Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Hawaii coach Laura Beeman

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday Hawaii beat UC-Irvine 59-48 in the Big West women’s tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Rainbow Wahine won exactly 1 game in December but got hot at the right time and won each of their last 8 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #2 seed Baylor in Waco on Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Hawaii coach Laura Beeman about winning 500 games and making it back to the NCAA tourney.

You played basketball at Cal State San Bernardino, where you set school records for AST in a game/season/career: what is the key to being a great PG? Listening to your coach: I am kidding! You have to think about the game a bit: it is a lot about sharing the ball, being a great voice, and making your teammates look good.

How did you 1st get into coaching? It was 1 of those sliding doors and I chose the correct 1. I really had no clue what I wanted to do with my life after graduating. I got a call from the coach at Redlands who invited me to become a grad assistant and they would pay for my masters’ degree. I was there for a couple of years and became a head coach at Mt. San Antonio a couple of years after that.

In the 2011 WNIT title game as an assistant to Michael Cooper at USC you had an 8-PT loss to Toledo: how did you like working for a 5-time NBA champion? I truly loved it because he is an amazing guy who treated me very well. He taught me so much about basketball: as great a player as Coop was, he was never demeaning/degrading and just wanted to share his knowledge. I got to be a fly on the wall and see how he did it.

In the 2016 NCAA tourney as head coach at Hawaii you had a loss at UCLA: what did you learn from your prior trip to the tourney that you think will help you this year? Experience is the best teacher because you do not know what you do not know! My assistant Alex Delanian and I have been there before and know about the excitement/jitters. The hard part is to win more regular season games next time so that we can get a better seed. We only have an upside because there is no pressure on us.

You have won more than 500 games during your career: what makes you such a good coach? I am old! I have been fortunate to have really great players and assistants who are strong where I am weak. They let me do what I am good at and this team has been incredibly special. We had 9 new players and it has been pretty fun down the stretch and rewarding for everyone.

You were inducted into the Cal State San Bernardino Hall of Fame in 2017 and the California Community College Hall of Fame in 2019: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? To be a part of such prestigious organizations means a lot. I was a decent college player but had great people around me to help with my success. I love seeing my players graduate and go on to have great careers/families, which ranks up there as well, as well as my 1st title at Mt. Sac.

You went more than a month this season from December 6-January 7 without winning a single game: how were you able to turn things around 3 weeks ago and win each of your final 8 games? That was a tough time. Our COVID protocols here in Hawaii were very different than in the rest of the US. We were not even allowed to have a scout team, which was challenging. We were wearing masks and could only have a certain # of kids on the floor at 1 time so we could not build chemistry or play 5-on-5 in open gyms. The biggest challenge at the time was to take a deep breath because we had the right pieces, and eventually they saw it work. It took us time to develop/grow because our requirements have been incredibly difficult but the team bought in and believed in what we could be.

Last Saturday in the Big West tourney title game you had a win over UC-Irvine: how were you able to become the 1st Rainbow Wahine team to ever win both the regular season/tournament titles in the same season? We get great support from our fans/administration and they give us everything they possibly can. The 2nd part is the kids: they believe in 1 another and do not want our season to end. We kept preaching that they would have to earn everything because nobody would give us anything: it has been really impressive and they show mad respect to our opponents.

SR F Amy Atwell leads your team in a variety of stat categories this year (PPG/RPG/3PM/FT%/STL): where does she rank among the best all-around players that you have ever coached? I had some great players who turned pro but Amy is absolutely up there. She has overcome an ACL injury and all of the COVID stuff but finally made the commitment to being in the best shape possible. She will leave a huge legacy at our program, which has really set her apart.

How do you feel about being a #15 seed, and what do you know about Baylor? I know they are very good. They have a top WNBA draft pick in NaLyssa Smith and Queen Egbo will also be a difficult matchup for us. They fly down the court in transition so we will have to play the best basketball we have played all year. Coach Nicki Collen knows what they are doing and playing in Waco will be a challenge for us…but we did not come this far to roll over. I just hope the lights are not too bright for us.

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The Hoops HD Report: NCAA Tournament 1st/2nd Round Edition

Posted on March 14, 2022 by David Griggs

Chad is joined by a full panel as we breakdown the selections and seedings by the selection committee and compare them to what the Hoops HD Mock Committee did.  From there, we collectively fill out an NCAA Tournament Bracket and discuss each match-up as we go through it.  At the end, as we do every year, we reveal the much anticipated AC8 Field.

And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Mount St. Mary’s SR Michaela Harrison

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday Mount St. Mary’s beat Bryant 60-42 in the NEC women’s tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Mount won exactly 1 game in December but got hot at the right time and won each of their last 6 games to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face fellow #16 seed Longwood in Raleigh on Thursday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Mount St. Mary’s SR Michaela Harrison about getting a new coach and winning the conference tourney.

You were born/raised in Ohio: what made you choose the Mount? I was actually born in Atlanta but grew up in Ohio. My former head coach was at Walsh University and she offered me a scholarship as a freshman. A couple of years later she called me back to say that she had just been hired at the Mount and wanted me to be her 1st scholarship player. I felt that the stars were aligned: there are not too many coaches who make you offers at 2 different schools.

You are majoring in business: why did you pick that subject, and what is the post-graduation plan? I want to do something in athletic apparel: traveling, marketing, innovating, etc. That is the goal, whether it is Nike/Under Armour/other.

You have a new coach this year in Antoine White: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? He is a players’ coach and has a great relationship with each of us. He is great at listening to us and vice-versa. He coaches with his heart and just wants the best for us: he is a great coach/great guy.

In your home opener you beat Valley Forge by a score of 102-15: what the heck happened?! Every D-1 school has that 1 get-your-feet-wet game against a smaller school and we were just trying to get into a rhythm: it ended up being a large margin but it just happened that way.

You only won 1 more game after that until January: how were you able to turn things around in conference play? We played a lot of tough schools in non-conference play but the conference games are what truly matter. We gave away a couple of games but everyone remained on the same page and our coaches had great game plans throughout the conference tourney.

Last January you set a school record for career 3PM in an 8-PT win over Merrimack: what is key to making shots from behind the arc? A LOT of reps! I constantly get into the gym to put in that extra time. My coaches/teammates have confidence in me so I just keep shooting.

Last Sunday in the NEC tourney title game you scored 17 PTS in a win over Bryant: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was such a special feeling to win the tourney back-to-back. It was even better this year because our families were not in the gym last year due to COVID: I am so glad that we could get it done.

You previously volunteered at the Special Olympics: how much importance do you place on community service? Our team does that every year and I love it. The athletes are so excited to reach their personal goals and it is a heartwarming experience: I have met so many nice people and made so many connections.

Kendall Bresee was named conference POY/DPOY last year: how crucial has she been to your team’s success? She is a huge part of why we win games: she can play 1 through 5 and defend 1 through 5. She can do everything and it will be hard to find someone to fill her shoes next year after she leaves: she is a special player.

How do you feel about being a #16 seed, and what do you know about Longwood? As a small school it is hard to get a higher seed but we are just excited to be in the tourney. We know Longwood is athletic but it will be great to be in the 1st 4.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews UAlbany SO Kayla Cooper

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Last Friday UAlbany beat Maine 56-47 in the America East women’s tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Great Danes lost to the Black Bears twice last month but the 3rd time turned out to be the charm, and now they will prepare to face #1 seed Louisville on the road this Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with UAlbany SO Kayla Cooper about an incredible 1-year turnaround and winning the conference tourney.

You grew up in Maryland: what made you choose UAlbany? I just loved the culture and how at home I felt during my visit. While I was on my official visit everyone was so nice and welcoming. Throughout the day I could see myself playing here and it just felt like the right decision.

You play for Coach Colleen Mullen: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? What makes her a good coach is just how much she is willing to help you reach your goals/full potential. She is willing to work with you and is consistently trying to make you better both on and off the court. The most important thing I learned from her is to be where your feet are and to always stay hungry/coachable. As a player, and just as a person in general, I always overthink everything and do not stay in the present but she is always there to calm us down and remind us to be in the moment and take everything step-by-step.

You are 6’ tall: how much of an advantage is your height on the court? Not much: what really gives me an advantage is my speed/athleticism when it comes to grabbing rebounds or driving to the basket.

You are majoring in Biology: why did you pick that subject, and what is the post-graduation plan? I actually switched my major over to psychology because in the past I found it so interesting. As far as my post-graduation plan, I am still thinking it over, but I do want to play basketball overseas.

Last year you were named to the conference All-Rookie Team: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to me because with the year being so challenging due to the pandemic (which made it so hard to work on my game), it just felt good to have that recognition and know that what I was going through was going to pay off.

You have 3 teammates from Sweden and 1 from Italy: how has your team been able to bond while bringing in players from all over the world? It is easy. Something that I love about our team is that we are all so welcoming and are able to create a bond with everyone we meet. No matter where you are from you will be a part of the family.

Last year you won 7 games but this year you have won 23 (and counting): how were you able to turn things around so dramatically in just 12 months? We all finished last season knowing that we could have done more so we all had our own personal goals when we went home and worked over the summer. Once we got back together we had created a culture where we wanted to be champs and would do whatever it took to be successful.

Last Friday in the America East tourney title game you had 8 PTS/12 REB in a 9-PT win over #1 seed Maine: how were you able to get revenge after they beat you twice last month, and what did it mean to you to win a title? Winning this title meant everything to us. We had already lost to Maine twice but were able to get revenge the 3rd time simply because we wanted it more. We set our minds to it and were not going down without a fight: I honestly do not think they expected us to come out with the intensity we brought. The bus ride back was all smiles and everyone was so happy while singing and dancing!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Colgate JR Ryan Moffatt

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Jon Teitel

Last Wednesday Colgate beat Navy 74-58 in the Patriot tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Raiders were 8-11 after a loss at Boston University in late-January but have won 15 games in a row to make the NCAA tourney for the 2nd straight year, where they will face #3 seed Wisconsin on Friday in Milwaukee. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Colgate JR Ryan Moffatt about going back to the NCAA tourney and having a geographic disadvantage.

You were born/raised in Lancaster, PA: what made you choose Colgate? I wanted to get a little bit away from home and Colgate is the perfect distance. The driving force was also the scholarship they offered me!

You play for Coach Matt Langel: what makes him such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from him so far? 1 thing that is great is how he relates to his players and lives in the moment. There is a lot that I have learned but 1 lesson is to keep things in perspective.

You started no games as a freshman and every game as a sophomore: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? Your mindset has to change. I did not play much in conference play as a freshman because I was behind 1 of our best players ever in Will Rayman. As a starter you are held more accountable and people look up to you due to your bigger role on the team.

In the 2021 Patriot tourney title game you scored 11 PTS on 4-4 FG with no turnovers in a win over Loyola MD: how were you able to play your best when it mattered the most? Just preparation and trusting that the work I put in during the offseason was worth it. When the moment is ready you have to take advantage of the opportunity.

In the 2021 NCAA tourney you had 3 REB in a loss to Arkansas: what did you learn from that game that you think will help you this time around? Against good teams you do not have any room for error. Last year we did not play any high-major teams due to COVID. Wisconsin is a #3 seed for a reason so we will have to play our game and limit our mistakes.

Last February you scored a career-high 24 PTS/6-9 3PM in a win over Bucknell: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I definitely felt good that night, and might not have missed a single shot in the 2nd half. My teammates draw so much attention that when I get the ball I am often wide-open.

Your teammate Jack Ferguson was named conference tourney MVP last week: how crucial is he to your team’s success? He has been incredible, not only on the court but as a veteran leader for us off the court. He stuck around for a 5th year to be a part of something special, so I am glad that we could win another conference tourney for him and our other seniors. We are no longer just happy to be there.

Your team’s 40.2 3P% is #2 in the nation: what role does 3-PT shooting play in your team’s offensive philosophy? It plays a huge role. We usually have 4-5 guys on the court who can shoot it from behind the arc, which helps our offense flow. It is the system that we play in: our coaches recruit guys who can shoot.

What did you do on Selection Sunday, and how do you feel about being a #14 seed? We went to a little on-campus pub to gather with family/friends to watch our name get called. I thought that we would be a 14/15 so I am glad we are a 14. I wish we had done better in non-conference play but we are playing much better now.

What do you know about Wisconsin, and how much of a home-court disadvantage are you expecting in Milwaukee? I am expecting that place to be rocking in prime time on Friday night! They won 15 Big 10 games and have the conference POY in Johnny Davis. If they do not turn the ball over then that makes every possession important for us as well so we definitely have to tighten up our game.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Murray State cheerleader Grace Thomasson

Posted on March 14, 2022 by Jon Teitel

On March 5 Murray State beat Morehead State 71-67 in the OVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Racers have won 20 games in a row to make the NCAA tourney, where they will face #10 seed San Francisco on Thursday in Indianapolis. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Murray State cheerleader Grace Thomasson about that unbelievable unbeaten streak and winning the conference tourney.

You are from Fancy Farm, KY: what made you choose Murray State? I chose Murray State because I wanted to be able to continue my cheerleading career at a school that was close to home and offered the education I needed in order to become a Speech Pathologist. It also has such an amazing student to faculty ratio along with being a very safe and comfortable campus and community to reside in.

You have been on the cheer team for the past 4 years: how did you 1st get into cheerleading, and what is the best part? When I was only 3 years old my parents put me into gymnastics, where I learned basic tumbling skills. I began cheering in the 7th grade for the Graves County coed cheer team. I was involved with that team for 3 years, had a knee injury that caused me to take time off for a year, and then cheered for the Graves County all-girl team my junior and senior year of high school. After my senior year I decided I was not ready to give up cheering so I tried out for the Murray State team. The best part about being a MSU cheerleader is meeting lifelong friends and being part of an organization that gives you so many opportunities. I have been fortunate enough to cheer for such amazing athletes the past four years and it has been so astounding to see them succeed.

When you were a freshman the Racers made the NCAA tourney and as a sophomore they lost to Belmont in the OVC championship game: what are your memories of both the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat? The NCAA tournament my freshman year will always be my most memorable college experience. Not only did I get to cheer on the Racers to the 2nd round, but I had front-row seats to the beginning of Ja Morant’s career. It was at that tournament where I fell in love with Racer basketball. Even though Morant was gone the following year, the Murray State fans were bigger, louder, and ready to see the Racers dominate at the OVC. Falling short to Belmont in the championship game was so heartbreaking, especially after the previous year the team had. However, we were still so proud of the Racers and ready to come back even stronger the next year.

How frustrating has it been to be a cheerleader for a great basketball team during a pandemic? My junior year was such a depressing year as a cheerleader. I was unable to cheer at any basketball games and felt so heartbroken. Fast forward to my senior year: finding out that I could cheer was amazing news! I had doubts whether my cheer career was over once the pandemic took over during my junior year. As a cheerleader, you are a part of a spirit group that is crucial during games. It not only gets the players pumped up but also gets the crowd involved: I feel strongly that it has helped our boys this year in some tough games. I am so thankful to see that Racer Nation still shows out for the team and helps us cheer them on to victories.

You will be graduating in May with a Bachelor’s in Communication Disorders and will attend graduate school in the fall to pursue a Master’s in Speech Language Pathology: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the career plan after you finish grad school? I developed an interest in speech pathology when I was a senior in high school. My grandmother went through intensive care after a major heart surgery and had a tracheostomy tube placed into her throat. As I watched the Speech Language Pathologist help my grandmother regain her speech through the use of the tracheostomy tube, I realized that I wanted to give others going through similar situations their voice back. After graduate school, my plans are to work in a hospital or rehabilitation facility with individuals who have had a stroke (or other traumatic brain injuries) through speech therapy.

You are treasurer of the school’s National Student Speech Language Hearing Association: what are your responsibilities in that job? As the NSSLHA treasurer I am responsible for all purchases/expenses of the organization. I also attend monthly chapter and officer meetings, plan events such as the Polar Plunge, and gather supplies for events. This role has given me opportunities to work collaboratively with peers, professors, and organizations both on and off campus. This organization has also given me many opportunities/leadership skills that will be beneficial for my future career.

Since losing at Auburn right before Christmas your team has won 20 games in a row: has it reached a point where you just expect them to win every time they step onto the court as the hottest basketball team in the country? The more they kept winning, the more confident I was that every game we played was going to end up in a win. It really was not until the OVC tourney that I was ever nervous for a game the boys played. I knew that in the end that they were going to come out on top…and that is exactly what they did!

Last Saturday the Racers had a 4-PT win over Morehead State in the OVC tourney title game: how excited was everybody to win the conference tourney for the 1st time since 2019? I definitely feel that winning the conference was well-earned and a dream come true for all of Racer Nation. These boys have been working so hard this past year and deserved that OVC title. Racer Nation always shows out: I remember looking around the arena after the final buzzer and being in awe of the support and love the community of Murray State has shown this team. I think everyone would agree, but it makes you proud to be a Racer and a part of such an amazing community.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA Tournament, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? NCAA decisions are always tough because only 12 cheerleaders are allowed to attend. The school allows our coach to be the deciding factor in who gets to go. This year’s team is very unique because I am the only 1 who had ever previously cheered at a Racer basketball game due to the pandemic. I have been able to watch my teammates fall in love with Racer basketball like I did as a freshman and it has been so rewarding to experience. With that being said, we are all so ecstatic to have this opportunity and are looking forward to experiencing the NCAA tournament.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA Tournament? We are planning to show up and show out. We have some fun new pyramids and include our fan-favorite mascot Dunker, as well as some new tactics to get the crowd more involved. Fortunately for us, the 1st round games being played in Indianapolis will give us a home-court advantage. Racer Nation has not let us down yet and I know they will continue to show out throughout the NCAA tournament. I am just overjoyed to get to experience the NCAA tournament for the last time with such an amazing team to cheer on. I love Racer basketball and I am so excited to see what they can accomplish during this tournament. Get ready, NCAA, because our team is back and better than ever: GO RACERS!!!!

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