PITTSBURGH (AP) Amani Bartlett doesn’t know exactly how she got the job as LSU’s hype woman. She didn’t apply for it. No one asked her to do it. It just kind of happened. So when the lights go down and the music comes up right before the Tigers’ starting lineup is introduced, the junior […]
The pregame handshake has become a staple of college basketball during March Madness. Nearly every team in both the men s and women s game has at least one player who greets the starters with a sometimes intricately choreographed handshake before the game is tipped off. The ritual has become a part of basketball s culture and offers players a chance to relax before the game begins. LSU s Amani Bartlett says she tailors the handshakes to fit a teammate s personality. Bartlett believes the handshakes serve as a wake-up call that it s time to get serious and focus on the task ahead.