The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The 1st/2nd rounds are taking place in 8 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all of the angles and Jon Teitel continues our coverage from San Diego with a recap of the Texas Tech-Notre Dame 2nd round game last Sunday.
I started off the day with a trip to the San Diego-area Arizona alumni bar (Bottle Rocket Bar & Grill) to see all of the happy people in red and blue, then headed to the arena after getting some good 1997 Arizona national champion mojo going:
I made sure to save room for my final pregame media meal: fish tacos/pasta salad/chips!
Let’s tip it off:
The Irish could not buy a basket early (2-11 FG in the 1st 9 minutes) but were able to tie it up at 13-all by the under-8 timeout because the Red Raiders were only 1-6 from behind the arc after scorching the nets vs. Montana State on Friday. Texas Tech then turned things over to Kevin Obanor and the senior forward started heating up and finished the half with 11 PTS/5 REB.
Texas Tech coach Mark Adams must have wondered what more his defense could do: his team held Notre Dame to a paltry 7-28 FG in the 1st half…yet he entered the locker room with only a 26-25 lead. 
The TCU players walked into the arena during halftime to check out some of the festivities and see if their Big 12 brethren from the Lone Star State could survive and advance.
Notre Dame SR SF Dane Goodwin only scored 3 PTS on Friday vs. Alabama but helped his team keep it close early in the 2nd half with a layup and 3.
Obanor kept hitting the boards while his teammate Bryson Williams was able to help put some points on the scoreboard (finishing with 14 PTS).
The Irish offense looked a bit weary after playing 3 games in 5 days as they faded down the stretch and the Red Raiders hung on to win it 59-53 while the mascot/cheerleaders went wild.
SR F Marcus Santos-Silva was so happy that he gave his teammate Clarence Nadolny a ride off the court, while Adonis Arms tried to hold back his tears.
In the postgame press conference I asked Kevin Obanor about tying the school record for most REB in an NCAA tourney game and making the Sweet 16 for the 2nd straight year. He said that he is very happy with his decision: he enjoys playing alongside his brothers and that they will remain friends for life. His 2 trips to the Sweet 16 are very different, as he was a #15 seed last year at Oral Roberts and is a #3 seed this year, but he is happy to keep making history. However, he would not be returning to the Sweet 16 had his team not won the game so he is just grateful that they came out victorious. I asked Obanor’s coach what 1979 Texas Tech graduate Mark Adams would say to 2022 Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams about making the Sweet 16. He said to dream big dreams and never give up on them. He was winning at certain levels and used to think that he was the next John Wooden but so much of it is about timing and the right opportunity. He never had any idea that he would have a chance to be here but thinks it is encouraging to anyone to never give up on yourself and keep believing.
That is a wrap for the 1st game of the day, check back later this month for some extensive coverage of Game #2.