BY: MIKE PERRIN

Jan. 29, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - There's no getting around the fact Jimmy Tillette's Samford Bulldogs will always be known as "that team that runs the Princeton offense."

You know the one with all the backdoor cuts for layups and the 3-point bombs. Precision passes that produce a low-risk, low-scoring attack.

The scoreboard operator at a Samford game most likely won't develop carpel tunnel from flipping the scoring switch. Against Division I opponents, the Bulldogs are averaging 59.6 points a game. That average was inflated a bit in Samford's double-overtime 95-86 loss to Eastern Kentucky on Saturday.

Senior center Phillip Ramelli has heard the talk that, due to the offensive system the Bulldogs run, they play with less-than-stellar athletes.

"We hear it, but we shake that off," the 6-foot-10, 232-pounder said. "I really don't buy into that. No matter how good a system is, if the players aren't good, the system is not going to work.

"People say we might not be as athletic as other teams, but that's up to debate. There's more to athleticism than running and jumping high."

Ramelli said he enjoys having a unique offensive system.

"It kind of separates us from other schools," the New Orleans native said. "We take pride in running the offense and trying to run it well. I like trying to get teammates baskets and getting assists. I look at that as a positive.

"When you're first starting to learn the offense, it's frustrating. The first year or so when you're playing and running it, it's like you're running an offense and not really playing basketball. After you play, it's like second nature.

"It can be frustrating and it's not for everyone. It's not much for one-on-one, taking someone to the goal. It's five guys working together trying to get the best shot."

Teamwork is evident on Samford's stat sheet. Four players are averaging more than 10 points a game, led by Ramelli's 12.3. Ramelli is also the team's top rebounder (5.5), shot-blocker (13 this season) and is second in assists (2.8 a game).

Samford is 8-9 overall, 3-3 in the Ohio Valley Conference, playing the second-toughest schedule in the league - and 47th toughest in the nation - according to Jeff Sagarin's national rankings. The Bulldogs hope to snap a two-game losing string at home tonight against Eastern Illinois (8-9, 3-3).

"It doesn't seem like there are any easy games in the Ohio Valley," Ramelli said. "So far the teams in this league seem to be more athletic than the teams in the Atlantic Sun (last year's conference).