Q&A with Jake Muhleisen

With the start of basketball practice last Saturday, the HuskersNside staff was able to sit down with junior captain Jake Muhleisen and talk a little hoops, among other things. Here is what the Lincoln native had to say.

Nside: After a serious injury that ended your season before conference play really got started last year, this is probably the first question you hear at the beginning of every interview, but how is your health?
Muhleisen: I haven't had any problems so far. I feel good, and am ready to play. I'm excited to get back to playing, but I'm a little nervous. I haven't practiced for almost a year, and haven't played for almost a year, but at the same time I'm still excited.

Nside: How hard was sitting out and how hard has it been coming back?
Muhleisen: It was a lot harder last year watching the guys play without me. Once I started to come back and started running, I was in terrible shape and it took me a while to get back in shape and get my skills back. When I started playing pickup this summer, it came back, but it was a lot harder watching the guys play and have fun.

Nside: The first time you hit the court after your injury was in March at the Big 12 Tournament when you suited up for warm-ups. How excited were to get back on the court?
Muhleisen: I was real excited. That was a lot of fun actually. It was good to be in a uniform instead of a suit and tie, and to be able to be out there, running around and warming up with my teammates. I had a good time out there.

Nside: After your injury, it was talked about that you received a letter from Texas Tech head coach Bob Knight. What did that mean to you?
Muhleisen: It was really cool that he sent it to me. It was encouraging, and just said to keep my spirits up. He asked me when we went down there last year if I got it. I thought that was cool that he sent me a letter and asked about it. He's Coach Knight, he's a legend. I got a personal letter from Coach Knight, it's pretty sweet. A lot of people may not see him doing that, but I thought it was a really nice gesture on his part.

Nside: The media has recently talked about the team's extensive conditioning program this year. How hard has everyone been working in the off-season?
Muhleisen: Last season, there were some guys who missed some conditioning, but this year everyone finished it, and we had five weeks of conditioning compared to three last year. Guys aren't complaining, they're out there and making their times. Guys are working hard in workouts and pickup games, so I feel better than the past couple years. Hopefully that will carry over to the regular season.

Nside: Without having had a formal practice yet, what have you seen from the newcomers in your pickup games and what could fans expect to see from them this year?
Muhleisen: They will see more speed and quickness out of the newcomers than in the past at those positions. We will be able to pressure the ball more and handle the ball a lot better. Hopefully, we'll be able to play a little more up-tempo and be able to pressure the ball more and get more easy baskets.

Nside: How about the returning guys, what should the fans expect to see?
Muhleisen: A better knowledge of the game, smarter play and better skills. We know what it takes to win and what we had to do in the off-season when working on our skills, shooting and strength. A lot of guys worked on their strength over the summer. We should be a better team.

Nside: You played high school basketball in Lincoln and were the top prep player in the state. What's it like now playing at home for the Huskers?
Muhleisen: It's awesome. I grew up watching Nebraska basketball, and came to lot of games when I was younger. It was awesome running out on the court the first time in red and white. I always imagined myself doing it, so it's really a dream come true.

Nside: Being one of the top players on the team and being from Lincoln, everyone in the area knows who you are. What's it like to be so well known?
Muhleisen: It's kind of weird, and it's different. You go to the mall or out to eat and people come up to you and talk to you and ask how the team is going to be. It's cool though, but I never imagined having people know who I am.

Nside: You've followed Nebraska basketball since you were a little kid. Was there a player you watched growing up who sticks out in your mind?
Muhleisen: Jamar Johnson. I loved watching him play. I still remember the time when he hit that shot, the game-winner against KU from the corner. That was awesome. It's a memory that sticks out in my mind about basketball.

Nside: You're in your second year as a captain, which says a lot about what your teammates think of your leadership abilities. Was there any added pressure being named a captain, especially when you were just a sophomore?
Muhleisen: It was a little (more pressure), but I'm used to doing it. I was a captain in high school, so I was used to it by then. I kind of took over a leadership role with the team my freshman year, I wasn't a captain, but I had to because of the position I was playing. It doesn't really add a lot of pressure, it just makes me go out there and perform better every day.

Nside: You can play all three guard positions. If you're on the floor with another point guard, will that add to the leadership on the floor?
Muhleisen: I think so. It will help develop everybody into a leader really. We have a lot of seniors on the team this year compared to last year, so there should be leadership coming from different areas anyway.

Nside: The team has been doing individual workouts for a couple weeks now, and you've had a chance to spend some time working with the Huskers' newest coach, Scott Spinelli. What's it like on the court with coach Spinelli?
Muhleisen: He's got a ton of energy. He's really emotional when you're out there just shooting. Even when your doing shooting drills, he's always intense. I think he's having a lot of fun doing it and he brings a lot of knowledge of the game. He's been around a lot of NBA teams, so it's pretty exciting to have him with all the knowledge he has. 

Nside: In the summer of 2002 you had the chance to go with the Big 12 All-Star Team to Europe for a couple weeks and you had quite a few good games. How was that experience?
Muhleisen: It was awesome. I established friendships with players from other teams, so now I know someone from the other schools. I still call them up once in a while and see how they're doing. It was awesome to go to another country and get to play against foreign players.

Nside: Is there any significance to the number you wear, number 12?
Muhleisen: Not really. I got it my sophomore year of high school. My number was 14 my freshman year, but I've been 12 ever since. I asked for it then, but I don't know why I chose it. That's a good question.

Nside: Who is the toughest player you've played against?
Muhleisen: Of anyone on any team, Drew Gooden was the best I played against. As far as who I've guarded, probably Kareem Rush (from Missouri) and T.J. Ford (from Texas).

Nside: Who was better?
Muhleisen: Kareem shot a whole lot more, but T.J. was harder to guard because he was all over the place. So it was kind of a toss up.

Nside: Do you model your game after anyone, or do just go out and play your game?
Muhleisen: I just go out and play. I'm not flashy by any means, I try to be as fundamental as possible and get the job done.

Nside: Off the court, you've already made a good name for yourself in the classroom. Has that always been a priority and where did it come from?
Muhleisen: My parents have always stressed it growing up, and I've kept it as a habit. I try to do well in school and always do my best.

Nside: With the schedules that student-athletes have to follow, how hard is it to be successful in the classroom as well?
Muhleisen: Some classes are pretty hard and some are easy, but for the most part, you just have to put the effort into it to receive good grades.

Nside: Your exploits on the court are widely publicized in the state, but you are not the only athlete in your family. You have a brother, Adam, who is a scholarship golfer at Drake. What's it like having two athletes in the family?
Muhleisen: It has probably helped my parents out a lot because if we have a problem, we're able to talk to each other about it.

Nside: Do you golf?
Muhleisen: I try. 

Nside: Does he get the better end of that?
Muhleisen: Definitely. I'm not patient enough. I just go up there and try to hit it as far as I can.

Nside: How's he on the basketball court?
Muhleisen: He's alright. He used to beat me, but then I grew.

Nside: If you had to pick another sport to play besides basketball, which would you enjoy the most?
Muhleisen: I'd want to play baseball.

Nside: Why?
Muhleisen: I don't know. It seems like the most relaxing sport. You're outside, you're not always running around hitting each other. I just think it'd be a fun sport to play.

Nside: A lot of people may not know it but your roommate the past couple years is another Husker student-athlete from Lincoln, linebacker Barrett Ruud. What's that like?
Muhleisen: It's cool because we're able to just be friends. We talk about our (respective) sports once in a while, but we talk about it so much in other places that we usually keep it non-sports talk at home. We watch a lot of sports together though. He knows a lot about basketball and I know football, so that's cool. We give each other tips and make fun of each other once in a while.

Thanks for your time Jake and good luck this season.