Stevenson adjusting to the regimen that is Texas Tech, Big 12 basketball
The Texas Tech hoops team has been going through summer workouts with Chris Beard and the new coaching staff, preparing for the 2016-17 season that gets underway a few months from now. We sat down with JUCO transfer shooting guard Niem Stevenson to get his perspective and thoughts on how things have gone so far.
Q: What have the first few months on campus been like for you so far?
"It's been fun, but it's been a grind, though. I'm working hard this summer just trying to get ready for this year."
Q: I know you're already pretty close with Coach Beard. What's it been like being around him and the staff now for a few months in the program?
"It's great being around the team with Coach Beard. It's just been noting but positive vibes so far. He's a players coach. We all have the same goals, and we all want to win. Going through this summer, I've been able to see that."
Q: How do you feel like you've adjusted so far to the pace and expectations of DI basketball as opposed to JUCO ball?
"The adjustment, I'm not going to lie. The first two weeks, they were real, real hard. I just had to get used to it, and my body just had to get used to it. I just had to get used to all of it. The physical toll, the weights, and everything like that."
Q: But, since you've been in the offseason program now for a while, do you feel like you've gotten used to it and seen some progress in the weight room?
"I actually have gained 20 pounds since I got here, and I can for sure see the results so far. I'm liking it. The biggest difference has been just being more durable, being able to take contact better."
Q: As far as off the court, how have you meshed with the other players on the team, specifically the guys who were already here on campus in the program?
"Everybody that was already here has had open arms. At the end of the day, everybody has the same goals, so we all meshed together really well. Honestly, everybody clicked the start. We all can joke around with each other. We're always joking with each other, always laughing, and that's just how it's been."
Q: Has there been a guy on the court that's caught your eye, just someone you've really been impressed with so far?
"I can't really pick out a certain one or two. It's like - honestly, we're all brothers, ya know what I'm saying? We meshed really fast, and everybody has been great. Competition has been great. It's hard every day, and we're just out here putting in the grind getting ready for this season."