Posted 2/02/06
UW-Platteville's Sean Krause is returning to top basketball form after an injury sidelined him for the first part of the season. The Fort Atkinson native started on last year's WIAC championship team. The junior guard leads the Pioneers into their home game Saturday at 7 p.m. vs. UW-River Falls.
You began the year on the bench. Was this the first time you've been injured, and how hard was it to sit out?
"It's really the first time in my college career that I had to sit out games due to injuries. It was pretty hard sitting on the bench, watching and not being able to do more than cheer the guys on. That was hard for me."
People could tell you were back to full strength the first time you went sailing into a bench. Kyle Cooper of WPVL has nicknamed you "Crash Krause." Is that something you ever think of afterwards, that you went flying 10 rows into the bleachers?
"It's just instinctive. Whatever I can do to get to a ball, if I think I can save it, I'm going to try and do it."
It also seems to fire the team up when they see a guy going head-first into a bench.
"I think it might help, but that's not the reason I'm doing it. My main reason is just to try and help the team by getting the ball for us."
Saturday is also Alumni Night. Do you, as a current player, look forward to this night as well?
"We definitely look forward to it. It gives us a big crowd, and with all the former players there, we want to play well and carry on the tradition that they started."
Now that it's February, we're in the stretch drive of games. How do you think the season is going, and how do you look to close out the year?
"The season isn't going as well as we hoped. We were hoping to win a couple more games at home. We have a better road record now, and that's something that's unusual for myself and for Platteville teams. We want to make a run and climb back into the conference race and at least earn a better seed for the tournament."
Are you buoyed by the fact you can play with everybody, if not beat everybody, in the WIAC?
"It's tough because we've always been right there at the end, but haven't been able to finish. In a way, that makes it even harder."
We'd be remiss if we didn't discuss your academics. You were an all-region selection last year and have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.87 in mechanical engineering. You not only play at a high level, but achieve academically at a high level. How do you manage that?
"It's just something I've always done. On the court, I take pride in my game and hustle. It's the same with academics, working hard all the time. The most important thing is putting the time in and going to class."
Interview by SID Paul Erickson