BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — From tears, to reward, to a touch of anger.
South Florida’s Brian Hodgson ran the gamut of emotions in making his NCAA Tournament head teaching debut not removed from the place he grew up, and following an 83-79 first-round loss to Louisville on Thursday.
The Bulls’ first-year coach’s eyes started to nicely when senior ahead Izaiyah Nelson referred to Hodgson as a father determine.
“Really right now I’m just honestly struggling to picture myself coaching this game without him,” Hodgson mentioned of Nelson, who adopted the coach to South Florida this 12 months after spending two seasons collectively at Arkansas State. “Just to hear what he said about me, I feel the same way about him times a million.”
Hodgson additionally paid tribute to his dad and mom, Rebecca and Larry Hodgson, who adopted and raised him in Jamestown, New York.
The sport marked the primary time Hodgson’s dad and mom obtained to see him in particular person in three seasons as a head coach. His father has dementia, making it troublesome for him to journey to Florida and Arkansas. Buffalo, meantime, is simply a 60-mile drive from Jamestown.
“Someone sent me a picture of my mom and dad with a big smile on their face,” Hodgson mentioned, earlier than crediting his gamers for clinching this system’s fourth event berth, and first since 2012.
“I’ll never be able to repay these young men, because I didn’t know if or when that would happen for my dad to be able to be here and see me in person and how excited he was,” he added.
Hodgson was abused as a youngster and positioned in foster care on the age of 2 earlier than being adopted. He wasn’t the one one taken in by his dad and mom, who additionally fostered greater than 100 youngsters.
“They never did that to get recognition, but they deserved it because they’re phenomenal human beings,” Hodgson mentioned. “I’m very fortunate to have them as my parents.”
As for the anger, Hodgson’s ire was raised upon listening to Louisville coach Pat Kelsey query South Florida gamers for apparently disrespecting the Cardinals.
“Our guys heard what they said,” Kelsey mentioned, following the win. “It was definitely something we heard. We internalized. We don’t have a bunch of guys that are like, but I could tell it was simmering in them and it bothered them. But I do have a lot of respect for (South Florida).”
Kelsey didn’t specify what was mentioned or when, besides refer to a Bulls participant saying: “We’re going to pop them and something, something.”
Hodgson was within the interview ready space and didn’t like what he overheard.
“I’ve heard all the nonsense about how our young men spoke heading into the game. What are we even talking about? Do you want these young men to not talk confidently about how they’re going to play against their opponent?” Hodgson mentioned.
He then defended guard Wes Enis, who induced a stir amongst Louisville followers by saying he believed South Florida — the East Region’s No. 11 seed — was the higher crew after the matchup was introduced on Sunday.
“I don’t really care,” Enis mentioned, referring to the seedings. “I wouldn’t really call it an upset.”
Hodgson didn’t take into account his participant’s remark as a swipe.
“Did we want Wes Enis to sit in that press conference and say, ‘No, we can’t beat Louisville?’ No,” Hodgson mentioned.
“We instill that in these young men to carry themselves with confidence every day,” he added. “We could have won this game. Louisville won the game today. I wouldn’t mind playing Louisville again.”
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AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness
