Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, parents, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place this weekend in Washington, DC, 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 DC with an interview of William & Mary baritone player Aaron Kopp about his favorite hiking spot and what it would mean for the Tribe to finally make the NCAA tourney.
You are from Alexandria, VA: what made you choose William and Mary? My folks went here, my uncle went here, and my little brother is going to go here: it is a family thing.
You are majoring in mathematics: how did you choose that subject? I hated math in elementary/middle school but it finally clicked for me during a calculus class in high school. It was during COVID and there was nothing else to do: I finally started seeing math less as numbers and more as patterns.
You are a junior: do you have a post-graduation plan? Not yet, but I hope work in forestry or land management.
You play the baritone: how long have you been playing it, and what is your favorite song to play? I actually started on the trumpet…but since I was bad at it my teacher made me switch to baritone in 4th grade. My favorite song to play is “Land of 1000 Dances”: you will recognize it when you hear it.
You are a big hiker: do you have a favorite hiking spot? The Southern Rockies. I spent last year in New Mexico and got to hike the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
What has been the highlight of your season so far: starting conference play 5-0, Senior Night, other? I would say being ALMOST undefeated at home (12-2). There are more students attending games this year than I have ever seen before.
How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It is based on our attendance at regular season games. I did not get to attend last year, but did come to DC as a freshman. I love my band family and I am graduating in December so this is my final week to play at our basketball games.
Does your band have anything extra-special planned for this week? This is our spring break so everyone who is here took time out of their time off to be here.
Any predictions for your game today vs. Delaware? This has already been a big year for underdogs (Washington Commanders making the NFC title game, ASU/Indiana football making the College Football Playoff, etc.). I want us to keep winning, make the NCAA tourney, and then play 1 of the top teams like Auburn/Duke because we have risen to the occasion this year against the best.
The Tribe have been playing basketball for 120 years but have never made the NCAA tourney: what would it mean to your school to finally break the streak? There is a slim-but-very-real chance, and it would mean so much. We have been in the NIT before but a trip to the NCAA would transform us from laughably bad to having a chance for a good run in the years ahead. It is great to have an exciting sports culture on our campus.
