University of Tennessee Athletics
Peterson Encouraged As Vols Enter SEC Tournament
March 10, 2004 | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2004
SEC TOURNAMENT PRESS CONFERENCE
PREVIEW | SEC TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Tennessee practiced at the Georgia Dome and participated in its pre-tournament press conference Wednesday in Atlanta in preparation for tomorrow night's (9:45 p.m.-EST) game against Alabama.
Tennessee head coach Buzz Peterson said he is excited about the way his team is playing entering this week's SEC Tournament.
"We feel like we're coming off some very positive games to end the regular season," Peterson said. "The wins against South Carolina and Auburn and our game at Vanderbilt, even though things didn't go our way at the end there, we were encouraged by the way we played.
"We've gotten a little more patient on offense and getting the shot we want and defensively, we stepped up a little bit."
The Vols come to Atlanta having connected on 50 percent of their shots from the field the past two games, while holding their last three opponents to less than 40 percent.
Tennessee and Alabama enter tomorrow night's game tied for second place all-time in SEC Tournament wins with 53 each. The Crimson Tide has had the upper hand against the Vols in the league tourney, winning 8 of the 12 meetings between the border rivals.
Quotes From Today's Press Conference
Head Coach Buzz Peterson
"We're very excited entering the tournament at this point. Defensively we have stepped up our game to where we have a rhythm. It has definitely been a long season with a lot of ups and downs."
On seeding...
"It is such a fine line in how a season or seeding can go. If you go back to our Kentucky game, we're up three with 20-something seconds and just didn't make the right play. We had a foul to give and didn't get to Hawkins in time, and he hits a three. If you rewind that, and we end up winning that game, we're sitting here as a third-seeded team. It's a fine line how things can work out."
On his players...
"I'm very proud of these guys, how they fought back against adverse situations and like I said we feel pretty good about where we are right now and looking forward to playing Alabama tomorrow."
On Chances of Making NCAA Tournament...
"I think we have to win it. That's all I've been telling these guys (team). Georgia has two big wins over Kentucky, so that really helps them out. I've told these guys to give it their best on both ends of the floor and play every possession like it is your last and just see what happens from there. "
Scooter McFadgon
"We've had a couple of good practices and a couple of good wins, winning two out of our last three. We hope to come in and get on a winning streak."
On the team's attitude...
"We have to put those games (road losses) behind us and realize that now it is a new season and try to get on a roll."
C.J. Watson
"We are excited to be here. I think we are playing our best basketball of the season and we are going to come into tomorrow's game, play strong, compete and hope for a win tomorrow."
On the team's attitude...
"All the road losses are in the past. We're just looking ahead to the future right now and hopefully make a run in the tournament. We have to continue to play solid defense like we've been doing, and penetrate and do the things on offense that helped us win those last two games."
On the team's progress...
"Our defense is getting tougher and our offense is getting better shots and better looks at the basket than we were at the beginning of the season."
