All-Access at the West Regional in Las Vegas: UCLA locker room

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Jon Teitel

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.

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All-Access at the West Regional in Las Vegas: Gonzaga locker room

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Jon Teitel

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 Gonzaga locker room.

SO G Hunter Sallis


In 2021 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: are any guys from that game still alive in the NCAA tourney? Just this 1 next to me (his Gonzaga teammate Nolan Hickman)!

Coach Mark Few has won 23+ games for his 24th year in a row: how important has his leadership been to your team? He has so much experience that it gives us all a lot of confidence.

You had a brutal non-conference schedule this year including Michigan State/Texas/Kentucky/Purdue/Xavier/Baylor/Kent State/Alabama: which of those teams impressed you the most? I would say Texas: their defensive aggressiveness was unlike anything else we had seen early in this season, but it has really helped prepare us for March.

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 sensational shot? I remember watching it on TV: it was a really amazing shot.

You beat GCU/TCU last week: what is the mentality of the team as you prepare to face UCLA? We will take the same approach as always by bringing the same intensity/aggressiveness.

SO C Efton Reid III


You went to IMG Academy: are you friends with any of your fellow alumni who are still alive in the NCAA tourney (Charles Bediako at Alabama/Alex Karaban at UConn/Jarace Walker at Houston/other)? I was part of the post-graduate team so I do not know everyone but we still have a connection. I was there during COVID so I grew close to some of the younger guys on the team.

You began your career at LSU: why did you decide to transfer to Gonzaga? A little of everything: the culture, the family atmosphere, etc. It has been great for my basketball development.

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 sensational shot? I remember watching it on TV at home with my family during COVID and just screaming out loud after he made it!

Coach Mark Few has won 23+ games for his 24th year in a row: how important has his leadership been to your team? You cannot beat winning: that is all that matters. It really speaks to his career as a coach.

You beat GCU/TCU last week: what is the mentality of the team as you prepare to face UCLA? We will play like underdogs because when we get momentum we cannot be stopped.

SR F Drew Timme


You are the 2-time defending conference POY: how crucial is it for you to leader this team? Obviously, it has been that way during my entire time here, but pressure is a privilege.

You were named conference tourney MVP earlier this month: do you feel like you are playing the best basketball of the season and/or your life? I am just being me.

You scored 12 PTS in the 2021 title game loss to Baylor: what will it take to get over the hump if you make it back to the title game this year? We just need to be us.

You scored 25 PTS in a Sweet 16 6-PT loss to Arkansas last March: how sweet would it be to beat them in a revenge game in the Elite 8 if you both make it that far? They are a different team than last year, and so are we.

If you could be selected 1st overall in the NBA draft by any team or last overall in the NFL draft by your beloved Dallas Cowboys, which would you choose? (Long pause) Cowboys!

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All-Access at the West Regional in Las Vegas: UConn locker room

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Jon Teitel

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 UConn locker room.

JR G Andrew Hurley


Where does this week rank among the highlights of your career? It is definitely up there, we did not get what we wanted the past 2 years (9-PT loss to Maryland in the 1st round of the 2021 NCAA tourney and 7-PT loss to New Mexico State in the 1st round of the 2022 NCAA tourney) so to make it this far has been great.

Will your uncle (ASU coach Bobby Hurley) and/or grandfather (Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr.) be in the arena this week? My grandfather will be here for sure, and I think my uncle will come up from Tempe as well. Hopefully my uncle can give us a little help with strategy if we play UCLA in the Elite 8.

Your father Dan was hired as coach at UConn 5 years ago today: what do you remember about that day? He was just trying to restore the program to its past glory.

There have been a lot of Big East coaching moves this week with Rick Pitino going to St. John’s (after you beat him by 24 PTS last Friday) and Ed Cooley moving from Providence to Georgetown: how great is your conference? The Big East is loaded and will be an even more interesting league next year.

SR G Nahiem Alleyne


You began your college career at Virginia Tech, where you scored 28 PTS/4-10 3PM in a 5-PT OT loss to Florida in the 2021 NCAA tourney: what is the key to winning games in March? You need to have that mentality of “win or go home” and see who will bring it more. I tell my teammates that we have worked too hard all year to go home now. March bring a different feeling for everybody.

Why did you transfer to UConn? The culture: it just felt like a good place for me to be. I wanted to help them keep building their history and it was the best decision that I ever made. I have become a tougher player because it is such a good conference?

This year your team started 14-0 and then lost 6 of its next 8: what went wrong, and what has gone right since then? Nothing went wrong: we just encountered a little adversity. My former coach Mike Young said that when things are not going right you can either lay down or fight back. We just have to throw the next punch, which we did in February, especially on the defensive end of the court: the sky is the limit.

Your assistant coach Luke Murray’s father Bill is 1 of the funniest men on the planet: have you had a chance to meet him yet? I have never met Bill, and only realized that he was Luke’s father a couple of weeks ago!

There have been a lot of Big East coaching moves this week with Rick Pitino going to St. John’s (after you beat him by 24 PTS last Friday) and Ed Cooley moving from Providence to Georgetown: how great is your conference? Really great: the Big East is getting better and better with all of those great coaches. I think that Coach Pitino even has a little Dan Hurley in him!

FR C Donovan Clingan


You are 7’2”: how much of an advantage is your size on the court? It helps a lot on the court but sometimes is it not so fun off the court. Trying to find clothing is a struggle: there are not a lot of places that sell pants with a 40” inseam!

You are from Bristol (where I used to work a LOOOOONG time ago): what was it like to grow up there? It was nice. Everyone got along and I gained a lot of support from the town throughout my childhood so I could not be more thankful.

Your assistant coach Luke Murray’s father Bill is 1 of the funniest men on the planet: have you had a chance to meet him yet? I gave him a fist bump at the Big East tourney a couple of weeks ago and finally got to say hi to him at our hotel in New York City. He said, “Hi, I’m Bill, Luke’s father”, and I responded, “Hi Bill, I know who you are”: he is a cool guy to be around.

You are 1 of only 5 teams to beat Alabama this year: how good are they? They are really good and have a lot of weapons. Even with Brandon Miller going scoreless in their 1st round game last Thursday they still won by 21 PTS.

You had 2+ BLK in each of your 2 games last week: how does the defensive game plan change when facing a taller team like Arkansas? I will keep trying to disrupt their shots and guard the paint: they have a lot of great athletes.

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All-Access at the West Regional in Las Vegas: Arkansas locker room

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Jon Teitel

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 Arkansas locker room.

The hardest part was just getting to the Razorbacks’ locker room without bumping into any of the Gonzaga players who were stretching in the hallway!

JR G Ricky Council IV


In 2022 you were named AAC 6th Man of the Year at Wichita State: is there a big difference between starting vs. coming off the bench? I was kind of used to starting and thought I would start last year but I only started 7 games. I started almost every game this year before coming off the bench for several games down the stretch.

As someone who faced Houston several times in AAC play, how good are they? I played them 4 times while I was at Wichita and it starts with their defense. I am not surprised at all that they have had such a great season due to the physicality and rebounding.

Why did you transfer to Arkansas? It was just a better opportunity for me, as I have always had a goal/dream to play at the highest level.

Your brother Ricky II played at Providence/UMBC, brother Ricky III played JC basketball sister Rhianna played at UNCG: who is the best athlete in the family? Me!

SR F Jalen Graham


You went to Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix: how did you end up at Arkansas? I transferred after playing 3 years at ASU. I saw that Arkansas made back-to-back Elite 8s and I wanted to be a part of that.

Since Vegas is not that far from Phoenix, will you have any family/friends at the arena this week? My mother/brother/sister will all be here, as well as most of my close friends.

You played for Dan Hurley’s brother Bobby at ASU: how awkward will it be if you end up facing UConn on Saturday?! I have thought about that a couple of times this month.

You beat Illinois/Kansas last week after losing 4 of 5 games entering the NCAA tourney: how was your teams able to get back on track? We had some pieces return from injury, plus we had a really tough schedule down the stretch (featuring 5 straight games against NCAA tourney teams: Alabama/Tennessee/Kentucky/Auburn/Texas A&M).

Speaking of injuries, how is Anthony Black’s left foot doing? I think he is good.

SR F Kamani Johnson


You transferred from Little Rock: what made you choose Arkansas? I had a really good connection with the Little Rock coaches who (like me) were from New York (including head coach Darrell Walker, who was a player/assistant for the Knicks). I looked around and then fell in love with the staff here.

Your brother Dakari played basketball at Kentucky: who is the best athlete in the family? My brother has it right now since he made the Final 4 in 2015 and the title game in 2014 (a 6-PT loss to UConn), but I just told him the other day that I am coming for him!

You played 3 minutes in a 6-PT win over Gonzaga in the Sweet 16: how exciting would it be to face them again in the Elite 8 on Saturday? We are not looking ahead, plus they have to face a good UCLA team tomorrow…but a rematch would be great. I actually think they were a little better last year but there would be a LOT on the line if we play them again.

Your spectacular non-conference schedule included games against Creighton/San Diego State/Baylor: which 1 of those teams impressed you the most? San Diego State was really tough. I played really well against them (7 PTS/7 REB in 19 minutes) so I cannot wait to see how they do vs. Alabama on Friday.

Speaking of Alabama, you 2 plus Tennessee gives the SEC 3 teams in the Sweet 16: do you have the best conference in the country? I think the SEC is #1. We have the best athletes/greatest coaches.

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All-Access at the West Regional in Las Vegas: Arkansas open practice

Posted on March 22, 2023 by Jon Teitel

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 commences our coverage from Las Vegas with the Arkansas open practice.

It was a LOOONG series of connecting flights from DC to Vegas yesterday but I arrived in 1 piece. There were plenty of people to see at the Arkansas open practice on Wednesday morning:

The CBS announcing crew of Kevin Harlan/Dan Bonner/Stan Van Gundy/Lauren Shehadi huddling up in preparation:

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman (who is attempting to make his 3rd straight trip to the Elite 8):

FR G Anthony Black (getting his left foot wrapped up tight after entering the arena in a walking boot):

You did not think that each player had to bring his own sneakers did you?!

ESPN/Westwood One Basketball Analyst PJ Carlesimo (who coached Dan Hurley at Seton Hall back in the 1990s):

FR G Nick Smith Jr. (who averaged 15 PPG in 2 SEC tourney games but only 3 PPG in 2 NCAA tourney games):

JR G Ricky Council IV (who made 21-23 FTs combined in 2 wins last week):

JR G Davonte “Devo” Davis (who scored a game-high 25 PTS in a 1-PT win over defending champion Kansas last Saturday):

SO F Trevon Brazile (at least I THINK so, since I thought he was injured and had dark hair?):

Check back for much more coverage all weekend long!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Auburn cheerleader Britt Ware

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Jon Teitel

It has been quite a month for Auburn: almost upsetting Alabama in OT on March 1, beating Tennessee on Senior Night on March 4, having an amazing comeback vs. Arkansas in the SEC tourney that came up just short on March 9, beating Iowa in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney last Thursday, and holding a 10-PT halftime lead over Houston before losing in the 2nd round last Saturday. In addition to shining a light on the players who got the job done on the court, it is also important to recognize the spirited students who have worked just as hard on the sidelines, such as band members/cheerleaders/dancers. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Auburn cheerleader Britt Ware about a wild weekend in Birmingham.

You are from Birmingham: what made you choose Auburn? I am from a big Auburn family: my parents/grandparents went to Auburn…but 1 of my grandfathers played football for Bear Bryant. I have always loved the games/atmosphere so it was not a hard decision and I have loved it here.

Your NCAA tourney games were in your hometown last week: did you have any family/friends who got to see you in person at Legacy Arena? Yes: my parents got to come, which I was so thankful for. My sister could not make it because she had cheer tryouts but my brother came down from Nashville for the game. I actually got to cheer in that same arena during high school when our basketball team won 3 straight titles from 2017-2019 so it was fun to be back in that position.

How long have you been cheering for, and what is the best part? I started cheering in 6th grade so I have done it for a long time. Competitive cheer and sideline cheer are very different but coming here I was interested in the community aspect of it. I wanted to serve my school/community so the best part has been meeting people and getting to appear at events with people of varying ages from babies to folks in nursing homes.

Your family friend Juli Carr was an Auburn cheerleader back in the 1980s: how has the role of a cheerleader changed over time (if at all)? Auburn is very traditional and we try our hardest to keep it that way. It has changed a little over time but we have always been community-based and it can only change so much. There are only 10 girls and 10 guys so every year we have to teach our new teammates why we do this/love this.

Your favorite Auburn tradition is Tiger Walk: what is it, and why is it so special? That is the 1 thing I remember attending from age 5. It is 1 of the best game day traditions: even when we were not doing great in football there are still fans who show up and cheer you on every step of the way. It makes you so grateful to walk down the aisle and wave to little girls sitting on their father’s shoulders. It is 1 of the calmer/busier moments of the day and just shows what makes the Auburn family so special.

You are majoring in hospitality management: why did you choose that subject? I have always loved planning events. My mom is an interior designer but I know that it is a LOT of work. I do not know if I want to deal with crazy brides at a wedding but I do love flower arrangements, organizing a schedule for someone else, etc. I love to serve people so if I can be a planner/coordinator then I could help take the stress off of someone else. The combination of structure/creativity has always caught my eye.

What is the post-graduation plan? I made the cheer team during my sophomore year…which was during COVID. I will stick around 1 more year and hopefully have an internship this summer. We have 5 girls graduating so my main plan is to help the 5 new girls replacing them. I plan to minor in leadership, which will help me be a leader during my final year.

What was your favorite moment from this season: starting 16-3, beating Tennessee on Senior Night, almost beating Alabama in OT on March 1st, other? I would say the Tennessee game, which was pretty exciting. It seems like most of our losses this year have been closed games that were decided during the final 5 minutes. It was really fun to have our entire squad back for the 1st time since football season. The fans were excited to honor the seniors and it was fun to watch them from courtside.

How did your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what did it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? It was awesome. Every single experience is fun whether we win or lose, and you have to take in every single moment because you never know when it will be your last game. It really taught me to never take anything for granted, which helps because our team was on fire. I still cannot believe that we were on TV.

Last weekend you beat Iowa and lost to Houston in Birmingham: how was it? There were a lot of emotions. The Iowa game was really exciting and we kept saying that it would be the start of our hot streak. The energy rolled over into our 2nd game vs. #1 seed Houston: we did not want to get our hopes up but we did a great job of pushing ourselves to the last minute. I was really proud of our team because they worked so hard: we just need to work on our FTs (19-36 vs. the Cougars)! Bruce Pearl is a great coach and my friends/family have been so supportive during this whole experience. Just to look up and see them smiling in the stands makes it all worth it.

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