QUOTES OF THE WEEK

"My beliefs are more important to me than anything. If I have to, I'll give up basketball."

--Denver Nuggets guard Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, who refused to stand during the playing of the national anthem because of his Islamic beliefs and was suspended by the NBA.

"If we played UCLA 100 times, they might win 99. But we won tonight."

--Princeton coach Pete Carril after upsetting defending champion UCLA 43-41 in the first round of the NCAA tournanent.

"It would be like you running against Carl Lewis. It doesn't matter how many times you go out there. If he's (better) than you, he's gonna win."

--Minnesota coach Flip Saunders on the Timberwolves' 20th straight loss to Seattle, 132-112.

"Heck, I didn't know who Drexel was until I took the job."

--Drexel coach Bill Herrion, following his 12th-seeded Dragons' 75-63 upset victory over fifth-seeded Memphis in the first round of the NCAA tournament.