NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) 鈥� Family matters at High Point, enough that coach Chelsea Banbury has no problem with assistant Katie Clayman missing the Panthers’ last practice before their NCAA Tournament opener.
It’s March Madness, and Clayman got to watch her husband win his tournament debut Thursday as the in Portland, Oregon. Clayman spent Friday traveling back across the country to Nashville for the 15th-seeded Panthers’ first-round game Saturday night against No. 2 seed Vanderbilt.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not any direct flights …,鈥� Banbury said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been in touch with her. She鈥檚 watching film. I鈥檝e given her a task of what I want to see when she gets here and what to have broken down by the time she is, and we can go around tomorrow and shoot around with the team.鈥�
Of 136 teams, there are 30 schools with both their men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 teams in the two tournament fields. Flynn Clayman and his wife get to juggle not only coaching duties during March Madness while managing parenting duties for 19-month old son, Quinn.
The High Point women should be done with their opener Saturday night when the High Point men tip off against No. 4 seed Arkansas with a Sweet 16 berth in the West Region on the line.
Banbury said watching the 12th-seeded High Point men pull off the biggest win in program history in the West Region was unbelievable. She watched while packing with her son jumping on the couch and yelling.
鈥淚t was awesome,鈥� Banbury said.
The High Point women should be done with their opener Saturday night when the High Point men tip off against No. 4 seed Arkansas with a Sweet 16 berth in the West Region on the line.
Then again, Banbury had her son with her Friday at practice. At High Point, families are around for support.
鈥淪he should be there supporting Flynn,鈥� Banbury said. 鈥淭his was his first NCAA Tournament as a head coach. I couldn鈥檛 imagine what she鈥檇 be going through if she missed it. It was incredible. She was 100% where she needed. She鈥檒l be here with us and where she needs to be tomorrow.鈥�
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