WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – There’s nothing like March Madness to grab the attention of a Major League clubhouse. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament, which tipped off on Tuesday night, leads to arguments over which school is going to cut down the nets at the Final Four in Glendale, Ariz., next month.

The Astros have a handful of players who wear their school colors with pride, especially during the NCAA Tournament. So we polled the clubhouse and asked players who attended a college with its team in the tournament what they thought about their school’s chances.

IF David Hensley (San Diego State): “If the boys play like they’re supposed to play, I could see us making a run for the Elite Eight this year.”

OF Joey Loperfido (Duke): “I think it’s a talented group. I don’t think they’ve played their best basketball lately. I think they’ve had a couple of days now to get organized for the tournament. I think they’ll make a nice little run. I’m going to say Elite Eight. It’s tough because I don’t think they have the momentum. It’s a fun group and a talented group and I think they’re going to make a little run.”

C César Salazar (Arizona): “I’m definitely going to be behind the Wildcats. I’m rooting for the school that I went to. I know how good and how prestigious the program has been for a while. I’m hoping this year we make it all the way through, because I know they’ve had some troubles getting past the Sweet 16 in years prior. Hopefully, this year, they’ll go all the way through.”

OF Corey Julks (Houston): “We’re going to take it all. I think them losing that last game [to Iowa State in the Big 12 tournament championship] was just a little reminder we’ve got to come ready, especially for March Madness. Get that monkey off our back and go do it. They’ve got it.”

LHP Parker Mushinski (Texas Tech): “We’re coming in against an N.C. State team that’s a little hot. I called [former Minor League teammate Jon Olczak], who is a huge N.C. State guy and was with us for a while and is one of my best friends. He thinks they’ll be tired. I think we’re always good for a couple of wins. I haven’t followed it as much as I wanted but being a Red Raider, I’m going to pull for my guys.”

OF Jake Meyers (Nebraska): “I think I like the first round [vs. Texas A&M]. We played really well all year, so I’m really excited for the first round and hopefully to get our first win ever [in NCAA Tournament]. … The Houston draw [possibly in second round], though, that’s a really good team. I think Houston’s strength is their defense so if Nebraska can come out and shoot the lights out of the gym, maybe they have a chance. Just want them to get one win. That’s all I care about.”

Manager Joe Espada (honorary Houston fan): "I think they're going to hold the trophy at the end of the season. I think their team is well-rounded, got all the skills, they can defend, they can shoot and they're well-coached."

Astros closer Josh Hader has been slowly trimming his list of possible walk-out song choices that will be played when he emerges from the bullpen at Minute Maid Park prior to save situations. With a week to go before the season, Hader is down to three choices and would like to know what Astros fans think.

In the past, he’s had “EVERY CHANCE I GET” by DJ Khaled, but a couple of other options have emerged as well: “Fireman” by Lil Wayne and “D.O.A.” by Jay Z.

“I need something that has a good intro and builds in and then just trips and goes crazy,” he said. “‘Fireman’ would be a good intro, though. We’ll see. I don’t know. It’s really hard to pick.”

What say you?

Whitcomb was tied for the Minor League Baseball lead last year with 35 homers while splitting time between Triple-A Sugar Land and Double-A Corpus Christi. The 25-year-old infielder was a fifth-round pick from UC-San Diego in the 2021 MLB Draft.

MLB.com: What’s been your biggest takeaway from your time at big-league camp?

Whitcomb: There’s been a ton, but one of the big ones has been able to take ground balls every day with [Jose] Altuve, [Jeremy] Peña, [Alex] Bregman and [Mauricio] Dubón. It’s been amazing to just be around and learn from them.

MLB.com: Who was your favorite baseball player growing up?

Whitcomb: Every time someone asks me this, I always say a right-handed Corey Seager. He’s an awesome shortstop and obviously rakes. Yeah, that’s been my guy.

MLB.com: What kind of stuff do you like to do off the field?

Whitcomb: I am a big ocean guy. I like to surf, I like to fish, being from Southern California. I was born and raised over there and it’s kind of in my genes. My dad was a big surfer, so I’ve been doing that since I was super little.

MLB.com: What’s your go-to food on off days or after games?

Whitcomb: I’m a fan of In-N-Out Burger, but they don’t have a ton of them outside California. Every time I go back, I always make sure to get some of that.

MLB.com: What kind of music do you listen to?

Whitcomb: It changes all the time. Right now, I’m in a little country [phase].

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