BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) 鈥� From tears, to praise, to a touch of anger.
South Florida鈥檚 Brian Hodgson ran the gamut of emotions in making his head coaching debut not far from where he grew up, and following an on Thursday.
The Bulls’ first-year coach鈥檚 eyes began to well when senior forward Izaiyah Nelson referred to Hodgson as a father figure.
鈥淩eally right now I鈥檓 just honestly struggling to picture myself coaching this game without him,鈥� Hodgson said of Nelson, who followed the coach to South Florida this year after spending two seasons together at Arkansas State. 鈥淛ust to hear what he said about me, I feel the same way about him times a million.鈥�
Hodgson also paid tribute to his parents, Rebecca and Larry Hodgson, .
The game marked the first time Hodgson鈥檚 parents got to see him in person in three seasons as a head coach. His father has dementia, making it difficult for him to travel to Florida and Arkansas. Buffalo, meantime, is only a 60-mile drive from Jamestown.
鈥淪omeone sent me a picture of my mom and dad with a big smile on their face,鈥� Hodgson said, before crediting his players for clinching the program鈥檚 fourth tournament berth, and first since 2012.
鈥淚鈥檒l never be able to repay these young men, because I didn鈥檛 know if or when that would happen for my dad to be able to be here and see me in person and how excited he was,鈥� he added.
Hodgson was abused as a child and placed in foster care at the age of 2 before being adopted. He wasn鈥檛 the only one taken in by his parents, who also fostered more than 100 children.
鈥淭hey never did that to get recognition, but they deserved it because they鈥檙e phenomenal human beings,鈥� Hodgson said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very fortunate to have them as my parents.鈥�
As for the anger, Hodgson鈥檚 ire was raised upon hearing Louisville coach Pat Kelsey question South Florida players for apparently disrespecting the Cardinals.
鈥淥ur guys heard what they said,鈥� Kelsey said, following the win. 鈥淚t was definitely something we heard. We internalized. We don鈥檛 have a bunch of guys that are like, but I could tell it was simmering in them and it bothered them. But I do have a lot of respect for (South Florida).鈥�
Kelsey didn鈥檛 specify what was said or when, except refer to a Bulls player saying: 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to pop them and something, something.鈥�
Hodgson was in the interview waiting area and didn鈥檛 like what he overheard.
鈥淚鈥檝e heard all the nonsense about how our young men spoke heading into the game. What are we even talking about? Do you want these young men to not talk confidently about how they鈥檙e going to play against their opponent?鈥� Hodgson said.
He then defended guard Wes Enis, who caused a stir among Louisville fans by saying he believed South Florida 鈥� the East Region鈥檚 No. 11 seed 鈥� was the better team after the matchup was announced on Sunday.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really care,鈥� Enis said, referring to the seedings. 鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 really call it an upset.鈥�
Hodgson didn鈥檛 consider his player鈥檚 comment as a swipe.
鈥淒id we want Wes Enis to sit in that press conference and say, 鈥楴o, we can鈥檛 beat Louisville?鈥� No,鈥� Hodgson said.
鈥淲e instill that in these young men to carry themselves with confidence every day,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e could have won this game. Louisville won the game today. I wouldn鈥檛 mind playing Louisville again.”
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