Homeward Bound: The Elite Eight Through The Eyes Of Springfield Native Matt Hall
March 22, 2006
Stonehill men's basketball freshman guard Matt Hall, a native of Springfield and a former standout at Springfield Central High School, chronicled all of the behind-the-scenes action of the Skyhawks' first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division II "Elite Eight". Here is Matt's first-hand account of preparing for and playing in the national championship tournament in his back yard with his daily diary...
THURSDAY, MARCH 23RD
Our emotions are all over the place tonight. We just lost to Winona State in the Final Four. Immediately after our loss, we went to our locker room and let everything soak in. Of course we all cried, because we love each other and it was the best season of basketball for all of us. Coach Mclaughlin walked in and right away instructed us to, "Pick your heads up." He is right, since there is certainly nothing to be ashamed about. Everything we accomplished this year will go down in history.
It took only a few hours to recover from our loss. I think we understand as a team that after a while the sulking doesn't help much. My father sent me a quote sometime during the first semester that I recite every now an then to find motivation. Stonehill Basketball is made up of warriors, and the quote states that "a warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken." So we're proud of our season and are going to be happy. We know what it takes now to make it as far as we did. Certainly, we could not of done this without the incredible support that we got from our fans. Thank you all for that.
Before I wrap up my final entry I would like to tell everyone a quick story that occured earlier in the day. It is one that will stay fresh in my mind forever. We were just leaving Bertucci's and heading over to the Mass Mutual Center to begin our battle with Winona State; when the bus came to a halt. Coach Mclaughlin exited the bus and I remember everyone stood up to see what he was up to. It turns out, there was a man on the side of the road who was begging for food. Coach McLaughlin was kind enough to provide this man with our leftovers from Bertucci's. When Coach Mac came back on the bus he was given a standing ovation from the team. When we started to drive away I caught a quick glimpse of this man through my window. He was smiling as he looked through the big bag of food. To be honest, at that moment, I realized I made the right choice when I decided to come to Stonehill College. I would like to thank my teammates and coaching staff for making this a wonderful freshmen year. I especially would like to thank the seniors, for being such great leaders-- the four of you are my heroes.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22ND
Well to be honest, words can't really describe how good it feels to be in the Final Four. Our spirits are high and were all anxious to play against Winona St. tomorrow night. Celebrating in the locker room after the game was awesome and (Athletic Director) Paula Sullivan gave us an extraordinary complement when she said, "This is one of the best things thats ever happened to Stonehill." That really meant a lot to us and were hoping to keep this streak going.
There has not been much time for us to relax, and were jumping right back into things tomorrow. We've got practice at the Mass Mutual Center tomorrow morning and a couple of film sessions on Winona State. It's been tough to find time to get my diary done since we've been so busy. I would like to thank all the fans who came to support us tonight. I felt as though Tarleton State was intimidated to start the game since the game almost seemed like it was being played in Merkert. Tomorrow night will be another war and it certainly won't be an easy one. We are more than ready to go to battle.
TUESDAY, MARCH 21ST
We all just got back to the hotel from the Elite Eight banquet at the Basketball Hall of Fame. The guest speaker was Tom Brennan, and we also heard from Dick Vitale in a video message, and they were both very inspirational. Everyone seemed to enjoy their enthusiasm and good humor. I think playing in the Elite Eight for a national championship is starting to sink in with their words and praise...
I remember talking to Colin after we won the regionals, and he summed it up perfectly on how all of the success feels for the five freshmen: "All this success seems almost too good for a first year player." We're all ecstatic to be a part of this sensational season.
After two practice sessions this afternoon, we're all pretty tired. Right now, Colin, Nick, Greg and myself are all just hanging out in the room, relaxing and enjoying our experience. The three of them are cracking me up with their own input on what I should put into today's diary--there are many inside jokes we have between us that will I know will last a lifetime...
Whatever happens tomorrow night, win or lose, I think the seniors need to know how much we admire them. Dick Vitale touched on certain aspects beyond the game of basketball--he spoke about the importance of "getting a W (win) in the game of life." When their basketball careers are finished, I think everyone who is a part of Stonehill basketball understands that Marquis, Sean, Mike and Chrfis will go on to be successful in life. They've proven what type of people they are through their Stonehill basketball and academic careers. For us underclassmen, we can only hope to follow in their footsteps.
MONDAY, MARCH 20TH
We began today with a quick practice, and it was quick because we are all on the same page. It's really great to be part of a team that truly understands and lives by the concept of "togetherness."
Today was filled with laughs, gifts and especially good food provided by by Mom. We received gear and some fruit from Coach McLaughlin (many thanks to our Athletic Director, Paula Sullivan, for all of her support!). And if that wasn't enough, we then received Elite Eight gifts from the NCAA, which included a hat, shirt, a mini basketball and other accessories.
The Marriott is awesome, by the way. I have an incredible view from my window that highlights some of the things that come to mind when I think about Springfield. I can see the Memorial Bridge, the Connecticut River, the Basketball Hall of Fame and all of the cars passing up I-91. It is a view that captures the beauty of Springfield and reminds me that I am happy to be home.
We had a pre-tournament reception this afternoon with the other seven teams that made it this far with us. We were honored to listen to Congressman Richard Neil (a great friend of my family) and other representatives from Springfield. They all gave us a warm welcome and congratulated us on our success. After that, we finally headed to my house for dinner. It was great to see my parents and my dog--they were awesome as always. I just wish I could have seen my twin sister Maura and my four other brothers and sisters. I will see them all after the game on Wednesday, so the wait isn't much longer!
A nice part about being home was seeing my basketball hoop. When I looked at it, I was reminded of all of the one-on-one wars with my brothers Ryan and Mickey, as well as my two best friends, Renato Lindmeto (a star player at Elms College) and Sean Ogirri (a star for Wichita State--a team that made it to the Division I Sweet 16). The trip to my house was far too short and I wished I could have stayed the night, though my Dad probably felt otherwise.
So today was great and we all enjoyed it very much. Tomorrow is time for us to really start getting focused, which I know will start as soon as we wake up. We will do everything we can to bring home a national championship!
SUNDAY, MARCH 19TH
This afternoon's practice was a great one. We watched film on Tarleton State and got an idea for some of their offensive tendencies. It's going to be a challenge but we're ready to go. The fact that CSTV predicted a loss for us in the first round against Tarleton State didn't really surprise me. It seems as though critics have been doubting us all year. After all, we were predicted in the pre-season to finish seventh in the Northeast-10. The special thing about our team is that we never allow the negativity to distract us. In fact, it actually makes some of us stronger. Once Marquis (Taylor) found out about CSTV's prediction you would've been confused by his reaction. He screamed, "Yes! Yes! I love being the underdog! Let's go!" So I said to him, "Quis, that's not really a good thing." He responded and continued to shout, "Yes it is! I love being the underdog!" Later on I thought about his reaction, and I understand that this attitude is what separates him from other competitors. I'm sure Lance, Soap, Mike, Chris, Nick, Colin, Sean, and everyone else felt the same way. I'm still learning...
I honestly cannot wait to be staying in the Marriott. I drove past that place almost everyday growing up, and I always wondered what it is like in there. My expectations are high and I better not be let down. I spoke with my parents today and they look forward to dinner tomorrow night at the Hall House. They were both working hard on preparing, and I know they are doing all they can to make sure this will be a great time!
FRIDAY, MARCH 17TH
"WE GOTTA REBOUND!!" Coach Mac really got the blood pumping through our veins after he roared this during our daily two-man rebounding drill. This is a big emphasis for us, since Tarleton State is one of the best rebounding teams in the country. The intensity level in our practice today was incredible. I've realized that they key to our success relies heavily on our ability to bring this passionate level of intensity to practice on a consistent basis. Mike Lauricella, a role model to me, is our general who prides himself on making sure each one of us "brings it" everyday.
Everyone seems healthy and focused. I'm happy especially for our seniors, who stuck together during the rough times early on in their careers. They persevered through a lot of adversity and I know they all deserve all of this success. For myself, Greg, Ryan, Nick and Colin, we understand how fortunate we are to be led by such a mature group of guys. The road to Springfield draws near, and we are ready to go. We're all eating dinner at my house on Monday, and I know my mother's cooking will give us extra strength for Wednesday. Hopefully, my Dad won't embarrass me, though (just kidding, I love both you guys and I can't wait to come home!).
THURSDAY, MARCH 16TH
Today was the first day back since our Northeast Regional Championship game on Tuesday night (the 14th). Our spirits are still high, but we understand that the time to get completely focused begins tomorrow. Coach McLaughlin is intensely focused and ready to go, and we all got a taste of this during our lifting session this afternoon. During one exercise, I heard him in the background, "You got at least 10 reps there, Matt." I had eight at the most, but I admire how he believes in us. I look forward to practice tomorrow, and I know it will be intense. I especially look forward to our trip to Springfield on Monday. Going back to my hometown with the team will be an experience that I will remember the rest of my life. I wouldn't want the Elite Eight to be held anywhere else in the world...