Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
March 14, 2001

Barnes' team was rewarded with a three seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the western division of the SEC. (AP)

Doing well in the regular season and getting an invitation to the play in the NCAA Tournament is what most teams are hoping for. Coach Rod Barnes has delivered just that to Ole Miss.

Barnes has taken his team to the top of college basketball. His team was rewarded with a three seed in the NCAA Tournament after winning the western division of the SEC. He guided his team to a 25-7 overall record and a 11-5 conference record.

Barnes has been the head coach for the Rebels for three years and his overall record is 64-34. He also played at Ole Miss (84-88), where he finished third in the coaches poll for SEC Player of the Year honors. In the latest AP poll, Mississippi was ranked 14th.

Rob Barnes: We're excited to be at the NCAA Tournament and thankful to be a part of March Madness. We're looking forward to seeing how far we can go in the tournament!

Question: little01: Coach your team has a difficult road. What do you see is as the most important trait for your team to acquire to make some noise in the tourney?

Rob Barnes: I think if we shoot well from the perimeter and do a good job of shooting free throws we have a chance of going a long way. These things have to come into play and we need to focus on those areas.

Question: alltheway: You have 3 seniors in your starting 5, do you think that experience gives you a big advantage?

Rob Barnes: I don't think so. I think they have 3 seniors too. It is a new tournament and new for a lot of our players. I think it will help we have a few guys have been there before, but we are inexperienced as that goes. But we go into this thinking we have a chance to win because we have played against good competition.

Question: alltheway: I’ve read that Jason Flanigan is the closest thing to having Rod Barnes in uniform for Ole Miss. Are there qualities about him that remind you of yourself?

Rob Barnes: Yes, without a doubt. He works very hard and has a big heart. He comes to compete every time he hits the floor. His character and being a leader is similar to mine. But his team won 25 games and the most I won was like 17. His team is definitely better than the ones I played on.

Question: nuthin_but_net: Hey.. Jason is SHORT! Have you though of stretching him? Seriously though, will his smallness be a factor against a big Iona team?

Rob Barnes: I don't think so. It will be a factor to our good hopefully. In a lot of big games during his career he has played well. I anticipate Friday he will play well.

Question: nelli37: Is Justin Reed's mouth still giving him pain or has the pain gone away?

Rob Barnes: Yes it is. It is still giving him pain. He has had a lot of swelling in the last few days but our doctors are watching him closely to make sure he doesn't have an infection and to keep the pain to a minimum.

Question: little01: Being from pac-10 country I don't get to see as much SEC ball as I would like. How do you think conference play prepares you for the tourney?

Rob Barnes: First of all you have to play at a high level. You are going against some of the best in the country. We feel our conference is one of the top in the country. And every night you play, you play against great competition. It helps you prepare and by now the kids understand how competitive you have to be to win, night in and night out. And when it is on the line you have to pull it out or it will be the end of your season.

Question: russreb: I attended the SEC tournament last week in nashville. Many other fans said they thought Rahim was the best "big man" in the league. Do you feel he is one of the best in the country?

Rob Barnes: I think yeah! He has a chance. There are a lot of good post players in the country and I would put him with some of the best. If you can be considered one of the best in the conference, then you are one of the best in the country automatically.

Question: therebelas: Coach, what is your plan in the event a team decides to employ a "Hack-a-Rahim" strategy in the closing minutes of a close game?

Rob Barnes: Well if it is the closing minutes and that is their strategy then we will take him out. It depends on the situation and if we have a lead, sure we will get him out of there. We will have to wait to see if that comes and deal with it accordingly.

Question: tranesblues: How has the team worked to overcome their free throw difficulties?

Rob Barnes: I don't think we have a problem as an overall team. We have some individuals who haven't shot the free throws as well. At this point in the season it can be over for you so I am sure our concentration will be better and we will do a better job of making our free throws.

Question: rebelfan: Coach Barnes, what is the biggest problem that Iona presents?

Rob Barnes: I think they have a lot of guys who can really handle the ball and they really penetrate to the hoop well. They do a good job on the fast break too. So we have to do a good job of getting back in transition and contain the guys that penetrate to the basket.

Rob Barnes: Before I go, I would like to say again, we thank God for this opportunity and we are truly blessed. There are a lot of players and coaches and staffs that are out there who aren't given this opportunity and we are fortunate. We are going to go and do our best in each and every game. When it is all done we will know we have done our best. That is a promise we have all made to one another. We look forward to getting started Friday at 6:55! Thanks for coming!