This is an opinion column.
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A unique opportunity presented itself on Friday here in Lexington, Ky.
I had the chance to watch Alabama play Robert Morris in the NCAA Tournament while interviewing Auburn’s Chad Baker-Mazara. Throughout the interview, Baker-Mazara fed me updates on the action and even threw in some commentary, too.
Alabama was playing in Cleveland, and Auburn was at Rupp Arena, but anything is possible in this age of technology. Baker-Mazara had the Alabama game streaming on his smartphone during Auburn’s open locker room media session.
It made for some amusing content.
One after another, reporters kept asking Baker-Mazara if he was going to keep his emotions in check against Creighton. That’s a pretty tired angle at this point, though. We all know CBM plays best when he’s a little too excited.
“I try to be myself, but at the same time keep it cool, so I don’t hurt our team,” Baker-Mazara said. “I just try to learn that, and the guys are helping me with that — so just trying to keep my emotions in touch.”
If I were Johni Broome or assistant coach Steven Pearl, then I’d start every game from here on out by slapping Baker-Mazara in the face before tipoff.
Assistant coach Steven Pearl was critical of Baker-Mazara and Broome after Thursday’s 20-point victory against 16-seed Alabama State. So was someone else.
But it’s a new day. The sun shines upon Auburn once again. The Tigers have been the best team in the country all season and they take on No.9-seed Creighton at 6:10 p.m. CT on Saturday. I like the Tigers’ chances.
Bored with everyone’s questions, I kept asking Baker-Mazara for the score to the game streaming on the device in his lap.
Priorities, people.
“Ooh, 63-64, and Mark [Sears] just got blocked,” Baker-Mazara said. “Get that out of here, Mark! Just kidding.”
But not really.
Baker-Mazara was rooting for Alabama to lose. It didn’t happen, thankfully. The Tide pulled away from Robert Morris in the second half and won 90-81.
As a professional journalist, I’m not supposed to be rooting for any particular team in the Big Dance. Well, let’s be completely transparent about something. I am openly rooting for No.2-seed Alabama and No.1-seed Auburn to meet in the national championship.
Baker-Mazara was ejected in Auburn’s most recent game against Alabama. Hopefully he gets another shot at the Tide (but not literally, though, because that elbow on Chris Youngblood was pretty dirty).
Auburn practiced on Friday at Rupp Arena. The Tigers’ pre-practice locker room was open to reporters for 30 minutes. Miles Kelly’s locker was next to Baker-Mazara. They sat side-by-side. Kelly had on fuzzy slippers that looked like the paws of a black panther. “Black Panther” is his favorite movie and his sister gave him the slippers for Christmas. Baker-Mazara had on a stylish Auburn letterman’s jacket on top of an Auburn hooded sweatshirt with Aubie the mascot spinning a basketball on his claw.
It was a good look.
Not a good look … Auburn’s tourney opener against Alabama State. The Tigers were sloppy and coach Bruce Pearl was angry after the game. So was team leader Dylan Cardwell, who challenged his teammates with a passionate speech.
“I felt like we all had to hear that,” Baker-Mazara said. “We got a little lackadaisical yesterday and I feel like we had to hear that to get a little fire in us.”
Yeah, but what about that score to the Bama game?
“Still a one point game,” said Baker-Mazara, with a touch of hope in his voice.
Moments later, the Tide began to turn.
“Ahh,” CBM said, “Alabama just scored. It’s a three-point game, 65-68, with 5:56 left.”
He wanted Alabama to lose, naturally, because Baker-Mazara, as much as he tried, couldn’t hide his dislike for his school’s instate rival.
Baker-Mazara was asked if he prayed for Alabama’s downfall?
After first denying it, CBM admitted he wouldn’t mind if Alabama lost early in the NCAA Tournament.
“I don’t pray on anyone’s downfall,” he said, “but — man, you’re putting me [on the spot] on this one — but I want to see the SEC do good, but it is Bama, so, yeah, I do want them to lose.”
Baker-Mazara laughed and feigned embarrassment. He qualified the statement. His friend, Aden Holloway, plays for Alabama, and Baker-Mazara said, “I want Biz to do good.”
The NCAA Tournament is the greatest sports event every year, and it only seems to get better and better. It’s the one thing the leaders of collegiate athletics couldn’t get wrong even if they tried. Players like Baker-Mazara will always keep us guessing.
Baker-Mazara was kicked out of the first round last season, ejected for a cheap shot against Yale. CBM wants his chance at redemption and I hope he gets it. He’s too good of a player to go home early, and Auburn has the potential to be an all-time team.
What’s CBM’s favorite thing about March Madness?
“How unpredictable it is,” Baker-Mazara said. “You really don’t know who’s going to win. You go based off records and who’s playing the best, and all that, but you really don’t know because anyone can come beat you any day, for real, as long as you bring it.
“You might be good, but you don’t know who on the other team might be hot that day. The basketball gods might be on their side and they come to win.”
The basketball gods are real, and CBM is in luck. They’re not in the business of awarding karma, just tough defense and soft touches at the rim.
BE HEARD
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Joseph Goodman is the lead sports columnist for the Alabama Media Group, and author of the book “We Want Bama: A Season of Hope and the Making of Nick Saban’s Ultimate Team.”
