Spring Break
Athlete of the Week: Jeff Adrien
Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: Sports
The staff of The Daily Campus will be spotlighting one individual each week whose performance stands out amongst all others. This week, we chose to honor Jeff Adrien who became the fifth Husky to score 1,000 points and collect 1,000 rebounds after UConn's 69-61 win.
Name: Jeff Adrien
Sport: Men's basketball
Year: Senior
Major: Liberal arts
Hometown:Brookline, Mass.
Position: Forward
Adrien scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in UConn's 68-51 dismantling of then-No. 5 Louisville on Monday, Feb. 2. He also added nine points and 14 rebounds in Saturday's victory over Michigan and became just the fifth Husky to record 1,000 career points and rebounds.
What's the difference between this team and past teams you've played on at UConn?
We're so much more together, compared to last year and the year before. We weren't really used to each other and now we know each other so well; we've been here together for three years.
Do you think it takes that much time to gel together?
There's only a couple of teams that have done that before, you got Ohio State, they lost in the championship game, and you've got Michigan, they lost in the Fab Five. There are probably a few other teams too, but those are the ones I think of off the top of my head. I just think team chemistry is very big, if everyone is on the same cylinder, on the same page, good things will happen, and that's what's happening for us right now.
Pre-game rituals?
I hit the pad underneath the hoop a couple of times to get myself going. I make sure I eat right - three hours before the game - sweet potatoes and stuff like that.
Favorite artist to listen to before a game?
The game I had 19 rebounds [versus Notre Dame], I was listening to some Biggie. I had just seen the movie and it got me pretty hyped for that game. If I had a good game, I try to prepare myself the same way and do it again.
Player you tried to model yourself after when you were growing up?
Growing up, it was Michael Jordan. I would shoot a lot of fade-aways. I used to watch Tracy McGrady, I tried to model my game after him when I'm not playing organized basketball, when I'm playing pick-up ball.
Ever think of playing football in college?
I wanted to focus more on one sport, I don't think I put in enough time for football. I didn't play my sophomore and junior year and it's hard to get recruited, especially playing just your senior year. I've always said if I played football though, I'd go to Miami. That's my team right there.
Name: Jeff Adrien
Sport: Men's basketball
Year: Senior
Major: Liberal arts
Hometown:Brookline, Mass.
Position: Forward
Adrien scored a team-high 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in UConn's 68-51 dismantling of then-No. 5 Louisville on Monday, Feb. 2. He also added nine points and 14 rebounds in Saturday's victory over Michigan and became just the fifth Husky to record 1,000 career points and rebounds.
What's the difference between this team and past teams you've played on at UConn?
We're so much more together, compared to last year and the year before. We weren't really used to each other and now we know each other so well; we've been here together for three years.
Do you think it takes that much time to gel together?
There's only a couple of teams that have done that before, you got Ohio State, they lost in the championship game, and you've got Michigan, they lost in the Fab Five. There are probably a few other teams too, but those are the ones I think of off the top of my head. I just think team chemistry is very big, if everyone is on the same cylinder, on the same page, good things will happen, and that's what's happening for us right now.
Pre-game rituals?
I hit the pad underneath the hoop a couple of times to get myself going. I make sure I eat right - three hours before the game - sweet potatoes and stuff like that.
Favorite artist to listen to before a game?
The game I had 19 rebounds [versus Notre Dame], I was listening to some Biggie. I had just seen the movie and it got me pretty hyped for that game. If I had a good game, I try to prepare myself the same way and do it again.
Player you tried to model yourself after when you were growing up?
Growing up, it was Michael Jordan. I would shoot a lot of fade-aways. I used to watch Tracy McGrady, I tried to model my game after him when I'm not playing organized basketball, when I'm playing pick-up ball.
Ever think of playing football in college?
I wanted to focus more on one sport, I don't think I put in enough time for football. I didn't play my sophomore and junior year and it's hard to get recruited, especially playing just your senior year. I've always said if I played football though, I'd go to Miami. That's my team right there.
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