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 DC with some UConn locker room interviews…once the team got off their bus.
Graduate assistant Andrew Hurley
In the Sweet 16 on Friday night, you trailed Michigan State at halftime: how were you able to turn things around in the 2nd half? We just continued to do what we did in the 1st half: rebound the ball and try to match the Spartans’ physicality.
You won back-to-back titles as a player for your father Dan at UConn: what is the secret to winning championships? You must take it possession-by-possession and try to win each 4-minute war. It is about defense/rebounding/getting stops.
Your uncle Bobby won back-to-back titles as a player at Duke: who will he be cheering for on Sunday? That is a tough 1. He was an incredible player at Duke…but blood is thicker than water!
What makes your father such a great coach? His passion for the game and the time that he devotes to his players. He spends a lot of time in the office game-planning to put his players in the best spots: he is as authentic as it gets.
What do you know about Duke, and what will it take to beat them? They have great players who play hard: they are not punks. We will try to match their toughness and play together.
SR G Malachi Smith
You began your college career at Dayton: why did you decide to transfer to UConn? I wanted to get to March Madness because winning is my #1 goal.
Your brother Scoochie was an all-conference player at Dayton: who is the best athlete in the family? Myself…although he made it to the Elite 8 in 2014, so hopefully I can pass him tomorrow.
What makes Dan Hurley such a great coach? His intensity: he keeps us locked in and has prepared us both on and off the court.
In the Sweet 16 on Friday night, you had 7 AST/4 STL in 17 minutes off the bench: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? I just tried to step up because my teammate Silas Demary Jr. was hurt. I trust my game and my coaches believe in me.
What do you know about Duke, and what will it take to beat them? They have a great shooter in Isaiah Evans, and Cameron Boozer is potentially a top-2 NBA draft pick. If we can limit those 2 guys then we have a chance.
Check back for a lot more access all weekend long!
