Tuesday, March 23, 2004
UAB's Anderson remains focused on round of 16
Mike Anderson is too busy preparing for Alabama-Birmingham's next opponent in the NCAA tournament to be distracted by rumors Auburn wants him as its next coach.
Anderson said Tuesday he has not been contacted by Auburn and is concentrating on his ninth-seeded Blazers facing fourth-seeded Kansas on Friday night in the round of 16.
"It's flattering for your name to be mentioned ... I think that means we're doing a good job here," Anderson said. "But at the same time, my focus I know is to stay grounded and try to pursue a national championship.
"We're in the hunt for a national championship, so it'd be doing the kids a disservice if I tell them, `Hey, we've got to be focused,' and I'm floating out here and there."
Anderson surfaced as a possible candidate shortly after Auburn fired coach Cliff Ellis on Thursday. Three days later, UAB pulled off the tournament's biggest upset, a 76-75 win over top overall seed Kentucky.
The Blazers, returning to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1982, became immediate media darlings. And it also fueled speculation Auburn would pursue Anderson, a Birmingham native.
Auburn senior associate athletic director Hal Baird, who is leading the search for a new coach, said Monday the school has not contacted any potential coaches. He didn't immediately return a call Tuesday.
Mike Anderson is too busy preparing for Alabama-Birmingham's next opponent in the NCAA tournament to be distracted by rumors Auburn wants him as its next coach.
Anderson said Tuesday he has not been contacted by Auburn and is concentrating on his ninth-seeded Blazers facing fourth-seeded Kansas on Friday night in the round of 16.
"It's flattering for your name to be mentioned ... I think that means we're doing a good job here," Anderson said. "But at the same time, my focus I know is to stay grounded and try to pursue a national championship.
"We're in the hunt for a national championship, so it'd be doing the kids a disservice if I tell them, `Hey, we've got to be focused,' and I'm floating out here and there."
Anderson surfaced as a possible candidate shortly after Auburn fired coach Cliff Ellis on Thursday. Three days later, UAB pulled off the tournament's biggest upset, a 76-75 win over top overall seed Kentucky.
The Blazers, returning to the regional semifinals for the first time since 1982, became immediate media darlings. And it also fueled speculation Auburn would pursue Anderson, a Birmingham native.
Auburn senior associate athletic director Hal Baird, who is leading the search for a new coach, said Monday the school has not contacted any potential coaches. He didn't immediately return a call Tuesday.
