Player Interview

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Montlake Madness Speaks to Abdul Gaddy

October 21, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 3 comments

Gaddy close copyAbdul Gaddy is the highest-rated recruit to come play basketball for UW since Spencer Hawes. Billed as a poised, pass-first point guard, Gaddy should compete for a starting spot next month when the Huskies tip off the 2009/2010 season.

What can’t come through in an interview, but is clear when you watch him work out, or speak with him in person, is that Abdul has a presence about him. I was glad to catch up with him recently. Here’s what we discussed:

Montlake Madness: What’s your philosophy on leading a team? How do you approach the game to make the players around you better?

Abdul Gaddy: You just gotta come out, play basketball, make the right plays. If somebody has an easier shot than you, you just gotta give them the ball and make plays for them.

It’s all about reading the defense. I like to say that I can read plays three or four steps ahead. That’s what my coach tried to teach me to do: try to see the play before it happens. So, that’s what I try to do. I just go out and try to make the right plays. I’m not trying to get my points or anything like that.

MM: When is the time on the floor that you say to yourself “It’s time for me to score now”?

AG: When it’s time to score is, honestly, if I see my team struggling and nobody’s scoring and everything, I say, okay now I gotta turn it up and be more aggressive. If I make more plays then it makes their shot easier where they just get layups now. They don’t have to worry about making a tough jump shot or anything. I could worry about taking that shot. So, I try to relieve the pressure off my teammates.

MM: When you’ve got the ball in your hands and you’ve got, say, a teammate down low, and, say, Isaiah to your left, and maybe another option too, what’s the thought process for you as far as ball distribution? Is it a conscious thing? Or is passing done completely within the flow of the game?

AG: Well, Isaiah is a good enough player that he can score whenever he wants to. Our offense is like kind of generated around him and Quincy. So where those guys are. . . Defenses are gonna key on those two, but they’re good enough players where they’re making plays for us too. So, if they see somebody is wide open because they haven’t been getting touches or anything, defenses are going to be on them, and they’re going to be able to pass the ball for us to have open shots. They’re good enough players to make all of us better.

MM: What’s more important to you starting games or finishing games?

AG: Finishing games. Because that’s where the games mostly are won. Y’know, a lot of people will say a lot of stuff, like “who’s gonna start?” Honestly, I really don’t care if I start or not. A lot of people have expectations…

MM: You really don’t care? Opening night, there’s no part of you that wants to be…?

AG: Nah… I mean, there’s gonna be people who would say something like “Oh, why didn’t you start?,” but this is a team thing between us. This is our brotherhood. I feel like I’ve earned my respect to get playing time. It don’t really matter if I start or not. I deserve playing time. That’s what I’m playing for. I’m playing for playing time. And, to help the team win.

MM: Finishing games, though. That makes a difference?

AG: Yes. I wanna be in the game at the end of the game when Coach is like “I need somebody that’s gonna help me win this game.” And I wanna be like “Coach, I’m gonna help you win this game.”

Thanks for coming!

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Montlake Madness Talks to Husky Freshman Guard, C.J. Wilcox

October 19, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 2 comments

CJ shootingC.J. Wilcox’s reputation as a terrific shooter precedes him even before playing a game as a Husky. He’s being called the team’s best shooter by some (although Elston Turner might have something to say about that). And, Wilcox won this weekend’s three-point contest, teaming with a UW student to defeat Elston Turner and his partner.

Some of you have asked about the possibility of C.J. redshirting this season. For what it’s worth, I don’t think it’s very likely with only a 12-man team. What seems like a deep rotation, that will be difficult to break into, could become dangerously thin with an injury or two. Here’s what we discussed:

Montlake Madness: Everyone talks about your shooting. What aspect of your game are people missing? What should they be talking about?

C.J. Wilcox: They could also talk about my quickness, I guess. My agility. Stuff like that. But, mostly it’s my shooting. That’s what I spend most of my time on, is my shooting.

MM: Does there come a point where you know you’re a good shooter so you work on other things more? How do you decide to mix between polishing your strengths and working on the things you need to improve on?

C.J.: I’ll do the same shooting every day. I’ll do other stuff. I mean, I’ll do ball-handling. Of course, weights and stuff. But, I never miss a shooting practice. If you can shoot, you can play anywhere you want to.

MM: What don’t we know about you?

C.J.: I play guitar. A lot of people don’t know that.

MM: What kind of music do you play?

C.J. Just anything that sounds good, really.

MM: Who’s your favorite guitarist?

C.J.: I’d probably have to say, Jimi Hendrix.

MM: What’s been unexpected so far about your experience at UW?

C.J.: I guess it’s the transition. The physical part of playing. Playing with people as fast as you. Jumping as high. Everything like that. It’s just an adjustment, the whole thing.

MM: How’s the adjustment to Seattle been, being away from home?

C.J.: I came in the summer, so I kinda got used to being away from home. So, right now, it’s not that big of a deal. But early in the summer, I kinda missed home. But, now I can wait, so. . .

MM: Do you guys get to go home at all during the season?

C.J.: I know we go home at Christmas, but that’s the only time I can think of.

Thanks for coming.

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Brief Interview with Husky Guard, Scott Suggs

October 18, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 1 comment

scott suggs warmups copyI was lucky enough to catch up with Scott Suggs at UW’s Media Day recently. In the time since I first interviewed Suggs, he’s mentioned to Percy Allen that he considered transferring, and some have conjectured (as we have) that it’s going to be very tough for Scott to crack Lorenzo Romar’s nine- or ten-man rotation this season with so much Husky depth on the perimeter.

Here’s our brief discussion:

Montlake Madness: So, how much pressure do you feel to jump right in and break into that rotation and prove to yourself, prove to the coaches, teammates and fans early on that you’re going to be in the plan? That you’re going to play minutes for this team?

Scott Suggs: You know, I’d say it’s a big thing that obviously I had to work at from last year, and it’s just something that I worked real hard on all summer. I still continue to go into practice playing aggressively, doing what I know I can do and showing them what I can do to help this team out, and just making the coaches notice me really.

Montlake Madness: Where do you fit in to be most successful? Do you see yourself out there with two smaller guys? Or, one smaller guy? What’s the spot where you feel like you can really succeed?

Scott Suggs: It’s hard to say, really, ’cause… I guess we’ve got… everybody on this team can make plays. But, just anywhere where I can really just get the rock and just try to get to the lane and create plays. So, whatever kind of lineup that’s suited to that is really up to Coach Romar.

Thanks for coming!

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Justin Holiday Speaks to Montlake Madness

October 16, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 4 comments

Justin Holiday on offense copyAs those of you who have been reading Montlake Madness for a while know, Justin Holiday is our favorite Husky. We love his attention to defense. We think he’s got a ridiculous amount of offense just waiting to show itself. We feel very strongly about this.

So, we were thrilled to get a chance to speak with him recently. Here’s what we discussed:

Montlake Madness: I know you’re still a few weeks away, but first of all, how you feeling?

Justin Holiday: Good.

MM: Are you gonna release a Q-Walk video? The fans really want to see one. What do you think?

JH: I mean we might. We always make videos and stuff like that. We might.

MM: Obviously, Jrue’s (Justin’s brother, Jrue Holiday) year at UCLA turned out well for him, getting drafted in the first round. But, did he ever express that he maybe wished he came to UW and played for a year with you instead?

JH: I don’t know about being here for a year, but he would always love to play with me. Same with me. But, as far as going there and any regrets, there wasn’t nothing like that.

MM: Let’s talk about the Purdue game (in last year’s NCAA Tournament). All season you were playing double-digit minutes, and then you were close to your season low (five minutes) against Purdue. Did you ever talk to Coach about why that happened?

JH: I mean, at the time, me and Coach did talk about it. And what he said was the way Purdue was playing us — you know me, obviously, the way I was playing wasn’t too aggressive on offense — when they were on defense they weren’t really guarding me, so that’s what he said. I mean, maybe I should played different all year, but I mean, I did what I did to help the team.

MM: What about this year? Are you coming in more aggressive on the offensive end?

JH: I have to. I mean, if you’re going to play at the next level you have to show that you can play offense.

MM: And that’s the goal, to play at the next level?

JH: Oh, yeah.

MM: What’s a successful year stat-wise?

JH: That’s the thing, I never really looked at how much I averaged or anything like that, but maybe ten points, ten to twelve, things like that. That’s a good year. I mean, even just being looked at from a league perspective. But, I still have to keep my defensive game. I can’t lose that.

Thanks for coming!

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Quincy Pondexter Interview, Part II

October 1, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 4 comments

Q dunking IIHere’s the second part of our Quincy Pondexter interview. If you missed part I, check it out here first.

As most fans know, much will be expected from Quincy this season if the Dawgs hope to make up for the loss of Jon Brockman and build upon last year’s fantastic season. . .

Montlake Madness: This is a deep, deep team, as many have said. And Coach has agreed that at least one or two guys will probably be left out of the regular rotation. As a team leader, what do you say to a guy, whomever it is, that maybe is a little down about his lack of playing time?

Quincy Pondexter: I’d tell him to fight through adversity. Most of us on the team have been through ups and downs, and you have to support the team when you’re down. Just because someone is playing harder than you, you don’t have to bend down and submit to it. You have to get out and work harder yourself. I think it’s great to see guys out there pushing hard for a spot on the team.

MM: Anyone been a pleasant surprise in workouts so far, as far as major improvement?

QP: Our team collectively is going to surprise people. But, I can’t pinpoint anyone specifically yet. As we get closer, we’ll know a little more. Ask me in a few weeks.

MM: If you had to guess, what’s the starting five on opening night?

QP: That’s tough. Matthew would have a spot, Darnell, Quincy, Isaiah. Either Venoy or Abdul.

MM: This might sound crazy, but is it every single player’s goal to earn a starting spot?

QP: Yes. 90 to 99 percent of players want to play in the NBA. I don’t think anyone wants to come and sit on the bench. Starting is a significant goal.

MM: Explain the dynamic of the battle for the starting point guard spot between Venoy Overton and Abdul Gaddy.

QP: You know, you could start Isaiah (at the point) too and have Elston (Turner) or Justin (Holiday) start. There are many ways to twist the lineup and great possibilities. Elston and Justin are great and give our team a big lineup. You never know until the season starts.

MM: Do you see yourself playing more minutes at the small forward spot, or power forward?

QP: It doesn’t matter to me, honestly. I spent time this summer as a two guard. I’ve played the four. I’ve played the five. I’ve had to guard ones. I can’t really pinpoint a position. I just know I’ll be on the court.

MM: What’s your dream scenario after the season? The Huskies have won the national championship. What happens next? What team drafts Quincy Pondexter?

QP: I would say any team on the west coast. Maybe, Portland or Los Angeles. It would be great to play with Kobe or B-Roy. Other than that, it could be anywhere as long as I get to wear the jersey with Jerry West on the front.

MM: What are your favorite places to eat in Seattle?

QP: I have three favorite spots. I go to Georgio’s Subs for lunch every day for sub sandwiches. And, I have dinner at Varlamos almost every night. And, then late night, either Jet City Pizza or Pagliacci. Seattle food has been good to my body.

MM: If you’re Coach Romar, what’s your biggest challenge going into this season?

QP: I think he doesn’t have many. He has a team ready to come out and play, and win. He’s got to keep everyone focused on every single game — even ones you may not think mean a lot.

MM: What’s the one thing that a fan wouldn’t know about being an NCAA D-I ballplayer that isn’t apparent on TV or when you read the newspapers?

QP: We’re normal people just like them. Seeing us on TV or any of that, or in public, really doesn’t do it justice to how we are as people. We joke around, go out and have fun. We try to be normal kids. Come hang out for 24 hours. I’ll show you what it’s really like.

MM: I’m gonna take you up on that. It’ll make for a great post.

QP: Alright then. Cool.

Hey, thanks for coming!

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Quincy Pondexter Talks to Montlake Madness

September 28, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 6 comments

Q dunkingWe were lucky enough recently to speak to the player most of Husky Nation will be looking to as the team’s leader during the upcoming season, Quincy Pondexter.

I made the case several weeks ago that those expecting to see Pondexter putting up bigger numbers as a senior got a glimpse of that during the last half of last season, when it seemed like the ball was in usually in Quincy’s hands as games hung in the balance.

But, for the Huskies to have a chance of reaching their potential, and for Quincy to have a good chance at hearing his name called during the first round of the NBA Draft, a big season from Pondexter, starting from day one, is a must. Here’s our conversation:

Montlake Madness: Other than winning the Pac-10 championship last season, tell me the high point of your first three years playing for the Huskies.

Quincy Pondexter: You know what? Just bouncing back. Rejuvenating the whole program. Being a part of doing that is something I take a lot of pride in, and it’s really helped me grow up a lot off the court.

MM: And what about low point for you?

QP: At about the midpoint of my freshman year, I did what a lot of freshman do. I pouted. I put my head down. Coach helped me fight through it, though. And, I think during my sophomore year there was some down time. I expected a lot more (out of myself). Not everything works out that way, though. To bounce back from that was amazing.

MM: As the only senior on the team, it’s expected that you’ll be a leader on this team. Explain specifically what that means. What things do you think a person does or says that adds that all-important leadership quality to team?

QP: As a leader you have to be pretty much like another member of the coaching staff. You have to do everything right. You can’t be down on yourself, and you have to bring the best out of guys on the team. A leader is like a father figure and brother to the other guys.

MM: Does that extend to off-the-court activities as well?

QP: Of course, you still have to handle yourself in a responsible manner off the court. The good leaders are a good example off the court too. You can’t go out, and can’t do things a lot of college students do. Having a good leader off the court is just as important as on the court.

MM: Your father and uncle were big-time ballers. What did you learn by having them as family members that other players might not have learned growing up in a different family?

QP: I learned a lot. My godfather is Glenn McDonald who played for one of the Celtics championship teams (in 1975-76). I’ve learned from their mistakes. They all left college early to enter the draft, and I think they regret that. That’s one of the things that’s kept me at UW. And, I’ve listened to Coach Romar to become the best player I can be. My parents’ and godfather’s mentorship has been great to keep a good head on my shoulders.

MM: There was speculation early in your time here that you might not be a four-year player at UW. At what point did it become 100% clear to you that you were going to stay with the program for your entire eligibility?

QP: After my sophomore year, I really considered it. I felt I was more prepared for the NBA Draft. But, every year something brings me back. I wanted to leave my mark on program. One of the reasons I’ve stayed is that I don’t feel like I’ve done enough. There’s unfinished business. It’s made me a better person on and off the court.

After this past year, there was a good possibility I could’ve left. I went to Coach Romar’s office and he had papers ready for me to sign. But, I said “I don’t want to leave.”

MM: There are some who would call your play over the course of three years inconsistent. Do you agree, and why or why not?

QP: I agree with that completely. As I’ve said, I’m my biggest critic. When those games come when I don’t score as much, maybe the other team scouted me better and I had to find open teammates. I just wanted my team to win. Whether I scored 0 or 30, I really didn’t care about stats, which is why you might say I was inconsistent.

MM: What kind of statistics would be a personal success for you this season?

QP: I can’t really say exact numbers. Our team hasn’t really come together in a full practice yet. I can’t really give numbers, but I’m going to have to be more aggressive on the offensive end, rebound more, and my assists will go up with more touches. It’ll be a significant increase, but I can’t tell exact numbers. . .

***

Part II comes later this week. Thanks for coming!

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The Isaiah Thomas Interview, Part I

September 17, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 11 comments

Isaiah screamWatching Isaiah Thomas play basketball last season was one of the more enjoyable parts of being a Husky fan. His explosiveness, skill, and ability to seemingly score at will during some stretches was a huge part of the reason for the great success of the team, and is a HUGE reason for the enthusaism around the upcoming basketball season.

That all said, there was a rawness to Isaiah’s game last year. He never looked completely out of control at all, but for all of the accolades, there was never a sense that we were watching a finished player yet. There was noticeable room for growth on his jumper, defense and decision-making, and maybe some other parts of his game too. That’s what makes this year so exciting. Isaiah was so good as a freshman, I’m thrilled to see what he’s going to look like as a sophomore.

I got to speak with Isaiah recently, in advance of his sophomore season, about what he sees for the team, what he’s working on, and where he sees himself in relation to the NBA Draft. (You’ll have to come back in a few days and read part II for that juicy piece.)

Montlake Madness: So, tell me about how the summer has gone. Where have you played? What parts of your game have you been working on? And who have you been working with?

Isaiah Thomas: This summer has been pretty busy, but cool. I went to a couple of different camps (Deron Williams’ Academy in Dallas, and Chris Paul’s Guard Camp in North Carolina) where I got a chance to work out with two of the best point guards on the planet, as well as some of the other top point guards in the NCAA.

I learned a lot from both of them, and picked up a few new moves and tricks. They also gave me some real good advice, and a few things that I need to focus on. I’ve also been working out with some of the local NBA guys and Husky Alumni like Jamal Crawford, Brandon Roy, Jason Terry, Nate Robinson, Spencer Hawes, Nick Collison, Rodney Stuckey, Will Conroy, etc. All are good friends of mine, who are helping me to be the best I can both on- and off-the-court. And, of course, I’ve been working out hard with my teammates.

Also, throughout the summer I built pretty strong relationships with both Isiah Thomas and Damon Stoudamire. Both of them gave me great advice on what it takes to be a great player in the NBA as a smaller guard. They both speak from real experience as well, which means a lot. Those are guys that I really look up to.

MM: What’s the part of your game you’d like to improve most from last season? What do you consider your greatest strength on the court, and what’s your greatest weakness?

IT: I am always working to improve every aspect of my game, because I’m not perfect at anything. But some of the things I have been focused on are my mid-range game, as well as my consistency from deep. My greatest strength on the court is my confidence, and my ability to get by any defender and either to the hoop for two or an “and-1.” I feel that no defender can stay in front of me.

My greatest weakness is probably my defense. I’ve improved a whole lot, but I want to be looked at as one of the elite defenders. So, until I’m looked at like that, I’m gonna consider this my biggest weakness.

MM: What can we expect to see from Isaiah Thomas as a sophomore? What kind of statistics would you consider to be a successful season?

IT: A much more mature, confident, and experienced player who’s hungry for not only another Pac-10 championship but a National Championship. I think we can be that good this year. I’m a lot stronger, I have more stamina, I’ve improved my jumper and range, and I’m gonna be even more tenacious and ready to lead our team.

I’m also looking forward to showing off my athleticism, and may wake the fans and the Dawg Pack up with a few dunks. (laughs) I’d be very satisfied if I could average around 20 points, five assists, five rebounds, and shoot 85 percent from the free-throw line. That would be a good year for me statwise.

MM: Many fans, media, experts, etc. have pointed out the many strengths of the Husky basketball team. Tell me what you perceive as the biggest overall weakness of the team.

IT: I don’t think it’s necessarily a weakness, but we have to prove to everyone that we can rebound as well as we did last year with the loss of Jon Brockman. We have the guys to do it, like MBA, Tyreese, Darnell, Clarence, J-Holiday, etc. But, we all have to work to do it. It’s gonna be a total team effort. Even though people are looking for us to be pretty good, we are gonna surprise a lot of people with how good we actually are.

MM: Describe the chemistry on the court between you and Abdul Gaddy. How much have you guys played together so far? And what will be the best things about the combination of you two at the guard positions? And what will be the hardest part about playing together?

IT: Gaddy is like a little brother to me. I’ve known him since he was in, like, fifth grade, because we played for the same AAU program. Our chemistry is gonna surprise a lot of people. We’re both from Tacoma, we know exactly how each other plays, as well as each other’s tendencies on the court. And, we’re both ready to prove to everyone how good we will be as a backcourt. I think we can be the best backcourt in the country.

The best thing about playing with him is his court vision, and his patience with the ball. He knows exactly where and when to pass it, where to dribble to, etc. He is a pure point guard. But don’t sleep on his scoring ability either, ’cause he can get buckets too. There isn’t a hard part about playing with him. We actually make the game a lot easier for each other.

MM: There’s a lot being discussed right now about who is (and isn’t) being recruited by Coach Romar and his staff from the 2010 and 2011 high school classes. What current high school ballers would you like to see UW recruit?

IT: I want to see Coach Romar, Chills, and the other coaches just continue to bring in the top guys like they have been. Of course, I want to see guys like Tone Tone (Tony Wroten) and Big Josh (Smith) stay home and come to the Dub. Also Terrence Jones from the 503 (Portland). We need that guy!

MM: Which one of your teammates is most likely to surprise people this season with his improvement?

IT: I think Tyreese is gonna surprise a lot of people, because most people haven’t seen what he can do on the court. He is like Charles Barkley out there, and is gonna help out a lot in grabbing some of those rebounds Jon used to grab. I also think Scott Suggs and J-Holiday are gonna wake a lot of people up too. . .

Join us in a few days for part II of the interview, during which Isaiah weighs in on the highlights and lowlights of his basketball career, where he fits in position-wise at the professional level, and he gives us his thoughts on the timing of his entry to the NBA Draft.

Thanks for coming! See you soon.

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Matthew Bryan-Amaning Interview, Part II

September 14, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 3 comments

mb int pic part 2 copyIn case you missed part I of the Montlake Madness interview with MBA, check it out here before moving on to Part II below.

My impression after speaking to him was that MBA internalized much of the criticism he received last year, and comes into this season with a true desire to prove doubters wrong and show that he can be a major contributor in the Husky frontcourt.

I’d have been concerned if MBA had seemed oblivious to the fact that most people watching the team the past two seasons feel that there’s a lot of unrealized potential in his 6’9″ frame. My gut is that he feels the same way.

Here’s part II of the interview:

MM: What part of your game have you worked on the most during this off-season?

MBA: In the off-season, I’ve been working on a lot. Coach doesn’t want his players to be one-dimensional, so I was working on my post moves and footwork around the basket, and also getting a lot of shots up from as far as 18 feet, and making moves facing up from the mid-range.

MM: What kind of numbers would you consider to be a statistical success for you next season?

MBA: The numbers will speak for themselves. There will be a lot of banging and hard work going on. If I keep a high motor, and the rest of our bigs do too, then I believe that we shouldn’t have a problem producing and keeping our intensity up the whole time we’re on the floor.

MM: If the season started tomorrow, who do you see as the starting five for the Huskies on opening night?

MBA: You never know whats going on in Coach Romar’s head. That’s what keeps you working hard daily in practice, but if i HAD to give you a starting five, I guess it would be: PG-Gaddy (only slightly over Venoy Overton), SG-Thomas, SF-Pondexter, PF-Gant, and C-MBA.

MM: Describe the intensity that goes on behind the scenes when guys battle for starting jobs?

MBA: Ridiculous from the number one guy to the 12th or 13th guy. Everyone wants to make a good impression, and we are a very deep team, so more often than not, the second team is playing harder, and or even better, than the first team. We are very competitive in everything we do which only makes us better in the long run. That’s why I believe Coach Romar has teams that are 8, 9, or 10 men deep in the rotation.

MM: Tell me a little bit about MBA off the court? What’s your family like? What do you do with your spare time? Who’s your best friend on the team?

MBA: Off the court, I’m very laid back, chilled, always up for having a good time, and just hanging out with friends and teammates. But that’s just how the whole team is off the court. We may be the goofiest team in America, always making one another laugh and just having fun.

My family is like me — sort of just really chilled. We speak a lot with one another. My parents retired and moved to Ghana, in Africa. And, my brother still lives in London. We all get along very well.

During my freshman year, my closest teammate would probably have been Justin Holiday, because we lived together. But, honestly, now it’s wide open. We are all the same, and we all hang out together, so it’s not like I see some teammates more than others. I’ve just grown to love these guys like a family and it shows in how we are on and off the court.

MM: What does your nickname “Numbers” mean?

MBA: (laughs) “Numbers” came from London, because I was always young, playing up, and I’d be trying to do a piece of everything on the court: score, rebound, block shots, get a couple of steals, and throw some dimes, so i was always filling up the stat book, in one way or another. So, they started calling me “Numbers.”

MM: Where do you see yourself five years from now?

MBA: Playing somewhere for money. (laughs) Nah, but just to be playing the sport i love, and hopefully to my highest potential and getting rewarded for it, I guess. Most people don’t understand how time consuming it is, and see the games and the walking around campus. That’s just the icing on the cake. They don’t see the hours of prep on and off the court. Baking takes a lot of time to produce the cake — there’s a lot of ingredients. (laughs)

MM: Tell me about your relationship to Coach Romar? What’s it like to play for him?

MBA: Romar’s a good, stand-up guy. He never breaks a rule, and doesn’t expect anything from someone that he wouldn’t do himself. And, he pushes players to reach the best of their abilities. He also has a good sense of humor, and pretty much has to with guys he’s brought in and has had in the program in the past. (laughs)

Thanks for coming! Class of 2011 recruiting column, (probably) another PAC-10 opponent interview, and much more to come this week.

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A Discussion with Matthew Bryan-Amaning, Part I

September 11, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 15 comments

mba lebron copyI had the chance to catch up with Matthew Bryan-Amaning recently and we had a really good, in-depth conversation about his past two seasons as a Husky, and his upcoming junior year. Matthew put a lot of thought into his answers (therefore, you’ll see part I of the interview today, and part II very soon), and he took a lot of time with us, but asked one thing in return:

In order to win a bet with Isaiah Thomas, he asked me to mention his Twitter page. The first of them to 500 followers wins, and the other has to shave his head. You can find MBA’s Twitter and become a follower here.

Here’s what Matthew had to say when we spoke:

Montlake Madness: Tell me a little about what you’ve been up to this summer?

Matthew Bryan-Amaning: Well most of my summer, I was back on campus at UW, taking a Swahili class and working out with the guys. Since I’ve been home (in the UK) I’ve been working out with old teammates that are either in college in the states or playing overseas in Europe.

I also played in a basketball tournament called “Midnight Madness” which has been one of my favorite events to play in since I was young. I also got to go to Lebron’s preview of his new movie “More Than a Game” and talk to him, and hang out with him a little.

MM: Did Lebron give you any advice?

MBA: He saw me play a little and just said “the sky’s the limit,” and to keep working hard, because I’m in a good situation. And, he said that he will be watching and following my progress. I also got to talk to LeBron’s high school coach, Dru Joyce, who remembered me from high school and the Nike All-American camp, and he said the same sorta thing, and said that he would be in touch when i get back over to the states.

MM: Can you give me your impression of your play last season? What do you feel good about? What do you wish you had done differently?

MBA: Last season, when i was hurt, being a cheerleading type was different for me, since I’ve never been hurt to the point where I HAD to sit out a game. When I slowly got better, I could see that the team atmosphere was just a bunch of guys that didn’t really care about points as long as we got the W at the end of the day.

This was evident when teammates were happy with my production towards the end of non-conference and the beginning of conference. (Note: MBA had his best stretch of the season during this time.) I was just happy that we were still winning and that I was on my way to being part of a special team.

People don’t see everything we do on a daily basis, and because we were so deep, that just made practices so much more intense. And, if it weren’t for that, we wouldn’t have been where we were at the end of the Pac-10 season.

Obviously, I wish my numbers stayed the same as they were early, but I had little injuries that I’m not using as excuses, but definitely affected some of my production. I’m just planning on using it as a learning experience and trying to build on my strides forward for next year.

I’m just trying to stay consistent throughout the year. People don’t understand how difficult it is, and knowing I have the abilty to score on most bigs in the country, I’m staying positive toward myself and self-confident.

MM: What was the high point for you last year, as far as self-confidence? And what was low point?

MBA: The low point was when I was coming back off injury, because everyone had seen a change in practice and stuff since my freshman year, and it was hard not being at full health through the whole season. I had the main injury at the beginning of the year, then sprained my foot during conference play, which didn’t help.

The high point was midway through the non-conference games, I guess, where i was averaging around 15 points and 10 rebounds through about five or six games. I didn’t even know I was averaging that much until I saw it on a playback of a game on FSN. Also, some of the conference games, such as Arizona at our place, where i only had around 9 points or so with about 6 boards and a couple of assists, but i only played something like twelve or fifteen minutes. It’s good knowing that I can produce against bigs as high as Jordan Hill’s caliber on any given night.

MM: So, this season, there are a lot of expectations that you’ll be a huge part in replacing the production of Jon Brockman. How does it feel to have fans and media debating whether you’ll be able to anchor the team’s frontcourt, which some have called the team’s weakness coming into the season?

MBA: I think it’s good to have fans believing that i have the ability to help fill Jon’s shoes, but me and Jon are two very different players, so it’s not like now that Jon’s gone, I have to change my game to substitute for what we’re missing with him leaving.  I’m just going to keep doing the things I do but with better production.

Obviously, when you have guys that can score like Isaiah, or pass like Abdul, or even play D like Venoy, you’re going to be seen as one of the weaker parts, but I’m not going in there thinking that way. I’m going into the season as an underdog, and me and my teammates in the frontcourt have been working hard to not only prove people wrong, but not to let everyone write us off just yet.

***

We’ll publish part II of the interview very soon, and hear from MBA about what parts of his game he’s been working on, who he thinks would start for the Dawgs if the season started today, and what he sees for his future after UW.

Thanks for coming!

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Catching up with UW Husky Guard, Scott Suggs

September 8, 2009 in Uncategorized by Themod | 7 comments

suggs interview copyScott Suggs was one of the men at the end of the bench for Lorenzo Romar last season, rarely seeing time with the game still in play. And, truth be told, not many fans would know what to expect from the 6’6″ guard this season, because they simply didn’t see enough of Suggs last year to make a judgment.

But, this guy was the top player in Missouri as a high school senior, and the 15th-ranked shooting guard in his class. No one with that amount of success at one level wants to ride the pine at the next. So, succeed or fail, it would be foolish to imagine that Suggs isn’t going to do everything in his power to make more of an impact this year.

I caught up with Scott this week and had a chance to get his take on the road to the regular rotation, and other thoughts on last season, and the year ahead.

Montlake Madness: So, last season, I imagine you didn’t get on the court as much as you’d have wished. What can we expect from Scott Suggs this year?

Scott Suggs: You can expect to see me contributing to the team much more this season.

MM: What did you learn last year that’s going to make you a major contributor this year?

SS: I just became more familiar with the system, and also more comfortable with a year of experience under my belt

MM: What was the biggest surprise going from high school to the Pac-10?

SS: Probably the amount of talent that each team has. Even teams that are not seen to be as good as others will still have pretty good players.

MM: So, you were a part of that group of Huskies that was getting up ridiculously early for a few months and practicing?

SS: Yeah. During the spring we were getting up at about 6:00 AM, and working out around 6:30. But in the summer we were working out at like 8:00 or 8:30 so we got a little bit more sleep.

MM: During the season, what’s a normal day like, with practice, classes, etc?

SS: A typical day is workouts at 6:30am, class from about 9:00-3:00, practice from 3:30-6:30 or 7:00, and then tutoring from like 7:30-9:00. So, we have a pretty full day during the season.

MM: When I spoke to Artem Wallace last week, he said you were going to be a guy that surprised a lot of people this year. Let me ask you, did you ever have a conversation with Coach Romar last season expressing that you wanted to play more?

SS: Yeah, I talked to him about that a few times during and after the season, and he just kept telling me to keep working hard in practice. At the end of the season, i just talked to him about what i needed to work on and those types of things.

MM: And what did he tell you to work on?

SS: Defense, and continue shooting, and of course getting stronger.

MM: Which of your teammates has surprised you most this summer as far as improvement? Who’s going to surprise people this season?

SS: Well, Darnell Gant’s shot is really coming along, and i think teams are gonna have to respect his jumper. I also think Abdul Gaddy is gonna be a nice addition to the team this year.

MM: If the season started tomorrow, do you think Abdul starts at the point?

SS: Hmmm… i dont know. (laughs) We’ll find out once practice time comes.

MM: No guesses? Personally, i love Venoy’s energy off the bench.

SS: Yeah, he does bring a lot of energy. But i know that those guys are gonna be battling it out for that starting spot.

MM: Does any of that ever affect the way guys get along off the court?

SS: Nah. Everybody is friends off the court, but on the court we have no friends!. (laughs)

MM: How are you guys gonna beat Cal this year? They look like the biggest obstacle to the Dawgs repeating as champs.

SS: Yeah, they’re returning all of their guys. I’m sure our coaches will have a gameplan for them — probably from day one.

MM: Tell me a little about Scott Suggs off the court. What’s something the fans don’t know about you?

SS: Well, I’m a pretty goofy person and i like to make people laugh.

MM: What do you do for fun in your time off the court?

SS: Just hanging out with my teammates really. Everybody on the team is pretty goofy actually.

MM: Do you guys on the team pay attention to who’s being recruited? Guys like Josh Smith, Terrence Jones, Tony Wroten?

SS: I haven’t really seen any of those guys play, but I’ve heard of them.

MM: What was it about Coach Romar and UW that made you choose the school, above the other prestigious colleges recruiting you (like Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin)?

SS: Probably just the relationship I had with Coach Romar. I had been over to his house when he was the coach at St. Louis University. My dad’s co-worker was his best friend.

MM: What’s the one thing we wouldn’t know as fans about life as a Division I college basketball player? What don’t we see?

SS: The amount of work that we have to put in behind the scenes to be able to compete at this level. It’s basically a full-time job because we are training year-round.

MM: One more thing. I’ve got a post up on my site right now about where I’d play all you guys if I were coaching the Husky basketball team in a football game. I’ve got you at outside linebacker.

SS: I’m more of a receiver, if i do say so myself. (laughs)

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