Memphis women's basketball: New coach, new players. What will Tigers' new identity be?

Alex Simmons knows how to play it cool.

The first-year Memphis women's basketball coach had that air about her at AAC media day in Dallas. Seated next to guards Madison Griggs and Ki'Ari Cain, Simmons was relaxed. She interacted casually with her players and was measured in her interactions with reporters.

But Simmons is a bit surprised when the subject of her calm demeanor comes up.

“Yeah, you know, a lot of people say that,” Simmons said before turning toward Griggs and Cain with a rhetorical question. “Am I reserved?”

Surprised perhaps because it's not exactly the most accurate reflection of what to expect from a team coached by Simmons. In fact, the expectation should be the opposite. Simmons − who played for the legendary Pat Summitt at Tennessee and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame coach Rick Insell at Shelbyville High School, both noted for their competitiveness − has spent the past several months working to establish a new identity at Memphis. One that worked well for her at Gardner-Webb, which she guided to an NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

“Yeah, we’re in your face for 40 minutes,” said Cain, who transferred to Memphis after four seasons at Garnder-Webb, where she averaged more than 100 assists a year. “We don’t play robotic. We play free.”

Expectations are also high for the Tigers because of the program's recent success. Memphis finished 22-11 last season and was runner-up in the AAC regular-season standings. The Tigers reached the round of 16 at the WNIT − their first postseason appearance in six years. Griggs, a preseason first-team all-conference selection and top 3-point shooter in program history, is back. Hannah Riddick, the leading rebounder and fourth-leading scorer from last season, is also back.

So, despite Memphis being on its third coach in the last four seasons and a roster heavy on newcomers (nine, to be exact), the Tigers were picked to finish fifth in the AAC this season.

Some might feel a certain amount of pressure associated with expectations such as those. Not Simmons.

“I’m a pretty confident person – in the people around me and myself,” she said.

Griggs is one of those people Simmons was determined to include in the group she wanted to surround herself with. A native of Memphis and a product of Houston High, Griggs went into the past offseason nearly convinced that her time in college had ended. She was almost set on turning pro. Then, she sat down with Simmons, and she emerged from that 20-minute meeting with a new outlook.

“I just realized my foundation’s really good here,” said Griggs. “I didn’t want to set myself back. (Simmons told me), ‘I need you shooting this many shots. I need you doing this, doing that.’ I felt like this is my last year, so it’s time to put it all out there.”

As much as Griggs is set up to be the face of the program this season, she won't have to shoulder any more than her share of the load. Simmons brought in three Gardner-Webb transfers, including Alasia Smith, the reigning Big South Defensive Player of the Year. She landed Jana Sallman, a 6-foot-3 freshman from Egypt who was initially committed to BYU. She scooped up Kai Carter, a 1,000-point scorer with more than 500 career rebounds who spent last season at Rutgers.

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“I think there was a want-to for just something new – new energy,” said Simmons. “(But) we also have a lot of players (coming back) who didn’t get playing time last year, who I see getting a lot of minutes this year. (And) we see players like Maddie, who did a lot for this team but still have more to give.”

The Tigers start the season at Middle Tennessee State (Nov. 6, 5 p.m.). The home opener is set for Nov. 9 against Alabama State (7 p.m.).

Reach sports writer Jason Munz at jason.munz@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @munzly.

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis women's basketball: New coach, new players, new identity