of the 2008 March Madness tournament.

Although the Davidson campus has noticed his absence, Curry’s impact will likely remain forever.

“It’s not the same as it was when Stephen was here,” said Wildcats coach Bob McKillop. “It will probably not happen in my lifetime again, but nevertheless, basketball has become a flag-ship aspect of this campus.”

What Davidson does have returning are a pair of returning starters – seniors Bryant Barr and Steve Rossiter – who have been there through all the resent success, including last season’s SoCon South regular-season title.

College of Charleston (27-9, 15-5)

College of Charleston coach Bobby Cremins is glad someone else finally gets a chance in what looks to be an evenly-matched league in the 2009-2010 season after the Cougars eliminated the Wildcats from the 2009 SoCon tournament, the second of two wins over DC last season.

“Finally, finally last year we got them,” Cremins said. “Then Curry got hurt and a few other people got them and they went through a little spell there. I didn’t want to see them dominate, just totally dominate. They came close to dominating the conference again last year.

“The one thing I’m hoping is that the conference will have more balance (now that he’s gone). It should.”

It’s been a rough offseason for the Cougars. They’ve lost junior forward Antwaine Wiggins (ACL) – the last remaining player from the previous season’s starting five – and Florida State transfer Cassan Breeden (ineligible after transfer), Matt Sundberg (tendonitis) and Jeremy Simmons (violation of team rules) will all be sidelined for now.

Still, they’ll tip off the season with preseason SoCon Player of the Year Andrew Goudelock, who scored 16.7 points per game a year ago and hit 44-percent of his 3s.

The Citadel (20-13, 15-5)

The Citadel is feeling good after the largest turnaround in SoCon history. Ed Conroy’s Bulldogs improved by 14 conference wins after the 2007-08 campaign, while returning 11 contributors (three starters).

The Bulldogs are led by Cameron Wells, the league’s third-highest returning scorer (15.6 ppg).

Wofford (16-14, 12-8)

The Wofford Terriers return a ton of talent to a squad that had only its second winning season since joining the SoCon in 1997.

All five starters are back on the floor, including Noah Dahlman, who is the returning SoCon scoring leader from a year ago with 17.8 ppg. As a sophomore, he also posted a .601 shooting percentage from the floor to lead the league in the category for the second-straight season.

Georgia Southern (8-22, 5-15)

The Eagles have forgotten all about the eight-win season from a year ago.

Led by point guard Willie Powers, who suffered a season-ending injury against The Citadel last year, and All-SoCon Freshman Ben Drayton, GSU has a whole new swagger under first-year coach Charlton Young, a former point guard at GSU himself.

Two new faces in freshman Cameron Baskerville and junior-college transfer Rory Spencer look to add much-needed help underneath.

Furman (6-24, 4-16)

Despite an abysmal season last year, the Furman Paladins feel like a team for the first time under fourth-year coach Jeff Jackson.

“In our second year here,” said Jackson, “all of the players in our backcourt were freshmen. In our third year, all our post players were freshmen. This is the first year that we have guys who have been through the experience of a college basketball season.”

The Paladins are led by Jordan Miller (11.8 ppg) and return nine players to the hardwood, including all five starters.

Western Carolina (16-15, 11-9)

The Western Carolina Catamounts found success at the end of last season, and ended up splitting the SoCon North regular-season title with tournament champion Chattanooga.

All of a sudden, folks in Cullowhee are expecting to compete.

“Western hasn’t been in that position before, but it’s a lot better position to be in than the opposite of that, which is where we’ve been the last few years,” said WCU coach Larry Hunter. “It’s nice to have a little respect.”

All five starters return to the mix, including 2009 SoCon Freshman of the Year Harouna Mutombo.

Chattanooga (18-17, 11-9)

If there’s a team that doesn’t expect a repeat of last season, it’s defending champion Chattanooga.

The Mocs – who graduated all five starters from the 2008-09 squad – also have four potential starters out until at least December. Dante Harvey (torn MCL), Ty Patterson (academically ineligible until Dec. 12), Chris Early (broken hand) and Troy Cage (shin) will all miss out on the action as the season tips off.

“Hopefully, we won’t be as bad as people think, because at Chattanooga, you aren’t allowed to rebuild and revamp – you’re not allowed to do that,” said UTC coach John Shulman. “We’re supposed to be reloading and we’re supposed to be competing for a championship every year.

“It’s tough when you lose all five, but you can take a poll of all the Southern Conference coaches to see if anybody feels sorry for us, and I don’t think anybody does.”

Samford (16-16, 9-11)

The Samford Bulldogs will have more to play for than wins this season.

Teammate Jim Griffin passed away in his sleep on Sept. 8, and the Bulldogs will dedicate the season to him.

Seniors Bryan Friday and Trey Montgomery return as the team’s leading scorers, but Gaby Bermudez (stress fracture) and Matthew Friday (broken nose) will have to wait to contribute.

Appalachian State (13-18, 9-11)

Despite the fact that five Appalachian State players came down with swine flu in the offseason, the Mountaineers return a lot of firepower this season.

Coach Buzz Peterson returned to the team for a second go around after being the head man at Tulsa, Tennessee and Coastal Carolina for the past seven seasons.

Four starters return for ASU, including All-SoCon performer Kellen Brand and guard Donald Simms.

Elon (11-20, 7-13)

Add Elon to the list of teams with a new head coach.

Matt Matheny took over the Phoenix after a 16-year stint as an assistant at Davidson, and he still looks to his former colleague for advice.

“There have been challenges along the way – some expected and others, I’m like, ‘Whoa, what is this all about?’ I’ve got coach McKillop on speed dial, and he answers my phone calls sometimes and sends me a text back on other occasions,” Matheny said.

The Phoenix returns three starters, including Devan Carter and Josh Bonney.

UNC Greensboro (5-25, 4-16)

Fans of UNC Greensboro have a few things to cheer for.

The Spartans are moving shop to the Greensboro Coliseum this season, and senior and former walk on Mike Hardiman – who used to be the ‘N’ in SPARTANS back in his student cheering section days - looks to contribute.

Greensboro has six seniors on the roster this year, and four are returning starters.

Matt Yogus can be reached at (912) 489-9408.