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 commences our coverage from Atlanta with some Mississippi locker room interviews.
SR G Dre Davis
Last spring you won an NIT title at Seton Hall: how does it compare to the NCAA tourney? The NCAA tourney is a much bigger stage: more media, a larger national presence, etc. There are more intense/high pressure games, but it was still great to win a title at home in Indianapolis last April.
Your brother Tae plays basketball at Notre Dame: who is the best athlete in the family? As far as athleticism, I will have to give it to Tae…but I have more “dog” in me!
You are pursuing a master’s degree in intercollegiate athletic administration: what would you change if you ran the NCAA? Not sure. The NCAA has been highly successful for a long time, and everyone knows about March Madness.
Your daughter was born in 2022: how do you balance being a basketball player with being a father? Time management. Her mom does a great job with her, and they are traveling here today so it will be a great experience.
The SEC set a record this month with 14 NCAA tourney bids: what is it like to be part of the best conference in the history of the sport? It is amazing: that is why I always dreamed of playing here.
What do you know about Michigan State? They have a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo and his team always plays hard. They will be well-prepared so we will have to be ready to go.
SR G Sean Pedulla
You began your college career at Virginia Tech: why did you decide to transfer to Michigan State? The biggest reason is that I wanted to win at the highest level during my final year of college.
You have 8 siblings: what is the best part and what is the not-so-best part (if any)? The best part is that there was always someone to talk to or play with. The worst part is that the snacks went fast!
Earlier this month you were named 3rd-team all-conference: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means a lot, but a lot of that comes from our team’s success.
You made a game-winning 3 to beat your hometown Sooners on 3/1 and a game-winning 3 to beat Arkansas in the SEC tourney opener on 3/13: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? The shot to beat Arkansas is towards the top due to the platform of the SEC tourney.
What do you know about Michigan State? They are a tough team, play hard, and have a great coach in Tom Izzo.
Check back for a lot more access all week long!
