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SPORTS FROM BASKETBALL, P. 14 and focusing on the details—how to attack other teams’ weaknesses, we’ll be in a position to win.” The Little Giants believe their blend of experience and talent will make them competiCoach Carpenter tive. But finding a rhythm, especially with some of the team recently returning from football, of play will be key. “We have a pretty strong basketball team with core guys that came back, and we’re still playing some younger guys,” Coach Carpenter said. “With the addition of the football guys, we’re just combining all the pieces and getting ready to play.” Walsh, himself a football player, concurred that transitioning players from football to basketball is difficult. “One thing we [football players] struggle with is getting into basketball shape because it’s a whole different game,” he said. “Now that we’ve had some games under our belt, we [the team] are starting to play well together, mesh well, and understand each other’s tendencies.”
The process of creating a team rhythm, Coach Carpenter noted, will not be easy. “We are still trying to find ourselves,” he said. “I know that it’s going to take some time, but all of our guys have bought in, are going to stay the course, and are going to continue to compete.” Walsh feels that the additions of the competitiveness and success from the football season are major advantages that few other teams have. “Especially coming from a successful football team, we know how to win,” he said. “We have leaders from the football team who can bring that winning mentality over to the basketball court. “Other teams who don’t have those football guys or other people who know how to win struggle and can’t overcome the barrier that is being in close games and not coming out on top.” Now, with the whole team together, the Little Giants look to rise to the top of the conference. “Our current guys are getting in rhythm and getting ready to play,” Coach Carpenter said. “We look forward to the rest of the season. It should be exciting.” The team, after starting conference play on Wednesday at home against Wittenberg, will travel to NCACfoe Oberlin on Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.
FROM NICKSIC, P. 16 came to fruition in his four years he has played.” Carpenter and Wabash fans have noticed more than just Nicksic’s vocal leadership this season. Over the offseason, Nicksic shed 40 pounds and worked on becoming a more complete basketball player. “As soon as the last game ended I sat down with my dad and talked about what I was bad at and what I was good at,” Nicksic said. After that conversation, Nicksic went to a trainer in Valparaiso, IN who trained the Michigan basketball team, Robbie Hummell, and a couple of other pros for the NBA combine. The two focused a lot on typical body fat percentages for centers at the Division I level. “He gave me a really useful workout regiment and diet that I try to follow, because I am not naturally very athletic,” Nicksic said. “I pretty much have to work for it, so it gave me something to work towards and helped.” Instead of focusing on one specialized shot or area, Nicksic also worked on all aspects of his game. “I just tried to work at what I was bad it, which was dribbling and passing, and becoming lighter and quicker,” Nicksic said. “Not just offensively, but I feel like I have become a more well-rounded basketball player. I am not just the center now. I am able to play basketball, which is a lot more fun.”
Carpenter believes Nicksic’s hard work has produced visible results on the court this season. “He has done a great job of scoring on the block, hitting the mid range jumper, Nicksic ‘14 and rebounding,” Carpenter said. The Little Giants have gotten off to a tough start this season, but Nicksic is helping his younger teammates stay the course. “The effort level then picked up and now we are playing hard and together,” Nicksic said. “We are just working on details, ironing stuff out, and getting the x’s and o’s down and figuring out how we can get not just two guys to play well but four or five guys to play well and we are able to put together an entire forty minute game to get a W.” No matter what happens over the rest of the season, Nicksic’s work ethic and attitude are traits that will help him on and off of the court. “Not only have I been impressed with Pete’s leadership on the basketball court, I’ve been more impressed with his leadership in the classroom and on campus,” Carpenter said. “He is a scholar-athlete, and he embodies the tradition of all Wabash Men that have come before him.”
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