<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">TUSCALOOSA -- Had NBA fever hit his roster this spring as it did last year, Alabama basketball coach Mark Gottfried would be in a bind right now. Instead, it appears the Crimson Tide could be one of the most experienced teams in college basketball in 2006-07. Rising junior point guard Ron Steele said people continue trying to talk him into entering the draft even though he has resisted the temptation. "Like I said before, I'm staying unless there is a guarantee or an offer I couldn't refuse," Steele said. "I sat down and talked to coach (Gottfried) about it, and he said, 'If you were a top-10 pick, everybody would know. There wouldn't be a doubt.'" Though some analysts project Steele as a late first-rounder and NBA scouts admire his savvy and skills, Steele wants to be a lottery lock before making a move. Plus, the college game and campus life suit him. "I'm having fun right now," Steele said. "I want to win a national championship." Dreams of winning Alabama's first national championship in basketball turned more serious recently for a couple of reasons. First were the decisions by Steele and Tide big men Jermareo Davidson and Richard Hendrix to return to school. Also, watching Florida and LSU -- both of which lost to the Tide last season -- advance to the Final Four makes the goal seem more reachable for a club with veteran talent and great athleticism. "Knowing that we beat two of the teams in the Final Four and had a chance to beat one more (UCLA), that's kind of a motivation for us this offseason," Steele said. "We know we have the tools to get to that level." </div> Source
