Despite Its Low Seed, AU Is Flying High

No. 15 Eagles Now Prepare for Second-Seeded Volunteers After Tournament Breakthrough

Jordan Nichols had been telling his American teammates all week he thought they would play Tennessee in the first round of the NCAA tournament. He had been going online, poring over potential seedings and possible matchups, and studying the mock brackets; he was certain the Eagles would play the Volunteers.

"I was just excited about the whole thing," Nichols said. "I just wanted to get a head start on it."

Which is why when the team saw Tennessee was the No. 2 seed in the East Region, the players dressed in their blue warmup suits crouched forward in anticipation, shushed the crowd gathered at Mary Graydon Center and stared intently at the projection screen at the front of the room. Moments later, when No. 15 American appeared, the Eagles and their fans erupted in jubilation, cheering and hugging one another as CBS showed their reaction live to a nationwide audience.

"Definitely a dream come true," guard Garrison Carr said. "I've been saying that over and over, but right now sitting here and watching us actually on TV, jumping around and having a good time, it was just awesome."

Nichols, whose research proved correct, also was caught up in the moment.

"I was kind of overwhelmed," he said. "I got kind of choked up. I've been dreaming about the tournament my whole life."

American (21-11) had waited 41 years to make its first NCAA tournament appearance, but it didn't have to wait long yesterday to learn its fate. The Eagles were among the first 16 teams revealed. They'll play Tennessee (29-4) on Friday in Birmingham, Ala.

"To see us get picked that soon in the show was kind of surprising," forward Brian Gilmore said. "You figure you're going to have to wait for so long to finally hear your name. Sure enough, in the first five minutes we heard our name. It was just exciting for all of us. We're just really excited to be the 15th seed."

Gilmore particularly was thrilled to be playing Tennessee because one of his former AAU teammates plays for the Volunteers. Sophomore forward Duke Crews missed part of the season because of a heart problem, but has returned to the team.

"I'm sure I'll send him a message online or something, just tell him that we're looking forward to playing him and tell them they better be working hard, too," Gilmore said. "It will be fun. Duke's a great guy. They're a great basketball program. We know we've got our work cut out for us."

Coach Jeff Jones, whose emotional reaction following American's win over Colgate in the Patriot League tournament final was well documented, joked in his remarks before the show that he promised "not to start crying again."

Once he starts watching game film on Tennessee, that might change.