MADRID, Spain - After a long 16 hours of traveling, the University of Denver men's basketball team landed in Madrid on Wednesday morning.
The flights were long and crowded, but aside from a short delay in Dallas, everything went smoothly on the way over. Of course, Trevor Noonan and Justin Coughlin might
disagree a bit, considering the 6-9 giants were crammed next to each
other on the nine-plus hour flight from DFW to Madrid. They basically
had to fold themselves like origami, making for sporadic sleep at best. A
young child in front of them had a good time staring at Coughlin and
sporadically screaming, which added to the fun.
There were certainly no
complaints once we landed. Everyone was tired but very excited to see
what Spain had to offer. Nobody in the travel party has been to Spain
before.
In fact, only four of the 12 players had ever traveled outside the United States prior to this trip, and only Tyler Thalken and Alex Pickert had been to Europe (Kyle Lewis took a trip to Mexico, and Blake Foeman had been to the Caribbean).
The team was met at
Aeropuerto Madrid-Barajas by representatives of Harvard Sports
Management Group, which made the arrangements for the trip.
We took a driving tour of
Madrid, which Mitch Hyder has highlighted in a video package (which will
be posted soon), followed by a lunch buffet.
The food was good, although
there were a few surprises, which can always be expected in a foreign
country. Some of the players were a little surprised when the soup
(Gazpacho) was cold and even more shocked when the pudding-like dish
turned out to be some sort of seafood with cheese.
Anyone who has traveled abroad recognizes that adjustments are required. Fortunately for the players, head coach Joe Scott warned
them that they might have to put their key card in a slot inside the
room in order for the lights to work. Of course, it still took some
people a few minutes to figure it out since the slot is hidden behind
the door when it's open.
Among the other differences
from the U.S. were the "doggie door," or second door halfway back in
the bus that is slightly shorter and more narrow than the regular door
up front, and escalators that only work when someone is actually
standing on them (saving energy). The hotel rooms also feature bidets,
which may require further explanation for some in the travel party.
The team plays its first game tomorrow against Real Canoe here in Spain.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Final Pre-Spain Practice - 8/23/10
DENVER - The wait is just about over for the Pioneers, who leave for Spain tomorrow morning. Today marks the 10th and final practice day the team is allowed prior to departure, and the players worked as hard as they do every time they hit the court.
The bus pulls out just tomorrow after 10 a.m., and the Pioneers will fly to Dallas before the long flight to Madrid, which lands around 10 a.m. local time the next morning.
The Pioneers will have a day to get acclimated before playing their first of six games on Thursday night against Real Canoe.
"We're looking forward to it," junior guard Brian Stafford said. "It's going to be great opportunity to see how far we've gotten the past couple of years, and I'm looking forward to seeing where we are now going into this year."
While everyone is excited about the trip, head coach Joe Scott took a moment to explain the purpose of taking this team to Spain.
"From a pure basketball standpoint, we're going on this trip to take other step in growing up and being a mature basketball team," Scott said. "In the last three years, we have won more games every year, but we've also lost certain games. We should know by now that every single game is the hardest game we're ever going to play. Every single game, the other team is trying to do the same thing to you: throw you out of the way, bully you, have their way with you from a physical standpoint. We're going on this trip to get a head start on saying, 'We're not going to let that happen to us anymore.' We need to know that every time we step on the court, it's about knowing that's what the game is going to be like and caring so much about being so physical, aggressive and disciplined, and doing it the University of Denver way."
Playing six professional teams should allow the Pioneers to improve from a physical, aggressive and discipline standpoint, and to do so long before the traditional first official practice of the year in mid-October. Playing these games should help create good habits that can then be carried into the season.
"We're taking this team because this team has shown the ability to grow, to stick with it, to fight through some hard times and to get better," Scott said. "As that's gone on, they've shown off the court that it's important to them. They've done a nice job off the court. We've worked hard here to not beat ourselves, on the court or off the court. If you want to take a trip like this, you've got to go with guys that know it's about being honest and being truthful and being good decision makers. Now they're going to learn that when you act that way, this is the type of opportunity you get. When we're over there, we're going to act that way, too."
Fans who have watched the Pioneers during the past three seasons have seen the progress. Since Scott took over a team that won four games the previous season, the Pioneers have constantly improved, going from 11 wins in 2007-08 to 15 wins in 2008-09 and finally to 19 wins last season. Additionally, the Pioneers have excelled in the classroom, combining for a 3.32 grade point average last year.
"These guys have worked hard on the court, and they've worked hard off the court. And we've gotten better," Scott said. "Usually in life when you do things that way, good things come to you. Having the opportunity to go over to Spain with their teammates, whom they like, and play games, see a foreign country and have an experience like that, that's a pretty lucky thing to be able to do. I think they understand that, so we're going to go over there, and we're going to have fun on and off the court."
As for the teams that Denver will face, Spain is known for having one of the top leagues in European basketball, so the coaches and players know each game will provide a good challenge.
"We know we're playing some really good teams," Stafford said. "Spain has one of the best leagues in Europe, and we're going to play two teams from the top league in Spain, so we know we're playing some really good players out there. It will be a good test for us, and we're all looking forward to seeing how well we can do."
Teams in Liga ACB, the Spanish basketball league, are split into divisions. Teams in the lower divisions can move up if they play well, while teams in the upper divisions can move down if they play poorly during a season. In American terms, it's the equivalent of a Triple-A baseball team playing very well one season and taking the spot of a Major League team that struggled during that year.
Usually, the top tier teams do not play touring college teams, but the Pioneers will face a pair of them in Cajasol Sevilla and Lagun Aro Gipuzkoa BC. DU will also face four teams from the second and third divisions.
"We're playing a couple teams that are in the top league," Scott said. "I don't know how we got them to play us, but because our school year starts later, it's a good time to go because it matches up better with their preseason training camps. We got lucky in that regard, and we got lucky that we have a good mix between the divisions. But like I told our guys at the end of practice today, I don't care who we're playing. We need to get to the point where we don't care who we're playing, we don't care who they have and we don't care what their name is. We always walk on the court to play Denver basketball. We're going out there to care about ourselves and to constantly work on that. We're going to go over to Spain, and that's what we're going to do. I know this trip can help prepare us to get better in the areas we have to. It's hard to believe it's here, but we had our practices and we're ready to go. We'll be ready to play our first game on August 26."
The bus pulls out just tomorrow after 10 a.m., and the Pioneers will fly to Dallas before the long flight to Madrid, which lands around 10 a.m. local time the next morning.
The Pioneers will have a day to get acclimated before playing their first of six games on Thursday night against Real Canoe.
"We're looking forward to it," junior guard Brian Stafford said. "It's going to be great opportunity to see how far we've gotten the past couple of years, and I'm looking forward to seeing where we are now going into this year."
While everyone is excited about the trip, head coach Joe Scott took a moment to explain the purpose of taking this team to Spain.
"From a pure basketball standpoint, we're going on this trip to take other step in growing up and being a mature basketball team," Scott said. "In the last three years, we have won more games every year, but we've also lost certain games. We should know by now that every single game is the hardest game we're ever going to play. Every single game, the other team is trying to do the same thing to you: throw you out of the way, bully you, have their way with you from a physical standpoint. We're going on this trip to get a head start on saying, 'We're not going to let that happen to us anymore.' We need to know that every time we step on the court, it's about knowing that's what the game is going to be like and caring so much about being so physical, aggressive and disciplined, and doing it the University of Denver way."
Playing six professional teams should allow the Pioneers to improve from a physical, aggressive and discipline standpoint, and to do so long before the traditional first official practice of the year in mid-October. Playing these games should help create good habits that can then be carried into the season.
"We're taking this team because this team has shown the ability to grow, to stick with it, to fight through some hard times and to get better," Scott said. "As that's gone on, they've shown off the court that it's important to them. They've done a nice job off the court. We've worked hard here to not beat ourselves, on the court or off the court. If you want to take a trip like this, you've got to go with guys that know it's about being honest and being truthful and being good decision makers. Now they're going to learn that when you act that way, this is the type of opportunity you get. When we're over there, we're going to act that way, too."
Fans who have watched the Pioneers during the past three seasons have seen the progress. Since Scott took over a team that won four games the previous season, the Pioneers have constantly improved, going from 11 wins in 2007-08 to 15 wins in 2008-09 and finally to 19 wins last season. Additionally, the Pioneers have excelled in the classroom, combining for a 3.32 grade point average last year.
"These guys have worked hard on the court, and they've worked hard off the court. And we've gotten better," Scott said. "Usually in life when you do things that way, good things come to you. Having the opportunity to go over to Spain with their teammates, whom they like, and play games, see a foreign country and have an experience like that, that's a pretty lucky thing to be able to do. I think they understand that, so we're going to go over there, and we're going to have fun on and off the court."
As for the teams that Denver will face, Spain is known for having one of the top leagues in European basketball, so the coaches and players know each game will provide a good challenge.
"We know we're playing some really good teams," Stafford said. "Spain has one of the best leagues in Europe, and we're going to play two teams from the top league in Spain, so we know we're playing some really good players out there. It will be a good test for us, and we're all looking forward to seeing how well we can do."
Teams in Liga ACB, the Spanish basketball league, are split into divisions. Teams in the lower divisions can move up if they play well, while teams in the upper divisions can move down if they play poorly during a season. In American terms, it's the equivalent of a Triple-A baseball team playing very well one season and taking the spot of a Major League team that struggled during that year.
Usually, the top tier teams do not play touring college teams, but the Pioneers will face a pair of them in Cajasol Sevilla and Lagun Aro Gipuzkoa BC. DU will also face four teams from the second and third divisions.
"We're playing a couple teams that are in the top league," Scott said. "I don't know how we got them to play us, but because our school year starts later, it's a good time to go because it matches up better with their preseason training camps. We got lucky in that regard, and we got lucky that we have a good mix between the divisions. But like I told our guys at the end of practice today, I don't care who we're playing. We need to get to the point where we don't care who we're playing, we don't care who they have and we don't care what their name is. We always walk on the court to play Denver basketball. We're going out there to care about ourselves and to constantly work on that. We're going to go over to Spain, and that's what we're going to do. I know this trip can help prepare us to get better in the areas we have to. It's hard to believe it's here, but we had our practices and we're ready to go. We'll be ready to play our first game on August 26."
Friday, August 20, 2010
FIBA Rules - 8/20/10
DENVER - The Pioneers will have some adjusting to do that goes beyond the eight-hour time change, when they head to Spain next week.
Denver will be playing its six games using the international rules set by FIBA, basketball's world governing body.
In a nutshell, that means the games will be played more like the NBA, but some of the subtle differences could make the games a little more interesting for a team like Denver.
These are the basic difference, according to USA Basketball:
1. Instead of two 20-minute halves, there will be four 10-minute quarters.
2. The international court is a little more than two feet shorter and a foot narrower (91 feet, 10 inches long by 49 feet, 2.5 inches wide).
3. The shot clock will be 24 seconds, instead of 35 with NCAA rules.
4. The three-point line will be 22 feet, 1.7 inches (compared to 20 feet, 9 inches in college), which FIBA actually moved about 1.5 feet farther back this year, making it almost exactly half the distance between the NCAA and NBA (23 feet, 9 inches) distances.
5. Back court violations occur after eight seconds, two less than in college games.
6. Two bonus free throws are given on and after the fifth team foul per quarter. In college basketball, it's a one-and-one from the seventh to ninth team foul per half, and two free throws after that.
7. Only three defensive players are allowed on the free throw lane, one less than NCAA rules.
8. Jump balls are used for tie-ups, as opposed to alternating possession. The two players involved take the jump ball.
9. Players are allowed to touch the ball on and above the cylinder once it has touched the rim. Both the NCAA and NBA consider it goaltending.
10. Each team gets two 60-second timeout in the first two periods and three timeouts in the third and fourth quarter. In college, teams have four 30-second and one 60-second timeout per game (in addition to media timeouts at the first stoppage after every fourth minute).
11. Only the coaches can call timeout. NCAA rules allow the head coach or any player on the court to call timeout.
12. While the lane in international competitions used to be a trapezoid, FIBA changed it to a rectangle this year. However, that rectangle is 15 feet, 8 inches, which is almost four feet wider than the lane in the NCAA.
Of those 12 differences, a couple seem to jump out, especially the 24-second clock, but head coach Joe Scott says the team will adapt to the rules within Denver's system.
"To us, it really doesn't matter. We're not going over there to play the 24-second clock and FIBA rules," Scott said. "We're going over to be good at our offense and be good at our defense, show that we're more physical, box out and take care of the basketball. I don't care if there's a 24-second clock. That's how we approach it."
Scott has been on similar trips with other teams. Scott was an assistant coach at Princeton, when the Tigers went to Italy before the 1997-98 season, and he was the head coach at Air Force, which went to Sweden and Denmark prior to the 2003-04 season.
"I'm more concerned about the little differences, like the refs don't touch the ball out of bounds on the sideline, and if you don't know those rules, you can give up easy points," Scott said. "The other one is that traveling is different over there. It's called completely differently than here. You're going to hear a lot of 'pasos,' which means 'steps' in Spanish. When I was in Italy, we heard a lot of 'passi,' steps in Italian. There are certain things that we teach here that aren't walks, but they're traveling violations over there. And there are certain things that are walks over here, but they aren't walks over there. You can't worry about that stuff. You've got to be good at your offense, be good at your defense. Over the course of six games, we'll learn pasos. We can't let it affect us. 'It got called a walk? OK, let's run back and keep them from scoring.' In the end, that's the right way to approach it, because it puts the responsibility on you to be good at what you do, and don't worry about refs or rule changes or anything like that. Be good at the things we've been working on. Make the things we've been working on show up when we go over there and play."
When he was reminded that there would be a jump ball whenever a ball was tied up, Scott smiled. "That's old school. That's the way they did it when I was playing," Scott said. "That's just the way that it goes. We have a jump ball to start every single game, so it's not something completely new. Those aren't big deals. It's just basketball."
In the end, Scott says the differences in rules are comparable to different styles that Denver's opponents play.
"We're going to do what we do. That's why we're going: to get good at what we do," Scott said. "We're not going just so we can face Spanish professional teams. We're going to play basketball the way we play and to get good at the way we play. It's what we do and how we do it. And we do it all the time."
Random Notes: At the end of each practice, one player is chosen to shoot two free throws. If he makes them, practice is over. If he misses either, the players have to run five-man fast break drills (Denver's version of wind sprints). Freshman Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) stepped to the line for the first time today and buried them both, much to the relief of the other players.
After several hours of working hard every day since Tuesday, the Pioneers have tomorrow off before their final two pre-Spain practices on Sunday and Monday.
Denver will be playing its six games using the international rules set by FIBA, basketball's world governing body.
In a nutshell, that means the games will be played more like the NBA, but some of the subtle differences could make the games a little more interesting for a team like Denver.
These are the basic difference, according to USA Basketball:
1. Instead of two 20-minute halves, there will be four 10-minute quarters.
2. The international court is a little more than two feet shorter and a foot narrower (91 feet, 10 inches long by 49 feet, 2.5 inches wide).
3. The shot clock will be 24 seconds, instead of 35 with NCAA rules.
4. The three-point line will be 22 feet, 1.7 inches (compared to 20 feet, 9 inches in college), which FIBA actually moved about 1.5 feet farther back this year, making it almost exactly half the distance between the NCAA and NBA (23 feet, 9 inches) distances.
5. Back court violations occur after eight seconds, two less than in college games.
6. Two bonus free throws are given on and after the fifth team foul per quarter. In college basketball, it's a one-and-one from the seventh to ninth team foul per half, and two free throws after that.
7. Only three defensive players are allowed on the free throw lane, one less than NCAA rules.
8. Jump balls are used for tie-ups, as opposed to alternating possession. The two players involved take the jump ball.
9. Players are allowed to touch the ball on and above the cylinder once it has touched the rim. Both the NCAA and NBA consider it goaltending.
10. Each team gets two 60-second timeout in the first two periods and three timeouts in the third and fourth quarter. In college, teams have four 30-second and one 60-second timeout per game (in addition to media timeouts at the first stoppage after every fourth minute).
11. Only the coaches can call timeout. NCAA rules allow the head coach or any player on the court to call timeout.
12. While the lane in international competitions used to be a trapezoid, FIBA changed it to a rectangle this year. However, that rectangle is 15 feet, 8 inches, which is almost four feet wider than the lane in the NCAA.
Of those 12 differences, a couple seem to jump out, especially the 24-second clock, but head coach Joe Scott says the team will adapt to the rules within Denver's system.
"To us, it really doesn't matter. We're not going over there to play the 24-second clock and FIBA rules," Scott said. "We're going over to be good at our offense and be good at our defense, show that we're more physical, box out and take care of the basketball. I don't care if there's a 24-second clock. That's how we approach it."
Scott has been on similar trips with other teams. Scott was an assistant coach at Princeton, when the Tigers went to Italy before the 1997-98 season, and he was the head coach at Air Force, which went to Sweden and Denmark prior to the 2003-04 season.
"I'm more concerned about the little differences, like the refs don't touch the ball out of bounds on the sideline, and if you don't know those rules, you can give up easy points," Scott said. "The other one is that traveling is different over there. It's called completely differently than here. You're going to hear a lot of 'pasos,' which means 'steps' in Spanish. When I was in Italy, we heard a lot of 'passi,' steps in Italian. There are certain things that we teach here that aren't walks, but they're traveling violations over there. And there are certain things that are walks over here, but they aren't walks over there. You can't worry about that stuff. You've got to be good at your offense, be good at your defense. Over the course of six games, we'll learn pasos. We can't let it affect us. 'It got called a walk? OK, let's run back and keep them from scoring.' In the end, that's the right way to approach it, because it puts the responsibility on you to be good at what you do, and don't worry about refs or rule changes or anything like that. Be good at the things we've been working on. Make the things we've been working on show up when we go over there and play."
When he was reminded that there would be a jump ball whenever a ball was tied up, Scott smiled. "That's old school. That's the way they did it when I was playing," Scott said. "That's just the way that it goes. We have a jump ball to start every single game, so it's not something completely new. Those aren't big deals. It's just basketball."
In the end, Scott says the differences in rules are comparable to different styles that Denver's opponents play.
"We're going to do what we do. That's why we're going: to get good at what we do," Scott said. "We're not going just so we can face Spanish professional teams. We're going to play basketball the way we play and to get good at the way we play. It's what we do and how we do it. And we do it all the time."
Random Notes: At the end of each practice, one player is chosen to shoot two free throws. If he makes them, practice is over. If he misses either, the players have to run five-man fast break drills (Denver's version of wind sprints). Freshman Chris Udofia (Irving, Texas) stepped to the line for the first time today and buried them both, much to the relief of the other players.
After several hours of working hard every day since Tuesday, the Pioneers have tomorrow off before their final two pre-Spain practices on Sunday and Monday.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Spain Practice No. 7 - 8/19/10
DENVER - Junior Travis Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) and sophomore Chase Hallam (Mesquite, Texas) went home to Texas after summer classes ended in early July.
When asked if they had any fun, both brothers gave the same reply: "All we did was work out and play pickup games."
For five weeks, they woke up and went straight to the gym, where they would lift weights for an hour and follow it up with a run that was "hard enough that there's no doubt we're in shape right now." Needing a little basketball, they would spend the rest of the afternoon playing pickup games at nearby SMU, which has a reputation for being a hot spot on the Dallas basketball scene.
"It was good having a teammate to help push me," Travis said of his brother. "There are always going to be days when you just want to take it easy, but having him there means there's always someone making sure I'm accountable. And I do the same for him."
The Hallams, like most NCAA Division I student-athletes, are highly competitive on their own, but when you add sibling rivalry to the equation both brothers feed off each other.
"Chase is more competitive than I am, so he's always got to try to beat me in whatever we do," Travis said. "If I add more weight, he's got to add more weight. If I pick up the pace on a run, he's going to try to beat me."
Chase was asked about being the more competitive of the two, and his eyebrows shot up. "Travis doesn't like to admit it, but he's just as competitive as me," the younger Hallam said. "We both know that we can make each other better, and that's what we want to help the team."
The brothers consider themselves opposites with the outgoing Chase tending to have several people around him all the time, and Travis often seeking deeper, one-on-one conversations.
However, when they get on the court, each Hallam knows his brother's game almost as well as his own, and both are aware that constant energy is a major key to each of their efforts. Their all-out hustle and toughness has sparked two of the better nicknames on the team, as the always pesky Travis is "The Tick," and Chase is simply "The Machine."
Travis and Chase also share an overriding belief about the future: it's going to be a good year.
When asked if they had any fun, both brothers gave the same reply: "All we did was work out and play pickup games."
For five weeks, they woke up and went straight to the gym, where they would lift weights for an hour and follow it up with a run that was "hard enough that there's no doubt we're in shape right now." Needing a little basketball, they would spend the rest of the afternoon playing pickup games at nearby SMU, which has a reputation for being a hot spot on the Dallas basketball scene.
"It was good having a teammate to help push me," Travis said of his brother. "There are always going to be days when you just want to take it easy, but having him there means there's always someone making sure I'm accountable. And I do the same for him."
The Hallams, like most NCAA Division I student-athletes, are highly competitive on their own, but when you add sibling rivalry to the equation both brothers feed off each other.
"Chase is more competitive than I am, so he's always got to try to beat me in whatever we do," Travis said. "If I add more weight, he's got to add more weight. If I pick up the pace on a run, he's going to try to beat me."
Chase was asked about being the more competitive of the two, and his eyebrows shot up. "Travis doesn't like to admit it, but he's just as competitive as me," the younger Hallam said. "We both know that we can make each other better, and that's what we want to help the team."
The brothers consider themselves opposites with the outgoing Chase tending to have several people around him all the time, and Travis often seeking deeper, one-on-one conversations.
However, when they get on the court, each Hallam knows his brother's game almost as well as his own, and both are aware that constant energy is a major key to each of their efforts. Their all-out hustle and toughness has sparked two of the better nicknames on the team, as the always pesky Travis is "The Tick," and Chase is simply "The Machine."
Travis and Chase also share an overriding belief about the future: it's going to be a good year.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Summer Internships - 8/18/10
DENVER - When June rolls around, most students around the University of Denver scatter to enjoy a summer break. The Denver basketball players, on the other hand, stick around campus, attend summer classes and play countless games of basketball against each other.
A few of the players also use the summer to prepare them to go pro (as they say in the NCAA advertisements) in something other than sports.
Seniors Kyle Lewis (Denver, Colo.), Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Andrew Hooper(Lakewood, Colo.) all spent their summer completing internships, preparing for successful careers once their playing days are finished.
For the second-straight summer, Kyle Lewis worked for Lazarus Investment Partners, and Rob Lewis was at Ryan Financial. Hooper honed his graphic design skills while working at Portaviola Design in Lakewood.
Kyle worked primarily with Lazarus Chief Investment Officer Justin Borus, who invests in companies with a market cap of $250 million or less. Borus invests in companies that struggled and lost stock value after a period of success, and he attempts to help turn around those companies.
"I was basically a junior analyst," said Kyle, who used screening tools to research potential companies in which Lazarus could invest. "I screened different companies, whether it was a gold company or one that had a new innovation, whatever the market was feeding off at the time. You can throw those values into the screening software and see which companies come up that are at $250 million or less, and then research them. He invested in two of the companies that I showed him this summer, and both made a positive return, so it was a good summer."
Kyle's duties progressed this year, partially because he was returning to Lazarus after working there last year, but also because the economy was improving.
"Since last year, (Borus) hired an investor relations guy, who is involved in all the marketing, and also a controller," Kyle said. "I was involved with both of those guys, helping with the marketing material. I actually had to make analyst reports that go out to investors within the company as well as potential investors. I was a lot more involved this summer. It was necessarily about raising more capital last year; it was more about investing while the market was still beat up. This summer is was more about raising capital and investing at the same time, so I was on both sides of things."
For the second summer, Rob once again donned a coat and tie and headed to Ryan Financial, but he too found his role increasing in responsibility.
"I was preparing some reports on my own. Last summer, I was more behind the scenes," Rob said. "I was helping to prepare client reports when they would come in, looking at their accounts to see how they were doing. I would do a general market overview. Other than that, I did a lot of operations, trying to manage the accounts and clean up some stuff. They just switched to a new software program, so I helped them work through that transition. I also sat in on a lot of meetings, which was great to see the interactions within the business world."
While many DU student-athletes study in the business school, like Rob and Kyle, Hooper has always felt more at home in an art studio, where his creativity helps him excel. Therefore, he landed an internship that made sense for his career path.
"I worked with Gretchen Lehman from Portaviola Design," Hooper said. "She has an independent graphic design firm down in Highlands Ranch. It was a great opportunity to work with a freelance graphic designer, because that's what I ultimately want to do after college."
Hooper spent the majority of the summer in front of a computer, designing everything from letterheads to business portfolios to a label that Lehman planned to use as a create way to court new clients.
"Overall, I think it helped me a ton. I have connections already from her, and I've already gotten some freelance work on my own," Hooper said. "I'm more comfortable doing other design elements, as opposed to using one computer program or another. It's helped me a lot already, and I think it will continue to help."
Happy Birthday: Two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and former Denver guard Nate Rohnert is celebrating his birthday today.
A few of the players also use the summer to prepare them to go pro (as they say in the NCAA advertisements) in something other than sports.
Seniors Kyle Lewis (Denver, Colo.), Rob Lewis (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Andrew Hooper(Lakewood, Colo.) all spent their summer completing internships, preparing for successful careers once their playing days are finished.
For the second-straight summer, Kyle Lewis worked for Lazarus Investment Partners, and Rob Lewis was at Ryan Financial. Hooper honed his graphic design skills while working at Portaviola Design in Lakewood.
Kyle worked primarily with Lazarus Chief Investment Officer Justin Borus, who invests in companies with a market cap of $250 million or less. Borus invests in companies that struggled and lost stock value after a period of success, and he attempts to help turn around those companies.
"I was basically a junior analyst," said Kyle, who used screening tools to research potential companies in which Lazarus could invest. "I screened different companies, whether it was a gold company or one that had a new innovation, whatever the market was feeding off at the time. You can throw those values into the screening software and see which companies come up that are at $250 million or less, and then research them. He invested in two of the companies that I showed him this summer, and both made a positive return, so it was a good summer."
Kyle's duties progressed this year, partially because he was returning to Lazarus after working there last year, but also because the economy was improving.
"Since last year, (Borus) hired an investor relations guy, who is involved in all the marketing, and also a controller," Kyle said. "I was involved with both of those guys, helping with the marketing material. I actually had to make analyst reports that go out to investors within the company as well as potential investors. I was a lot more involved this summer. It was necessarily about raising more capital last year; it was more about investing while the market was still beat up. This summer is was more about raising capital and investing at the same time, so I was on both sides of things."
For the second summer, Rob once again donned a coat and tie and headed to Ryan Financial, but he too found his role increasing in responsibility.
"I was preparing some reports on my own. Last summer, I was more behind the scenes," Rob said. "I was helping to prepare client reports when they would come in, looking at their accounts to see how they were doing. I would do a general market overview. Other than that, I did a lot of operations, trying to manage the accounts and clean up some stuff. They just switched to a new software program, so I helped them work through that transition. I also sat in on a lot of meetings, which was great to see the interactions within the business world."
While many DU student-athletes study in the business school, like Rob and Kyle, Hooper has always felt more at home in an art studio, where his creativity helps him excel. Therefore, he landed an internship that made sense for his career path.
"I worked with Gretchen Lehman from Portaviola Design," Hooper said. "She has an independent graphic design firm down in Highlands Ranch. It was a great opportunity to work with a freelance graphic designer, because that's what I ultimately want to do after college."
Hooper spent the majority of the summer in front of a computer, designing everything from letterheads to business portfolios to a label that Lehman planned to use as a create way to court new clients.
"Overall, I think it helped me a ton. I have connections already from her, and I've already gotten some freelance work on my own," Hooper said. "I'm more comfortable doing other design elements, as opposed to using one computer program or another. It's helped me a lot already, and I think it will continue to help."
Happy Birthday: Two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection and former Denver guard Nate Rohnert is celebrating his birthday today.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Spain Practice No. 5 - 8/17/10
DENVER - The Pioneers returned to the court after taking yesterday off, while the coaches held the Joe Scott Elite Camp. This practice marked the fifth of the team's 10 allowed by the NCAA.
Transfer Trevor Noonan (Broomfield, Colo.) will make his unofficial Denver basketball debut on DU's 13-day, six-game tour of Spain. Noonan has been practicing with the team for a year but could not play in 2009-10 due to NCAA transfer rules.
"The big thing for Trevor on this trip is just integrating him into the team," head coach Joe Scott said.
The coaches expect the six games in Spain to ease Noonan's transition into the Denver system, knowing that there is a significant difference between participating in practice and playing in games.
"He's been getting a lot of attention from the coaches, and we're working to make sure he's on the same level as Brian Stafford and Chase Hallam and the rest of the guys who played last season," Scott said. "Trevor has spent the past year just practicing, so these six games in Spain will help make November 10 feel like January 15 for him."
Noonan is a 6-9, 225-pound forward with soft hands, good passing skills and a long-range shooting touch. He transferred to DU after one year at Air Force, where he averaged 2.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists in limited minutes during 25 games with the Falcons.
"This is going to be the biggest team we've had here," Scott said. "We're going to have two 6-9 guys and two 6-4 guys, and there is competition for the fifth spot."
Adding Noonan to the roster also offers Scott and his coaching staff more options with their other two 6-9 players: Andrew Hooper and Justin Coughlin, whose primary position likely will switch from center to forward.
"Noonan brings a very important skill set to a basketball team," Scott said. "He's big and strong, but he can still pass and shoot. So that gives us more options. We have some different guys now that can do different things. It just puts us in a position to do what we want to do, which is just keep getting better."
Noonan grew up in nearby Broomfield, Colo., where he scored 18.6 points and pulled down 13.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Legacy High School, and he is excited to show Denver fans what he can do.
"I'm just excited to get out on that court and play again," Noonan said. "Being in a game that matters and having people count on me, I can't wait for that feeling again."
Happy Birthday: Assistant coach A.J. Kuhle is celebrating his birthday today.
Transfer Trevor Noonan (Broomfield, Colo.) will make his unofficial Denver basketball debut on DU's 13-day, six-game tour of Spain. Noonan has been practicing with the team for a year but could not play in 2009-10 due to NCAA transfer rules.
"The big thing for Trevor on this trip is just integrating him into the team," head coach Joe Scott said.
The coaches expect the six games in Spain to ease Noonan's transition into the Denver system, knowing that there is a significant difference between participating in practice and playing in games.
"He's been getting a lot of attention from the coaches, and we're working to make sure he's on the same level as Brian Stafford and Chase Hallam and the rest of the guys who played last season," Scott said. "Trevor has spent the past year just practicing, so these six games in Spain will help make November 10 feel like January 15 for him."
Noonan is a 6-9, 225-pound forward with soft hands, good passing skills and a long-range shooting touch. He transferred to DU after one year at Air Force, where he averaged 2.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 assists in limited minutes during 25 games with the Falcons.
"This is going to be the biggest team we've had here," Scott said. "We're going to have two 6-9 guys and two 6-4 guys, and there is competition for the fifth spot."
Adding Noonan to the roster also offers Scott and his coaching staff more options with their other two 6-9 players: Andrew Hooper and Justin Coughlin, whose primary position likely will switch from center to forward.
"Noonan brings a very important skill set to a basketball team," Scott said. "He's big and strong, but he can still pass and shoot. So that gives us more options. We have some different guys now that can do different things. It just puts us in a position to do what we want to do, which is just keep getting better."
Noonan grew up in nearby Broomfield, Colo., where he scored 18.6 points and pulled down 13.5 rebounds per game as a senior at Legacy High School, and he is excited to show Denver fans what he can do.
"I'm just excited to get out on that court and play again," Noonan said. "Being in a game that matters and having people count on me, I can't wait for that feeling again."
Happy Birthday: Assistant coach A.J. Kuhle is celebrating his birthday today.
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Basketball and Barbeque - 8/14/10
DENVER - Several
fans and former players joined the University of Denver men's
basketball coaches and team today for practice and a barbeque.
Those in attendance at the practice got a sample of what the coaches and players do every day, including a number of drills and work on offensive plays.
Head coach Joe Scott thanked everyone for coming and gave them a preview of the team's upcoming trip to Spain. Scott also emphasized that the growth of support among former players and fans during the past three years has helped Denver basketball improve as a program.
Among those in attendance were Doug Price, the second leading scorer in Pioneers' history with 1,830 career points from 1992-97, and Matt Teahan, who owns the single-season scoring record with 659 points (25.3 per game) in 1978-79.
Other former players joining the festivities were Stan Adams (Class of 1986), Dan Cramer (1973), Steve Fink (1992), Mike Gallagher (1980), Bill Jones (1971), David Kummer (2008), Gene Steinke (1948),Darryle Wyman (1991) and Jeff Wittebort (1979).
The newest members of Denver men's basketball alumni also joined the group: Nate Rohnert and Tom Chott, who both graduated in June 2010.
Rockies on FSN: Don't forget to watch tonight, when head coach Joe Scott will be a featured guest in the FSN Rocky Mountain television booth with Drew Goodman and Jeff Huson at Coors Field. Scott will visit the FSN television booth during the third inning of the Colorado Rockies' game against the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch for the Rockies and Brewers tilt is slated for 6:10 p.m. MT.
Those in attendance at the practice got a sample of what the coaches and players do every day, including a number of drills and work on offensive plays.
Head coach Joe Scott thanked everyone for coming and gave them a preview of the team's upcoming trip to Spain. Scott also emphasized that the growth of support among former players and fans during the past three years has helped Denver basketball improve as a program.
Among those in attendance were Doug Price, the second leading scorer in Pioneers' history with 1,830 career points from 1992-97, and Matt Teahan, who owns the single-season scoring record with 659 points (25.3 per game) in 1978-79.
Other former players joining the festivities were Stan Adams (Class of 1986), Dan Cramer (1973), Steve Fink (1992), Mike Gallagher (1980), Bill Jones (1971), David Kummer (2008), Gene Steinke (1948),Darryle Wyman (1991) and Jeff Wittebort (1979).
The newest members of Denver men's basketball alumni also joined the group: Nate Rohnert and Tom Chott, who both graduated in June 2010.
Rockies on FSN: Don't forget to watch tonight, when head coach Joe Scott will be a featured guest in the FSN Rocky Mountain television booth with Drew Goodman and Jeff Huson at Coors Field. Scott will visit the FSN television booth during the third inning of the Colorado Rockies' game against the Milwaukee Brewers. First pitch for the Rockies and Brewers tilt is slated for 6:10 p.m. MT.
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