RICHMOND, Ky. -- Eastern Kentucky University Colonels' head basketball coach Travis Ford and his 22-8 EKU team are awaiting the announcement Sunday (Mar. 13) night of where and when Eastern's season will continue in the 2005 NCAA Tournament.
Ford, whose Colonels are in the midst of a seven-game winning streak, had these thoughts about the 2004-05 season to this point:
“We’re obviously very excited to be playing in the NCAA Tournament. I am so proud of our players and my coaching staff for the dedication and never-give-up attitude that they have shown all year long.
“Our goal was to be playing good basketball at the end of the year when started to play in the OVC Tournament. That happened, and we won four big games, one of those at our arch-rival Morehead State, to give us momentum heading into our league tournament.
“In our first tournament game, we had to play Tennessee State and we were down seven at halftime against a very athletic team. Our guys didn’t panic. They came out and got the first five points of the half, and we were right back in the game.
“Then, when we went to Nashville for the last two games, our guys played great defense and stuck to our game plan on both offense and defense. We got some big-time individual performances throughout the tournament and some of these were by players off the bench.
“We started talking to our team the first day of practice in October about winning the OVC championship. I had never done that before, but I felt like the pieces of the puzzle were in place and, without a key injury to mess us up, we had a shot to win the title.
“Then we went to Dayton to open our season and played at one of the greatest college basketball atmospheres in the country at the University of Dayton. For a first game, our guys played well. We led by double figures most of the game and won by seven. I knew at this point that this team was legit and felt like it could be a really good season.
“This is something special for our team, our University and the town of Richmond. But most of all, it is a huge reward for our three seniors who have each played four years here and have been a major part of the rebuilding process. Each one of these guys has given us some fabulous leadership and deserves to go out winners like they will do.
“For me personally, this is my No. 1 sports achievement. It was so emotional when we won the tournament knowing what kind of sacrifices our players and coaches have made during these past few seasons. This tops me playing in the Final Four or anything else I might have done as a player at the University of Kentucky.
"We don't really have any preferences over where we will go or who we might play. We are just glad to be in the mix. The national attention this has brought to our program is priceless. We are all waiting anxiously for Sunday night to come."
This marks the first time since 1979 that EKU has played in the NCAA Tournament.
