This chat
between Kirk Penney and the general public took place on March 18, 2003.
Taken
From www.uwbadgers.com
bigred: people mention the "hill"
what exactly does that mean and how often do you have to run it?
Kirk
Penney: The
hill is one of our preseason workouts that involves
mental toughness. Coach raises the bar every week by adding two or three reps
up the hill every week. It's a good time for team camaraderie and gets the
chemistry started for the year.
Elwaydean: I sent an email as well, but I will
submit my question here as well, just in case. Hey Kirk, this is Dean in
Kirk
Penney: Thanks
Dean. In the off-season I shoot at least 300-400 shots a day. Repetition is the
greatest tool to become a better shooter.
bigred: what are some of your favorite
memories of Ag Hall and the LA department?
Kirk
Penney:
Spending time in the wee hours of the morning with my favorite LA majors are
some of the fondest memories ...
seams: How does it feel to be one of a handful of UW players ever
to attend four-straight NCAA tournaments?
Kirk
Penney: It's
been an honor to be able to play for some wonderful coaches and with some
awesome teammates. The tournament is what every team shoots for in the
beginning of the season. It's a great reward for all our hard work.
SteinlagerGirl: Kirk - What do you enjoying doing
in your free time, when you have it?
Kirk
Penney:
Spending time with friends, watching movies, listening to music ... pretty much
anything a regular college student does.
badgerfan_1: Kirk ... who is the best team
Kirk
Penney:
seams: Was it hard to be so far away from home and friends who
would have like to see you play for four years?
Kirk
Penney: It was
hard to be away from family and friends but I always wanted to come over here
and see what the whole American college experience was all about. The
adjustment was made very easy thanks to the friends and support I've received
here.
seams: What are your basketball plans when you have finished at
Kirk
Penney: Right
now I just want to enjoy the final stretch of the season with the guys and not
let anything else take away from the hard work we've put in. In other words I'm
just keeping my focus on the season at hand. Once the season ends, I'll explore
my opportunities.
SteinlagerGirl: I've seen your dad Paul at the
games. Did he move to
Kirk
Penney: Nice
name! Having dad here has been awesome support. He's been here for the last
three years enjoying every basketball moment that I've enjoyed. I'm so thankful
to have a part of my family here with me to share this with.
Wally: How do you and the other guys on
the team like the swing offense?
Kirk
Penney: The
swing offense is great because it provides opportunities for players to go
inside and outside and be more versatile. When the players are aware of all the
reads, the offense is extremely tough to guard.
SteinlagerGirl: What will you miss most about your
time at UW once you're done with basketball and school?
Kirk
Penney: The
whole atmosphere that college provides. The great social environments and
friends I've made. And of course playing in front of 17,000
of the greatest fans at the
Benks: Hey Kirk, what did you learn about Weber St. after losing
to them last year that will help you in your next game?
Kirk
Penney:
SteinlagerGirl: You've lived in
Kirk
Penney:
Nothing beats
BadgerFan: Hi Kirk, thanks for taking the time
to chat with us. What do you think about the Big Ten tournament vs. playing all
the conference rivals twice during the regular season? What positive things can
you take away from the unfortunate loss to
Kirk
Penney: Going
into the NCAA tournament with a loss leaves the guys hungry and anxious to get
out on the court and compete again.
SCOOTER: What advice do you give to some of
the younger players on your team when it comes to dealing with the
"fame" associated with being a UW Badger?
Kirk
Penney: I
think humility is one of the greatest assets an athlete can have in our
position. It keeps everything in perspective.
mhcbf: How have you and your team prepared
for the tournament?
Kirk
Penney: We're
preparing for the NCAA tournament with the same routines that we had during the
regular season. However, the intensity level has reaches another level as we
realize this is the last time we may play together.
Kirk
Penney: My
younger cousin Jared is one of the up and coming players in
Kirk
Rocks: Hey
Kirk, who was your role model growing up?
Kirk
Penney: I
always looked up to my older brother when I was growing up.
BlossomDS: What has been your best memory of
your UW basketball career thus far?
Kirk
Penney: I have
so many fond memories with every one of the teammates I've been able to play
with. However, the Big Ten title we won a couple of weeks ago is fresh in my
mind and a moment in time I will cherish.
SteinlagerGirl: Kirk - What drew you to basketball and
not other popular sports in
Kirk
Penney: I
always loved to play basketball as a kid, if it was one-on-one or horse in the
driveway with my brother and cousin. I enjoyed rugby and cricket as well.
Basketball was just something that I couldn't stay away from.
kiwidan: Hi kirk,
is the NBA draft 2003 a realistic goal?
Kirk
Penney: The
whispers in the wind say LeBron or myself
... haha!
Kirk
Penney: Thanks
to everyone for coming out today and chatting with me. On behalf of the team
I'd like to thank everyone for their support this season and during my four
years here. Cheers mate!
Chat Moderator: Thank you for joining us in today's
chat. A transcript will be available shortly on www.uwbadgers.com.