Opening comments:
?We?re in a situation where, we got beat yesterday and we?ve got to worry about our confidence being down a little bit as we play against an Alabama team that had a tough loss yesterday. But it?s a new season as it is for every team that?s going to be in Atlanta this time of year and teams get a second wind and they get new life and we feel that way also. We?ve got to go in there with the right mindset; Atlanta?s been a good place for us to play. I know our kids will be excited because we?ve got a few players on our team from the Georgia area so I know they?ll be excited to be back in Atlanta.?
On match-up problems with Alabama and the earlier meeting in Tuscaloosa?
?Their inside people really gave us all kinds of problems when we were there. We couldn?t stop them. We had some foul problems with Randolph (Morris) and Sheray Thomas. But we?ve got to do a better job of containing Jermareo (Davidson). I know Ronald Steele had an excellent game against us; he made shots and made plays down the stretch. It was a good game there, a tight game and we tied it up a couple times late. With about seven minutes to go we made a run but we?ve got to find a way, just like we had problems yesterday with Florida?s inside. We?ve got to find a way to contain and do a better job against Alabama?s front line.?
On Ronald Steele?
?He?s a talented player. I know he?s been injured off and on all season long. I haven?t seen the game from yesterday but I know they?re a much better team when he?s playing and I know he didn?t play yesterday. He?s the type of guy, with rest, maybe he?ll bounce back. He?s one of the real players in this league that you pull for because he?s got a great personality. He represents that university and this conference in a great way.?
On Atlanta hosting the SEC Tournament?
?There was Nashville?s (last year), we?ve been to New Orleans, we?ve been to Memphis before, this tournament has been around; it?s been to a number of different venues. Atlanta is as good of a place as any and certainly it being the Final Four site should be a big help and should be something that helps to inspire and motivate all the teams that go in there. I think they do a good job there. It?s located in an area that many of our fans in the southeast can get to and I think they do an excellent job. I think it?s one of the best places we go to play the tournament.?
