March 20, 2008

As this column opens, the Auburn women's basketball team is practicing at Menlo College in Atherton, California. We departed from the Columbus, Georgia airport and five hours and nine minutes later landed in San Jose, California. Our route took us over Northern Arizona, past the Grand Canyon, and up to San Jose. The Auburn players, coaches, staff, athletic administrators, cheerleaders, and pep band rode the charter to the NCAA Tournament.

For the first time since 2004, Auburn is in the Big Dance. After the Tigers were bounced from the SEC Tournament, the waiting game began. Auburn had 20 wins and an 8-8 record against SEC opponents. In years past, that was a lock to make the tournament. However, national prognosticators started to take Auburn out of their brackets. Charlie Crème of ESPN was first, then Jerry Palm with collegerpi.com. Both indicated the SEC only deserved four teams in the tournament. This made for some very tense days leading up to the NCAA Selection Show on ESNP, Monday evening. The team gathered at Nell Fortner's home in Auburn for the show. She had purchased a green Auburn cap for the St. Patrick's Day show. The tag was left on, in case she didn't get the luck of the Irish. Monday was a very long day. Fortunately, Auburn's name came up early in the show. The players and coaches erupted in unbridled joy. It lasted for several minutes, nothing staged, just true emotion and relief. You've probably seen the picture taken by Todd Van Emst by now. Nell will keep her cap. As the celebration continued in the living room, coaches were already working on tape of Auburn's first round opponent, while Meredith Jenkins, Jeremy Roberts and Melissa Maines began the process of securing the charter flight. By Tuesday, Auburn's team was preparing for the Colonials.

In my opinion, the Tigers haven't suffered a more heart breaking loss in years than the 2 point defeat to George Washington in early January. Auburn played behind much of the game, but secured a one point lead in the final seconds. After a DeWanna Bonner missed shot with 10 seconds remaing, GW rebounded and got the ball to the left wing, where Lisa Steele nailed a three pointer with 1.1 seconds remaining. It was her only basket of the game, giving the Colonials the victory. It left everyone connected to this team stunned. Auburn had just lost its starting point guard to grade trouble. The Tigers were upset by St. Joseph's in the championship game of their tournament. The losing streak would grow to three before Auburn drilled #10 Georgia at Beard-Eaves Coliseum. Simply put the loss to George Washington was devastating. Little did we know, at the time, that Auburn would get another shot at GW.

Auburn is the 11 seed in the Greensboro Regional. Thankfully, the NCAA selection committee didn't agree with the prognosticators. George Washington is the 6 seed. Connecticut and Rutgers are the top two seeds in this regional. The winner of the Auburn-George Washington game will play either Cal or San Diego in the second round. The Tigers' Athletic Trainer, Mary Stambra, is pulling for her alma mater. The coaching staff has poked good natured fun at Stambra and her Toreros. Tomorrow, Nell Fortner's team will practice at the regional site for the first time and go through the mandatory press conferences.

The first two rounds of the regional will be played at Maples Pavilion on the Stanford campus. This facility has one of the most unique playing surfaces in the country…or perhaps what lies underneath the hardwood. There are springs underneath, and it is very noticeable to the players and anyone sitting near the floor. While no one on this team has played at Stanford, the Auburn program has been here before. The Tigers played in the Cardinal's tournament in December of 1995. Auburn lost to the host team in the championship game.

Very few, outside this travel party and its fans, give Auburn a chance in the first round. That's fine. Auburn has always played better as an underdog in every sport with the exception of swimming.

By the way...the last time Auburn played at Stanford, it advanced to the Elite Eight. Very few gave that team a chance to beat Colorado on its home floor in the second round or Penn State in the third round. The Tigers beat the Buffalos in Boulder in an overtime thriller, then the Nitany Lions in Seattle before running into Stanford with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

There is nothing like the NCAA Tournament. These Tigers are about to experience that for the first of, hopefully, many trips to the Big Dance.

Go Tigers, beat George Washington!

Until next time, so long and War Eagle from California.

Andy

Since 1990, Andy Burcham has performed a wide range of duties for the Auburn Network. The Nashville, Ill., native is a member of the Auburn Network's baseball broadcast team. The Indiana State graduate is also the voice of all Auburn women's basketball radio broadcasts. Burcham is the station manager for WANI-AM in Auburn. You can email Andy at aburcham@aunetwork.com.