All-Access at the South Regional in Atlanta: Michigan locker room

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Atlanta with some Michigan locker room interviews.

JR F Will Tschetter

You graduated in 3 years and were a 2-time academic all-conference selection: how do you balance your work on the court with your work in the classroom? Time management is crucial, especially at a school the caliber of Michigan, and redshirting during my 1st year also helped a lot.

Your mother Kasey is the all-time leading scorer in North Dakota State basketball history, and your father Garth played football at North Dakota State: who is the best athlete in the family? My mom has the most accolades due to what she has accomplished…but I am a close 2nd!

You played French Horn/trumpet in your high school marching band every year at the Minnesota State Fair: what was that like? The State Fair was always a fun time and served as the band kickoff for the year. The only downside is that we were always so sweaty in our band uniforms because it was hot as s—!

You were a straight-A student in high school except for an A-minus in your sophomore year Spanish class: que paso?! I slacked off a bit and regret not taking it more seriously. Our former associate head coach Phil Martelli would always give me crap about it by calling me “3.99” to remind me of my imperfect GPA!

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio was interested in having you play TE: how close did you come to joining the football team? I played both sports when I began high school but by the start of my junior year I decided to focus on basketball. I learned that there is a big difference in recruiting between basketball and football.

Since no official campus visits were allowed during COVID, you and your mother drove 588 miles to Ann Arbor to visit the campus on a road trip during the 4th of July, then you made your official announcement from the Stewartville Basketball Twitter account because you had no social media accounts of your own: true? We decided to drive out to my final list of schools (including Colorado State/Michigan) because my mom wanted to give me the chance to see myself on each campus. I did not have any social media accounts back then and am still never really on Twitter.

In 2022 you did a summer internship on a bison ranch: how did that go? I was just texting the guy I interned for. He served as a mentor for what I have studied in school, and I am super-passionate about it.

What do you know about Auburn? They are a well-rounded team who will not give you the ball and Johni Broome is the favorite to be named national POY. We must be locked in and value our possessions and play tough on defense.

Assistant coach/GM (and friend of Rocco) Kyle Church

You grew up in Durham, NC: how big a deal would it be to face your hometown Blue Devils in the weeks ahead? It would be a dream come true…because that would mean we would be playing in the title game! It was great to see basketball at the highest level while growing up and I have always wanted to be a part of this.

You were a walk-on guard at Charlotte under Bobby Lutz: how good a player were you back in the day? Not very good…but I had a lot of fun playing on the scout team and am thankful to Coach Lutz for the opportunity. I have wanted to be a coach for a long time so hopefully I will make a better coach than player!

You have worked alongside Dusty May for more than a decade at Louisiana Tech/Florida/FAU: what makes him such a great coach? He is an unbelievable person/mentor, and I respect his daily work habits: his players will run through a wall for him. I have worked with him for 13 years and he still has a burning desire to improve.

You 2 made the 2023 Final 4 at FAU: what is the key to winning games in March? You must have poise and not let your emotions run wild. You must stay in the moment: the only thing that matters is the next play.

What do you know about Auburn? They are having 1 of the best seasons in the history of the sport thanks to Johni Broome and a million guards who can score. We will have to be sound defensively and get a lot of rebounds.

Check back for a lot more access all week long!

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All-Access at the South Regional in Atlanta: HoopsHD interviews Michigan band member Madeline Rosenbaum

Posted on March 28, 2025 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Atlanta by chatting with Michigan band member Madeline Rosenbaum about playing alto sax and her predictions for this weekend.

You grew up in a suburb of Chicago called Kildeer: what made you choose Michigan? It is related to my family history. I grew up in a Big 10-heavy household where my mom went to Purdue and my dad went to Michigan, so I knew that I wanted that kind of experience. Those 2 schools happened to be my top-2 choices, but what put it over the edge was Michigan’s marching band and history program.

You are majoring in History/Spanish and minoring in Music: how did you choose those subjects? Ever since I was a kid I have really enjoyed history: I was a big reader and it was almost like a big story to me. I also considered psychology and I took a class as a freshman but decide it was just not for me. I had studied Spanish growing up and felt that I wanted to continue with it. I got to do a semester in Spain and figured I would just make it a major. In addition to the marching band, I also do the concert band.

You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? I have a couple of plans. This summer I will have an internship with a company outside of DC that invests in national defense technology security, which will be an exciting opportunity. The marching band will take a trip to Europe as well, but after that I am keeping my options open.

You are part of the Alto Saxophone section: how long have you been playing that instrument, and what is your favorite song to play? I have been playing alto since 4th grade. I remember them bringing all the kids into the band room to try out 3 instruments. I could not make any noise come out of the flute or clarinet…but I was able to play a beautiful C-sharp with the sax. As far as songs, 1 of my favorites with the marching band is an arrangement of “Potential Breakup Song” by Aly & AJ, and in concert band it is “Give us this Day” by David Maslanka.

You enjoy watching all Michigan sports: what is your favorite sports memory from your time in Ann Arbor? I really hit the jackpot in terms of sports during the past 4 years because there are PLENTY to choose from! My freshman year was the 1st time in many years that our football team beat Ohio State, and we did so in the snow. Last year at the Rose Bowl the entire day was amazing: from participating in the parade in the morning to getting a thrilling win over Alabama that evening.

2 of your hobbies are traveling/reading: do you have any travel/book recommendations for our travelers/readers? I recommend going to 1 of my favorite European cities: Prague. I went there several years ago, and everyone was very friendly and there was great food/history. I am reading a good book right now called “Demon Copperhead” by Barbara Kingsolver that is inspired by the Charles Dickens book “David Copperfield”. It won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and I am halfway through it.

The team finished the regular season with 3 straight losses but have bounced back to win 3 games in the Big 10 tourney and 2 games in the NCAA tourney: what has changed over the past 2 weeks? I think they got a little rest, which is important because the Big 10 season is so tough. Starting off very well against Purdue gave them a lot of momentum: they only had 6 turnovers during the entire game. Dusty May is a fantastic tourney coach and knows how to prepare for teams with a quick turnaround.

Did you get to go to Indianapolis and/or Denver for any of the games above, and how exciting was it? I was able to go to Indianapolis for the Big 10 tourney and it was great! I remember talking to my parents: I thought we would win…but since my mom is a Purdue alum she was doing some smack-talk! We kept winning and winning and by the end of the semifinal win over Maryland I had no voice left. It was also great to see that more and more fans showed up as we kept winning more and more games.

Does the band have anything extra-special planned for this week? We will play the team out to their bus on Friday night. Most of us have never been to Atlanta so some of us are visiting the Georgia Tech campus and I was at the Georgia Aquarium.

Any predictions for this weekend in Atlanta, and what would it mean if you end up facing Michigan State on Sunday for a spot in the Final 4? I have been thinking about that all week…and I think it would be awesome. We almost played them in the Big 10 title game. Auburn will be tough: Johni Broome is 1 of the best (if not the best) players in college and all their guards are great against drop-coverage. If we face Michigan State after losing to them twice in the regular season it would be the dream scenario!

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All-Access at the South Regional in Atlanta: Michigan State locker room

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Atlanta with some Michigan State locker room interviews.

JR F Jaxon Kohler

2 of your nicknames are “The Big Footwork” and “Baby Jokic”: which 1 do you like the most? They are both great.

You watched highlights of Hakeem Olajuwon as a kid and wrote down his post moves step-by-step in a journal before practicing them: what did you learn from Olajuwon? He taught me that you do not need to be basic. You can get creative just by working on your footwork, spin moves, the step-through, etc.

You got to talk to LeBron James after being named to the all-tournament team at the Battle US event in 2021: how was that “once-in-a-lifetime experience”? I met him through AAU ball, and he was a great supporter. He taught me how to look at the details and has really helped my basketball IQ.

You are the 1st player from Utah to play at Michigan State: what made you choose the Spartans? Tom Izzo’s resume/career/reputation. He has the ability to turn a high school kid into a college basketball man.

What do you know about Mississippi? They are very strong, mentally/physically tough, and a good team.

SO F Xavier Booker

In 2023 you were named a McDonald’s All-American: which of your fellow honorees are you closest to? My teammate Jeremy Fears: he is my roommate and we still play on the same team.

Coach Tom Izzo has made 27 consecutive NCAA tournaments, which is the most in men’s college basketball history: what makes him such a great coach? He does a great job of keeping us level-headed and not letting distractions get in the way.

Your team’s 27.8 3P% allowed is #1 in the nation: what is the secret to playing great perimeter defense? You must know your opponent’s personnel/tendencies, so we spend a lot of time watching film.

Your team is also top-25 in the nation with 77.6 FT%: how crucial has your FT shooting been in March? It has been a big help all year long. Our coach has emphasized it since last summer, especially late in games.

What do you know about Mississippi? They are tough. The SEC is a great conference and we are not taking them lightly so we will just keep watching film.

Check back for a lot more access all week long!

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All-Access at the South Regional in Atlanta: Mississippi locker room

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel commences our coverage from Atlanta with some Mississippi locker room interviews.

SR G Dre Davis

Last spring you won an NIT title at Seton Hall: how does it compare to the NCAA tourney? The NCAA tourney is a much bigger stage: more media, a larger national presence, etc. There are more intense/high pressure games, but it was still great to win a title at home in Indianapolis last April.

Your brother Tae plays basketball at Notre Dame: who is the best athlete in the family? As far as athleticism, I will have to give it to Tae…but I have more “dog” in me!

You are pursuing a master’s degree in intercollegiate athletic administration: what would you change if you ran the NCAA? Not sure. The NCAA has been highly successful for a long time, and everyone knows about March Madness.

Your daughter was born in 2022: how do you balance being a basketball player with being a father? Time management. Her mom does a great job with her, and they are traveling here today so it will be a great experience.

The SEC set a record this month with 14 NCAA tourney bids: what is it like to be part of the best conference in the history of the sport? It is amazing: that is why I always dreamed of playing here.

What do you know about Michigan State? They have a Hall of Fame coach in Tom Izzo and his team always plays hard. They will be well-prepared so we will have to be ready to go.

SR G Sean Pedulla

You began your college career at Virginia Tech: why did you decide to transfer to Michigan State? The biggest reason is that I wanted to win at the highest level during my final year of college.

You have 8 siblings: what is the best part and what is the not-so-best part (if any)? The best part is that there was always someone to talk to or play with. The worst part is that the snacks went fast!

Earlier this month you were named 3rd-team all-conference: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means a lot, but a lot of that comes from our team’s success.

You made a game-winning 3 to beat your hometown Sooners on 3/1 and a game-winning 3 to beat Arkansas in the SEC tourney opener on 3/13: where do those rank among the highlights of your career? The shot to beat Arkansas is towards the top due to the platform of the SEC tourney.

What do you know about Michigan State? They are a tough team, play hard, and have a great coach in Tom Izzo.

Check back for a lot more access all week long!

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All-Access at the South Regional in Atlanta: HoopsHD interviews Auburn basketball father Will Trapp

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Jon Teitel

The NCAA tournament is about basketball but also so much more: the parents, fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The Sweet 16/Elite 8 are taking place in 4 cities around the country and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD is covering all the angles so you can look forward to an abundance of access in the days ahead. Jon Teitel continues our coverage from Atlanta by chatting with Auburn basketball father Will Trapp about his son Reed winning a high school state title and his predictions for this weekend.

You are a Senior VP at Morgan Stanley and founded indie record label Single Lock Records with 4-time Grammy winner John Paul White/4-time Grammy-winning Alabama Shakes keyboardist Ben Tanner: how do you balance your 2 gigs, and what is like working with such talented people? They are great! It looks a lot cooler than it is. John Paul/Ben produce records for a lot of people and write songs and go touring, so I would not put myself in their category: I am just a business partner who helped them start Single Lock. My day job is investment management, which takes up plenty of time. We started Single Lock 10 years ago so in the early days I was a little more involved.

Your son Reed led Covenant Christian School to the 2022 AHSAA Class 1A boys’ basketball state title: what did it mean to him/you to win a title? It was the coolest thing that ever happened. It is a tiny Christian school in Muscle Shoals that had never won anything like that. I was the team waterboy and it is 1000 times more rewarding than doing it yourself.

Your family is from Muscle Shoals, AL, and he began his college career at Birmingham-Southern: why did he decide to transfer, and what made him choose Auburn? After his 1st season Birmingham-Southern announced that it was closing after being founded in the mid-1800s, and his coach said he should feel free to explore other opportunities. Reed had a friend at Auburn, so he went there for a tryout, and Coach Pearl said he could use him on his scout team: it has been amazing!

Coach Bruce Pearl has made 13 NCAA tourneys and made the Final 4 in 2019: what makes him such a great coach? He absolutely loves his kids and holds them to a high standard. He loves Auburn and the platform of basketball: he is such a genuine person all the time. When Reed became part of the program his life became meaningfully better. The whole Pearl family is at the heart of Auburn basketball, which is why you see a lot of kids stay there, whether you are a walk-on or an All-American.

Last year your son was member of the scout team but in January he got to play in a game against Mississippi State: how big a deal was it for him to go from walk-on to playing for 1 of the best teams in the nation? It was unbelievable! I asked him if he could enjoy it: he said it felt like an out-of-body experience for a moment, but it a huge thrill after they do all the practicing/lifting during the season. They keep the 1s/2s healthy, which is meaningful for the entire team.

Earlier this month his teammate Johni Broome was named POY by The Sporting News: where does Johni rank among the greatest college players that you have ever seen? He is definitely up there. Dylan Cardwell recently became Auburn’s all-time winningest player, but Johni is so skilled and plays it in such a unique/complete way. He is a great passer, is strong, and is definitely 1 of the best. I grew up in the 1990s and have seen a lot of great players.

He is a junior: does he have a post-graduation plan yet? Not yet: it is enough for him just to keep up with his schoolwork and do whatever the coaches ask him to do. He joked that his entire resume will be that he made good grades and kept the coaches happy…but that is important.

The SEC set a record this month with 14 NCAA tourney bids: do you think that it is the best conference in the history of the sport? I do. I watched the Big East in 2011 when they received 11 bids, and I would put the SEC up against them. It was a different era but the SEC is a testament to the fact that a lot of student-athletes want to be there.

The Tigers had a pair of double-digit wins in Lexington last weekend over Alabama State/Creighton: did you get to see the team in person at Rupp Arena, and how did they look? We were there shaking our shakers! The last time I was in Rupp Arena is when they held the SEC tourney there when it used to rotate cities. Alabama State is 1 of the best teams in the state and I saw Creighton beat UConn twice this year. Many of their losses this year were to SEC schools (Texas A&M/Alabama) and they were a hard #9 seed.

Any predictions for this weekend in Atlanta, and what would it mean if you end up facing fellow SEC team Mississippi on Sunday for a spot in the Final 4? It would be amazing! All that anyone is thinking about is Michigan and the parents are trying to support them at every step. That message is ingrained into the team culture: 1 game at a time, 1 day at a time.

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The Hoops HD Report – Sweet Sixteen Edition

Posted on March 27, 2025 by David Griggs

A bump back to the top for those that may have missed our podcast that preview the Sweet Sixteen matchups and recap an exciting first weekend…

Chad and the panel recap the Rounds of 64 and 32 of the NCAA Tournament and discuss how there have been a lack of upsets, but how that could also make for some incredibly exciting and high level match-ups for the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. We look ahead to the games this week, discuss each matchup, and make our picks.

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

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