TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The cool thing about March Madness is that local kids get a chance to come home. For Tallahassee girl turned Missouri Tiger Hannah Schuchts, she's happy to be playing in familiar territory.
"My first reaction was definitely just shocked," she laughed as she remember when Missouri was announced they'd play the first two rounds in Tallahassee. "I wasn't expecting it, but just super excited once I found out."
Hannah, a six foot two forward, is averaging about ten minutes a game in her redshirt freshman season for the Tigers, and her fans will be ready to cheer her on.
"I told them to wear their black and gold, so they'll be good fans," she said.
"Her parents do a great job of trying to get out to as many games as they can but it still makes it tough," said head coach Robin Pingeton of Hannah playing so far away from home. "To see the joy in her heart that she was going to be able to come back home and be around not only immediate family, but extended family and have a chance to have our team around them, it's really cool."
What's also really cool is the Tigers dancing for the second straight year - and Hannah is loving their chances.
"Our team chemistry on and off the court really shows in the way we play. We have a lot of fun together, we trust each other and we battle for each other."
And if they can battle their way through to the Sweet Sixteen on her hometown court? That'd be really cool too.
"It's cool to kind of come full circle and be able to play here myself, so it's fun."
Hannah and the Tigers play South Florida Friday at 5:00.
