College athlete of the week: Portland State's Nate Lozeau
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School: Portland State University
Year: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Marysville (Marysville Pilchuck High School)
What he did: Coming off an 18-point, nine-rebound performance against Walla Walla, the 6-foot-10 Lozeau added 17 points and four rebounds in a loss to Utah Valley. In the three games leading up to Thursday's game against Cal State Bakersfield, Lozeau averaged 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.
What's next: Lozeau and the Vikings (5-4) were scheduled to host Bakersfield on Thursday night and play at Oregon State on Sunday.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
The last time we talked to you, you were playing in the NCAA tournament with the University of San Diego. Now you're at Portland State. What can you tell us about your journey?
It's just been an interesting journey. I left San Diego after that NCAA tournament year. I switched to Portland State and redshirted, and that redshirt year was huge for me. It was a chance to get back into the swing of things. My second year at San Diego, I felt like I wasn't really into it. I was just kind of floating. So this was a chance to get back into it, improve my game, improve my body. Then last year, I started to come into my own. And now it's my senior year, and I feel like everything's coming together for me.
It certainly appears that way. You combined to score 35 points and pull down 13 rebounds in a pair of games heading into this week. What's working for you?
I think I'm starting to get my confidence back. I'm starting to play my game again. I just think I got away from my game.
You fouled out of Monday night's game at Oregon. Was that a matter of refs having quick whistles or were you a little too aggressive?
It was just a matter of ... my fifth foul, that was a bad decision. I got two early ones early in the second half. So it was a little bit of playing on the aggressive side and a little bit of them calling the stuff.
Is that a big rivalry game for Portland State?
It's not as big a rivalry as playing the University of Portland. It's only the second year we've played them. But anytime you're playing an in-state school, there's definitely a little more that goes into it.
The Ducks have a freshman named Brett Kingma, who was a pretty big star up here while playing for Jackson High School. What were your impressions after being on the same court as him?
It was cool. I didn't get a chance to follow his career too much, but I know he had great success at Jackson. It's cool he's playing down here in the Pac-10 and for a program like Oregon.
You're one of nine transfers on the Portland State roster, including former Washington State players Dre Winston and Michael Harthun. Is there a unique feel to your team since so many guys have made so many stops along the way?
Since we get a lot of transfers here, everyone brings a different thing to the team, something from the teams they came from. So we're a good team as far as knowledge and chemistry. You'd expect that we would have a hard time coming together, but we all work together really well and get along both on and off the court.
Next week, you're playing an Oregon State team coached by Craig Robinson, whose sister is the First Lady. Pretty cool thinking you'll be one degree of separation from the President for a couple hours?
Yeah, that is pretty cool. It's awesome. I've been thinking about that.
Since it is the holiday season, I have to ask: anything you're particularly wanting this year?
I haven't really put that much thought into it. I'm just hoping to get some new clothes and gift cards.
I bet it's hard to shop for a 6-foot-10 guy, huh?
Yeah, exactly. Anytime you can get some new stuff.
Where does someone go to buy clothes for a guy as tall as you?
I just go to the mall, surprisingly. People think I have to go to a Big & Tall store or something, but I don't. Macy's, Nordstrom's, any off those stores will work.
OK, how about your coach. What would be a perfect holiday gift for him?
I think the perfect holiday gift for him would be a win at Cal State Fullerton three days before Christmas, then a win over Montana in the conference opener. That would be a great gift for him.
Wow, great answer. But I bet he wouldn't mind another 6-foot-10 transfer or two.
No, I'm sure he wouldn't.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111215/SPORTS/712169915" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
School: Portland State University
Year: Senior
Sport: Basketball
Hometown: Marysville (Marysville Pilchuck High School)
What he did: Coming off an 18-point, nine-rebound performance against Walla Walla, the 6-foot-10 Lozeau added 17 points and four rebounds in a loss to Utah Valley. In the three games leading up to Thursday's game against Cal State Bakersfield, Lozeau averaged 13.0 points and 6.0 rebounds.
What's next: Lozeau and the Vikings (5-4) were scheduled to host Bakersfield on Thursday night and play at Oregon State on Sunday.
TWO-MINUTE DRILL
The last time we talked to you, you were playing in the NCAA tournament with the University of San Diego. Now you're at Portland State. What can you tell us about your journey?
It's just been an interesting journey. I left San Diego after that NCAA tournament year. I switched to Portland State and redshirted, and that redshirt year was huge for me. It was a chance to get back into the swing of things. My second year at San Diego, I felt like I wasn't really into it. I was just kind of floating. So this was a chance to get back into it, improve my game, improve my body. Then last year, I started to come into my own. And now it's my senior year, and I feel like everything's coming together for me.
It certainly appears that way. You combined to score 35 points and pull down 13 rebounds in a pair of games heading into this week. What's working for you?
I think I'm starting to get my confidence back. I'm starting to play my game again. I just think I got away from my game.
You fouled out of Monday night's game at Oregon. Was that a matter of refs having quick whistles or were you a little too aggressive?
It was just a matter of ... my fifth foul, that was a bad decision. I got two early ones early in the second half. So it was a little bit of playing on the aggressive side and a little bit of them calling the stuff.
Is that a big rivalry game for Portland State?
It's not as big a rivalry as playing the University of Portland. It's only the second year we've played them. But anytime you're playing an in-state school, there's definitely a little more that goes into it.
The Ducks have a freshman named Brett Kingma, who was a pretty big star up here while playing for Jackson High School. What were your impressions after being on the same court as him?
It was cool. I didn't get a chance to follow his career too much, but I know he had great success at Jackson. It's cool he's playing down here in the Pac-10 and for a program like Oregon.
You're one of nine transfers on the Portland State roster, including former Washington State players Dre Winston and Michael Harthun. Is there a unique feel to your team since so many guys have made so many stops along the way?
Since we get a lot of transfers here, everyone brings a different thing to the team, something from the teams they came from. So we're a good team as far as knowledge and chemistry. You'd expect that we would have a hard time coming together, but we all work together really well and get along both on and off the court.
Next week, you're playing an Oregon State team coached by Craig Robinson, whose sister is the First Lady. Pretty cool thinking you'll be one degree of separation from the President for a couple hours?
Yeah, that is pretty cool. It's awesome. I've been thinking about that.
Since it is the holiday season, I have to ask: anything you're particularly wanting this year?
I haven't really put that much thought into it. I'm just hoping to get some new clothes and gift cards.
I bet it's hard to shop for a 6-foot-10 guy, huh?
Yeah, exactly. Anytime you can get some new stuff.
Where does someone go to buy clothes for a guy as tall as you?
I just go to the mall, surprisingly. People think I have to go to a Big & Tall store or something, but I don't. Macy's, Nordstrom's, any off those stores will work.
OK, how about your coach. What would be a perfect holiday gift for him?
I think the perfect holiday gift for him would be a win at Cal State Fullerton three days before Christmas, then a win over Montana in the conference opener. That would be a great gift for him.
Wow, great answer. But I bet he wouldn't mind another 6-foot-10 transfer or two.
No, I'm sure he wouldn't.
