Alford answers critics of early N-I-T exit

Iowa coach Steve Alford Monday answered criticism of his team after failing to make the N-C-A-A Tournament and making a quick exit out of the N-I-T Tournament. On his call-in show, Alford says his team overcame a lot. He said he’s very proud of what his team has done as he says if you look at what’s happened to his team over the last two years, for the most part out of their control, and they’ve produced two winning season. won more games, won more road games, making it to postseason play, and not having losing seasons. He says the players have worked extremely hard. He says he’s as disappointed as anyone and doesn’t like watching the N-C-A-A games, as he’d rather be in the tournament with his team. He says there are a lot of teams that have had problems that don’t have winning seasons and haven’t made it into post-season play.Iowa lost to St. Louis in the N-I-T on a last second shot 70-69. Alford says the game was another example of things going wrong. He says the clock should not have stopped, as it was the first time for the guy running the clock. He says Jeff Horner also took a charge that was not called.Alford said the defense on the last shot wasn’t the problem. He says carelessness on offense was the problem, as they should’ve taken better care of the basketball when they got the lead.Alford was asked if he’d like to see instant replay used in basketball when there’s questionable calls. The coach doesn’t favor it. He says there’s human nature involved with officials and you have good and bad calls. He says sports have always been about people and not about computers and that’s the way it should be. He says instant replay is probably way down the road in college basketball.Iowa finished the season at 16-13 overall, and it was the third straight season they failed to make the N-C-A-A Tournament.