Feb. 5, 2003
Some of junior Josh Kroenke's teammates say that having Josh on the court with them is like having a coach with them when they go to battle. The veteran member of the Tiger squad has been a Tiger through the entire Quin Snyder era over the past four years. The Columbia native has become a vital cog in the Mizzou wheel and his hustle and passion for the game make him one of the valued leaders this season. Kroenke took a minute to talk about music, memories and March Madness with Samantha Kilgore in this edition of Tiger Q&A.
Q: What type of music do you listen to, or what types of things do you do pre-game to get pumped up and focused? A: "I don't listen to music before a game. I'm kind of off thinking about my own things and different stuff coach talked about. A lot of the guys have their music turned up pretty loud, and I obviously listen to it, but it's nothing that plays a major part of my pre-game."
Q: Besides basketball, what other interests do you have? Are there any hobbies or past times that you really enjoy? A: "Honestly, I love music even though it sounds strange that I don't listen to it before games. I listen to all types of music. I listen to rap, country, folk, whatever you can think of, I can relate to it someway. It's kind of one of those things where I can just plug in my stereo and relax a little bit. I love listening to music."
Q: Who would you say you greatest influences are both personally and athletically? A: "My parents. My dad always pushed me in athletics very hard because he knew I had an opportunity to succeed in different areas. He saw that I was talented a little bit, and he wanted me to go after it. My mom on the other hand, she was always there to provide support. If I had a rough day playing basketball, she'll always there. They've both been great for me growing up. They provided me with a good perspective on live, and looking back I think I really enjoyed my childhood."
Q: Is there a favorite quote or line that you ever think about or sticks out in your head that you remember? A: "The reason most people fail instead of succeed is that they trade what they want most for what they want at the moment." I learned that when I was at prep school. My favorite teacher when I was there, Mr. Tilton, had it on the wall. It's one of those things that right when I read it, I knew it was a great saying I can live by. Once I read it, I realized that it's something I should remember. If I see something I want, but I know it might have a bad effect on me, I don't need it."
Q: How difficult has the adjustment this year been for you? You came in last year averaging around 8 minutes a game and now you're averaging over 20. A: "It's a huge difference. It's a lot more fun obviously, but at the same time my focus has always been in the same place. I know that when I'm in there now, I'm still playing the same role, I'm just playing it more. I get the ball to the guys that need it where they can score."
Q: Being a member of last years' squad, you know the team came together kind of late defensively and how that made a big difference in the tournament run. This year's team seems to be coming together a lot earlier and a lot stronger. How important is that going into Big 12 play? A: "It's huge. It's interesting I think because you could even see it happening in pre-season. The guys have a whole different outlook on everything. Everyone is looking out for the team instead of looking for their own interests."