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 Tony Giovacchini |
Bob Reed (Fremont, CA)
You look more confident on the court and are playing well. What did you doin the summer to prepare for the 99-00 season?
Tony Giovacchini: Bob- I appreciate your acknowledgements and I do feel more confident on thefloor this year. I worked really hard this summer, working camps, liftingweights, and doing ball handling and shooting drills. I also spent a lot oftime on the track trying to stay in shape. Working hard on my ball handlingand shot really has helped. I now feel comfortable playing at the pace thecollege game requires. Also, there is a mental aspect as well. Just being ayear older and more familiar with the surroundings and the system hashelped me improve. I feel confident and I hope that I can keep improving.
Jessica Killen (Ukiah, CA)
Hi Tony! I really enjoyed seeing you play against Arizona. My dad and Iwere very lucky that we got to see the team play this year. I would like toknow how you like playing for the Stanford Cardinal? You guys are myfavorite college team and I hope to someday attend Stanford Universitymyself. I was also wondering what it is like to attend Stanford. Forexample, the classes, campus, etc.?
Tony Giovacchini: Jessica- I'm glad you were able to see the Arizona game. I wish you could have seenus win, though. It is nice to know that we have supporting fans likeyourself. As for attending Stanford, this is a truly remarkable place andif you are one day able to come to school here, I would highly recommendit. Classes are difficult, but you will never be surrounded by moreintelligent and amazing people in any other situation in life. Everyonehere has something special to offer. The campus is beautiful and huge. Ipersonally like the golf course and the sculpture garden. Right now, I amtaking some courses in Political Science and Economics. They arechallenging, but worthwhile.Good luck and thanks
Jason Galloway (Seattle, WA)
What do you feel is the No. 1 reason behind Stanford's success (besides agreat deal of talent!)?
Tony Giovacchini: Jason- I personally think that there are two reasons that we are successful. Thefirst is that we play defense. Everyone on the team takes pride in ourdefensive effort. That is something you can always control. The otherreason we have success is that we have many offensive weapons. There is notone person on the team that cannot score, even though their stats mayindicate otherwise. If teams choose to double team one of us, the otherswill hurt them
Kevin Ciccia (Buffalo, NY)
What do you do on game days that might be different from non-game days? Doyou have any superstitions or routines that you follow?
Tony Giovacchini: Kevin- I do not have any specific routines that I follow, but game days aredifferent from regular days. We always have a shoot around around noon ongame day. There, we run a little bit and get some shots. We will also watchsome video of the other team and go over their plays. From there, we go topre-game meal. After that, I like to relax for an hour or so and then go tothe game. In the locker room, we have some quiet time to get our minds onthe game. From there it is out to warm ups and then the game starts.Afterwards, we celebrate the win.
Charles Young (Fremont, CA)
Were you a Stanford basketball fan growing up?
Tony Giovacchini: Charles- Actually, I was a Duke fan growing up. I always saw them on ESPN and I loved Coach K, Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, and Bobby Hurley. I became a Stanford fan my freshman year in high school and then they startedrecruiting me. When we beat Duke earlier this year, that was especiallynice for me, knowing that we had just beaten the team I grew up loving.
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