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Tampa subregional
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 18, 2003
Several big-name commentators (among them Dick Vitale) made their feelings known Sunday that they believed Auburn did not belong in the tournament, but Tigers coach Cliff Ellis was quick to defend his squad.
"I felt like we should have been in," Ellis said.
Auburn had the fourth-toughest schedule and was fourth in RPI of the six Southeastern Conference teams to receive bids. The 10th seed suggests the Tigers were among the last teams to receive an at-large bid. Their SEC quarterfinal win over Tennessee likely did the trick.
Tennessee didn't make the field.
"We had a sense of urgency," Auburn forward Marquis Daniels told the Birmingham News. "We knew we needed to get that win."
Waiting for the news Sunday was tough.
"It was like taking a test that you know you need to pass and waiting for the teacher to put out the grade," Daniels said.
The Tigers (20-11) were picked by media covering the conference to finish last in the West Division. They went 8-8 in the SEC.
"We've already proved a lot of people wrong," senior guard Derrick Bird told the Huntsville Times. "Whatever people think about us being in the tournament or whatever, they are going to be proven wrong, too."
HE HAD A FEELING: Heralded St. Joseph's point guard Jameer Nelson said Monday he knew during the offseason the Hawks would be improved from last season, when they went 19-12.
"When we were playing pickup ball, everybody was getting after each other and fighting for spots," Nelson said. "Nobody was assured a starting spot this year but me. It was great to see guys compete against each other. I kind of figured, 'If it's going on now, then it will continue throughout the season.' "
Nelson has lofty expectations this week.
"We're not looking at this like we're just happy to be there," Nelson told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're going there to win some games. We really feel like we can compete against anybody. We've played some good teams, so to me it really doesn't matter who we play."
BITTERSWEET: Not all the news was good last weekend. Dwight Gaines, father of Auburn sophomore guard Troy Gaines, died of a heart attack Saturday night. Earlier this season, junior center Kyle Davis' mother died of cancer.
"We are happy from the sense of playing, yet saddened once again with what has happened for the second time this year to our basketball team," Ellis said.
ODDS AND ENDS: Judy Martelli, wife of St. Joseph's coach Phil Martelli, played on three national championship teams at Immaculata, and one of their children, Phil Jr., is a senior reserve for the Hawks. ... Auburn's Ellis also has taken South Alabama and Clemson to the NCAA Tournament.