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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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Norfolk State SR G Camille Downs

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday Norfolk State beat Howard 56-52 in the MEAC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Spartans won 5 games in 2021 and 17 games in 2022 but are 25-6 this year and clinched the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2002. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Norfolk State SR G Camille Downs about being a great defender.

You were born in Japan: how did you 1st get into basketball? My parents were in the military and I played a bunch of different sports over there including soccer/track.

You began your career at Coppin State/UNCW: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Norfolk State? I tore my Achilles as a freshman so I wanted a fresh start. UNCW was not a great fit for me and I wanted to be closer to home so that my parents could attend more of my games. I am glad I did so…because I am a champion!

You are majoring in cyberpsychology: what on earth is that?! It is the study of human interaction with technology. I recently wrote a paper on how things like online dating/gaming affect people’s mental state.

Last year you were #4 in the nation with 3.3 SPG and this year you are #6 in the nation with 3.4 SPG: what is the key to being a great defender? Just timing everything right and keeping my opponent in front of me. I just think to myself, “You are not getting past me”.

Last year against South Carolina State you had 15 PTS/12 REB/9 STL: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? That actually was not the best game of my career. When I played in the regional tourney at Butler Community College I averaged a triple-double!

In the 2022 MEAC tourney semifinals you scored 14 PTS including a turnaround jumper at the buzzer in a 2-PT win over Morgan State: where does that rank among the highlights of your career? I will never forget that. My coach said that the game was going to end in a rebound so I just made sure that I was ready.

In the 2022 WNIT you scored 10 PTS in a 7-PT loss at Drexel: what did you learn from that loss that you think will help you this time around? Drexel was a very good/disciplined team. We worked hard but now we will be even more locked in/focused so that we can get the outcome that we want.

Last Saturday in the MEAC tourney title game you scored 6 PTS in a 4-PT win over Howard to clinch the school’s 1st tourney title since 2002 and tie the record for most wins in a season in school history: how big a deal was it, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was a very big deal just to be able to make history with my teammates. Last year we got a share of the regular season title but that was not good enough for us. My emotions are everywhere: I have re-watched the title game 3 times already!

You are 1 of 3 grad students on the roster: how much pressure is there on you to be a leader? There is no pressure at all. I have been playing for a long time so I have plenty of confidence: I just play hard and score when I need to.

How do you feel about being a 16 seed, and how do you like your chances against undefeated South Carolina in Columbia? We were hoping to get higher than a 16 but at this point I am just excited for the experience to play the #1 team in the country and see what happens.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Cleveland State coach Chris Kielsmeier

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Tuesday Cleveland State beat Green Bay 73-61 in the Horizon tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Vikings won 14 games in 2021 and 21 games in 2022 but are 30-4 this year and clinched the school’s 1st NCAA tourney bid since 2010. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Cleveland State coach Chris Kielsmeier about his history of success.

You were born/raised in Iowa and went to Iowa State: how big is the Cyclone-Hawkeye rivalry? It is a big deal in that state because more than likely you are from 1 school or the other.

You spent almost a decade as coach at D-3 Howard Payne University, where you became the all-time winningest coach in school history: what is the biggest difference between D-3 and D-1? 1 of the biggest differences as I have worked my way up through the ranks is that a D-1 staff is much bigger and has more resources available to do more things. It was a challenge for me at 1st since I did not have a lot of experience with it. On the court the game is the game so I am comfortable with that part of it.

In 2008 you went 33-0 and won the national title: how on earth were you able to go undefeated? The same way that you win games in general: great staff/players and a supportive administration. We had an All-American and the national POY who helped create our culture. We were 27-1 the previous year entering the postseason before getting upset in the Sweet 16 because we just could not put the ball in the basket. That really motivated our returning seniors because they knew we were better than that. You also need a little luck: there are a lot of factors that go into it.

You were also named WBCA national COY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It was really a reflection of our team. Individual accolades are significant but any COY award equates to team success. The key to me winning that award is that our team went 33-0! It was really about the players.

You spent 10 years as coach at Wayne State College, where you became the all-time winningest coach in school history: do you think that anyone will ever break your record? All records are meant to be broken! It will take someone staying there quite a while but if the right coach comes along then I am sure it will be broken someday…although it will be tough.

You were hired at Cleveland State back in 2018: why did you take the job? It was a new challenge after being at Wayne State for 10 years and having a lot of success. We pushed that program a long way even though we did not win a national title but were really relevant on the national scene. I want to constantly push myself to get better both as a coach and in life. Leading a staff has helped me grow as a person. I wanted to go to a place that was committed to success at the highest level and could consistently compete for championships. It is a unique place that I have really embraced.

In 2021 you won 3 games in 3 days to clinch the WBI title: what did your team learn from that experience that you think will help them this time around? We have played 15 postseason games during the past 3 years so our team is battle-tested. It is really just about the moment so we have to show that we can play great on someone else’s court and hit some shots. Our focus this week is to be at our best.

Last Tuesday in the Horizon tourney title game Gabriella Smith scored 19 PTS in a win over Green Bay: what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was a surreal feeling for everybody. Gabby played her best game of the year: we knew that we would have to hit some threes and she made a lot of big shots in that game. After the game it hit everybody that we had just accomplished what we had been working hard for all year long. Everyone just wanted to smile/laugh/cry and all of the great things that basketball can teach you from an emotional standpoint. We were proud of ourselves for accomplishing that, especially the folks who have been in this program for the past 5 years.

You only have 2 freshmen on the roster: how crucial has all of that experience been to your team’s success? It makes things easier. Experience does not give you extra points at the start of the game but it makes everything calmer. Our 2 freshmen have really not acted like freshmen all year because they knew they really could not do so on our senior-laden team. It is hard to establish yourself at an elite program at a young age but they both have made it look easy.

How do you feel about being a 13 seed, and what do you know about Villanova? We are extremely excited to keep playing in the NCAA tourney. Villanova has been in the top-20 all year long and won a lot of big games/close games. They are really tough-minded and really good at what they do, which is a recipe we model ourselves after.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Iowa cheerleader Jaclin Thompson

Posted on March 14, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Thursday Iowa lost to Ohio State 73-69 in the Big 10 tourney 2nd round but was still able to clinch an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Hawkeyes need 1 more victory to secure their 5th straight 20-win season and claimed the school’s 3rd 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 Iowa cheerleader Jaclin Thompson about having both her men’s and women’s teams make the NCAA tourney.

You are from Brownsburg, IN: what made you choose Iowa? I grew up in a family where college athletics were very important, as 2 of my brothers played college football. I wanted a school that would expand my horizons, so after learning about the traditions at Iowa I just loved it.

How long have you been cheering, and what is the best part? I have been cheering for about 7 years after previously being a gymnast. The best part is interacting in the fans: just walking to the football stadium and having little girls say they want to be like me when they grow up is a thrill!

Your men’s basketball team is good but your women’s basketball team is outstanding: what is the mood like on campus now that both of them have made the NCAA tourney? I got to travel to the Big 10 women’s tourney and EVERYBODY was talking about it when I got back to campus and asking me if I was there. We have some very good teams so we are very fortunate. (Note: Iowa won the Big 10 women’s tourney, Iowa State won the Big 12 women’s tourney, and Drake won the MVC women’s tourney!)

You are majoring in business marketing management and minoring in Spanish: why did you choose those subjects? I picked marketing because I like communication/event management. I am fluent in Spanish now and am a certified translator, which came in handy during all of my exchange programs.

You graduate in a few months: what is the post-graduation plan? I am applying to law schools right now and trying to get all of my applications submitted. I would like to become an immigration attorney 1 day.

You have done a lot of volunteer work for Special Olympics/Catholic Charities: how much importance do you place on community service? It is something that I am very passionate about and is the #1 reason that I am a cheerleader. Fans might not know my name but they know my image for the impact I bring to different organizations.

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? Since our team is so small we get to choose 2 tourneys to travel to each year, and being a senior helped. This is my 1st year traveling to March Madness and I am very excited to see how we will do.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for Birmingham? Not that I know of: we do not even know when we fly out yet! However, we always do a “Hawkeye Huddle” for the traveling fans to come visit/interact with us.

Are you worried that Auburn will have a home-court advantage since they are only a 2-hour drive away? That is EVERYONE’S main concern. Iowa thrives off our environment at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Any predictions for the Hawkeyes on Thursday night? I have a good feeling that we will win despite not doing as well at the Big 10 tourney as we had hoped.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Arizona Pomline member Makenzie Stratton

Posted on March 13, 2023 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday Arizona beat UCLA 61-59 in the Pac-12 tourney title game to clinch an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Wildcats lost 3 of their final 6 regular season games but won 3 games in 3 days in Vegas to clinch their 5th tourney title since 2015. 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 Arizona Pomline member Makenzie Stratton about her journey from Tempe to Tucson.

You were born/raised in Tempe: how the heck did you end up in Tucson?! It is actually a little bit of a funny story because my whole family (aunts/uncles/grandparents, etc) graduated from Arizona State. My parents begged me to go to ASU, but I was very interested in majoring in dance at the time and refused to even apply to Arizona State. I had applied to schools all over the country to audition for their dance programs and also started looking into their dance teams/pomlines. When I saw the Arizona Pomline with their style, the gameday atmosphere, and the University of Arizona’s campus it felt like home and my new dream was to be on the Arizona Pomline. I was lucky enough to have made the team going into my freshman year back in 2019 and have loved Tucson and the UofA ever since!

You have been dancing for most of your life: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part? I got into dance when I was about 3 years old all because of my aunt. She grew up dancing at Tempe Dance Academy and seeing her dance made me want to follow in her footsteps. I used to sit in my grandma’s lap at my aunt’s recitals, but unlike other kids who probably got antsy I sat completely still throughout the 2-hour-long shows. I was mesmerized by all of the dancers and ever since then I started taking dance classes and competing.

You are a captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? Being captain of the Arizona Pomline has been a dream come true. It has been anything but easy…yet the most rewarding experience ever. I think that 1 of the biggest things about being a good leader is being very open-minded. As a leader of a group of 24 incredibly talented girls, I am constantly trying to make the best decision for the team. Being open-minded helps me realize/accept when I am wrong and also allows me to become a better listener for my teammates. Even besides the fact of trying to make the best decisions for the team, being open-minded with your teammates builds a lot of respect/trust that pays off in the long run. As a team we lean on each other so much, and open-mindedness about everything/everyone helps build trust, respect, and an unbreakable bond.

You are majoring in veterinary science and minoring in business administration: why did you choose those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I have always wanted to be a veterinarian like every naïve little kid. As I got older and started working in the veterinary field I realized that becoming a veterinarian was the career path for me because it had a little bit of everything that I wanted in life. I would be able to practice medicine (which has always been something that I wanted to do) and give back by helping people’s pets. As I started my undergraduate work I added the minor in business administration because I would love to own my practice one day. However, I recently switched my minor to biochemistry because I believe it will apply more to my field and help me more during veterinary school. With that being said, I plan on attending veterinary school this coming fall. Although I have not decided which 1 I will be attending, I am very grateful to have been accepted to multiple schools.

You have a 3.9 GPA: how do you balance your work on the team with your work in the classroom? I feel like everyone says this but it really is all about time management and organization. I am very type-A and organized so this has never been hard for me to come by. Freshman year was definitely a great wake-up call because I had to learn study strategies, balance football and basketball season, gigs/other performances, along with moving away from home. It was overwhelming at times, but having a good planner along with a good outlet for stress was critical for my success through undergrad.

You have spent some time volunteering at local veterinary hospitals: how much importance do you place on community service? Most of my experience is based in Tempe since the summers are when I have the most time to volunteer, but I do think that community service is extremely important. At multiple humane societies in the Phoenix/Tucson areas I have volunteered for dog walking, dog/cat enrichment, and basic hands-on help throughout the facilities. I have also volunteered at the Therapeutic Ranch for Animal and Kids in Tucson where I got to help teach disabled kids about horses and how they can be a great outlet for the kids. Outside of the veterinary world, the pomline does an extensive amount of community outreach and volunteers for different charity events, parades, elementary school readings, etc. The feeling from giving back to the community is indescribable and I will always strive to volunteer in one way or another.

Last Saturday in the Pac-12 tourney title game Arizona had a 2-PT win over UCLA: where does that rank among the most exciting games that you have ever seen? I think it is by far the most exciting game that I have ever experienced! President Robbins was not kidding when he said he liked to call T-Mobile Arena “McKale North”. Although there were a bunch of UCLA fans, they could not even compare to the Wildcat fans because of their energy, love for the university, and love for our athletic teams. Although the game was super-close, and I still do not have my voice back yet, it was a game that I will never forget and will probably be ranked on the top of my list forever.

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? For the pomline, we decide who gets to go to each tournament based on seniority. Seniors get the first bid and after that juniors get to take the remaining spots. It sounds like a simple process, but with only 6 tournament spots there is an extremely high expectation for anyone who gets chosen to travel. It really is an honor to be chosen whether or not you are a senior and the expectations for traveling only get higher from here. I am so excited to see our group take on the NCAA tournament. We have worked so hard this year and have cheered our basketball team onto victory so many times already. I cannot wait for all of our hard work to pay off and to be able to showcase what we can do on national TV!

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? As we get more details moving forward for the NCAA tourney I am sure that we will have some more stuff up our sleeves, but for now we are super-excited to continue performing with Arizona Cheer and Mascots in a joint performance, and of course the Pride of Arizona Pep Band. We’re ready to bring more energy than ever and hopefully get our basketball team a national championship!

Any predictions for the Wildcats next week? Even though the Pac-12 tournament seems like it just ended, I think our team is going to come off really strong this week with a big win against Princeton. These NCAA games just keep getting bigger and bigger so I am excited to see what our team has in store. The pomline and all of Wildcat nation has seen them work so hard this season. It has all paid off so far, but I think the big Pac-12 championship will give us a lot of confidence going into these first 2 rounds so that we can pull off 2 more Wildcat wins. I cannot wait to see where our team takes us and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to travel with them! Bear down, go Cats!

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