The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery was held on May 10th, the final deadline for NCAA players to withdraw is May 27th, and the draft will begin on June 23rd. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel continues our coverage by chatting with Dartmouth F Brandon Mitchell-Day about being a remarkable rebounder and what it would mean to him to get drafted.
You were born/raised in St. Louis: what made you choose Dartmouth? Prior to playing competitive basketball I had never even heard of Dartmouth, but academics were big in my family. When some of the Ivy teams started recruiting me, I started thinking about it as a place that could set me up for after basketball and where I could help make a name for myself and my school. Dartmouth was the best place to do that.
You played in 25 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? A big reason I was recruited was my motor. I knew that I had to do something to stick out as a freshman and my aggressiveness helped me get more playing time. I tried to do all the little things: rebounding/defense/being a pest. A lot of coaches believed that I could bring that to the table, and everything I do is high-intensity.
After starting only 2 games as a freshman you started all but 2 games as a sophomore: what is the biggest difference between being a starter vs. coming off the bench? There is definitely a higher expectation when you are a starter because the coaching staff trusts you to set the tone for the entire team. I was inexperienced as a freshman so the coaches did not trust me at 1st, but after getting extra film work and setting the tone at practice, I was able to hit a 180 in terms of playing time.
As a junior you had 23 PTS/20 REB in a win over Brown and became the 1st Ivy player to post a 20-20 game against a D-1 opponent since the turn of the century: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It is probably the best all-around game of my college career. As hard to do as it may sound, I was in a flow state so nothing felt forced. I was playing free and the 20 REB is just a testament to how hard I played. I wanted to show people what I could do day in and day out and I take great pride in that because all my hard work showed that day. That game felt easy: I remember getting back to the locker room afterward and when my teammates told me that I had 20 REB I thought they were joking!
Last year you led the conference with 244 REB and were #7 in the nation with 7.19 defensive RPG: what is the secret to being a great rebounder? For me the secret goes back to my motor. You never know when a shot goes up if it will be missed, so you have to get good position or run to a spot. It goes back to doing the little things as a freshman: even if I could not score, getting an offensive REB put me in a better position to score. It is not 1 of the flashiest things but it is 1 of the most important things. I do not have the craziest highlights but all the intangible things I do help a team win: that is my calling card.
Your 3-PT shooting increased during each of the past 4 years: how were you able to keep improving every single year? It was about confidence. I could shoot the 3 in high school but I was more of a slasher with shooters around me who had a higher percentage. Since I knew that I could do it, and as my role on the team expanded, I knew that making threes would make the game easier for me. I work on it all the time and my teammates trust me from behind the arc. I got the correct reps each summer and it is about the hard work I put in.
You were named All-Ivy Honorable Mention last year: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It means everything. The Ivy League is 1 of the most up-and-coming conferences with great players both in the NBA (like Bez Mbeng) and in college (like TJ Power). People overlook our conference because it is academically-oriented, but I take great pride in that award: it is always nice to see your hard work pay off.
You are listed at 6’8”: what position did you play in college, and what position would you feel most comfortable at in the pros? When I was in high school I started as a PG…and then 1 summer I grew 7”! I already had the guard skills, but as 1 of the tallest guys on my team I had to learn how to play in the post. It will be an advantage at the next level because I have a mix of both guard skills and big man skills, which makes me a versatile threat. I can do so many things because I have been exposed to so many situations.
Any thoughts on the recent news that the NCAA tourney will expand to 76 teams next year? Some people argue that it makes the NCAA tourney easier to get into, but I would argue that it makes it harder to win. By expanding the field they make it that much more valuable if you can win it. I see the positives and negatives, but it will still be fun to watch.
What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean everything. This is something I have dreamed of since 1st picking up a basketball. If I do not get drafted then the work does not stop. I will continue to find opportunities to showcase my talents whether it is in the G League or overseas. I will trust in my work and hope it all works out.
Hoops HD Hardball Championship Week – Wednesday Edition
AMERICA EAST (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+
UMass-Lowell and Maine won yesterday to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket.
AMERICAN (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+
Memphis and Wichita State won yesterday to advance to the double-elimination portion of the bracket. Our good friend Rocco Miller is also in Clearwater, Florida watching the American Tournament; you can follow him HERE to follow for live updates.
ACC (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – ACC Network
Pittsburgh is still alive trying to win 5 games in 5 days to clinch the auto bid, but now face a major challenge today as Florida State begins their postseason run. It was Virginia Tech’s turn to win a 17-10 shootout over Notre Dame.
ATLANTIC SUN (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
North Alabama beat Jacksonville in the only game that was able to be played yesterday; Florida Gulf Coast will play Central Arkansas to complete the 2nd round today. After this game, the double elimination rounds will begin at approximately 1 PM today, weather permitting.
ATLANTIC 10 (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Rhode Island and VCU won the opening games in the A-10 Tournament yesterday; George Mason will start today’s quadruple header with the first elimination game.
BIG EAST (1ST AND 2ND ROUND) – ESPN+
Both of the opening round games were rained out yesterday; the opening round will start at noon today and there will be an 8 PM elimination game tonight. Friday and Saturday are very much in flux with rain in the forecast for both days.
BIG SOUTH (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Charleston Southern and USC-Upstate advanced to the winners’ bracket; Radford and Longwood will play in the first elimination game in the losers’ bracket this morning at 9 AM.
B1G (3RD ROUND) – B1G Network
Michigan State and Washington both advanced to the single elimination quarterfinal round that begins tomorrow. Iowa will play Purdue and Michigan will play Ohio State to decide the final two quarterfinal spots this afternoon.
BIG 12 (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – ESPN+
All remaining 8 teams will be in action today; this includes a Kansas team that won their first regular season title in 80 years! While Kansas does figure to be a regional host, playing for a super regional host site may be a bit of a long shot.
BIG WEST (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+
Cal State-Fullerton won the lone game yesterday against Hawai’i; they advance to the double elimination round today as they take on regular season champion UC-Santa Barbara.
COASTAL (2ND AND 3RD ROUNDS) – ESPN+
UNC-Wilmington and Hofstra won their openers yesterday; Charleston and Monmouth will play this morning in the first elimination game in the CAA.
CONFERENCE USA (POOL PLAY, DAY 2) – ESPN+
Western Kentucky, Sam Houston and Dallas Baptist were the winners yesterday; Sam Houston has a chance to win their pool today while the other two teams are idle today until pool play wraps up tomorrow.
HORIZON LEAGUE (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Oakland defeated Youngstown State to advance to the double elimination round today. There will be one elimination game played tonight after the 2nd round is complete.
METRO ATLANTIC (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Merrimack and Fairfield won to advance in the winners’ bracket; Marist defeated Canisius to advance in the losers’ bracket.
MID-AMERICAN (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Northern Illinois and Toledo advanced to the winners’ bracket with their wins yesterday; the first elimination game will pit Ball State against Western Michigan. Per our colleague Rocco Miller, keep an eye on Kent State as they are another possible at-large candidate for the NCAA Tournament field.
MISSOURI VALLEY (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Murray State and Southern Illinois advanced in the winners’ bracket yesterday; today’s first elimination game will pit Evansville against Illinois State.
MOUNTAIN WEST (Hybrid, 6-team bracket) – Mountain West Network
The Mountain West gets underway today with a pair of single elimination games in the first round. The tournament will then revert to a 4-team double elimination round beginning tomorrow. Note that Oregon State does not play in the Mountain West for baseball as they are an independent this season (but Washington State does play in the Mountain West this season).
NEC (Double elimination, 4-team bracket) – ESPN+
The Northeast Conference finally gets underway today with a 4-team double elimination bracket. Should Le Moyne win the conference tournament, the other team that advances to the championship game will clinch the auto bid since the Dolphins are not eligible as a transitional team.
OHIO VALLEY (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Yesterday, Little Rock and SE Missouri State advanced in the winners’ bracket; Southern Indiana and Lindenwood were relegated to the losers’ bracket and await the losers of the SIUE-Little Rock and Eastern Illinois-SEMO games.
PATRIOT LEAGUE
Congratulations to the Holy Cross Crusaders on winning the second auto bid to the NCAA Tournament; they defeated Bucknell 14-11 to go to the NCAA Tournament for the 2nd straight season.
SEC (QUARTERFINAL ROUND) – SEC Network
The waiting game begins for both Vanderbilt and LSU as both teams were eliminated from the SEC Tournament. Kind of a rarity here as the top 8 seeds have all advanced to the quarterfinal round.
SOUTHERN (3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Both Samford and The Citadel won yesterday to advance in the winners’ bracket; there will also be 2 elimination games played later today after Mercer and Western Carolina also begin tournament play.
SOUTHLAND (CHAMPIONSHIP, BEST-OF-3) – ESPN+
The Southland Conference Championship Series gets underway as Lamar hosts McNeese in a best-of-3 series to determine the auto bid winner.
SUMMIT (2ND ROUND) – Summit League Network
South Dakota State and Northern Colorado won their openers, meaning that the top two seeds in the Summit will face off today in an elimination game to start the day.
SUN BELT (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
There were a pair of upsets in the bottom bracket; Texas State and Louisiana both won which means the #2 seed Coastal Carolina and #3 seed Appalachian State face off in an elimination game this afternoon.
SWAC (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – SWAC TV
Chalk has held so far with the top 4 seeds (Bethune-Cookman, Alabama State, Southern and Florida A&M) advancing to the winners’ bracket.
WEST COAST (2ND ROUND) – ESPN+
Saint Mary’s and San Francisco both advanced to the double elimination portion of the bracket with their wins last night.
WAC (2ND AND 3RD ROUND) – ESPN+
Sacramento State and Utah Tech advanced to the winners’ bracket with their wins yesterday; UT-Arlington defeated Abilene Christian in the first elimination game of the bracket.