Last Friday Michigan State lost to UCLA 88-84 in the Big 10 tourney quarterfinals but was still good enough to earn an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Spartans have now made the NCAA tourney every single year since 1998 and will open up as a #3 seed against North Dakota State in Buffalo on Thursday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Michigan State cheerleader Delaney Ferguson about facing Duke last December and making the NCAA tourney.
You are from Northville, MI: what made you choose Michigan State? I have always wanted to come to Michigan State. My parents/sister are all alumni and I have been a fan of the school since I was a kid. I got to attend a lot of games while growing up and watched several games from my family’s basement as well.
You are majoring in Elementary Education: why did you choose that subject? I knew that I did not want to be sitting at my desk for a career. I found a passion through our kids’ clinics of working with children.
You are a SR: what is the post-graduation plan? Next year I will complete an internship, move back home, and work 10 minutes away in Plymouth, MI: I should get matched pretty soon!
You are on the cheerleading team: how long have you been cheering for? I started cheering when I was 3 years old. I later did all-star cheer as well as high school sideline cheer as well.
Some of your hobbies include reading books/watching movies: any tips for our readers who want to pick up a book or watch a movie? I recently watched “1 Battler After Another”, which just won the Academy Award for Best Picture. I also liked “Dead Poets Society” and “Dune Messiah”.
The Big 10 had 9 teams make the NCAA tourney: what is it like to be part of 1 of the best basketball conferences in the country? I love watching our team and I get more into it every year. We have such a great alumni base so whenever I travel it is so surreal because we are all connected on such a big stage.
You played a lot of great teams at home this year in non-conference play (including Arkansas/Iowa/Duke): which 1 of them impressed you the most? Duke impressed me the most. When that game got put on our schedule we were all so excited to be a part of it. It was an important game to be at due to the basketball history between the 2 schools.
How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We have a point system for GPA/skills/year/etc., and we work events throughout the year to increase our points. I finished 2nd and chose to attend the NCAA tourney. It is great to show off our skills: people are mainly watching the basketball, but it is still cool to be a part of March Madness and get to travel with my best friends.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Buffalo? Not quite yet, but we might try to visit Niagara Falls because it is only 30 minutes from our hotel.
Any predictions for the Spartans this month? I am an optimist so even though we are in a hard region (East), our team is so great that I think we can definitely make it to the Sweet 16…at least!
