Roll Tide vs. Roll Pride

No. 13 Hofstra is set to clash with No. 4 Alabama, marking the Pride’s first NCAA Tournament appearance in 25 years.

“It was a crazy feeling,” junior guard Cruz Davis shared, reflecting on the excitement of finally being back in the tournament.

With a record of 24-10, Hofstra will face Alabama’s 23-9 team this Friday in Tampa, Florida. The underdogs are prepared to make a splash.

“It didn’t matter who we faced,” Davis, the Coastal Athletic Association Athlete of the Year, added. “Seeing our name on the board, knowing we were really going to play, that just eased all the anxiety.”

Freshman guard Preston Edmeade echoed his teammate’s sentiments. Throughout this season, he and the Pride have demonstrated confidence, even winning two games against ACC teams, including notable victories over Pittsburgh and Syracuse.

As he readies to challenge another major conference team, Edmeade, who hails from Deer Park, is focused on competing against Alabama’s LaBaron Fillon Jr., who averages an impressive 22.7 points per game.

“Big names don’t scare me,” Edmeade remarked once the matchup was announced. “After all, we all tie our shoes the same way.”

Interestingly, both teams share a connection. Aaron Estrada, a guard, transferred from Hofstra to the Tide, completing his college career with Alabama this season.

“I know he will root for the Pride. That doesn’t concern me,” said head coach Speedy Claxton.

Claxton played under Jay Wright during Hofstra’s last NCAA tournament appearance in 2000, and Wright later returned the team to the tournament. The campus has since seen a dry spell since Hofstra’s only CAA championship, which was abruptly cut short by COVID-19 in 2020.

“This is a full-circle moment for me,” Claxton remarked, having won an NBA championship with the Spurs in 2003.

“This really solidifies my legacy at Hofstra,” he continued, thrilled to share the Selection Sunday experience with his team on campus.

Although he hoped for a match against a historic program like North Carolina, Claxton feels fortunate with the current pairing.

“Alabama has had a lot of recent success,” he noted. “I’m genuinely excited to go up against the Crimson Tide.”

Achieving Hofstra’s first NCAA Tournament win would truly enhance the moment, Claxton believes, sharing his conviction that the journey isn’t over yet.

“I believe they can win, no matter who we play,” he said. “It’s significant, but I wouldn’t change anything.”

“This team is special. I can’t quite pin down what makes it click. Maybe I’ll figure it out after the season ends.”

Senior guard German Plotnikov conveyed a similar feeling, emphasizing that the team celebrates Claxton’s achievements as much as their own progress.

“After we won the [CAA] championship, I turned to people and asked, ‘What hasn’t this guy won yet?’ I’m really excited for him,” he expressed.

Plotnikov, originally from Belarus, is thankful to be competing in the warm weather of Florida rather than enduring the bitter cold of winter in New York.

“I was hoping for something warm,” he said with a smile. “It’d be fantastic if a lot of fans showed up.”

Davis, meanwhile, highlighted the importance of consistency and determination as keys to making an upset happen.

“Last season, I had games where I scored 20 points and others where I only got eight,” said Davis, who averaged 20.2 points. He dedicated his summer to both improving his game and enhancing his emotional presence on the team.

“It clearly worked, and it’s going to be essential in Florida,” he mentioned.

“I’ve stepped up as a vocal leader, ready to support my teammates and lift their spirits,” he added. “We spend more time together than we do with our own families. We’re like brothers here.”