All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: HoopsHD interviews North Carolina tuba player Ariana Stephenson

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with an interview of North Carolina tuba player Ariana Stephenson.

In 2020 you were East Gaston High School salutatorian: how do you balance your work in the band with your work in the classroom? For me, it is all about prioritization and being able to keep to a schedule. Because music has always been a part of my life, and my self-described intense desire to succeed, it was easy to ensure that both aspects were properly attended to.

You are from Mt. Holly, NC: what made you choose UNC? I chose UNC because it offered exactly what I wanted out of college. UNC’s curriculum is shaped to accommodate double-majors, allowing me to pursue both of my passions at the same time. They offer substantial financial aid, and as a student financially supporting myself this was an important criterion. I was also lucky enough to receive a music scholarship that provided me with extra support, financially and musically. In general, UNC was a fantastic option that incorporated everything that I wanted to pursue.

You are majoring in Biology and Music: why did you choose those subjects? I chose to major in biology and music because I have two passions that I did not want to separate. Ever since I was little I always wanted to be a doctor, and biology is the obvious gateway major to get all the necessary requirements. Since attending UNC, my plans have changed slightly and my current goal is towards a pharmacy degree (which UNC is also great for!). The music major allowed me to continue my musical endeavors on tuba. I started out REALLY BAD in 6th grade, and I wanted to prove myself as a musician and be able to stick with the option that had opened so many doors for me. Both majors have shaped me into the person I am today, and I cannot even imagine where I would be without all of the experiences and opportunities I have received from these programs.

When did you 1st start playing the tuba, and what is your favorite song to play? I first started playing the tuba in 6th grade. I originally wanted to play the drums, but my mom told me I could either play flute (her instrument), piano (I hated that), or an instrument she did not have to pay for, and cheesily enough, from the moment I saw the tuba I knew that was the instrument I wanted to play. I have two current favorite songs to play; in the marching band, “Everybody’s Everything,” and in the tuba-performance world, Vaughn Williams’s “6 Studies in English Folk Song” is super-lovely and fun to play.

1 of your hobbies is crocheting: is it as relaxing as it sounds? I love crocheting. It’s a good distraction, and you can make some super-cool things. I am not the best at it, but recently I have been crocheting sea animals, the latest being a turtle and a jellyfish.

The basketball team won 8 games in a row starting in mid-February before losing to NC State in the ACC tourney title game: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your life? I would not call the loss to NC State one of the most devastating losses of my life. It was hard to see the basketball team lose to a team we had won against in the regular season…but beating any opponent three times in a row is a significant challenge. I cannot speak for the team, but I think the loss gave us more momentum heading into the NCAA tournament and I am super-excited to see this team continue to excel.

They swept Duke during the regular season: did you get to attend the Final 4 win over the Blue Devils in 2022, and how do you explain the rivalry to someone who has never seen it in person? I was unable to attend the Final 4 game against Duke in person, but as a viewer that was one of the most anxiety-inducing and exciting nights of my life. The energy in Chapel Hill that night was electric. All my friends and I were on the edges of our seats the whole game. It was everything you could have wanted in a rivalry game: not only high stakes because it determined who would go on to the championship, but it was also Coach K’s retirement tour. To someone who has never experienced the magic of Carolina-Duke in person, it always promises to be a good game. From the UNC side, whenever we win that game we rush Franklin Street. Nothing tops the feeling of being united as a whole school and celebrating big wins with all your peers. It is truly an unforgettable experience. I have been lucky enough to have done it several times at this school, thanks to our wonderful team (twice this year!!).

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your band doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? The band is allowed 29 members and 1 director at the NCAA tournament. This group is chosen based on seniority, playing ability, responsibility, and volunteer involvement. The goal is to create the best band possible, so I am extremely thankful to be able to represent my school and the program at UNC. Being a part of this group is truly an extremely special and unique experience that I am super-grateful to be a part of.

Does your group have anything extra-special planned for Los Angeles? We have just been seeing the sights. We made stops at Hollywood Boulevard, the Santa Monica Pier, and the Griffith Observatory yesterday. I think the most special thing we have planned is cheering on our boys as they keep on showing the world how talented a team they are.

Any predictions for your Sweet 16 game vs. Alabama? I do not want to jinx anything…but I think this team is capable of anything and I am super-excited to watch the game unfold. Go Heels!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Leave a comment

All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: North Carolina open practice

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with the North Carolina open practice.

There were plenty of people to see at the UNC open practice on Wednesday afternoon:

SR F Armando Bacot (you know he shows up in big games based on his 15 PTS/15 REB effort in the 2022 title game loss to Kansas):

SR G RJ Davis (the 2024 conference POY has scored 20+ PTS in each of his past 4 postseason games):

Head coach Hubert Davis (the 2024 conference COY scored 25 PTS for UNC in a 1991 Final 4 loss to Kansas):

SR G Cormac Ryan (the last time he faced Alabama in the NCAA tourney he set a Notre Dame postseason record with 7 3PM in a 2022 win):

SO F Harrison Ingram (if the Stanford transfer can make it to the Elite 8 he might face his old Pac-12 rival from Tucson):

Assistant coach Sean May (next month marks the 19-year anniversary of him being named 2005 tourney MOP as a player for the Tar Heels):

Check back for a lot more access all weekend long!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged | Leave a comment

All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: Arizona open practice

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel commences our coverage from Los Angeles with the Arizona open practice.

There were plenty of people to see at the Arizona open practice on Wednesday afternoon:

Director of player relations Jason Gardner (who played PG for the Wildcats the last time that they made it to the Final 4 in 2001):

Head coach Tommy Lloyd (who will have a LOT of questions to answer if he ends up facing his former boss Mark Few in an Arizona-Gonzaga title game in 2 weeks!):

SR G Pelle Larsson (the 2022 conference 6th Man of the Year who has become 1 of the best 3-PT shooters in the conference):

SO G Kylan Boswell (who will enjoy a homecoming of sorts as his parents moved to California a couple of years ago):

SR C Oumar Ballo (shown shooting a FT as he has only missed 1 in the entire NCAA tourney…after going 8-19 from the line in the Pac-12 tourney):

SR G Caleb Love (the 2024 conference POY is trying to take things 1 game at a time with his former school possibly lurking in the Elite 8):

SR F Keshad Johnson (who scored 14 PTS for San Diego State in last spring’s title game loss to UConn):

Check back for a lot more access all weekend long!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged | Leave a comment

All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: Alabama locker room

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with an Alabama locker room interview.

SR G Aaron Estrada

In 2020 at St. Peter’s you were named conference ROY: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I was just finding myself and did not try to force anything.

Alabama is the 4th college of your career: has it been exhausting to keep moving around or worth it because now you are in the Sweet 16? It is worth it to me. Everyone wants to be somewhere they will thrive: I could have stayed at St. Peter’s but wanted to try something different. Oregon was the worst move I made as I did not get a lot of playing time, but things worked out well at Hofstra.

Do you think that you and Mark Sears have combined to be the best backcourt in the country? We are the best: you do not see many backcourt that feature 2 lefties, and we have a lot of versatility.

You gave up 102 PTS to Florida in a loss in the SEC tourney quarterfinals: what was working so well for your team in the 1st/2nd rounds of the NCAA tourney last week? Our defense. Our offense was not that great vs. GCU but we stuck together on defense.

What do you know about North Carolina? They are a 1-seed for a reason and certainly not a push-over so we just need to be locked in on defense.

Check back for a lot more access all week long!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Leave a comment

All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: Clemson locker room

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Los Angeles with a Clemson locker room interview.

SR G Jack Clark

Your grandfather John Parker was 1 of the 1st African-American referees in the NBA: how close were you 2 before he passed away in 2018? We were very tight: he was my mom’s father and only lived about 30 minutes away from our house so I would often go watch TV with him at his home.

You transferred to Clemson from NC State last year: do you still talk to any of your former teammates who are also in the Sweet 16 this week? Those are still my guys and we talk all the time: the team they have this year is not exactly the same as last year but some of my old teammates are still there (DJ Burns/Casey Morsell/etc.).

You missed 10 games this year due to leg/groin injuries: how is your health? I feel good, certainly better than before, but am still not 100%.

You had a 24-PT loss to BC in the 2nd round of the ACC tourney: what was working so well for your team in the 1st/2nd rounds of the NCAA tourney last week? Everyone is playing together in an unselfish manner. We are all playing hard and scoring PTS whenever we can.

What do you know about Arizona? They are big/fast/can shoot/are physical. It is a Baylor-type of situation so we will use a similar game plan.

Check back for a lot more access all week long!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged , | Leave a comment

All-Access at the West Regional in Los Angeles: Alabama open practice

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel commences our coverage from Los Angeles with the Alabama open practice.

There were plenty of people to see at the Alabama open practice on Wednesday afternoon:

SR G Mark Sears (who is averaging 28 PPG through his 1st 2 NCAA tourney games this month):

SO G Rylan Griffen (who is now 4-1 during his NCAA tourney career):

SR G Aaron Estrada (who is averaging 7 APG through his 1st 2 NCAA tourney games this month):

SR F Grant Nelson (who struggled last week but is still a great FT shooter if the game comes down to the wire):

Head coach Nate Oats chatting with Brian Anderson/Jim Jackson before they call the game for CBS:

Check back for a lot more access all weekend long!

Posted in News and Notes | Tagged | Leave a comment