ECU Basketball Q&A: With Caleb White
November 05, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Q: Now that you’re a junior, how have you seen the culture of Pirate basketball evolve since arriving?
A: The overall, everyday approach of the team; we go much harder everyday. I think our team is much better. We have a better mindset of what it takes to win. Last year we were able to string some things together later on in the season and I think that’s a taste we all want back, so everybody just works hard.
Q: With that said, what are some of the keys working towards that to having a successful season?
A: We feel like if we play to our potential we can contend for a conference championship, which is our first goal, other than coming in, working hard and taking it game-by-game.
Q: Last year, you guys nearly took down regular season champion SMU in the conference tournament. How did that loss fuel you during the off-season?
A: It showed us that when we put it all together, there’s not a gap there; we can play with anyone. It sounds cliché, but it just proved that. It showed us that its really in our grasp, which just adds extra motivation.
Q: Although there are a lot of guys returning, how have things been different in preparing for the upcoming season?
A: We have more size, everybody’s a little more experienced and we’ve been more focused. We also added got a couple of JUCO guys at key positions that know how to play winning basketball.
Q: What are some areas of your game that you’ve worked on and what are the coaches expecting from you this season?
A: I’ve been trying to be more aggressive and get easier buckets, layups and get to the foul line more. That’s the one thing that I really want to expand my game to this year and keep an aggressive mindset throughout the entire game. Last year, the first half was more relaxed for me and I was more locked in during the second half, looking to score more and play harder. I just want to keep that mindset through the whole game.
Q: As one of the veterans on this team, you’re expected to be a leader. How would you describe yourself as leader and what ways is the coaching staff expecting you to do that?
A: I try to come in every day and work hard, make the right choices, show a guy [the ropes] and just keep myself open to any questions anybody might ask to keep his mind focused. If they want to talk about anything other than basketball I’m there too.
Q: What is your favorite pregame meal?
A: Steak and shrimp with mashed potatoes.
Q: What kind of stuff do you do to prepare for the games?
A: I just like to take a nap and talk to some people in my family before the game.
Q: Do you have a favorite sports movie?
A: This might sound kind of cliché, but I like Rudy. He stuck with it. A lot of people didn’t think he would be able to do some of the things that he did, but he believed and he got what he wanted out of it. I feel like I can relate to that, so Rudy is my favorite.
Q: When hosting a recruit, what are some of things you tell me them to try to persuade them to come to ECU?
A: I just make sure they’re always around us because where one of us is everybody is going to be. I want to make sure I relay that family aspect and how close we are to them. It’s a fun university full of great people with things to do. The people here truly love you, so you have very little to no problems.
