The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the 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 of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Las Vegas with a few player interviews from the UCLA locker room.
1st of all, the voting for wildest hair of the weekend is now closed due to this stupendous salad from SO F Logan Cremonesi:
FR F Evan Manjikian
You were a teammate of Amari Bailey at Sierra Canyon School: what is it like to still be his teammate in college? I have been with him since my junior year of high school. Seeing each other grow on the court has been special: to go from a pair of kids just having fun to the highest level of basketball is a blessing.
Your cousin whose name I cannot pronounce (Sooren Derboghosian) also played basketball at UCLA back in the day: who is the best athlete in the family? I would always say myself due to the confidence I have in myself!
You are majoring in biology why did you choose that subject? I have always been interested in the sciences/medicine…and you cannot hoop forever.
In the 2021 Final 4 the Zags beat UCLA on a Jalen Suggs 40-foot bank shot to beat the buzzer in OT: what are your memories of that staggering shot? It was before I came here but was still a killer. That game was crazy so I am looking forward to this “get-back” game because some of us are still mad inside.
The Bruins have played 8 games at T-Mobile Arena since last March (6 conference tourney games and non-conference losses to Illinois/Baylor last November at the Continental Tire Main Event): has it become like a 2nd home because you guys have spent so much time there? I would not call it a “2nd home” but it does give us both confidence/comfort knowing the gym.
JR G Jaylen Clark
You are out for the year due to a right Achilles injury: how bad is it, and when can we expect you back on the court? It is not bad at all: I will just have to talk to my doctor after the NCAA tourney.
You were named 2023 conference DPOY: how has your team been able to play so well defensively in your absence? We have been top-5 in defensive efficiency all season so the guys have just been doing the same thing they have done all year: keeping our opponents under 70 PPG.
In the 2021 Final 4 you scored 3 PTS but the Zags beat UCLA on a Jalen Suggs 40-foot bank shot to beat the buzzer in OT: what are your memories of that staggering shot? It was a half-court bank shot so it does not carry much weight with me: I just hope we can finally beat them after losing to them each of my 1st 2 years.
Coach Mick Cronin’s win total has increased during each of his 4 years in Westwood (from 19 to 22 to 27 to 31): what makes him such a great coach? He is great to play for and gets the best out of us, including that last 10% when you think that you have already given it everything that you can.
You had a very tough non-conference schedule including Illinois/Baylor/Maryland/Kentucky: how did that help prepare you wo win games in March? Those 1st 2 games did not well but they really helped our young guys grown up.
SR G/F Jaime Jaquez Jr.
The Bruins have played 8 games at T-Mobile Arena since last March (6 conference tourney games and non-conference losses to Illinois/Baylor last November at the Continental Tire Main Event): has it become like a 2nd home because you guys have spent so much time there? You would think that it would help but I call it the “UCLA Curse” because of those 2 losses in November and our losses to Arizona in each of the past 2 title games (all 4 by single digits).
You were named 2023 conference POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot and showed that my hard work has finally paid off.
In the 2021 Final 4 you scored 19 PTS/6-12 FG but the Zags beat UCLA on a Jalen Suggs 40-foot bank shot to beat the buzzer in OT: what are your memories of that staggering shot? I remember losing! A lot of guys from our 2021 team have graduated and this is my last chance to beat them.
Your sister Gabriela had 7 PTS/3 STL for UCLA in a win over Oklahoma on Monday in the 2nd round of the NCAA women’s tourney: any chance we will see you cheering her on in person when she faces an undefeated South Carolina team on Sunday? I am glad that she gets to experience a Sweet 16 since I have already done so myself. Hopefully I will not be able to make it because we will be preparing for the Final 4…but even if I do not have a schedule conflict it is a long trip across the country.
Jaylen Clark was named 2023 conference DPOY but is out for the year due to a right Achilles injury: how has your team been able to play so well defensively in his absence? Just game-planning and focusing on our film preparation/scouting.