ECU Basketball Q&A: With Lance Tejada
October 30, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Q: Talk about where the team is at as the season is set to begin and where you think it can be at the end of the season.
A: Right now we’ve got a lot of new faces, so it’s about everybody [coming together] and getting to know each other’s game. I think we have a special group of guys and if we gel the right way I can see us shocking a lot of people in the conference.
Q: In what areas do you feel you’ve improved the most since you arrived on campus?
A: I’ve adjusted to the game speed and gotten more comfortable on the court than I was last year. I think I’ve been shooting it a lot better than last year.
Q: What are some things you did over the summer to improve your shot?
A: I just regrouped my mind. I think it was more of a mental thing last year because I was dealing with a lot. I went home over the summer, regrouped my got my confidence back. It was definitely a lot more mental than physical for me.
Q: Last year you were the backup point guard to Antonio Robinson. What did you learn from him?
A: To go as hard as I can everyday [on every possession]. Antonio was a great point guard and he taught me how to run the team and play at a quicker pace. He was always running 100 mph all the time and playing as hard as he could each possession.
Q: How’s the competition been between Charles [Foster], Prince [Williams] and yourself at the point?
A: It’s been a great competition. We go at it everyday. We get the best out of each other. It’s more about making each other better than earning a spot. We’re trying to do what helps the team the most and if that’s beating each other up everyday, we’re willing to do it.
Q: When you play pick-up with your teammates, who’s the toughest player to guard?
A: It’s tougher to guard Prince because he’s got a few inches on me, but everybody out here is tough match-up because we’re all going as hard as we can.
Q: What’s it like playing for Coach Lebo and what has he taught you about playing point guard?
A: I’ve learned a lot over the past year about running the offense and getting to places I need to be. He’s taught me how to play fast, to pick my spots and how he thinks I can be most effective out on the court.
Q: Coach Lebo has encouraged you to drive the lane more. What’s your mindset when you start to drive and what are you trying to do when you get inside the lane?
A: I feel like I should drive a lot more than I did last year and when I get in there the first thing I want to do is score, but I’m going to take what the defense gives me. If they collapse on me I’ll find the open man, if not I’ll get a bucket.
Q: Who is your favorite NBA player and is that someone you try to emulate?
A: Chris Paul. I watch him play as much as I can. He’s one of the point guards you watch because he doesn’t kill you with superior athleticism, but he’s a tough point guard that knows how to play. He’s undersized, but he’s quick and he’s one of the best point guards to ever play.
Q: What are your individual goals for this season and how do you hope to be better than you were last year?
A: I want to be the most improved player in the conference and I want to do anything I can to help us win this year.
