Posted 11/27/07
UW-Platteville's Jeff Skemp is a 6-10 basketball center from Hazel Green and Southwestern High School. The preseason all-American is back on the floor after playing only eight games last year due to an injury. He leads the Pioneers into action Saturday on Bo Ryan Court vs. UW-Superior. The women play at 1 p.m. with the men's game to follow at approximately 3 p.m.
How did it feel to score 15 seconds into the season opener (Nov. 16)?
"It felt real good, and I felt this was a step in the right direction. Obviously that game snowballed from there. We know what the score was (a 75-23 win over Beloit College) in the end. Being my first game back after missing most of last year, there were some adjustments I had to make. Practice competition and game competition are a little different. The coaches try to make practices harder than games, but there are still some transitions I need to get back on top of. Obviously there are some steps I have to take and the team has some things to correct. It felt great to be back out with my teammates."
Did you become more of a student of the game with your time off?
"Definitely. I made comments to Coach (Paul) Combs that when you are practicing, you don't realize some of why certain players do certain things against you and when they may be taking a play off.. It really made me have a greater respect for playing hard all the time. Along with learning from my injury that you never know when time can be taken away, I learned to go hard when I can and get a sub when I need one. I think I took for granted playing hard early in my career. I also did notice some Xs and Os, about how defenses are playing us, and also knowing the strengths and weaknesses of our teammates. When I was able to come back, I think I was able to complement some of those things."
Do you feel you are a marked man after getting several preaseason all-American honors?
"I do, and the way teams played us (in the Pioneer Ford-Mercury/Tricor Insurance Tip-Off Classic) showed they were going to try and take away the inside and make us hurt them with our jump-shooting ability. That's more than fine with me, obviously with Charlie Lohoff, Josh Langenfeld, Curt Hanson, Mike Shaw, Bo Richter, Nick Allen and all those other guys out there on the perimeter, it's a pick your poison-type of deal. With Kyle Tetschlag, we have a great complementary player to the guards and myself inside. I can feed off him, and he can feed off me. Like I said, it's a pick your poison to teams as to how they want to guard us."
Saturday starts Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play. What does that mean to you?
"It's important, obviously. The last couple of seasons, we've been 8-8. We want to come out and show them what we can do. A big emphasis for us has been protecting the home court (the Pioneers are 2-0 on the Bo Ryan Court this year). We want to make it a hard place to play, like it was when Bo Ryan was coaching here. We want to return to that. Protecting the home floor is important. We've been pretty good on the road, and now we want to carry that over to the home court. We want to seed ourselves in good position for the conference tournament and then it's March Madness and anything can happen."
Because your injury occurred early last year, you re-gained a year of eligibility and are now a junior in that regard. What does that do for your future?
"I can graduate in May (with a business major) and then do an internship in the summer. Those will be the last three credits I need for a management emphasis. After that, I will take a look at the possibilities. I've had conversations with Coach Combs, my family, and my girlfriend, and we'll take steps needed to see where my career can go and what I can do academically (here)."
What would you eventually like to do in your career?
"I'm not 100 percent sure. With a business degree, I'd like to be in a business setting somewhere. I haven't narrowed it down to specifics yet; I want to find something that fits me and my interests."
Interview by Sports Information Director Paul Erickson