Porter Loss A Big Thorn?

March 15, 2000 / 7:30 PM EST / CBS/AP

Like Cincinnati, Auburn is without its star for the NCAA tournament.

Chris Porter lost his eligibility after getting money from an agent's middleman last month. He insisted he needed money to prevent his mother, who lost her job in December, from being evicted.

Without their preseason All-America forward and 1999 Southeastern Conference player of the year, the Tigers' hopes of a top seed were dashed. Just like those of Cincinnati, which lost Kenyon Martin to a broken leg last week and were seeded second in the South.

The Tigers (23-9) are the seventh seed in the Midwest, where they'll face 10th-seeded Creighton (23-9) at the Metrodome on Thursday.

In other games, No. 2 Iowa State faces No. 15 Central Connecticut State; No. 3 Maryland plays No. 14 Iona; and No. 6 UCLA

which just got its own star, sophomore forward JaRon Rush, reinstated after a long NCAA suspension meets No. 11 Ball State.

After Porter's departure, the Tigers lost three straight games before correcting course in time to reach the SEC tournament title game, where they lost to Arkansas.

Creighton coach Dana Altman takes no solace in the absence of Porter, who averaged 14.6 points and 7.3 rebounds.

"People say, `You're lucky that they don't have him,"' Altman said. "Well, they're still a very good basketball team, still the most athletic team we'll play."

Altman watched tapes of Auburn's SEC tournament run and said the Tigers were plenty scary without Porter.

"Since they came to the realization that he's not going to be with them, those other guys have picked it up," Altman said. "And because of their athleticism, they're all capable of doing more. And with another week to prepare for this tournament, I anticipate that they'll even be better."

Yet, without Porter, the Tigers lack the depth and an inside presence that once made them a title contender.

Now they rely more on senior point guard Doc Robinson, their second-leading scorer at 11.5 points, shooting guarScott Pohlman (10.2) and small forward Daymeon Fishback (9.2).

All came up big in the SEC tournament, where the Tigers beat Florida , a team they lost to by 29 points the day after Porter was suspended, and South Carolina.

"It took us time to jell without Chris being there," Robinson said. "It took us two weeks just practicing and playing together. But everybody knows their role right now."

Auburn coach Cliff Ellis said the Tigers just needed practice time to adjust to different roles and changes in responsibilities and the key was keeping their cool.

"We know we're a good basketball team; don't panic. That's the first thing we said," Ellis recounted. "The big thing that changes is chemistry. You've got a certain way that you're playing and you've got to change that and it doesn't happen overnight."

Now, the Tigers want people to know they weren't a one-man show to begin with.

"Each time we step on the floor, we know people are looking at us without Chris," Fishback said. "So, as seniors I think we take that as a challenge and have fun with it and just play in Chris' spirit."

Although Porter was devastated when an appeal was rejected, his teammates say he's coping.

"I know it's tough on him not being able to finish out his senior year," Fishback said. "But he's sticking behind us. He does nothing but motivate us and wishes us the best of luck."