Puppet Ramblings: Round of 64, Day 2

Posted on March 20, 2021 by David Griggs

-Oral Roberts beat Ohio State in overtime.  Oral Roberts was the 4th place team in the Summit League, and I don’t think anyone on Earth (other than maybe Rocco Miller) gave them much of a chance of winning their conference tournament, much less advancing to the Round of 32.  They are a really good outside shooting team and we saw that yesterday in one of the more surprising upsets (at least to me) in Tournament history.

-North Texas was on fire at the end of the year, but so was Purdue.  I said that I thought North Texas had a chance to get through to the next round if they got the right opponent, but didn’t feel Purdue was the right opponent.  I was wrong again!  The game was close the entire way, but North Texas held the lead and then held on to win in overtime after Purdue tied the game and appeared to have the momentum with them.

-Florida held off Virginia Tech in another overtime game 75-70.  This was the first game of the day to tip, and it kind of set the tone for the rest of the day!

-Oregon State sprinted ahead of Tennessee and then stayed ahead of them the rest of the way.  These two teams were going in very different directions.  Oregon State had gotten off to a sluggish start to the season and finished strong whereas Tennessee seemed to be limping down the stretch.

-Loyola Chicago is back in the Round of 32 after knocking off Georgia Tech.

-Rutgers made the most of their first NCAA Tournament game in over 30 years by knocking off Clemson.  They are moving on for the first time in…well…I don’t know how many years.  I am happy for their program, BUT NOT HAPPY FOR CHAD!!!

-Many, including myself, were predicting Winthrop to “upset” Villanova, but it didn’t happen.  Nova held a lead for most of the game and basically controlled the latter part of the second half.

The chalk held in all the other games.  As for today’s action…

-The last time Colorado played a team that’s currently on the #12 line, it did not go well.  Oregon State blew them out in the Pac 12 Championship game.  Georgetown had a rather unimpressive year, but they finished the season strong and went on a rampage in the Big East Tournament to earn the automatic bid.  I’m curious to see if they can keep that momentum going.

-We expected a lot out of UNC Greensboro before the start of the year, and while they weren’t quite as dominant as we thought they’d be, they did win the SoCon.  Florida State is really good, though, and while I’m not going to say they don’t have a chance, it will certainly not be easy.

-Saint Bonaventure was a hard team to evaluate due to so few OOC games, but they definitely looked like the best team in the A10.  LSU had a good run through the SEC Tournament, though, so both teams are coming into this with a lot of momentum.

-UC Santa Barbara is a very dangerous team, and Creighton is a team that has a history of struggling in the NCAA Tournament.  I could see UCSB pulling the upset, and actually getting past the first weekend.

-Maryland and UConn are both teams that have shown they could win big games.  UConn hasn’t always been at full strength, but when they have they’ve been a completely different and far more dangerous team.

-Ohio U is a team that had some setbacks throughout the year, but when they were at their best they looked very dangerous.  They were very impressive in the MAC Tournament and had some moments of greatness early in the season as well.  The question is how will they play against Virginia’s pack-line defense.

-Drake had a big win in the opening round against Wichita State, but they’ll really have their hands full today against a USC team that once again looks like they are capable of winning games in this tournament.

-Missouri vs Oklahoma is a bit of a toss up.  Both had some monster wins this season, but both also had some setbacks and Oklahoma kind of slowed down at the end of the year.

-UCLA kind of fell apart at the end of the year, but they had an exciting overtime win against Michigan State in the First Four.  I think this BYU team is really good, though.  They were particularly impressive in their last game against Gonzaga, where they really competed with them for most of the game.

-Michigan vs Texas Southern, Eastern Washington vs Kansas, Iona vs Alabama, Grand Canyon vs Iowa, and Norfolk State vs Gonzaga all tip off today

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Stony Brook SR G-F Hailey Zeise

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last weekend the Stony Brook women’s team had a 4-PT win over Maine in the America East tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Seawolves were 5-4 in mid-January but won 10 of their past 11 to get into the NCAA tourney for the 1st time at the D-1 level. Earlier this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Hailey Zeise about her athletic family and making the NCAA tourney.

You were born/raised in Pennsylvania: what made you choose Stony Brook? I have a connection to Coach Caroline McCombs: she used to coach at the University of Pittsburgh back when my dad was a reporter for the women’s team! When she began recruiting me I just felt that Stony Brook had the potential to feel like home for me. I also loved their defensive philosophy and saw the opportunity for growth in the program so I really wanted to be a part of that.

What makes Coach McCombs such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? I think she is a great coach because of how much she cares for us as players. I have never met a coach more dedicated to her job. She works tirelessly to ensure that she is putting the team as well as us as individuals in the best position to succeed. She also holds us accountable to a high standard, which has contributed to our success for sure. The most important thing Coach has taught me is: “Your value comes from who you are, not what you do.” You are going to make mistakes (especially in college) but that does not make you a bad person. She has taught me how to know my self-worth.

You are 1 of the best 3-PT shooters in school history: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? Just putting in the extra work: getting into the gym outside of practice is probably the biggest thing.

You are a sociology major and business minor (and graduated in 3 years!): what made you choose those subjects, and what is your post-college plan? I chose sociology because I was interested in how people and society relate to one another. I came in as a business major so I was able just to drop down to a minor when I switched to sociology. Currently I am getting my master’s in higher education administration. I hope to work in student-athlete development in college athletics after graduation.

What is it like to be a college basketball player during a pandemic? It is difficult at times to play during the pandemic. There are so many rules to follow and sacrifices we have had to make: not seeing our families, less socialization, etc. However, I am extremely grateful to everyone who has made it possible for us to be able to compete. When I am on the court doing what I love with the people I love, it all feels worth it.

This year you were named to the America East All-Defensive team: what is the key to being a good defender? The biggest key to being a good defender is effort: giving your very best and hustling to get rebounds/loose balls/steals.

You were also name to the America East All-Academic team: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? Time management is a skill that I had to learn very quickly once I arrived at college. You just have to compartmentalize each aspect: when I am at practice I focus on practice, and when I am doing schoolwork I am focused on school. I would also say to not be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. College athletics provides so many resources to help us succeed so I have used those to my advantage over the years.

Last weekend in the America East tourney title game you scored 3 PTS in a 4-PT win over Maine and were named to the conference All-Championship team: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was just pure joy: it honestly felt like a dream. We had worked so hard and to finally see it all pay off was extremely rewarding. We were just really excited in the locker room. Winning is always fun but to do it with your best friends by your side is even better.

Your brother Isaiah played college basketball and your brother Elijah plays football at Pitt: who is the best athlete in the family? Haha! I could make an argument for any of us really. We have good genetics and each of us have our own strengths. I think we would make a really great 3-on-3 team: it would be hard to find three other people who could beat us.

How do you feel about being a #14-seed, and what do you know about Arizona? I think we expected a #15-seed but are happy with anything and ready to play anyone.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Missouri cheerleader Maria Kemerling

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday Missouri earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Tigers started this year 13-3 and are now back in the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2018. 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 this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Maria Kemerling about cheering with her twin sister and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis this weekend.

You were born/raised in Missouri: what made you choose Mizzou for college? I have always been a Mizzou fan because I grew up around a family that bled black and gold. Mizzou was the perfect distance from home for me and I was excited to be a part of their cheer program.

You have been cheering for more than a decade and are now a senior on the cheer team: what is your favorite part of being a cheerleader? My favorite part about being a cheerleader is the relationships I have made with my teammates and coaches throughout the years. I know so many people that I would not have known otherwise and they all have touched my life in different ways. Even after my cheer career is over I will still have lasting friendships to hold onto and cherish because of the sport.

1 of your teammates is your twin sister Micaela: who is the better cheerleader, and how competitive are the 2 of you? I would say Micaela and I have different strengths when it comes to cheerleading, but they do not amount to one of us being “better” than the other. Because of this, I would not say we are super-competitive with each other but instead always are encouraging each other to improve. We both have different roles on the team and enjoy supporting one another both on and off the mat.

What does your team do at basketball games during a normal year? During a normal year, the team is responsible for making gameday an enjoyable experience for everyone in the stands. We usually are stunting and tumbling during pregame/timeouts/etc. to showcase our skills and entertain. Unfortunately, this year we have been restricted in that we are not even allowed on the court, but we have still made the best of our space and try to keep the crowd engaged at all times.

You are pre-vet and majoring in Animal Sciences with a minor in Captive Wild Animal Management: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I chose to be pre-vet because this is what I have been pursuing since high school. I had a lot of animal experience before entering college and it has only grown since I have been at Mizzou. I completed an internship at a zoo in Texas this past summer, which really solidified my interest in zoo medicine (hence my minor in Captive Wild Animal Management). After graduation I will be attending MU’s School of Veterinary Medicine and will become a veterinarian after four years there. I am beyond excited to start my journey doing what I love.

How do you like basketball, and is that your favorite sport? I love basketball and it is definitely my favorite sport to cheer for. It is something about the gameday environment and constant energy that I enjoy the most.

Last night the Tigers made the NCAA tourney as an at-large team: how excited was the student body to get its 1st NCAA tourney appearance since 2018? As a student here, I am always excited to celebrate the accomplishments of our athletic teams. I think I speak for everyone when I say we are so proud of the men’s basketball team this year. Especially as a cheerleader, it is heartwarming to be up close on gameday and watching their hard work and dedication translate into something as exciting as making the NCAA tournament. I truly could not be happier for the men.

Due to COVID your team has been unable to participate this season and you will not be traveling with the team to Indianapolis this week: how frustrating is it to be a dancer for a great basketball team during a pandemic? It is definitely upsetting that we are unable to travel with the team to the tournament in Indianapolis, but we are in a pandemic and everything continues to change around us. I feel like my team and I have been incredibly flexible and understanding this season: we know that every decision made regarding travel/attendance/etc. is made with regard to everyone’s health and safety. We are not frustrated with anyone because we know that there is a valid reason behind every decision.

Your father Kody is an Army officer who has served in Afghanistan/Iraq: how is he doing, and how difficult was it to be away from him for so long? My dad is doing very well and is happy to be home. As a military daughter, it has always been hard being away from my dad when he has to travel for an extended period of time. However, my family has always been very close and supportive so we get through it together.

You are playing Oklahoma tomorrow: any predictions? My confidence is 100% in the Mizzou men because we know how to get the job done: Go Tigers!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews North Texas cheerleader La’Tia Travis

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday North Texas had a 4-PT OT win over Western Kentucky in the C-USA tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Mean Green lost 3 straight games to finish the regular season but won 4 conference tourney games in 4 days last week to earn a spot in the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2010. 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 this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with La’Tia Travis about being a captain and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis tonight.

You grew up in The Colony: what made you choose North Texas? What made me choose North Texas was touring the campus and truly falling in love with the environment. I loved the sense of community as well as the pride that the city of Denton has for the Mean Green. Not only was I set on coming to UNT to pursue a degree, but I wanted to continue cheerleading at a collegiate level and I believed that North Texas was the team for me. After attending a cheer clinic in the spring I instantly fell in love with the program and wanted to become a part of it!

You have been a cheerleader on the all-girl squad for 4 years: what is your favorite part of being a cheerleader? My favorite part of being a cheerleader is just being involved. We are given so many great opportunities to represent our school’s athletic teams and student organizations. Being a part of all the school spirit and pride has made my experience here at North Texas unforgettable!

You have been a captain for 2 years: what is the key to being a good leader? After being in a leadership position for 2 years I would say that it is important to know your team and connect with your teammates. As a captain it is your responsibility to make decisions that will be beneficial to your squad and your program, and that is only possible if you know your teams goals and motives. Always put your team first!

What does the cheer team do at basketball games during a normal year? This has not been the typical year for us when it comes to cheering on our teams. We would normally be cheering on the Mean Green right by the court in front of the student section. During timeouts we got the chance to interact with the crowd by doing stunts, pyramids, tumbling, and band chants on the court. Although this year has been unlike past years we are still grateful that we were given the opportunity to safely cheer on our favorite basketball team from the stands!

What do you think the role of a college cheer team is today? Overall, the role of a college cheer team is to be spirit ambassadors for their college/university.

You are majoring in Kinesiology with a minor in Health Promotion: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I chose Kinesiology and Health Promotion as my field of study due to my interest in human physiology as well as health/exercise/nutrition. When it comes to post-graduation I do not have a concrete plan just yet but I do plan to continue coaching. I have been working as a gymnastics coach for about 2 years and a cheerleading instructor for about 4 years and have loved every minute of it!

How do you like basketball, and is that your favorite sport? A large part of my childhood was staying up late and watching the Dallas Mavs with my dad so I have always enjoyed watching (and now cheering for) basketball! I would not say that I have a favorite sport: I love many different sports for many different reasons. But my favorite sports TEAM? That is an easy one: GMG!

Last Saturday the Mean Green had a 4-PT OT win over Western Kentucky in the C-USA tourney title game: how excited was the student body to make its 1st NCAA tourney appearance since 2010? A Mean Green win is always an exciting time for the city of Denton. We are especially proud of our boys for bringing back ANOTHER C-USA championship title: light the tower!

Due to COVID your team has been unable to participate this season and you will not be traveling with the team to Indianapolis this week: how frustrating is it to be a cheerleader for a great basketball team during a pandemic? Our team has been able to participate this season: just from a distance! As unfortunate as it is that we are unable to travel with our basketball team this year, we understand that safety and health is the number one priority right now. We will not be courtside in Indianapolis but we will be cheering just as loud (if not louder) all the way from Denton, Texas!

You are playing Purdue tonight: any predictions? We are beyond excited to see the Mean Green play Purdue. I predict that they are going to put on a show and make all of North Texas proud: good luck boys!

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Puppet Ramblings: Round of 64, Day 1

Posted on March 19, 2021 by David Griggs

-My first thought is that Stalica is MUCH better at this than I am

-Looking back at yesterday’s First Four games, all were exciting!!  Very few were well played, but all were exciting!!  Michigan State v UCLA was played with high intensity, and every time it looked like one of the teams was falling apart, they’d regroup, make a big play, and then swing the momentum back their way.  UCLA got the win in overtime!  It is their FIRST EVER First Four win!!  Jon Wooden never managed a First Four win at any point in his career!!

-Norfolk State and Texas Southern won their first four games to advance to the Round of 64.  I’m kind of glad that both the SWAC and the MEAC Will each earn two units from this year’s NCAA Tournament.  I kind of complained yesterday about how I’m not a fan of the First Four, but for the UTR leagues that play in it, it’s a chance to double their normal number of units (one) and therefore double their revenue.

-Drake had a really bad first half, and Wichita State had a worse second half.  It’s a big win for Drake who is back in the Round of 64 for the first time since 2008.

-It’s the first day of the Round of 64, and we all know what that means!!  HUGE ratings for The Price is Right!! which is what airs right before CBS begins their NCAA Tournament coverage!

-VA Tech v Florida should be fun.  Both teams had some really big wins throughout the season and while neither was consistent enough to be a protected seed, both showed that they were capable of being able to beat one if they were at the top of their game.

-Illinois and Baylor also get underway today.  Baylor will face Hartford (a Hoops HD favorite) and Illinois will go against Drexel.  I gotta be honest, even by #16 seed standards these teams are kind of weak.  It’s still a good thing for both of these programs to be here, but it should be rather short lived.

-Georgia Tech vs Loyola Chicago should be a great game.  Both teams are playing really well right now, and both are coming off their best regular seasons in recent memory.  Notice I said REGULAR seasons.  The year Loyola Chicago made the Final Four they were actually outside the bubble and wouldn’t have made the field at all without the automatic bid.

-Oregon State is on fire right now, and while Tennessee has looked good at times, they have also looked luke warm at other times.  Tennessee clearly had the better season, but I was more impressed with Oregon State in the Pac 12 Tournament than I was with Tennessee in the SEC, so this one should be fun to watch.

-I like how Utah State was playing down the stretch, but I like Texas Tech even more, especially when you factor in their ability to crank it up in the NCAA Tournament.  They have quite a streak of Elite Eight appearances going.

-Before the season started it would not have shocked me at all had you told me Wisconsin and North Carolina would meet in the NCAA Tournament.  I probably wouldn’t have expected it to be the 8v9 game though.  This one is a toss up.

-This North Texas team is a live wire team that played great in the Conference USA Tournament.  I really like this Purdue team as well, and think they’re also playing their best basketball of the season.  I’d be tempted to take North Texas in an upset, and still don’t think it’s entirely out of the question, but I just have a feeling that Purdue is firing on all cylinders and won’t overlook them.

Congratulations to Rutgers who will be playing in their first NCAA Tournament game in about 300 years!!  Maybe longer!!  I actually like their chances.  Clemson had some big wins throughout the year, but they weren’t the best away from home and they didn’t win THAT many games that were of a higher difficulty than beating Rutgers on a neutral floor will likely be.

-There are some that feel that Syracuse should not have been in the field.  Generally when people feel that way, Syracuse goes on a long tournament run.  They face a San Diego State team that really played well down the stretch.  This is one that I’m really looking forward to.

-Villanova has not looked the same since the injury to Gillespie, and they’re facing a Winthrop team that’s just lost one game this year and would have probably earned a much better seed than a #12 seed in a normal year with more OOC games against better teams.  This is an “upset” that everyone is predicting.  Which…raises the question, would it really even be an upset??

-Oklahoma State vs Liberty, Colgate (who has only played about four teams all year) vs Arkansas, Oral Roberts vs Ohio State, Cleveland State vs Houston, and Morehead State vs West Virginia also tip off today.

ENJOY THE GAMES!!  ENJOY THE MADNESS!!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Utah State cheerleader Kalli Capener

Posted on March 19, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday Utah State earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Aggies started this year 12-3 and are now back in the NCAA tourney for the 2nd time since 2019. 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 this week HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Kalli Capener about seeing Sam Merrill’s famous shot last March and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis this afternoon.

You grew up in Utah: what made you choose Utah State? Both of my parents graduated from Utah State but what really helped me make my decision was when I made the cheer team.

You have been on the Spirit Squad for the last 3 years: what is your favorite part of being a cheerleader? My favorite part about being a cheerleader is getting to cheer at all the games. There is nothing like walking into Maverick Stadium or the Spectrum on game day. I also love all of the friendships that I have made throughout the years.

What does the cheer team do at basketball games during a normal year? During a normal year we get to cheer down on the sideline: it is so fun being so close to the action! We would also usually get to perform our dances and stunt routines at center court. It has been kind of sad this year to only showcase videos of a few of our routines.

What do you think the role of a college cheer team is today, and how has it changed over time? I think the role of a college cheer team is to really bring the energy to games. Some games are not as exciting as others but we are there to keep the energy up no matter what. With all of the COVID restrictions this year it is even more important for us to bring the Aggie school spirit to every game. Another role for us is to be entertaining to the crowd. This has changed over the years because cheer stunts and tricks are always becoming more and more advanced.

At the 2020 MWC tourney you got to cheer for the Aggies when they beat San Diego State in the final seconds (www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Fu5FxMqqOw): where does that rank among the most fantastic finishes that you have ever seen? That game was the most intense and exciting game I have ever cheered at. I will never forget that feeling of being down on the court: it will always be one of my favorite cheer memories. It was so amazing to witness Sam Merrill’s game-winning shot in person: this definitely takes the #1 spot for most fantastic finishes!

You are majoring in communicative disorders and deaf education: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I chose communicative disorders and deaf education because I want a career where I could help people. After graduation, I plan on working towards a masters’ degree in Speech Pathology. I love little kids and elderly people, and with speech pathology I would be able to work with both age groups. It is also a good job to have when you are a mom, which I plan on becoming one day.

How do you like basketball, and is that your favorite sport? It is so hard to pick a favorite sport: I love cheering at all of the sporting events but basketball might be my most favorite.

Last Saturday Utah State had an 11-PT loss to San Diego State in the MWC tourney title game: how nervous were you on Selection Sunday, and how did it feel to hear your team’s name called? To be honest, I was a little bit nervous going into Selection Sunday. I was so happy when Utah State had their name called. I am glad they get the opportunity to go this year since we were unable to go last year because of COVID.

Due to COVID your team has been unable to participate this season and you will not be traveling with the team to Indianapolis this week: how frustrating is it to be a cheerleader for a great basketball team during a pandemic? It is really disappointing that we are unable to travel with the team. We have had such great basketball teams during the past three years that I have been on the Spirit Squad. Traveling with the team is something I look forward to every year. It is so fun to cheer them on throughout the season: I would have done anything to go to Vegas this year and of course to Indianapolis this weekend.

You are playing Texas Tech today: any predictions? I think if we play our very best then it will be an entertaining game to watch: I will be cheering for the Aggies no matter what!

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