Cal Poly basketball is playing with high standards these days. In 2012-13, the women captured the program's first Big West Tournament championship and NCAA Tournament berth behind the outstanding play of Big West Player of the Year Molly Schlemer, who helped the Mustangs finish 21-11 overall. The 21 victories tied for the most under head coach Faith Mimnaugh.
The men are seeking to accomplish the same in 2013-14, an inaugural conference title and trip to the NCAA Tournament. Under head coach Joe Callero, the Mustangs continue to inch closer to that goal. Last year's squad set program records for most Big West wins (12) and best Big West winning percentage (.667) while finishing 18-14 overall with leadership from first-team all-conference performer Chris Eversley.
In this countdown to the 2013-14 season, read about what Schlemer and men's senior guard Jamal Johnson have to say about Cal Poly's prospects for success.
MOLLY SCHLEMER
The reigning Big West Conference Player of the Year scored in double figures in 15 games last season and in the 18 conference games, the junior averaged 15.2 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 59 percent from the floor. Schlemer paced Cal Poly in scoring 11 times last season and was named the Big West Conference Tournament MVP. The Santa Maria, California native is ready to make the most of her final season without taking a single game for granted.
Q: After averaging 3.5 points per game your freshman year and 2.8 points your sophomore year you were named Big West Player of the Year in 2013. What happened between your second and third seasons to propel you onto that scene averaging 22.3 minutes played and 13.3 points per game?
A: My freshmen and sophomore games I sat on the bench watching the successes of the upperclassmen. I was lucky enough to watch players such as Kristina Santiago and I think I learned a lot from that. I took all the things I learned and applied them my junior year and I credit my coaches and team for working with me to be the best player that I could be.
Q: What do you remember about your first time stepping on the court wearing your school’s jersey? Why will it be different now, three years down the line?
A: I remember stepping on the court at Seattle University during the 09-10 season and it was a quite surreal feeling realizing I was playing for Cal Poly. Three years down the line, it is crazy to me. I can’t believe I’m a senior and playing my last season in a Cal Poly uniform. It’s different now because I realize my time is running out and I can’t take a single game for granted this season.
Q: What new skills or capabilities have you and your team developed this offseason?
A: In regards to my team, we are just developing new roles for everybody and building up everyone’s confidence and the team chemistry. Personally, I am working on my offense against double teams and outside shooting.
Q: What is your program’s philosophy?
A: I think our program’s philosophy is to Work Hard. If you give 110 percent in every drill then it will transfer onto the court during a game.
Q: What is it that’s going to make your team rise to the top this season?
A: What’s going to make us rise to the top is the fact that we get along and care for each other so much. Also, that we all have the same goal and want the same thing, another Big West Championship.
JAMAL JOHNSON
The senior guard led the Big West Conference in 2012-13 and finished 11th among NCAA Division I players with a 2.75-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. In his junior season, Jamal Johnson finished sixth among Big West performers with 122 assists and finished eighth with assists per game. As a freshman, Johnson had a career-best 12 points against Long Beach State (Dec. 30, 2010). Last season, the junior described his role as “a pass-first point guard so I can get my teammates involved in the action.” The senior shares that at Cal Poly, he and his teammates believe in a “One Day Contract” – so that they may make the most of every game, every play, and every moment on the court.
Q: What will you be thinking about when you step onto that court for the first time this season?
A: Excitement, a phenomenal team like Arizona is going to be a good matchup for us in our first game, which should make for a good test for our team prior to conference play.
Q: How will your team fare this season?
A: How our team will fare is only a question that can be answered later in the year. However, our team has the talent and camaraderie to have a strong season. With key additions making our team the most dynamic we’ve had in years, our team is aiming for nothing short than a trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Q: What is something people wouldn’t expect to know about you and/or your team?
A: For me, I wear my socks inside out during practice and games. For our team, after home games we like to jump off the diving board into the pool as a way of cooling off.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this season?
A: This season I am most looking forward to leading my team to the NCAA Tournament. Being an exceptional leader on and off the court and showing the young guys the nuances of college basketball.
Q: Does your team have a motto for the upcoming season? And if so, what is it?
A: We have a couple that have always been our model. One is “one day contract” meaning we only have that day at that moment to get better and make the best out of that day because the season eventually comes to an end and tomorrow isn’t promised. Another is “success isn’t accidental,” meaning at Cal Poly we work hard and strive to work hard every day and have the little things accomplished so that when we are faced with obstacles we are able to overcome them because we have practiced it already.