Thursday, February 7, 2008
Big 12 Rookie of the Week Krysten Boogaard is a 6-foot-5 freshman center from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Boogaard is coming into her own as a player, averaging 11.6 points, 7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks during the last five games. Her brother Derek is an enforcer for the Minnesota Wild of the NHL.
Q: How does it feel to be named the Phillips 66 Big 12 Rookie of the Week?
A: It feels awesome but it was kind of shocking. I have great teammates that pass me the ball and I’m thankful to them. They’re the reason I got it.
Q: Growing up, were you a bigger fan of basketball or hockey?
A: Well I grew up in a hockey family, like I was pretty much born in a hockey rink. So I really liked hockey and I tried it but it wasn’t something for me so I tried basketball. I’d say I was a bigger fan of basketball.
Q: What’s the biggest difference between Canada and Kansas?
A: Definitely the weather. My mom told me the other day that it was minus 50, so it’s kind of weird to me that it’s thunderstorming here (in February).
Q: Who are some of your basketball heroes?
A: Lisa Leslie (of the Los Angeles Sparks) because she’s also 6-foot-5 and a great basketball player, and Tammy Sutton-Brown (of the Indiana Fever) because she’s Canadian.
Q: Two of your brothers started a controversial camp, the Derek and Aaron Fighting Camp, for kids ages 12-18. What’s your stance on the camp?
A: I think it’s a good thing that they’re doing that because they’re teaching kids how to protect themselves if they do get into a situation where someone is going to try and fight them. It’s just like Tae Kwon Do or anything like that. The game plan is not to go out and fight somebody.
Q: What’s an ideal day for you?
A: Waking up when I want to— without an alarm clock. Probably going to the mall and later working on my free throws.
Q: In what part of your game have you made the most improvement since the first game?
A: My confidence has improved a lot since the first game. I wasn’t really sure what I was doing in the first couple of games here; I was just doing my own thing, which is not so great. I’ve learned a lot about how Bonnie wants things run so that’s my biggest improvement.
Q: What’s been the most rewarding thing about this season?
A: Improving together as a team, knowing the things that we need to work on and everyone driving together for the same goals.
Q: Was it ever difficult growing up as such a tall kid?
A: Yeah, in a way, because you would get picked on by some kids like, “Oh, you’re so tall.” I was always the tallest wherever I went. In elementary school and high school, I was the tallest female ever. The only difficult part was when the other kids would make fun of me.
Q: Do you know the words to “O, Canada,” the “Star-Spangled Banner,” both or neither?
A: I know the words to O, Canada. The Star Spangled Banner on the other hand, I mean I kind of know it. I know it ends with the home of the brave, so I know some words.
—Edited by Nick Mangiaracina
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