VIDEO: Vickee Kazee-Hollifield Interview

"Strength of schedule is always critical," Kazee-Hollifield said. "We've gone out and we're playing the best of the conference's in our region. From day one, regardless of who you're playing, you're trying to keep your percentages for postseason play up.  We can't take anyone for granted."

Carson-Newman is coming off an appearance in the Southeast Regional a year ago and will take on five teams that it made postseason play with last year.  The Eagles will face Augusta University (the school formerly known as Augusta State and GRU Augusta), Georgia College and Limestone in nonconference play, while tangling with Anderson and Catawba in league action.

The Eagles open the season with a four-game home stand Feb 4 at 1:30 p.m. against Lees-McRae before tangling with King Feb. 10. 

From there the Eagles head to Catawba and Rowan Counties in the Old North State to play in the Catawba/Lenoir-Rhyne Classic Feb. 19-20.  While there, the Eagles will tackle a challenging slate featuring Augusta, Belmont Abbey, Columbus State and King. 

The Eagles close out February at home against Belmont Abbey and Limestone. 

C-N celebrates leap day by embarking on a 10-game road trip that will take it through West Virginia to play Concord and Bluefield State, South Carolina to play North Greenville as well as USC Aiken and Virginia for a meeting with UVA-Wise. 

Carson-Newman begins conference play March 19 by welcoming Queens to The Vick.  C-N will celebrate senior day April 23 with a meeting with perennial conference power Lenoir-Rhyne.