BleedGopher
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2008
- Messages
- 61,971
- Reaction score
- 18,162
- Points
- 113
Questions with Bob Sansevere: Gophers center Ralph Sampson III
- Thread starter BleedGopher
- Start date
CollegeBBallFan
Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2008
- Messages
- 564
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 16
Sounds like a typical college basketball player's attitude. They work hard to play their best game and move-on to play game after game. Meanwhile, the fans go from the highest emotional peaks to the lowest valleys and freak-out every time the result doesn't match our plan for the team. I love college basketball!
NurumbiCongo
Member
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2010
- Messages
- 585
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 16
BS: What does Coach (Tubby) Smith harp on you to do? Does he harp on you to be more aggressive? To go inside more?
RS: It's all about playing together more as a team. If we do that, I think everybody will play better, and that gap at the point guard position will be shortened and maybe eventually disappear.
And we also have to be more aggressive, like we were at the beginning of the year. I think we'll be all right if we do that. We need more teamwork, more brotherhood. We have the talent and the pieces. We just need to bring them more together.
BS: You're not the first player to say his team has to be more aggressive. Outsiders say, "Well, be more aggressive." It's not as simple as that, though, is it?
RS: No, not at all. People have their own opinions of what being aggressive is. For one person, it could be pressing the ball. For another person, it could be rebounding. Or it could be boxing out. Or taking the ball strong to the basket. Really, being more aggressive is being able to jump on a team from the start, offensively and defensively. Get a lead and be able to hold it. Like my dad says, "Pick a door and run them out of the gym." (Sampson's father, Ralph Sampson, was a three-time college player of the year and four-time NBA all-star.)
BS: Do you think the team and you sometimes get unfair criticism?
RS: Yeah. All the time. People always say we're not living up to our potential. Or we're not working hard enough. Or we have too many things against us and we're not going to win. But to me, it's not all about that. It's about the team working, the journey we're on right now. In the end, if we work hard and believe in each other and what we're doing, we'll be fine.
BS: Has it become a bigger burden to carry the name Ralph Sampson as each year goes by?
RS: I think it's actually become less and less a burden. I think people are starting to recognize me more as an individual than as my dad's son. I think I'm starting to make a small name for myself.
BS: You have an outside game, which a lot of guys your size don't. Do you sometimes feel like you're a 6-foot-6 small forward trapped in a 6-foot-11 body?
RS: Yeah, I think so. In high school, I had to play more of a perimeter and outside role. I definitely feel I have more of a small forward mentality, being able to shoot the ball. I also have this tall frame and wide frame, and I'm able to battle in the post, as well.
________________
Some of his responses really puzzle me. I also heard him on the 830 post game after Ohio St. talking about using the loss to build a fire and taking it out during the next game! I hope to see it tonight, but don't expect it for more than 2 minutes of a 40 minute game.
If his HS coach let his 6'-11" player hang around the perimeter to shoot, he did Ralph no favors.
RS: It's all about playing together more as a team. If we do that, I think everybody will play better, and that gap at the point guard position will be shortened and maybe eventually disappear.
And we also have to be more aggressive, like we were at the beginning of the year. I think we'll be all right if we do that. We need more teamwork, more brotherhood. We have the talent and the pieces. We just need to bring them more together.
BS: You're not the first player to say his team has to be more aggressive. Outsiders say, "Well, be more aggressive." It's not as simple as that, though, is it?
RS: No, not at all. People have their own opinions of what being aggressive is. For one person, it could be pressing the ball. For another person, it could be rebounding. Or it could be boxing out. Or taking the ball strong to the basket. Really, being more aggressive is being able to jump on a team from the start, offensively and defensively. Get a lead and be able to hold it. Like my dad says, "Pick a door and run them out of the gym." (Sampson's father, Ralph Sampson, was a three-time college player of the year and four-time NBA all-star.)
BS: Do you think the team and you sometimes get unfair criticism?
RS: Yeah. All the time. People always say we're not living up to our potential. Or we're not working hard enough. Or we have too many things against us and we're not going to win. But to me, it's not all about that. It's about the team working, the journey we're on right now. In the end, if we work hard and believe in each other and what we're doing, we'll be fine.
BS: Has it become a bigger burden to carry the name Ralph Sampson as each year goes by?
RS: I think it's actually become less and less a burden. I think people are starting to recognize me more as an individual than as my dad's son. I think I'm starting to make a small name for myself.
BS: You have an outside game, which a lot of guys your size don't. Do you sometimes feel like you're a 6-foot-6 small forward trapped in a 6-foot-11 body?
RS: Yeah, I think so. In high school, I had to play more of a perimeter and outside role. I definitely feel I have more of a small forward mentality, being able to shoot the ball. I also have this tall frame and wide frame, and I'm able to battle in the post, as well.
________________
Some of his responses really puzzle me. I also heard him on the 830 post game after Ohio St. talking about using the loss to build a fire and taking it out during the next game! I hope to see it tonight, but don't expect it for more than 2 minutes of a 40 minute game.
If his HS coach let his 6'-11" player hang around the perimeter to shoot, he did Ralph no favors.
I agree, nothing more annoying than a center trying to play outside, especially in high school.