South Carolina looks toward opening play in NIT

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Posted 6:59AM on Tuesday, March 12, 2002

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Southeastern Conference officials privately told South Carolina coach Dave Odom the referees made a pair of incorrect calls in the final minute against Alabama and he wants someone held accountable. ``It's regrettable, but it happened,'' Odom said Monday. ``If it's private accountability that's OK. I'm not interested in dragging somebody over the coals.'' Odom says he is confident his team can shake off the loss and be ready to open play in the National Invitational Tournament on Wednesday when the Gamecocks travel to Virginia. ``The one thing our team has been is very resilient,'' said Odom, who is in his first year at South Carolina. ``Anytime we've had a disappointing loss, our team has always come back hard.'' Odom just doesn't want a repeat of Saturday's SEC Tournament semifinals. South Carolina had the ball with less than a minute left and the score tied at 57. Chuck Eidson dribbled toward the corner, where he got tangled up with Alabama's Maurice Williams. Both players went down and the ball came loose. Instead of calling a foul, the officials let play continue. Rod Grizzard picked up the ball for Alabama and fired as pass to Antoine Pettway, who missed a layup. One official apparently blew his whistle, wanting to call a foul on Aaron Lucas, but Kenny Walker jammed in the rebound and a second foul was called. The officials - Andre Patillo, Tom Lopes and Anthony Jordan - got together and decided that Walker's basket was good and gave the foul to Carlos Powell. ``I was disappointed that they didn't call both head coaches to center court and say 'we got a heck of a mess here,' '' said Odom, who is on the National Association of Basketball Coaches' rules committee. Walker made the free throw and Alabama went on to a 65-57 victory. The conference won't comment on the plays, but policy requires officials to inform coaches after a review, said SEC spokesman Charles Bloom. Odom said the SEC's coordinator of men's basketball officials said the referees were incorrect. ``You can't describe the feeling that you get reading the paper and watching it on TV over and over again,'' said Lucas, a senior. ``It's frustrating and disappointing. But at the same time, we have to move on.'' Odom, who was an assistant at Virginia from 1982-89 before taking the head coaching job at Wake Forest, led the Demon Deacons to the 2000 NIT championship. Despite the disappointing end to the SEC Tournament, Odom said he knew his team would have another chance to play. ``I'm very happy with the performance that we gave in the tournament and I'm very pleased with the players right now,'' Odom said. ``I know for a fact playing in New York City in the world's most famous arena the last week in March is not a bad thing.'' The NIT finals are held in Madison Square Garden. Odom and Virginia coach Pete Gillen said their relationship and television likely played a role in the tough opening matchup. Wednesday's game will be televised on ESPN2.