Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Purdue basketball mother Ginny Smith about her son Braden

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Last Friday Purdue lost to Michigan 86-68 in the Big 10 tourney but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Boilermakers have had a winning record for 11 years in a row and are heading to the NCAA tourney to see if they can make it back to the title game. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Purdue basketball mother Ginny Smith about her son Braden being named 1st-team All-American yesterday and making the NCAA tourney.

No Westfield High School boys’ basketball player had ever been a D-1 recruit before: how big a deal was it for your son Braden to become the 1st, and what made him choose Purdue? From our perspective, it was a big deal because that is what he aspired to do. He was in a strong class of athletes back in 2022. Purdue was his top choice and in hindsight it was a fantastic choice. It was a quick recruiting process after they finally came up with a scholarship, but Coach Painter and his staff are great.

In his very 1st college game, he set a school freshman record with 7 STL in a win over Milwaukee and was eventually named to the conference All-Freshman team: how was he able to come in and contribute right from the start? Purdue needed a PG so that gave him an opportunity. He had never sat on the bench in his life, so we talked about what his work ethic needed to be. He thought we were crazy because he felt that he was going to play right away, and all the dominoes fell into place for him.

In the 2023 NCAA tourney he scored 7 PTS in a 5-PT loss to #16-seed FDU: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of his career, and how was the entire team able to turn things around last season? I cannot speak for him, but it was also tough when he lost in the regional as a high school senior because we thought his team would win the state tourney that year. Not only is it devastating to lose on a national stage in college, but also a little embarrassing. It was a very strange feeling on the ride home because none of us anticipated that happening.

Take me through the magical 2024 postseason:
How nervous were you when he hurt his right knee/calf vs. Michigan State in the Big 10 tourney quarterfinals, and were you worried that he should have sat out rather than come back onto the court to help his team get the 5-PT win? You never want to see anyone get hurt, but when it is your son there is an extra level of apprehension/anxiety. I wanted to walk down to the bench and ask, “Yo, what’s up?”, but instead I texted the trainer and begged him to give me some information. Nothing surprises me with Braden: if I had to guess he probably harassed Coach Painter until he put him back in! It is what I would expect from the kind of player who played an entire season with a broken foot. We felt that if they put him back in then he was well enough to be in there.

The Boilermakers’ 1st 2 NCAA tourney games last year were in Indianapolis: how many family members/friends made the 40-minute drive from Westfield to see their hometown hero in person? There were a LOT of people there so I cannot give you an exact number. Each player gets 6 tickets…so we had to ask for a lot of extras. People from Westfield are very proud of him and it was great to play in front of a “home” crowd.

In the NCAA title game he scored 12 PTS in a loss to UConn: what kind of emotions did you have watching your son play for a national championship? You cannot say that it was a failure: instead, they showed a tremendous amount of resiliency/grit. It was overwhelming for me because we knew that UConn was incredibly tough and that Purdue team would have to play perfect. It was not our day…but we could not be prouder. He had some uncharacteristic turnovers in the Final 4 win over NC State, but we discussed how the title game was a new opportunity. He represented himself/his school/his community very well and we were proud that he got to be in that situation.

He has been 2nd in the nation in APG during each of the past 2 years: what makes him such a great PG? He has great instincts, incredible floor vision, a high IQ, and good chemistry with his teammates. It is a skill set that he has worked on but part of it is a gift: he can see/do things that not everyone else can. Passing the ball is a true skill and he does an incredible job making everyone around him better, which his teammates appreciate. Having a pass-first mentality sometimes puts him or his teammates in a jam, but he is a great PG due to his ability to see the floor.

Yesterday he was named 1st-team All-American: what did it mean to him to receive such an outstanding honor? We have not talked to him about it yet since we have all been traveling East but we sent him a note in our group text and received back a, “Thanks, love you too!” He has always been undervalued and never passed the eye test. He is unassuming in the world of basketball so to do what he has been able to do at the level he has done it at makes us proud. There is an old adage that, “If you love the game, then it will love you back.”

You and your husband Dustin both played basketball at Arkansas Tech: who is the best athlete in the family? I would have said that I was the best player at 1 point…but I am not the best athlete! Braden’s dad was a PG, and I played the 2, so he got his passing skills from his dad. Basketball is important to our entire family, and we appreciate the opportunities that it can provide. The beautiful thing is that Braden embraces it: we never pushed him too hard, and he eventually developed a passion for the sport. He soaked it all up and watched YouTube videos of PGs like Jason Williams/Jason Kidd and tried to emulate them. Dustin coached him up until high school and taught him how to play the game the right way: we never put him in a hectic AAU environment.

Purdue was given a #4 seed this year: any predictions for their game(s) this weekend in Providence? No predictions…but we are here with a happy heart and fingers crossed to get some wins!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Illinois cheerleader Madelyn Roseman

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Last Friday Illinois lost to Maryland 88-65 in the Big 10 tourney but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Illini have won 20+ games for the 6th year in a row and are heading to the NCAA tourney for the 5th year in the past 5 years. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Illinois cheerleader Madelyn Roseman about having so many new teams in the league and making the NCAA tourney.

You were raised in Gifford, IL: what made you choose Illinois for college? Cheering at the University of Illinois was a goal that I set for myself from a really young age. After I made the Illinois cheer team, there was no doubt that the University of Illinois was the place I was supposed to be.

You majored in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences with minors in Business, Public Health, and Health Administration: how did you choose those subjects? Going into college, I wanted to pursue a career in healthcare. I wanted to go into the clinical side at 1st, but after completing some science courses, I realized that the business side of healthcare was where I excelled. Standing out in today’s competitive environment, I made sure to add minors that would prepare me for a successful career.

You graduated last December and are pursuing a graduate degree at the Gies College of Business: what is the post-graduation plan? After I am done with grad school, I plan to use my education as well as my experience in healthcare administration. Eventually after a few years of experience my plan is to complete my MBA through Gies College of Business.

How did you 1st get into cheering, and what is the best part? I first got into cheerleading when I was very little: my mom was a cheer coach so I grew up surrounded by the sport. The best part of cheerleading is going to all the different sporting events and being able to cheer on the Illinois teams from the sidelines, especially at tournament games!

The Big 10 has changed a lot over the past several years: how do you feel about having so many new teams in the league? Personally, I think the expansion of the Big Ten provides exposure and opportunities that are not necessarily limited to the Midwest. From an athlete’s point of view, they are able to travel/play/see so many different parts of the country showcasing all that the Big Ten schools have to offer.

What was the highlight of your season so far: starting conference play 4-1, Senior Night, other? Senior Night was really awesome! Being able to cheer on the Illini during such a competitive game against Purdue and pulling off the win (88-80) was an awesome experience and will be a special memory for me.

The Illini received an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney and have now made the NCAA tourney 5 years in a row: what was the reaction like when you finally heard your school’s name announced on Selection Sunday, and have you been able to attend any of their prior postseason games? Last year, I traveled to Minneapolis and was on the sideline celebrating our Big 10 title when the confetti dropped: that was a day I will never forget! Then I traveled to watch the Sweet 16/Elite 8 games in Boston. I had to be there to cheer on both my cheer team and the basketball team. Watching Selection Sunday last weekend and finding out that we are going to Milwaukee to try and do it again was very exciting.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? For Illinois cheerleading specifically, it is usually upperclassmen and seniors who get to go to postseason events like the NCAA tournament. It means so much to me to be able to travel and continue to cheer on the Illini one final time.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this week? With part of our team going to Texas to cheer on the women’s basketball team, and another group going to cheer on the men’s basketball team in both NCAA tournaments, we will do things as small groups. We will go to dinner as a team and hopefully celebrate many wins!

Any predictions for your game on Friday vs. the Texas-Xavier winner? The Illini will come out on top on Friday!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Maryland dancer Bella Ruck

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday Maryland lost to Michigan 81-80 in the Big 10 tourney semifinals but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Terps had a losing record last year but have won 25 games this season and are heading to the NCAA tourney for the 3rd time in the past 5 years. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Maryland dancer Bella Ruck about seeing so many close games and making the NCAA tourney.

You are from New Jersey: what made you choose Maryland? I committed to UMD on decision day of my senior year. I was conflicted on where to go to school, but ultimately it came down to the academics, sports environment, school size, proximity to DC, and being the perfect distance from home. Having the ability to try out for the dance team also ended up being one of the best reasons I chose Maryland. Overall, this school has provided me with the balance of my school, social, and dance life.

You are majoring in Public Health Science and minoring in General Business: how did you choose those subjects? I have always been passionate about healthcare, but knew that I wanted to have both the science and business as foundational knowledge in my steps towards a career in healthcare administration. As an incoming freshman, Public Health was a great option because it encompasses many aspects of the healthcare field and was the perfect starting point to navigating my professional goals.

You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? I am thinking about how I can keep dance as a part of my life while also looking into obtaining my Master’s in healthcare administration. I have a tentative job offer in New Jersey, but I am trying to keep my options open for right now and am excited about the future.

Your team started this season 3-4 in conference play but won 11 of its final 13 regular season games: has it reached a point where everyone expects the team to win every time that they step onto the court? This basketball season has been my favorite so far out of my four years dancing at Maryland. I am confident that every time this team steps out on the court, they are going to play their hardest and battle to the finish. It is a lot to expect a team to win every game, but I at least know they will always put on their best performance and keep pushing until the end.

What was the highlight of your season so far: beating Wisconsin in January, Senior Day, other? The highlight of the season for me was definitely Senior Day. It was so special to celebrate the seniors on the basketball team as well as our seniors on the Spirit Squad. Being able to perform in front of a packed student section and feel the energy of the atmosphere at the Xfinity Center is a surreal experience that I will forever be grateful for. Any time we are able to win at home is definitely a perk!

Each of your 8 losses this year were by single-digits: is it more fun to cheer for a team that you know will keep fighting to win and never quit? This year we have experienced multiple buzzer-beater losses. It comes down to the final minute of the game, creating a nail-biting, adrenaline-rushing, and overall-exciting game. Knowing they will not back down and will push as hard as they do until the end is what makes this team so special. There is something to be said about our only losses this season being by single-digits: it is a testament to the work put in by the team and the fight they have in them. It makes our role of bringing spirit/energy to the game that much more important.

Last Sunday the Terrapins received an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney: what was the reaction like when you finally heard your school’s name announced on Selection Sunday? I was beyond excited to hear our team announced on Selection Sunday. I traveled to the Men’s Big Ten Tournament and had just arrived home after we lost to the University of Michigan on Saturday by just one point. Watching the power they brought to the game against Illinois and the fight they had against Michigan made me that much more excited for the NCAA tournament. This team has something to prove and I think they are ready to show it.

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? There are many factors that go into who travels to the NCAA tournament. Ultimately, we try to give as many girls as possible the opportunity to travel to the men’s and women’s Big Ten Tournaments as well as both men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments. Luckily both women’s and men’s basketball at Maryland have excelled this year, and we will always be thankful to have the opportunity to travel with them. It is special for family/friends at home to see us on TV and makes us proud to be at these games to support our school.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this week? We are excited about traveling to Seattle for those of us who have not been there before. We have looked at some must-visit spots including the Space Needle, Seattle Great Wheel, Pike Place Market, etc. We are also looking forward to going to the University of Washington because we hear it is a beautiful campus.

Any predictions for your game on Friday vs. GCU? I obviously predict that Maryland will win their game against GCU this Friday and could not be more excited to watch them enter the madness that is March!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Montana dancer Lily Halvorson

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Last Wednesday Montana beat Northern Colorado 91-83 in the Big Sky tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Grizzlies started this season 11-8 but have won 14 of their past 15 games and are now heading back to the NCAA tourney for the 1st time since 2019. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Montana dancer Lily Halvorson about being a good leader and making the NCAA tourney.

You are from Olympia, WA: what made you choose Montana? I wanted a school with a strong sense of community, and I definitely found that at Montana. My biggest draws to UM were the dance team, the environment, and the culture of sports here: it is unmatched! The combination of great academics, an amazing college town, and the opportunity to continue dancing at a high level made it the perfect fit for me.

You are majoring in business marketing and minoring in psychology: how did you choose that subject? I love the design and creativity aspects of marketing and have also always been fascinated by how people think and what influences their decisions, so combining psychology with marketing felt like the perfect blend. Plus, the business school at UM is incredible!

You are a junior: do you have a post-graduation plan yet? I am still figuring out the specifics, but I know I want to work in the marketing field, Being part of the dance team has also shown me how much I love working with people and the power of community, so I definitely want that to play a part in my career as well,

You are captain of the dance team: what is the key to being a good leader? I feel strongly about leading by example, bringing energy, work ethic, and positivity every single day no matter what! However, I also think being a good leader means knowing how to support your teammates, make sure everyone feels valued, and create an environment where people want to push themselves.

One of your hobbies is spending time outdoors: do you have a favorite outdoor spot that you recommend? There are so many great spots, but one of my favorite classics is the trail that runs along the river. It is a classic Missoula walk/run with the best views of the river and downtown!

Last Wednesday the Grizzlies beat Northern Colorado in the Big Sky tourney title game to clinch the title: what was the reaction like when the buzzer finally went off, and how excited is everyone on campus this week? It was amazing! The energy in the arena was insane: I feel so lucky that we had the privilege to be right there with the team in that moment. It was a long couple days of back-to-back games for us…but so worth that moment!! People on campus are so proud of the team bringing Montana to the top. As we took off for Denver, we could feel the Griz community’s support!

Your team lost a couple of games in mid-January but since then they have won 14 of 15 with just a 3-PT OT loss at Portland State: has it reached a point where everyone just expects the team to win every time that they step onto the court? I think there is a lot of confidence in the team, but also a ton of respect for the tough competition. They have put in the work to get this far and you can see it in how they play. I do not think it is an expectation of winning, but more about knowing they have the ability to win!

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our University of Montana Spirit Squad as a whole is made up of the Cheer Team and Dance Team. Cheer travels for all post-season football and Dance travels for all post-season basketball, which means the Dance Team gets to follow the basketball team as far as they go this postseason. That includes Boise for the conference tourney and Denver for March Madness! We are so incredibly excited: it is such an amazing opportunity to perform in front of a national audience. We are lucky to represent Montana and the amazing support system we have there. We have worked so hard for this moment and I think it will be surreal to see our team out there in the tournament.

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for this week? This week we are all focused on the game! We have the incredible opportunity to perform at halftime, and we will be out there with our amazing band during a few timeouts. Our goal is to bring that strong Griz energy and represent Montana well!

Any predictions for your game on Thursday vs. Wisconsin in Denver? I think it is going to be a great game! Wisconsin is a strong team, but Montana has a lot of momentum/talent. We believe in our guys, and I think they are ready to make some noise in this tournament. I have a good feeling and it is going to be a fun one to watch!

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Columbia SR PG Cecelia Collins

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Last Saturday Columbia lost to Harvard 74-71 in the Ivy League women’s tourney title game but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Lions and the rest of the conference were shut down for COVID in 2020-21, but have now won 23+ games for the 4th year in a row and are heading to the NCAA tourney for the 2nd year in a row. Yesterday HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Columbia SR PG Cecelia Collins about having a triple-double and making the NCAA tourney.

In 2022 as a freshman at Bucknell you became the 1st freshman in more than 20 years to make an All-League Team: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? That preseason was crucial for me. I was not a highly recruited player, so I came in with an open mind/worked hard/put on some muscle. It was a learning experience, but I had some great upperclassmen who I could lean on.

Why did you decide to transfer in 2023, and what made you choose Columbia? I was looking for a new environment and wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone. The team was super-welcoming and I trusted them right away: I am very proud of my decision.

Last year you led the conference in assist/turnover ratio: what is the key to being a good PG? I have been able to learn from so many PGs including my teammate Kitty Henderson. When you are surrounded by great players it makes it easy. We have such great shooters that it allows me to get easy assists, and early on I was taught to take care of the ball.

Your 86.1 FT% was also top-35 in the nation: what is the secret to making FTs? I wish I had that answer since I am not shooting as well this year (74.4 FT%)! Confidence comes from preparation, so I was always in the gym trying to make 10 in a row while shooting under pressure.

In the 2024 NCAA tourney you scored 13 PTS in a loss to Vanderbilt: what did you learn from that loss that you think will help you this year? I had never played in March Madness before. It was a rollercoaster of emotions to lose to Princeton on a Saturday and then get selected to the tourney the next day, so this year I will go in with a clear head and execute the game plan.

Last summer you did an internship with the NBA: how was it? It was great! I was an events intern and able to travel to Las Vegas for the Summer League, work at the draft, and connect with so many different people. I learned a lot of new things about the business side of the sports industry and the importance of making connections.

Earlier this month you had the 3rd triple-double in school history (16 PTS/10 REB/10 AST) in a win over Yale to clinch the #1 seed in the Ivy League tourney: where does that rank among the best all-around games of your career? It is up there. It is something I have wanted to do since I was little: you are never sure if you can do something like that, but it was great to share that weekend with Kitty because she did the same thing the night before!

You had a 3-PT loss to Harvard in the Ivy tourney title game but still received an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney: how did it feel to hear your team’s name called on Selection Sunday? It was very exciting. It was different this year because we were predicted as 1 of the “last teams in” so we had more hope. It was such a relief so we will not take it for granted and be prepared for Washington.

Harvard/Princeton also heard their names called: how competitive is your conference considering it contains 3 of the 68 best teams in the country? It is very competitive. When you look at the top-3 teams, we each handed each other a loss during the season. The teams are getting better and better, and we are all grateful for this recognition that I feel we deserved a long time ago. To have 3 bids from a mid-major league is super-cool.

How do you feel about being a #11 seed, and what do you know about Washington? We feel great about it. Our coaching staff has put together a good game plan. They shoot the 3-ball well and have some skilled guards/post players so we will spend a few days preparing for them and then put our best foot forward on Thursday.

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Tourney Talk: HoopsHD interviews Tennessee cheerleader Bethani Morris

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Jon Teitel

Last Sunday Tennessee lost to Florida 86-77 in the SEC tourney title game but still earned an at-large bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Volunteers have now won 25+ games for the 4th year in a row and are heading to the NCAA tourney for the 5th year in a row. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Tennessee cheerleader Bethani Morris about being a national champ and making the NCAA tourney.

You were born/raised in Knoxville: how easy was your decision to go to college at Tennessee? Picking Tennessee was one of the easiest decisions in my entire life! I grew up going to Neyland Stadium with my family and have the best memories as a child of those games. Both my grandmother/mother attended UTK. We had season tickets to football and basketball games, but made our way to lots of baseball games as well. I knew when I became a freshman in high school that my goal was to become a Tennessee Cheerleader. I started attending clinics, meeting team members, I met our coach (Chelsea Bowlin) at my local gym. When my junior year rolled around, I knew that I only wanted to attend UTK, so I studied hard for the ACT to ensure that I would be enrolled. By the time I started my senior year, I only applied to go to school at UTK. I applied the first day that it was open to give myself the best chance possible. I do not recommend only applying to one school, because I had no back-up plan. Thankfully I was accepted: going to school in my hometown has been everything I dreamed it would be! Knoxville hass the best college atmosphere, and I have been so blessed to be here at a time when we have become so dominant across all sports. I have been a die-hard Tennessee fan my entire life!

You are majoring in Marketing with a sales track: how did you choose that subject? When I applied to school, I was accepted into the Nursing program. Before I started classes that fall, I realized that I really did not have a calling to be a nurse, or a good plan of what I wanted to do. I ended up switching to business and marketing to give myself more options after graduation. I also selected sales because my dad has been in sales my entire life and it has always been intriguing to me! I like that I can get into different fields with my degree.

You are planning to attend the Master’s in Marketing program at UTK for another year after graduating in May: do you have a post-Master’s plan yet? I do not have any set plans yet. I will graduate in May of 2026 from the Master’s Program, and from there I hope to have a job lined up! Like I said earlier, I would love to get involved in Sales, but I am also open to other opportunities that come my way. Medical device and pharmaceutical sales interest me, as I originally planned to be in health care. If I could work in sports in some capacity that would be my absolute dream!! The Master’s program at UTK emphasizes and creates lots of networking opportunities, so I plan to find a job to start after I graduate. It would take a lot to get me to move from Knoxville because I love it here so much…but I am open to a lot!

Last year you were named UCA Game Day National Champion: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? Winning UCA Game Day Nationals was so rewarding because it felt like a long time coming. It came after two years of receiving third place and then second place, even though we had some amazing routines. When we go to Nationals, a saying that has been passed down from past team members is, “Bring them to Neyland”. We say this because the game day division is all about showing the judges what a game day is like and bringing our atmosphere to the stage. We are so fortunate to have the best atmosphere in all of college sports. Although we say “Neyland”, we truly mean every single sports atmosphere here on campus. It is an honor of mine to get to represent the school and be a part of something so big.

What has been the highlight of the season so far: starting 14-0, Senior Night, other? The highlight of the season for me so far was the Alabama game at home when we made the buzzer beater to win the game (www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbtYN1Wvf84). Cheering at a basketball game is so fun to me because as cheerleaders we are sitting on the court and get to see all of the action and be right there for it. The energy in Thompson-Boling Arena on that day was unmatched. And when Jahmai Mashack made that shot for the win, it was so exciting to hear the arena erupt like it did! Since it was against Alabama, it was that much sweeter to win like that too. Hearing “Dixieland Delight” and smelling the cigar smoke (a tradition that fans partake in) fill up the arena was just the cherry on top!

The Volunteers lost to Florida in the SEC tourney title game but still earned an at-large bid to the NCAA tourney: how exciting was it to hear your team’s name called on Selection Sunday? It is so exciting to be part of a team that gets to go to March Madness. We are a #2 seed, which is awesome/exciting, but it really is a crazy tournament with all of the upsets and everything that goes on throughout the month. It is so cool to be at a school where both the men and women get to compete for a national title: they both have a great shot at winning it.

You were 1 of a record 14 SEC teams to make the tourney: what is it like to be part of the greatest conference in the history of the sport? Being a part of the SEC is such a unique/cool experience. This year especially, you can see how strong the conference really is. It is inspiring to be around the best of the best and compete with each other. There is a lot of love (and a whole lot of rivalry!) in the building during the tournament. The SEC tournament just has a certain feel to it: it really does ‘just mean more!’

How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? At Tennessee, we send cheer/dance/mascots as a part of our spirit squad. Once they do the numbers, it turns out that 4 cheer couples can go (one girl + one boy on the team = a ‘”couple”‘) and 4 dancers get to go along with our mascot (Smokey). Our coaches decide who gets to travel mainly by seniority and grades. I am a senior so I am FINALLY getting to travel and am so excited! It is especially fun because the people I am traveling with are mainly upperclassmen. I have known them for a while and we have become a tight-knit group after traveling together this year!

Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for next week? Something special that we have planned for this week is that we are getting to wear a “travel uniform”. We usually only bring these uniforms out for special trips and it feels like an honor to wear them. We also always bring our A-game to the court when we support our Vols on the road!

Any predictions for your game on Thursday vs. Wofford in Lexington? My prediction is that the Vols will advance and will be playing again on Saturday! I think that this basketball team is special and you can see how badly the want it. There is a lot of heart behind the team and they seem to be peaking at the right time. If I had to put a number to it, I would say an 88-70 Vols’ victory. March Madness can be interesting with upsets so I think Wofford may put up a good fight in the beginning, but I think that we will pull away in the end. I think this is the year for the Vols!

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