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 pair of Arizona locker room interviews.
SO G Kylan Boswell
You went to Centennial High School in Corona, CA, and your parents moved to California a couple of years ago: are you excited for your big homecoming? It is nice to come home: I will have a lot of family/friends at our game on Thursday.
2 years ago you were the youngest player in the nation as a 17-year old freshman: how have you changed from then to now? Coach Tommy Lloyd has helped me a lot with my basketball IQ. I have also improved my body and made some tweaks to my game.
The Wildcats have done very well this year when you have made a lot of 3-PT shots and been rather mediocre when you have not: do you feel any pressure that the team cannot win unless you are having a good day behind the arc? I do not feel any pressure because my team has instilled confidence in me.
Last summer you played for Team USA at the 2023 FIBA U-19 World Cup with several teammates who are also in the Sweet 16 (Myles Colvin at Purdue/Tobe Awaka at Tennessee/Omaha Biliew at Iowa State): how close are you with your former teammates? We still have a little group chat: those are my guys.
What do you know about Clemson? We have gone over them at practice and are ready to play them.
SR G Caleb Love
You faced Clemson 3 times in ACC play when you were at North Carolina: what do you know about them? I am familiar with them: they are a physical team that is great on defense and well-coached.
As a player at UNC you scored 13 PTS in the 2022 NCAA title game 3-PT loss to Kansas: what is the biggest factor to winning or losing a championship? You need to take it 1 game at a time, know where your feet are, and be the more connected team.
Last year you transferred to Arizona: what is the biggest difference from Chapel Hill? The weather has been the biggest difference.
Earlier this month you were named conference POY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot and showed how work I have put in this season. Every kid dreams of winning an award like that but it is also a team award so I give credit to my teammates for helping me out. When RJ Davis won his own conference POY award this month I made sure to congratulate him as well.
Your father Dennis played college football: who is the best athlete in the family? I am: he still gets into the gym and thinks he can beat me 1-on-1…but he cannot!
Check back for a lot more access all week long!