Story by Zach Scott, staff writer

If you’ve followed Racer basketball this season, you know all the big names: Jonathan Stark, Terrell Miller, and Ja Morant. What you don’t know, however, is the glue that holds the team together.

Players like freshman guards Zach Hopewell and Brion Whitley have seen the court on rare occasions this year, but that has not stopped them from contributing to the team.

The two young guards embody the college basketball tradition of the “bench mob”. The role of a bench mob is to hype up the fans whenever they can and by any means necessary.

“We try to do our best to bring energy to the fans and the players on the court,” Whitley said.

Hopewell and Whitley are not the only ones contributing to the sideline entertainment though; anyone who is currently not in the game is willing and able to take part.

“Devin [Gilmore] does the craziest dances I’ve ever seen, and Zach is just the token white kid, so nothing against him, but seeing him celebrate is hilarious,” Whitley said.

The players occupying the Racer bench have already begun thinking of what they can do on the big stage as well.

“Me, Jachai [Taylor], and Devin are all going to try to think of some creative things to do,” Whitey said. “Zach’s a smart guy; he’ll probably think of something clever.”

Hopewell says that the guys like to have fun and joke around, yet they are fully aware of what this team is capable of.

“It’s really a dream come true to be a part of a team that is this well-rounded,” Hopewell said.

Whitley believes that the Racers are ready to roll, and the unity of the team might be the foundation of that confidence.

“We’re all close and it’s going to be an unbelievable experience,” Whitley added. “We’re not a Cinderella team; we know we can go in there and win a couple games.”

Team chemistry is one of the most important things that a team can have going into a tournament of this magnitude, and this Racer squad believes that lacking team chemistry will be no problem.

“All the guys on the trips – the managers, the assistant coaches, the players – everyone is close,” Hopewell said. “We’re all laughing and joking with each other. It’s always good to have that team chemistry.”