Zdenek earns Utah State award
Utah Statesman: What got you interested in basketball?
Christina Zdenek: My best friend in second grade. She was joining the team and I had done every other sport except for basketball, for some reason. So she was like, “let’s join the team, let’s join the team.” So I did and I was pretty good at lay ups.
US: You averaged 15.5 points in your last two games but scored zero against Weber State. What was different?
CZ: Since we have a new offense, the more games we play the more comfortable we become with each other and with the offense. I was more comfortable with the offense. Also a confidence factor, in that game [Weber State] I was focusing mainly on defense, that’s what my coaches were after me about. Not that you can’t focus on both at the same time but that is what was on my mind. I did really well on defense and then after that I was like, “OK, I have my defense down now I can start picking up my offense,” which has been my strength ever since I started playing basketball.
US: What other schools were interested in you out of high school?
CZ: UC Riverside offered me a full-ride [scholarship]. I was kind of close to going there but I’m kind of glad I didn’t. They already have new coach who doesn’t get along with the players that well, which wouldn’t fit me. Some other places were UC Davis, but they wouldn’t have post-season play for a few years because of the transition to Division I from Division II. Boise State … they recruited me. Not a whole lot of schools, I wasn’t recruited by a whole lot of schools.
US: Why Utah State?
CZ: The coaches and the players mainly. I knew I could trust the coaches, they had an aura about them. I knew I could put all my trust and confidence in them. The players are great. It definitely wasn’t for the weather though. California weather is where it is at.
US: Would you rather beat an in-state rival, such as Utah Valley State College or Southern Utah University, or beating a team in your conference?
CZ: I think what’s more important is beating a team in your conference but I think it is more fun to beat a local team. If you think about basketball in Utah, that’s our territory. We rule that section. It’s good for the program as a whole for recruiting purposes as well.
US: What team do you take the most pleasure in beating?
CZ: Well, if we do beat Santa Barbara this year that would be most pleasurable and most exciting.
US: Is there less pressure on you coming off the bench as opposed to being a starter?
CZ: No, I still take as much pride in how I play. It doesn’t affect the mind-set I have coming into a game. I still have to prepare just as much. Everything is the same, you just don’t play those first couple of minutes before you come in, someone starts off with the baton and then passes it on to you.
You get to see what is going on and take advantage of that, you get a little more feel for the game rather than just getting thrown into it. As far as the way I play, it’s not going to be different.
US: What is more important to you, having a winning season or having fun as a team?
CZ: I’d say having a winning season, that’s priority. Because once that happens everyone will be happy and then having fun with the team will come.
But if you are just having fun with your team then winning won’t necessarily come. You’ve got to take care of business first. Getting along with your team is great but that does come secondary. We had fun with each other last year. Our chemistry was solid, but we didn’t win and that is more important than having fun.
-mlglade@cc.usu.edu