Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Michigan dancer Brendan Ryan and cheerleader Pilar Burgess

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday Michigan earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Wolverines started this year 18-1 and have not missed an NCAA tourney 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 Brendan Ryan/Pilar Burgess about being a captain and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis this week.

What made you choose Michigan?
B: I lived about 1 hour away so Michigan was always this impossible dream while growing up. I was on my high school dance team and got recruited so I visited campus to see the dancers in the Big House. From that point on everything just fell into place perfectly.
P: I have a lot of family who have gone here in the past: my parents actually met here. It is in my blood and before I even came here I was a Wolverine. I was in the Summer Bridge Class of 2017 and they have a great alumni network here, as well as the best of both worlds with academics/athletics.

How long have you been dancing/cheering, and what is your favorite part of performing?
B: I got a late start compared to most of my teammates since I am a male dancer. I started around 8th grade but did not take it seriously until my junior year of high school. My favorite part is getting to represent the university while doing something I love. I am a dance major and am proud to wear the Block M.
P: I also had a late start after being a gymnast for 10 years. I was looking for something in college after doing dance for fun in high school. I tried out for the cheer team, trained for it, and things kind of fell into place. It was an opportunity that I could not give up and it felt really natural. I went to a small school back home and when you are at a big campus it is good to find a small family. It unites everyone so the community has kept me so involved while I learn everything as I go.

You are captain of your team: what is the key to being a good leader?
B: It has been such an honor to lead under unique circumstances. Everyone was dreaming of a perfect senior year, but it honestly means more to bring everyone together during a difficult year. We are practicing for our nationals but there is so much going on in the world so I try to make the room a better place, which in turns brings the team closer together.
P: Patience is really big, especially during the ups and downs of this whirlwind year. You need flexibility with both yourself and your teammates and you have to be empathetic during everyone’s trials/tribulations. During those hard times we have to make hard decisions and hold people accountable while reinforcing the family dynamic.

What is your major, and what is your post-graduation plan?
B: I am a dance major. Obviously the entertainment world is not booming right now but as the 1st male dancer to make the team here I am still pinching myself. I would like to make it a step further and perhaps become the 1st male Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader!
P: I am a business major and enjoy the intersection of tech/marketing. This year I will start a job in Minnesota with Ecolab.

What does your team do at basketball games during a normal year?
B: Our coaches work so hard to put together Excel spreadsheets of everyone’s schedule based on classes/exams: everything is figured out down to a science. We go to tourneys based on seniority but are so lucky: the fans do not realize how much cheering/dancing our teams actually do. We perform on the sideline during games and do routines on the court during timeouts/halftime. I cannot tell you how much we all miss it.
P: Basketball season is pretty crazy with going to the games while working on our nationals’ routines. We get the crowd involved but only travel with the team during the postseason based on who has been on the team the longest. We go to both the men’s and women’s games. The hardest part of this year has been not having those special moments.

What it like being part of a co-ed spirit squad?
B: My wildest dreams came true after coming here and having this amazing opportunity. I think about the younger boys who will see me as an example of representing the best university in the world. Not only young men but also minorities and women who are trying other sports: it gives me a great sense of purpose.
P: Cheer is half-and-half so being on a co-ed team is great. The men are so strong and we put all of our trust in them: the flyers and bases have a bond and everyone brings so much value to the team. I heard about Brendan before I even met him and have so much appreciation for his ability to change the narrative. He is unreal and everyone talks about him: it is cool that he has changed the perception of a college dance team.

How do you like basketball, and is that your favorite sport?
B: I cannot begin to explain the energy at Crisler Center and the sense of community, as well as at the Big House. It is so magical and there is nothing like it: it is an honor because 1 day we will get back to that when we return here as fans.
P: It is my favorite sport for sure. My dad was a football player here so he might not be as excited as I am, but a lot of my male/female friends are on the basketball teams and it is a really fun team sport. I appreciate both John Beilein/Juwan Howard and have only good things to say about both of them. Having gone through almost the entire 4 years I can understand why the alumni are so intense: the feeling is so infectious.

Last Sunday the Wolverines made the NCAA tourney as an at-large team: how excited was the student body to get its 1st NCAA tourney appearance under Coach Juwan Howard?
B: It means the absolute world that in a season like this we can still have this sense of community. The pride in our school is always there but things like this really bring us together: I cannot count all of the Instagram stories I have seen.
P: Everyone is really excited: even though we cannot all watch the games together there is still plenty of energy via social media. Juwan was part of the family from Day 1 and I think you can see how much the players enjoy him via the success they have had. It is really exciting and has been a successful year regardless of what happens the rest of the year.

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 performer for a great basketball team during a pandemic?
B: It is frustrating but we are still so proud of them and it makes our existing memories that much more special. It would have been fun to cheer them on in new spaces but we still have a good connection.
P: To see how well they are doing from home has been fun: I want to see something super-exciting and am really glad about it. I am proud of how the school has handled the entire experience and am glad that we still have nationals because they are important to our season. Even during COVID we continue on with our own season and do what we love to do.

You are playing Texas Southern on Saturday: any predictions?
B: We feel our dynamic is so special and I think it is the same for the basketball team to see all of their hard work pay off.
P: I always say Go Blue and will bleed blue until I die. The team is awesome and I have only good things to say about them.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Bradley SR F Nyjah White

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday the Bradley women’s team had an 8-PT win over Drake in the MVC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Braves lost 3 straight games to finish February but won 5 in a row in March to get into the NCAA tourney for the 1st time ever. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Nyjah White about her fabulous father and making the NCAA tourney.

You were born in Michigan and grew up in Missouri: what made you choose Bradley? I had 2 offers coming out of high school: Bradley and Western Illinois. I liked the chance to be a part of something here that has not been done before so I joined the rebuilding effort.

You play for Coach Andrea Gorski: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have ever learned from her? She pushes us every day in practice and is 1 of the best leaders for us both on and off the court. 1 big thing I learned from her is to live in the moment and not take anything for granted, which has helped me grow a lot.

You set a school record last year with 22 wins: how devastating was it to end your season prematurely due to COVID? It was really hard for a lot of us: we were literally getting ready to board the bus to go to the MVC tourney so I felt very bad for our seniors. We had so much more to give.

You are majoring in graphic design: why did you pick that subject, and what is the post-graduation plan? I am really interested in art and had never done digital art before. I plan on using my extra year so hopefully I will get to play some more basketball!

What is it like to be a college basketball player during a pandemic? It is really tough. We are used to seeing fans in the stands but are still grateful to get to practice/play/compete. Even without the fans it is about who is more locked in at that point.

You had 3 straight losses to finish February: how were you able to get things back on track in March? Coach says that we are 1 of those teams where we play hard when there is something to fight for, such as winning a championship, so we were not going to give up.

Last Sunday you scored 10 PTS in an 8-PT win over Drake in the MVC tourney title game: what did it mean to you to win a title, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterward? It was really exciting: I never won a state title in high school so to win 1 here when no other Bradley team had ever done that means that we will go down in history.

2 of your best players are Lasha/Mahri Petree: what is it like to have teammates who are sisters? It is really entertaining: you get to see the arguments and competitiveness but it has been fun to see them excel and I love playing with both of them.

Your father Albert was a 1995 McDonald’s All-American and played pro basketball for several years: who is the best athlete in the family? Obviously it is him: it is between me and him but he has a lot more accolades under his belt.

How do you feel about being a #11-seed, and what do you know about Texas? It is better than being a #16-seed! The Longhorns are a big team and have a soon-to-be-WNBA player on their roster in Charli Collier. We have to rise to the occasion against elite competition and I am excited.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Stephen F. Austin women’s coach Mark Kellogg

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday the Stephen F. Austin women’s team had an 11-PT win over Sam Houston State in the Southland tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Ladyjacks lost 2 games during the 1st month of the season but have won 19 in a row to get back into the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2006. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Coach Mark Kellogg about winning by an average of 30 PPG and making the NCAA tourney.

You played basketball and golf at Austin College: how good of an athlete were you back in the day, and how did you 1st get into coaching? The older I get, the better I was! I was not recruited a whole lot and thought I would try to walk-on at TCU, but I had an unbelievable experience at Austin College and finished as a top-5 scorer in school history. I thought that I might become a sports broadcaster but did an internship and did not like it. I did a double-major in communications/exercise science, got a job as a graduate assistant, and have been coaching ever since.

You finished as D-2 national runner-up in 2010 as head coach at Fort Lewis and 2014 as head coach at West Texas A&M: how close did you come to winning a pair of titles? Really close. We lost the 1st 1 to Emporia: it was a 1-possession with about 4-5 minutes left. In the 2nd 1 we were up by 9 in the final 5 minutes against an undefeated Bentley team but let that 1 slip away.

You were hired at Stephen F. Austin in 2015: why did you take the job? It was a D-1 opportunity after accomplishing about everything I could at the D-2 level besides winning a national title. I thought we would be able to have success based on the rich tradition and the commitment of the athletic department. It gave me a chance to win/compete at the highest level.

What is it like to be a college basketball coach during a pandemic? It is unique/different and you cannot prepare for it so we are learning on the fly. Everyone has had to sacrifice: we ask the players to be committed each year but it has been taken to a whole new level this year. As great as it is to be in the NCAA tourney, it is different than what it traditionally is.

You lost a pair of games during the 1st month of this season by a combined 11 PTS, then won each of your next 19 in a row: how close did you come to going undefeated? Just a couple of possessions, honestly. We had a chance to beat Houston on the final possession, and had a chance to take the lead against ASU during the final 2-3 minutes.

Last Sunday in the Southland tourney title game you had an 11-PT win over Sam Houston State: what did it mean to you to win a championship, and how big a deal was it to clinch a conference tournament title for the 1st time in 15 years? The emotions were all over the place: there was relief after breaking the “Katy Curse”. There was also a sense of accomplishment and happiness for our seniors after losing a couple of title games during the past several years. This has been 6 years in the making and we would like to make some noise in the NCAA tourney.

You have a lot of players from Texas but also have an international roster including players from Germany/Spain/Sweden/Ukraine: what sort of recruiting philosophy do you have? We start locally to find the right kind of players but we also like a balanced approach: we do not need just shooters or just length so we might have to find 2 players who complement each other. We can play multiple ways and can speed teams up or grind it out: we just try to make it all fit.

Each of your top-6 scorers is averaging 8-13 PPG: how crucial has that offensive balance been to your team’s success this year? We had some pretty lopsided conference scores where we won on average by 40 PPG so it allowed our starters to rest in the 4th quarter. If 1 player has a bad night or gets into foul trouble then we have many other options due to our depth.

The Ladyjacks have been winning games this year by an average of more than 30 PPG: are you concerned that your team will be able to remain calm if they fall behind early or if they are in a close game that goes down to the wire? 10 days ago I would have agreed with you 100%, but we won our final regular season game by 12 PTS with some kids out due to COVID, a situation that had not challenged us in the past. Both of our conference tourney games came down to the final minute so we really got to experience something new: we hit some big shots and got some big stops.

How do you feel being a #12-seed, and what do you know about Georgia Tech? It has been quite some time since anyone from our conference has been as high as a 12-seed and we thought that we might even get a 10 or 11. We feel like we have a legitimate chance: we beat Auburn on the road by double-digits in December and have beaten some other tourney teams so our confidence is at a high level. Georgia Tech coach Nell Fortner started at SFA and they will be the best defensive team that we have seen all year. They have a lot of size that we do not see in our own conference so hopefully we can present a few challenges for them as well.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Missouri Golden Girl Allie Hickey

Posted on March 18, 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 Allie Hickey about graduating in May and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis this week.

You were born/raised in Kansas City: what made you choose Missouri? I was born in Little Rock, AR but moved to Kansas City in 7th grade. I always knew that I wanted to go to a big SEC school. Mizzou was always in the mix but not until I came here to visit did I know that I wanted to go here…especially after they won the football game I went to!

You have been dancing/performing since age 2 and this is your 4th year doing so in college: what is your favorite part of being a “Golden Girl”? There are so many things: in addition to performing at games we are also ambassadors for the university and I love the responsibility/pride that comes with that. Entertaining Tiger fans is the reason I wanted to do it but I never expected to love it so much.

What does your team do at basketball games during a normal year? We sit on the sideline under the hoop near our team’s bench. We do chants with the cheerleaders and perform a full-out routine twice/game. We get the crowd pumped up and do smaller routines during timeouts.

What do you think the role of a college dance team is today, and how has it changed over time? My mom was on her college dance team so I think that I have some good insight on this. I think we are not that different from other college athletes: we love our school and want to show out for them. 1 difference in our role is that we bring joy to our fans in whatever we are doing. Dancing/cheerleading as a whole have progressed in terms of techniques/expectations: both have gotten more intense and have incorporated new ways of learning. We just want to keep our fans happy and keep them smiling even if our team is losing.

You are a Communications major and are also pursuing a minor in Business and a certificate in Sales and Customer Development: why did you pick those subjects? My older sister/mom majored in Communications and my dad is in sales. I like that it is a broad major and I can apply it to a position in any field. I knew that I wanted to go into something on the business side so the accounting/finance classes will certainly aid me.

You graduate in May and will be moving to Texas: what is the post-graduation plan? I already have a job lined up as an executive assistant to the CEO of LifeCare Health. I have always wanted to move down to Dallas and would like to keep dancing but it is not guaranteed. I am very blessed/excited to have a job waiting for me.

How do you like basketball, and is that your favorite sport? I like basketball a lot. In my 4 years it has been a rollercoaster: my 1st game was Michael Porter Jr.’s very 1st game and that 1st year was just insane. It has been cool to see the players grow from year to year as they go through their triumphs. I am a football girl if I have to pick 1 sport: there is something so special about fall Saturdays and it is a magical feeling unlike any other. Any chance to dance is an opportunity I am excited for.

Last Sunday 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? The last time we made it was during my freshman year: it was very different back then when I was at the Selection Sunday party but that was not the case this year. It was not expected this year but everyone is fired up about it and every place in town will be packed.

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 would be different if we could congregate as we do during a normal year. Just like so many other things it is really frustrating, but there are bigger things affecting our world so this year has taught me to put everything into perspective. We have been so lucky due to the support that we get: obviously we would prefer to have a normal year but we did as much as we could and got to do some things that other teams were unable to do. We had anywhere from 15-18 girls socially distanced at our basketball games. Since it is my last year it would be great to be in Indianapolis but there is nothing we can do about it.

You are playing Oklahoma on Saturday: any predictions? I know that Oklahoma is good so I really hope it is a good game. The Tigers have done well this year and have played hard and kept their heads on straight. We have seen some amazing moments this year and since I love sports the games have become some of my favorite memories. I am so excited to watch/support them.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Mount St. Mary’s SR G-F Kendall Bresee

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday the Mount St. Mary’s women’s team had a 32-PT win over Wagner in the NEC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Mountaineers entered postseason play with back-to-back losses but won 2 in a row last week to get back into the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 1995. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Kendall Bresee about winning a bunch of awards and making the NCAA tourney.

You grew up in Maryland and began your career at GW: why did you decide to transfer, and what made you choose Mount St. Mary’s? I committed when I was just 15 years old, and then 2 weeks before I reported for summer session the coach left for Wisconsin. I ended up leaving after my sophomore year, visited a lot of local schools, and felt that I would be the most successful at the Mount.

You play for Coach Maria Marchesano: what makes her such a good coach, and what is the most important thing that you have learned from her so far? She is there for us no matter what. She understands how hard it can be because she played at the college level herself. She taught me what it takes to be the best: it is not always pretty but if you put together a few good hours or a few good days it will help.

You led your team in several stat categories this year: how do you balance all the different aspects of your game? I just go into every game and try to see what my team needs from me: scoring/passing/rebounding/etc. We have so many talented players on our team from 1-10. There are some games when I do not have to score or make all the crazy passes, but some days I do.

Last week you were named NEC POY/DPOY: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It was a very humbling experience. To be in the company of such great players in our conference is extremely rare: I have a couple of teammates who could have won those awards as well.

You majored in criminal justice and are now getting your MBA: why did you pick those subjects, and what is the post-graduation plan? I have always been super-intrigued in organizations like the CIA/FBI and have not changed my major since my freshman year. If that does not work out then I will need a backup plan and you cannot go wrong with an MBA.

What is it like to be a college basketball player during a pandemic? Strict! It has been crazy to say the least. There are pros/cons: if it was not COVID then we could just drive 40 minutes up the street to play at Maryland, but now we are stuck in our rooms in San Antonio while it is 80 degrees outside. However, we are very grateful to be a part of it.

You lost back-to-back games at Wagner to finish the regular season: how were you able to get things back on track last week? Coach said in a recent interview that it was a “championship hangover”. We won our championship a few games earlier and had played 10 games in a row but were completely out of it at Wagner. After that we locked back in, scouted every day, and finally had a real practice rather than just a half-speed walk-through.

Last Sunday in the NEC tourney title game you had 10 PTS/8 REB/8 AST in a 32-PT win over Wagner: what did it mean to you to win a title, and how big a deal is it to give the Mount its 1st NCAA tourney appearance since 1995? This team has been through a lot but we came together and won a title despite the adversity: that meant the most to me. My teammates had some of the best games of their lives on both offense/defense and it was a feeling of euphoria. It was an out-of-body experience: the rest of that day is just a blur!

Your parents Meghan/Richie played college sports, your brother Bryan was ACC defensive ROY as a member of the Clemson football team last year, and your younger sister Ella is already 5’10”: who is the best athlete in the family? Me, without a doubt! My brother is pretty good at what he does and my dad would probably vote for himself.

How do you feel about being a #15-seed, and what do you know about a school that you grew up an hour away from (Maryland)? I am excited. We were supposed to play them earlier this season and did all the prep for it but had to turn around after getting 20 minutes away from College Park. They have a great offense/players/coaching staff but I am excited for the opportunity. They are an amazing program.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Gonzaga dancer Alexis Villanueva

Posted on March 18, 2021 by Jon Teitel

Last week Gonzaga beat BYU by 10 PTS in the WCC tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Bulldogs have won each of their 26 games this year and have not missed an NCAA tourney since 1998. 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 Alexis Villanueva about her Final 4 picks and not being able to join the basketball team in Indianapolis this week.

You are from Orange County, CA: what made you choose Gonzaga? I was fortunate to grow up with a private school education and Gonzaga encompassed a home away from home with its combination of faith and education. The classes here are on the smaller size so I am on a 1st name basis with my teachers.

You have been dancing competitively for almost a decade: what is your favorite part of being a dancer? I am a very competitive person so I love an atmosphere where I can put that into a productive space. I have become a leader and worked well with others, which has allowed me to have a 2nd family.

You are 1 of the 3 captains on the team this year: what is the key to being a good leader? Realizing how much you can take on and being open to communication. You have to be able to perform well under pressure and always have a solution ready.

What does your team do at basketball games during a normal year? I am a very big basketball fan so it was awesome to cheer for a D-1 program. We do not get to watch the 1st half while we are warming up, but then we get to perform and watch the rest of the game. We help out at pep rallies on campus and at game-watches. We get the crowds amped up with “Kraziness at the Kennel” and are ambassadors for the team.

You are currently a sophomore studying public relations with a double minor in promotions/communication: why did you pick those subjects? I did a lot of volunteer work while growing up and enjoy event planning from a leadership position so I realized that PR would be the best degree for me to earn. I have seen what my passions are and would love to break into the sports industry but have not yet honed in on exactly what I want to do.

Your post-graduate plan is to move to the East Coast and work for the Knicks or another basketball franchise: why New York, and why basketball? My 3 favorite sports to watch are basketball/hockey/baseball. The Knicks’ franchise is iconic so it would be an honor to work for them. I almost attended Marist (in Poughkeepsie) but picked Gonzaga for the college experience. I have always loved the fast-paced environment that New York has to offer.

What do you think the role of a college dance team is today, and how has it changed over time? Initially we served to pump up the crowd when the team has a timeout: almost like an accessory to the basketball team. There used to be a focus on the size/image of a dancer and what you could or could not wear when going out. 1 of my goals this year was to rebrand us by reaching out to alumni, fundraising, and working with the Spokane community. We have done outreach to young boys/girls who look up to us.

Last week in the WCC tourney title game the Bulldogs had a 10-PT win over BYU: does the student body still get excited about making the NCAA tourney or has it just become something that people expect to happen every spring? I was fortunate to attend last year’s WCC tourney title win in person when we beat St. Mary’s. I commend BYU: they have always done a good job of being a solid competitor but we have a lot of faith in our program. I think that Jalen Suggs was the missing piece and I am excited to see how the whole team will perform this month.

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? You took the words out of my mouth. I was a freshman last year so my season ended just as the basketball season was heating up. We have alumni come from all over to support our program. Our team has worked so hard and we are doing our best to support them in any way we can: I would do anything to perform at a game right now.

Your team has not lost a single game this year: any predictions for March Madness? I have spent the last 2 days doing my research and have gone back and forth on my Final 4 but I think it will be Gonzaga/Baylor/Texas/Houston…with the Zags winning it all!

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