Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Southern Utah Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Katie Gruys

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday Southern Utah beat Cal Baptist 82-73 in the WAC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Thunderbirds were making their 1st appearance in the WAC tourney after spending the past decade in the Big Sky and clinched the 1st NCAA tourney bid in school history. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Southern Utah Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator Katie Gruys about helping to recruit a little basketball player you might have heard of named Sabrina Ionescu.

You are from Minnesota: what made you choose Oregon for college? I was born in a town of 2000 people called Annandale. I grew up playing 5 sports but basketball was my favorite. My older brother Nick was my track coach and I chose Oregon because it is Tracktown USA! When I went there I was missing basketball and Paul Westhead was the basketball coach. He had a lot of injuries that year and some of his players ended up putting me through a tryout that I was unaware of. After that 1st season I knew that I had to do both sports.

You spent your 1st 2 years playing for Paul, who won an NBA title with the Lakers in 1980 and a WNBA title with the Mercury in 2007: what was it like to play for him, and what was the most important thing that you ever learned from him? It was just FAST because he wanted us to get out and go. I learned that it is a business and he has been everywhere. Basketball is all the same regardless of the league/style of play. Your shooting efficiency goes up when you reverse the ball, which is something we use at Southern Utah.

You were a walk-on but were eventually awarded a scholarship during spring practice on May 18, 2015: where does that day rank among the highlights of your career so far? I cried like a baby: it was my birthday week and it came completely out of left field. They had me host a lot of recruiting visits, including kids like Sabrina Ionescu, and they appreciated how much I bought into what they did. I even kept a journal of what was going on in practice. It is definitely in the top-3 but I think that going to the big dance this week is now #1. I have a jersey in my office signed by Sabrina saying, “Thanks for helping me commit and be a Duck”, but I cannot take all of the credit!

Before coming to Southern Utah you spent 2 years as an assistant at Willamette University: what is the biggest difference between D-3 vs. D-1? The biggest difference is the size of the staff. I was a grad assistant at Clemson but got a lot of advice from people to go to D-3 and become an assistant. It was just me and the head coach at Willamette so I got to do a little of everything and get a lot of experience in my early 20s. Now we have 3 assistants so it is much less work.

In your 1st season on the SUU staff as Academic Advisor you helped your team finish in the top-5 in the nation in GPA: how much importance do you place on academics? It is huge. We had such smart girls that 1st year so they made it extremely easy on me. We even had 1 girl who was valedictorian with a 4.0 GPA.

You are the associate head coach/recruiting coordinator: what is the key to being a good recruiter? Relationships. I know that it sounds like a cliche but you never know when it will pay off for you with a big-time recruit. I have been fortunate to have recruited most of the players on our roster: we have a bunch of kids from the Northwest due to my relationships with AAU/high school coaches/parents. I also like to talk to opposing coaches to see what they have to say about a kid. I am big on talking to people via Facetime and I think a lot of kids just want to know that we believe in them.

Last Saturday in the WAC tourney title game your team had a 9-PT win over Cal Baptist: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? I was just so happy for the team and so proud of them because they have worked so hard. To see it come to fruition is amazing and Coach Tracy Sanders has been the best boss that I could hope for. Our kids always had a chip on their shoulder and underdog mentality. The locker room involved everything from crying to dancing.

You have 6 players this year averaging 8-16 PPG: how crucial has that offensive balance been to your team’s success? It has been huge because we have different people stepping up every night. Some of our mismatches are in the post and some of them are in the backcourt. It has made us a better team, which is why we won a championship.

What kind of seed were you expecting, and how do you feel about being a 14 seed? I was expecting anything from a 12-16 so I feel good about a 14. I was hoping for a 14/15 so I feel good about it.

I know it has been a while since you were a grad student in the ACC at Clemson but do you remember anything about Notre Dame? We are excited to go somewhere different with strong traditions and our girls will be prepared/ready to go. We only played Notre Dame once when I was at Clemson and I think we only lost by 4 PTS. Muffet McGraw was the head coach back then (now it is Niele Ivey) so it was a great experience for me. They have always had really good bigs who could rebound the ball. I actually visited their campus for track and field. I grew up Catholic so you always have to take a picture with Touchdown Jesus…but does it get any better than playing the Irish on St. Patrick’s Day this Friday?!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews St. Mary’s Spirit Team Captain Giuliana Sorbi

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last week St. Mary’s lost to Gonzaga 77-51 in the WCC tourney title game but was still able to clinch an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Gaels have now had a winning record for 20 years in a row and claimed the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. 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. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with St. Mary’s Spirit Team Captain Giuliana Sorbi about the rivalry with Gonzaga.

You are from El Cerrito, CA, and went to Saint Mary’s College High School: were you just destined to attend St. Mary’s College?! They are both part of the Catholic tradition and they appreciate the importance of community so I have found that here as well.

You are a captain on the Spirit Team: what is the key to being a good leader? Being a good listener as well as a kind/open-minded person. Everyone has a different talent they bring to the table so I try to be a positive person and have good school spirit.

You are studying Justice, Community, and Leadership on the Special Education track and are also a Dance minor: why did you choose those subjects? I have always been interested in helping students with special needs. I originally wanted to be a teacher but now I want to become a school psychologist. I can use my own experience while growing up to help others.

How long have you been dancing for, and what is the best part? I have been dancing since I was 3 years old so it will allow me to continue my skills after graduating if I want to. The best part of being a dancer at St. Mary’s is that I get a chance to represent my school each and every day. Not only am I a student but I am recognized for my dance ability. I have learned technique/stamina as well as skills to become a better person: work ethic, communication, and how to pursue your dreams.

You are a student ambassador at SMC in the admissions office: what does that entail? I have been a student ambassador since my sophomore year. I give campus tours, talk with prospective students, work at the front desk, and attend all of our admission events where I talk about my own experience. I remember it being intimidating when I was looking at schools so I try to put them at ease.

Last Tuesday in the WCC tourney title game you lost to Gonzaga: how do you explain the rivalry with the Zags to someone who has never experienced it in person? It is always a dynamic environment no matter where we play them, but when we have a home game our fans step it up even more than usual. They are invested from the beginning of the day through the end of the game. The turnout is always different but it is really fun for everyone. A lot of alumni (players/dancers/staff) come back to watch it as well.

What is the mood like on campus now that the NCAA tourney is finally here? Everyone is super-excited about it. I had to explain to my professors that I would be traveling for it and they just responded, “Go Gaels!” The whole city of Moraga is really excited. A lot of people showed up on Selection Sunday so everyone is grateful for this opportunity.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? We bring all of our dancers and have a rotation system where the rookies trade off but everyone gets to dance at least once/day. It is based off of seniority so all of the seniors will get to dance. We are all thrilled to be on national TV and show everyone what we have been working on. People thing Moraga is a small/isolated city but we have a lot going for us and will represent our passion through our dancing.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Albany? We have 1 routine that we performed for the 1st time at the WCC tourney so we are excited to do that 1 again, as well as a brand-new 1 that we were just working on last night.

Any predictions for the Gaels on Friday afternoon vs. VCU? The Gaels always give it all that they have so I am crossing my fingers that we can pull out a win. We are passionate about what they do and we will give it whatever we can so it will be fun to watch and definitely memorable.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Monmouth SR F Lucy Thomas

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday Monmouth beat Towson 80-55 in the CAA tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hawks only won 2 games in 2021 but won 18 games this year and clinched the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 1983. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Monmouth SR F Lucy Thomas about the importance of veteran leadership.

You were born/raised in New Jersey: what made you choose Monmouth? I was actually born in Pennsylvania and then lived in New York for a little bit. Monmouth is close to home so it is nice to have my family at home games for support. It is a really good fit for me and was my best choice.

You play for Coach Ginny Boggess: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? She really pushes everyone to do their best and has so much faith in us/love for us. She knows how much talent we have and has really helped us throughout this postseason with positive talk.

In 2019 you made the conference all-rookie team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? I made sure to get up some extra shots in the gym to try to improve my game. It was a really big accomplishment so shout-out to my teammates/coaches who helped me get that.

In December of 2019 you scored a career-high 22 PTS including the game-winning shot with 4.2 seconds left in OT to beat Manhattan: did you think the shot was going in, and where does that rank among the highlights of your career so far? That 1 is up there! It was a really intense game so I was just locked in on the play but the shot felt good when I released it. I remember the game being a battle but it was a really great moment.

You are pursuing a masters in communication: why did you choose that subject? My undergrad degree was in finance but I wanted to branch out of that field and do something different so that I could add something else to my resume.

What is the post-graduation plan? I am still thinking about it.

Last Sunday in the CAA tourney title game you scored 9 PTS in a win over Towson on their home court: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? The hard work we put in throughout the whole year is something that I am just so proud of. To see everyone just out there hooping was really nice. Winning a ring to finish up my last year is something that I will never forget. After the game everyone was just yelling/screaming on the court.

You had to win 4 games in 4 days while facing each of the top-3 seeds: did you even stay awake for the Selection Show or just go to sleep for 24 hours after the title game to recover?! We were all awake/together as 1 big team for the Selection Show: there was so much excitement.

You are 1 of 4 graduate students on the roster: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success this year? It really helps out on the court due to all of the knowledge that we have: I think it is a really big factor.

How do you feel about being a 16 seed, and what do you know about Tennessee Tech? I feel good about it. We just have to go out and do our thing. We will have to scout Tennessee Tech because they are a really good team but I am excited to play.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Boise State SO F Tyson Degenhart

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Friday Boise State lost to Utah State 72-62 in the MWC tourney semifinals but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Broncos were an 8 seed last year and are a 10 seed this year after clinching the school’s 2nd straight NCAA tourney bid. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Boise State SO F Tyson Degenhart about all of the fellow tourney teams he faced this season.

You grew up in Washington: what made you choose Boise State? There were a couple of reasons. It is close to home and my dad told me about how homesick he got while attending college at Clemson. It is also a perfect fit in terms of the coaching staff/style of play.

You graduated as valedictorian of Mt. Spokane High School with a 4.0 GPA: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? Both of my parents are teachers so good grades were always expected out of me. You need to be a good time manager and be proactive rather than procrastinating until the last minute.

You play for Coach Leon Rice: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He has a great feel for what his team is and always plays to our strengths. Last year we were a good defensive team and this year we are a better offensive team. He has a 1-game-at-a-time mentality and teaches us to always stay present and make each day the best day possible.

Last year you only scored 12 PTS off the bench in the 1st 6 games but ended up being named conference ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It is a tremendous honor but is a team award because my teammates/coaches put me in the right position to be successful.

Last March in the MWC tourney title game you scored a team-high 13 points in a 1-PT win over San Diego State: where does that rank among the highlights of your career so far? That probably has to be #1. To be in the title game and then win the MWC tourney (which was something that Boise State had never done before) was a super-special moment that I will cherish for the rest of my life.

In the NCAA tourney you scored 8 PTS in a loss to Memphis: what did you learn from that game that you think will help you this time around? Just going through the whole experience was huge for us because none of us had been there before. You hear stories about it but you do not truly understand it until you have been through it. We cannot start off slow or dig ourselves into a 20-PT hole and then expect to come back.

You played several NCAA fellow tourney teams this year including Nevada/San Diego State/Texas A&M/Utah State: which of them impressed you the most? I think that Utah State has played some really good basketball over the past month and gotten hot at the right time. San Diego State is a 5 seed and is a lot better offensively than they were last year. I am also happy that Nevada got in because it is good for our league, and I think that Texas A&M was underseeded a bit.

Your PPG/RPG have improved from last year but your 3P%/FT% have decreased: how have you changed as a player from freshman year to sophomore year? I am a more mature player this year. Last year I did not know how fast the game was but I have more of an understanding now. There was also a position change: last year I played the 4 most of the time but this year I am a 5.

Your 4 fellow starters include 1 junior/3 seniors: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? Having veteran leadership is always super-important. Last year as a freshman I had 4 seniors in the starting lineup. They have been a huge help to me and the younger guys.

How do you feel about being a 10 seed, and what do you know about Northwestern? I am excited to be a 10 seed and am just glad that we got in this year. I know that Northwestern is very good defensively so it will be a good challenge for us.

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Bracket Tactics: HoopsHD provides some tips for surviving and advancing

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

The best week of the year is finally here! This is the time when we ponder the impact of McDonald’s All-Americans, the importance of having a veteran coach, and exactly how many different “Wildcats” can make the Final 4. For those of you who need some last-minute bracket advice grounded in historical facts/trends, please see below for our Sweetest 16 Suggestions. For the rest of you, enjoy the Madness!!

TIP #1: No team that lost its opening game in its conference tournament has ever gone on to win the NCAA title that same year.
STRATEGY: The extra few days of rest have not proven helpful in the past so take a long hard look at Baylor (lost to Iowa State in the Big 12 tourney quarterfinals)/Kansas State (lost to TCU in the Big 12 tourney quarterfinals) before penciling them in as your champ.

TIP #2: Since 1979 only 3 national champions did not have a McDonald’s All-American on their roster (2002 Maryland/2014 UConn/2021 Baylor).
STRATEGY: A coach who cannot recruit the best high school players usually fails to win it all so beware of picking Arizona/Purdue to go all the way.

TIP #3: The last coach to win a title in his very 1st year as coach at a school was Tubby Smith at Kentucky in 1998.
STRATEGY: History is not on the side of Kansas State coach Jerome Tang/Texas coach Rodney Terry.

TIP #4: Since UNLV from the Big West won it all in 1990, 30 of the past 31 champs have come from a power-conference (except for UConn from the AAC in 2014): ACC (11), SEC (6), Big East (7), Big 12 (3), Pac-12 (2), Big 10 (1).
STRATEGY: You might want to think twice before picking anyone from the MWC/WCC to win it all.

TIP #5: Only 3 coaches with 4 or fewer prior tournament appearances have won the title since 1985 (Steve Fisher/Tom Izzo/Kevin Ollie).
STRATEGY: Teams like Duke (Jon Scheyer has 0 prior tourney appearances)/San Diego State (Brian Dutcher has 3 prior tourney appearances) might need a little more seasoning before they can win it all.

TIP #6: Each champ since 2002 had a strength of schedule that was among the top-75 in the nation.
STRATEGY: You have to play the best to learn how to beat the best you might want to stay away from FAU (SOS: 106)/VCU (SOS: 99).

TIP #7: There are 5 active coaches who have won at least 2/3 of their NCAA tournament games (minimum 5 wins).
STRATEGY: Do not expect Bill Self of Kansas (72.4%)/Tom Izzo of Michigan State (69.7%) to be catching an early flight home.

TIP #8: There are 6 schools who have won at least 85% of their games in the round of 64 (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Auburn (10-1)/Kansas (36-2) are near-automatic in their opening games.

TIP #9: There are 8 schools who have won at least 75% of their games in the round of 32 (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Arizona (19-4) is looking good vs. the Missouri-Utah State winner if they can win their 1st round game, and if not then Kentucky (28-7) is not a bad alternative.

TIP #10: There are 6 schools who have won at least 75% of their Sweet 16 games (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Kentucky (34-11) has played great in their Sweet 16 games so Marquette should beware.

TIP #11: There are 10 schools who have won at least 70% of their Elite 8 games (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Keep an eye on some of the best seeds in case either Houston (6-1)/UCLA (19-4) can make it to the 2nd Sunday.

TIP #12: There are 9 schools who have won at least 60% of their Final 4 games (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Connecticut is 4-1 in the Final 4 so if you pick them to survive the West Region then you might want to pick them to get all the way to the title game.

TIP #13: There are 10 schools who have won at least 2/3 of their NCAA tournament games as an at-large team (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Do not sleep on Kansas because even though they did not win the Big 12 tourney they still have a terrific track record when they do not get an automatic bid (57-23).

TIP #14: Only 3 teams have won an NCAA title after not being in the tournament the previous year it was held (1986 Louisville/2003 Syracuse/2014 UConn).
STRATEGY: Xavier (2022 NIT)/Virginia (2022 NIT) are certainly ready for primetime…but might not be ready to go all the way.

TIP #15: There are 7 schools who have won at least 85% of their NCAA tournament games in their home state (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: How excited is UCLA (29-1 in the state of California) to be playing in Sacramento?!

TIP #16: There are 8 schools who have won at least 75% of their NCAA tournament games as an automatic bid team (minimum 5 games).
STRATEGY: Do not sleep on Duke because when they win the ACC tourney and get an automatic bid they are near-unstoppable (67-19).

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Happy Anniversary! HoopsHD interviews former Cal Poly coach Ernie Wheeler

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Cal Poly’s last NCAA tourney appearance was a miraculous 1 back in 2014. After finishing the regular season 10-19, Coach Joe Callero’s squad won 3 games in 3 days to clinch the Big West tourney title, then beat Texas Southern by double-digits in the 1st 4 before losing to an undefeated Wichita State squad. A few decades earlier Mustangs coach Ernie Wheeler led his team all the way to the Final 4 of the 1981 D-2 tourney before losing to eventual champ Florida Southern. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to chat with Ernie about being the winningest coach in school history. Today marks the 42nd anniversary of Ernie’s Elite 8 win over New Hampshire on March 14, 1981, so we take this time to remember his remarkable accomplishment.

 photo credit: Lompoc Record

In 1972 you were hired as head coach at Cal Poly: why did you take the job? I spent 7 years coaching high school basketball in California so when I had the opportunity to become a college coach I took it.

In the 1977 D-2 tourney you had a 3-PT loss to North Alabama: how close did you come to pulling out the win? We had a heck of a team that year and beat Stanford by double-digits during the season. The North Alabama game was tremendous: it was probably the loudest arena that I have ever been in.

In March of 1981 you had a 4-PT win over New Hampshire to advance to the D-2 Final 4: where does that rank among the biggest wins of your career? Going to the Final 4 is something you always think about but never expect it to happen. They sent us to the Eastern regional in New Jersey so we were actually representing the East! We lost to Florida Southern in the semifinals but that tourney run ranks among the best teams that we have ever had here.

In December of 1982 you had a 3-PT 2-OT loss to Sacramento State: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? I do not remember that 1. The loss that stands out was to Hayward State on the road when 1 of their players made a 25-footer at the buzzer!

You remain the all-time winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? I think that someone will break it in time. We had a great run for 14 years and I got to have both of my sons play for me. My oldest son transferred from Idaho State and my other boy was highly-recruited but wanted to stay home. I was fortunate because they could really play and fit in as just 1 of the guys.

After leaving Cal Poly you spent 3 years as coach at Eastern Montana: what did you do during your time off, and why did you decide to get back on the sideline? I stayed at Cal Poly for a year working for their athletic department. I needed a job after Cal Poly switched athletic directors and Eastern Montana was a good way for me to get back into coaching. It is a wonderful profession because it is not just about Xs and Os but also the people around you.

You later coached in the CBA and served as a scout for Portland: which gig did you enjoy more, and what is the key to being a good scout? I evaluated mid-major players for the Trail Blazers for a year. Coaching in the CBA was neat: pro basketball is a completely different type of atmosphere than college. Some of the rules are different but the big thing is the travel.

When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most? Cal Poly is 1 of the top academic schools in California so I was proud to have graduated over 90% of my players. We played hard and represented the university with class. I was lucky to coach at a place like Cal Poly.

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