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 Los Angeles with the Alabama open practice.
There were plenty of people to see at the Alabama open practice on Wednesday afternoon:
SR G Mark Sears (who is averaging 28 PPG through his 1st 2 NCAA tourney games this month):
SO G Rylan Griffen (who is now 4-1 during his NCAA tourney career):
SR G Aaron Estrada (who is averaging 7 APG through his 1st 2 NCAA tourney games this month):
SR F Grant Nelson (who struggled last week but is still a great FT shooter if the game comes down to the wire):
Head coach Nate Oats chatting with Brian Anderson/Jim Jackson before they call the game for CBS:
Check back for a lot more access all weekend long!
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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 Los Angeles with the Clemson open practice.
There were plenty of people to see at the Clemson open practice on Wednesday morning:
Head coach Brad Brownell (who was in the NIT last year but is making his 1st straight trip to the Sweet 16):
SR G Joseph Girard (transfer player who scored 12 PTS for Syracuse in a 2021 Sweet 16 loss to Houston):
SR G Chase Hunter (who scored a team-high 20 PTS in their 8-PT win over Baylor last Sunday):
SR F PJ Hall (who has not played more than 20 minutes in either of his 2 NCAA tourneys games last due to foul trouble):
JR F Ian Schieffelin (who is shooting an insane 50 3P% this season):
Check back for a lot more access all week long!
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Chad is joined by a full panel as they recap the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament, and look ahead to the Sweet Sixteen and potential Elite Eight games coming up this week. The Round of 32 ended up being kind of chalky, but we did have some exciting upsets in the Round of 64 with Oakland knocking off Kentucky, Yale getting past Auburn in what was a great matchup, and Duquesne getting their first NCAA Tournament win in most people’s lifetime. We discuss all that, give our picks for the upcoming games, and more…
And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
It has been a wild month for Auburn: 3 straight wins to finish the regular season, 3 straight wins to clinch an SEC tourney title, and then a 2-PT loss to Yale in the NCAA tourney last Friday. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Auburn cheerleader Millie Smoke about her team’s remarkable run.
You are from Birmingham, AL: what made you choose Auburn? I do not remember a day in my life where I was NOT a die-hard Auburn fan. From a very young age, I was dressed in Auburn clothes/hats/cheerleading uniforms. Being the 4th child in my family I have always looked up to my older siblings, all of whom attended Auburn before me and had the most incredible experiences. When it came time for me to consider my dreams for a college experience, I could not help but apply to Auburn: first and foremost…and nowhere else! I am so thankful that I made this choice and am so blessed to attend such an outstanding university.
You are majoring in exercise science with a minor in sport coaching: why did you choose those subjects? I have always been fascinated by anything in the medical world. Growing up highly involved in the sports world as a competitive gymnast, I had my fair share of visits to the doctor, orthopedist, and physical therapy clinics. I had great relationships with my doctors/physical therapists and gained so much knowledge from them. When I applied to Auburn, I knew I was interested in the medical field but was unsure of the exact major for me. As I dove deeper into many options for a career path, I landed on the desire to be a physical therapist. I decided to take the route of majoring in Exercise Science and will apply to graduate programs for a DPT sometime soon!
You are a junior: what is the post-graduation plan? Like I mentioned before, my plan is to graduate in the spring of 2025 and then attend graduate school to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. While I am unsure of where I will get my degree or where I will live, I am sure of my passion to do physical therapy for a living. I would deeply enjoy getting to work with athletes, helping them functionally feel better and return to full performance in their sport.
1 of your hobbies is making delicious/nutritious foods: what is your specialty? I highly prioritize my nutrition and health. I have noticed, especially during college, that when I eat better I feel better. My very favorite meal to cook at home is a simple sheet-pan of veggies paired with either quinoa or cauliflower rice, topped with a nicely-seasoned, air-fried salmon filet or grilled chicken breast for dinner.
What was your favorite memory from this season: beating Alabama at home in February, beating Georgia on Senior Night, winning the SEC tourney, other? Every single Auburn victory is a blessing and amazing memory to be a part of. However, out of those 3, my very favorite would have to be the SEC Championship game in Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. It was truly something special: a one-of-a-kind type of experience that I will cherish forever. I feel incredibly thankful that I got to watch our Tigers win that SEC title! I have never seen first-hand more Auburn excitement/joy/pride/spirit than I did that day.
How does your school decide who gets to go to the NCAA tourney, and what will it mean to you to see your team doing its thing in front of a national TV audience? Our spirit coordinator, Ms. Latisha Durroh, plans and coordinates which cheerleaders go on which trips. She does this based on seniority, along with our individual participation during appearances out in the Auburn community and on campus. Every time I am asked to cheer at an event like the NCAA tournament, I am reminded how great of a gift Auburn Cheerleading is and how great an honor it is!
This is your school’s 3rd NCAA tourney in a row: did you get to cheer in Greenville in 2022/Birmingham in 2023? I made the Auburn Cheerleading squad last spring. As a first-year cheerleader, it has been a blast to get to travel to some of our men’s/women’s basketball tournaments! Last spring, I attended the NCAA tourney in Birmingham as a fan…and was unfortunately heartbroken to see our guys’ season come to such an abrupt end (a 2nd-round loss to Houston)!
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the postseason? I am currently at the 1st 4 in Storrs, CT, with the travel squad to cheer on our women’s basketball team in the NCAA tourney. We had a free day to spend in Boston, which was a very fun and new experience for me!
Your sister Izzy is married to Oregon QB Bo Nix: what is he like, and how excited is everyone for the NFL draft next month? Bo is an incredible football player in my opinion, but an even better husband to my sister and brother-in-law to me. He has placed the Kingdom of God at the top of his agenda and loves/prioritizes the people in his life. He also works insanely hard and is more dedicated to the sport of football more than anyone else I know. He is driven/disciplined/resilient and I am so excited for what is in store for him and Izzy in the next stage of their lives!
How did you feel about Auburn’s performance last weekend? I always have faith in our Tigers. In a perfect world, Auburn would go all the way and win it all. However, win or lose, I am their #1 fan both on and off the court and am so honored to get to cheer them on in March: War Eagle!
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On Friday UConn beat Stetson 91-52 in the 1st round of the NCAA tourney to earn a spot in the 2nd round on Sunday vs. Northwestern. The Huskies won it all last year as a 4-seed and are back this year as a 1-seed. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with UConn cheerleader Olivia Haddad about cheering for the champs.
You are from Plainville, CT: what made you choose UConn? I am very family-oriented and UConn offered me the opportunity to stay close to my family while attending a great school.
You are majoring in biology: why did you choose that subject? I have always wanted to pursue a career in healthcare, and majoring in biology allowed me to fulfill many of the prerequisites necessary for entering that field.
You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? After graduation, I will be taking a gap year to build my resume in preparation for eventually attending PA school.
You have been cheering since 5th grade: how did you 1st get into it, and what is the best part of being on the cheer team? I actually started cheering because of my brother. When I was in 5th grade, my brother joined our town’s Pop Warner football team (the Plainville Colts), and I saw the cheerleaders on the field at his first day of practice. I saw how much fun they were having and told my mom that it was something I had to do. Now I am so fortunate to be able to cheer at the college level for such an amazing school, and the best part is the experiences that I have been given. Being part of a National Championship and a Big East Tournament title are experiences I will always remember, especially getting to do it alongside my best friends.
You got to attend the Final 4 last year as the Huskies won the title: what is your favorite memory from their championship season? My favorite part about last season was getting to see how amazing the culture at UConn really is. There is nothing like the UConn fan base: they show up for every game and bring such amazing energy. It is incredible to watch the dedication that both the players/fans have to prove, again and again, that UConn is the basketball capital of the world.
You are a captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? The key to being a good leader is gaining the respect and trust of your teammates to effectively lead the team. When Coach Charmaine entrusted me with the responsibility of leading this team alongside my two other co-captains, I knew I was going to do my part to guide the team to be the best we can be.
You are also the community outreach officer: what does that involve? As the community outreach officer, I am in charge of connecting our team with outside organizations and events. One of the most important events we are involved in is HuskyTHON, an 18-hour-long dance marathon to support Connecticut Children’s Hospital. Given the significance of this event, my co-officer Lauren and I prepare all year through fundraising and various meetings.
How much importance do you place on community service? Being part of the cheer team is so rewarding because it allows me to be very involved in my community. As the community outreach officer, I am deeply involved in HuskyTHON. It is a dance marathon where we dance alongside our miracle kids and their families to fight for the chance to one day end childhood illness. Seeing the bravery of these kids and their families is the most amazing part of this event, and the ability to connect my team to work alongside this organization is the best part of this position.
Your school also has a top-3 seed in the women’s NCAA tourney: how excited is everyone on campus this month? Here at UConn everyone on campus looks forward to March because we are the basketball capital of the world. We have some of the best coaches/players of all time at this university, which is why March is such an important month at Storrs. Our women’s basketball team is one of the best in the country so everyone at UConn loves watching them play. Gampel Pavilion has such an amazing environment, and being able to host Rounds 1 & 2 while supporting our team has everyone very excited!
What did you think about the win over Stetson, and do you think that your team can win it all again? In the game against Stetson, I knew UConn would prevail because of how well they have played this season. Our men’s basketball team has proven both last year/this year that they are the best team in the country. Because there is so much talent on that team and they work so well together, they can definitely win it all again!
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On Sunday Illinois beat Wisconsin 93-87 in the Big 10 tourney title game to earn an automatic bid to this week’s NCAA tournament. The Illini had made the NCAA tourney each of the past 3 years and are now heading back this year as a #3-seed. Earlier today HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel got to speak with Illinois cheerleader Bri Hendren-Santiago about her team’s remarkable run.
You are from Bloomington, IL: what made you choose Illinois? For starters, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is a renowned institution known for its strong academic programs, research opportunities, and vibrant campus life. I was especially attracted to their business program…and I grew up coming to Illinois’ campus as both of my older brothers, my grandparents, and two of my aunts went here for undergrad. I loved how students at UIUC have access to cutting-edge resources and facilities. Finally, its location in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, provides a supportive environment for both academic and personal growth being that I am far enough away from home, but still super-close if I need anything from my family!
You are majoring in Finance: why did you choose that subject? My first introduction to the finance world was through my dad’s job as a Financial Advisor. Being exposed to different facets of the financial industry at a young age, I developed a passion and fascination for the stock market and investing in general. I realized how important it was to develop savings plans for different areas of your life. Just like my dad, I want to help people reach their financial goals and feel secure with their savings. I recognized that the industry fit my outgoing personality and also continuously sparked my curiosity.
Your hobbies include hiking/golfing/horseback riding: which of these give you the best workout? I would say that hiking probably gives me the best workout. It helps me work on my endurance, builds leg strength, and (for some hikes that I have done) builds upper-body strength. It is really a full-body workout that is rewarded with a beautiful view at the end!
You are a senior: what is the post-graduation plan? After graduation, I am moving to Chicago to work as a financial analyst in Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs.
You are a captain this year: what is the key to being a good leader? As a captain, the key to being a good leader is effective communication and leading by example. It is important to communicate clearly with team members, listen to their concerns, and provide guidance/support when needed. Leading by example means demonstrating a strong work ethic, positive attitude, and commitment to the team’s goals. Additionally, fostering a supportive and inclusive team environment where everyone feels valued and motivated can contribute to the team’s success.
In the Big 10 tourney title game last Sunday Illinois had a 6-PT win over Wisconsin: how excited was everyone after the final buzzer, and what was the reaction like when you got back to campus? After the Big 10 tournament title game last Sunday, the atmosphere was electric. The excitement was palpable as fans celebrated the victory, especially considering it was a hard-fought win over Wisconsin. When the final buzzer sounded, there was an eruption of cheers and celebrations from both the Illinois players and the fans. Confetti everywhere, too (which most cheerleaders took home as a souvenir)! Upon returning to campus, the reaction from all the students was extremely prideful. Students, faculty, and fans celebrated the team’s success through gatherings, rallies, or other events to commemorate the achievement. Overall, it was a memorable and joyous weekend for the Illinois community.
The Illini have now made the NCAA tourney for 4 straight years: did you get to cheer in Des Moines in 2023/Pittsburgh in 2022/Indianapolis in 2021? I have been lucky enough to cheer at the NCAA tournaments in Des Moines and Pittsburgh. Neither of them turned out the way we would have hoped, but they were still amazing experiences!
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 team primarily travels based on seniority. Coach values the time and effort that 4-year members have put into the program and rewards them by allowing them to travel to these big tournaments. With that being said, there is a clear expectation of skill ability and game-day readiness. For me, seeing our group doing its thing in front of a national TV audience is extremely exciting. It is seeing the product of hard work, dedication, and a season’s worth of effort. It is an opportunity to showcase our skills on a national stage. For our seniors, it is a chance to leave our mark and potentially create unforgettable moments that will be remembered for years to come. For all of us, it is a source of excitement to see our school represented and to cheer on our team as they strive for success. Overall, the NCAA tournament is a special and memorable experience for everyone involved.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the NCAA tourney? Overall, we just hope to make the most out of every day that we are in different cities. We eat dinners as a team and look for fun team-bonding activities!
Any predictions for your game vs. Morehead State in Omaha on Thursday, and how far can this team go in the tourney? The outcome of the game against Morehead State will depend on various factors such as team preparation, player performance, and in-game strategies. I do not know much about Morehead State outside of their seeding…but I will be doing everything in my power to cheer the Illini onto victory! As for how far the team can go in the tournament, it is difficult to predict with certainty as the NCAA tournament is known for its unpredictability/upsets. However, based on the team’s talent, performance throughout the season, and seeding in the tournament, they have the potential to make a deep run and compete against some of the top teams in the nation. Ultimately, it will come down to how well the team executes its game plan and performs under pressure during each game of the tournament. I am very proud of our team this year and I am hoping they are able to continue this positive energy throughout the tournament!
