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Chasing history is not so painful for Horn now

Tournament bye leads to loose atmosphere at Tampa shootaround

Written by SETH EMERSON

semerson@thestate.com
Posted on 03.12.09
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SEC TOURNAMENT

WHEN: Thursday-Sunday

WHERE: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Fla.

TICKETS: (803) 777-4724, (800) 745-3000

USC OPENER: Gamecocks vs. Mississippi St., 3:15 p.m. Friday

CHAMPIONSHIP: 1 p.m. Sunday, CBS

TAMPA, Fla. — Darrin Horn’s return trip to the St. Pete Times Forum is already a success on one front.

“I didn’t hit my face on the door on the way in,” Horn said. “That’s a positive change.”

Last year Horn, then the Western Kentucky coach, cut his nose when he walked into a door while checking his phone. It left him with a scar more than a week later when he was introduced as South Carolina’s coach.

“Maybe I should run into it again,” Horn said Wednesday, alluding to the fact that his WKU team won two NCAA tournament games at the arena, earning a berth in the Sweet 16.

This time two wins would probably earn the Gamecocks a berth in the NCAAs. Three would win them their first SEC tournament championship.

The run doesn’t have to start until Friday, as South Carolina has a bye into the quarterfinals. It will play the winner of today’s game between Mississippi State and Georgia.

Horn didn’t try to invoke arena karma with his players, a few of whom said they were not aware of the connection.

Senior guard Zam Fredrick figured it out before the shootaround, when assistant coaches Scott Cherry and Neill Berry re-enacted, from the same spots, WKU’s game-winning shot against Drake.

“He shot an airball,” Fredrick said.

So did several media members when Horn challenged them to hit 3s from the top of the key. It was that kind of loose practice.

It was an informal chance to get acquainted with the rims and the shooter’s background. The players got plenty of practice trying half-courters and shots from the opposite free-throw line, which was the highlight of the shootaround.

Horn beat junior forward Dominique Archie off the dribble and hit a jumper. And Fredrick turned the table on reporters, asking them questions.

The team will hold a full-fledged practice today at an off-site facility. While staff members will scout the Mississippi State-Georgia game, Horn said he would leave it up to players whether they wanted to attend.

But Wednesday’s loose attitude was a sign that this team, despite being the second seed, feels little pressure.

“I think that’s true,” Horn said. “I don’t think anybody expected us to have the bye, to be divisional champs, co-champs. So we’re probably still playing to prove that we are good, in some ways.”

Fredrick echoed that.

“We’ve still got a lot of doubters left that don’t believe,” Fredrick said. “But in the locker room we know what we’re capable of doing.”

Having a bye is uncharted territory for these players, and it’s been a decade since the program had one in the SEC tournament.

“Last year we knew the only way we could continue playing is if we won the championship,” guard Devan Downey said. “This year we’re playing for a championship. ... Everyone’s expecting us to do something. I can say that everybody’s kind of expecting us to do something.”

Horn on the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky is going to its second consecutive NCAA tournament, after winning the Sun Belt tournament Wednesday night. Horn said he watched the game.

“I thought it was great. I knew when they were picked that low early in the season that there were way too many kids coming back that had a whole lot of success, and had a lot of character,” Horn said. “I think (coach) Ken McDonald did a great job with him. I’m really happy for him and his staff, those kids and Western Kentucky.”

Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.

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