SE: Trice Looks to Use Athleticism, ‘Dennis Rodman Mentality’ to Give Boost to K-State MBB
Nov 02, 2018 | Men's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Since Austin Trice first stepped foot in Manhattan this summer, he's been pushed. Say a name on K-State's roster and the junior-transfer will likely associate it with that word — push.
Let's start with K-State strength and conditioning coach Ben O'Donnell.
"He's going to push you to the limit, for sure," Trice, who put on 20-plus pounds this summer, said of O'Donnell. "He's definitely going to try and get the most out of you and then some more after that. I love him."
Associate head coach Chris Lowery?
"He pushes me to the limit, too. He pushes me to the point where sometimes I don't like it, but I know for a fact it's to get me better," Trice said of Lowery, his lead recruiter out of Wabash Valley College. "He has the greatest interest in me, so whatever he tells me to do, I'll listen to him because I know it's going to lead me to more success."
Dean Wade, Makol Mawien, Levi Stockard III, Nigel Shadd and James Love III?
"Those are all guys that I learn from every single day," Trice said, "and we push each other to the limit every single day."
OK, let's turn the question around. What words come to mind when Trice's name is brought up to his teammates and coaches?
"So explosive," said O'Donnell.
"Super athletic," added Barry Brown, Jr.
"Electrifying," Xavier Sneed said.
A 6-foot-7 power forward, Trice's reputation as an athlete took little time to form at K-State.
Head coach Bruce Weber said Trice had more tip-slams this summer than the rest of the team combined. Thousands of Wildcat fans took in his dunking abilities at K-State's Madness in Manhattan event on October 12, when he jumped over the 6-foot-11 Love III for one of his dunks.
Trice knows he can help in one specific area: Rebounding. In its Elite Eight run last season, K-State ranked last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin. Last season at Wabash Valley College, Trice finished in the top 10 nationally in four rebounding categories.
"I feel like rebounding is my niche," Trice said. "I've always had that mentality."
The Chicago, Illinois, native has a more specific name for this mentality, too.
"I try to keep a Dennis Rodman mentality," he said, referencing an NBA Hall of Famer and one of the greatest rebounders ever. "Dennis Rodman was a bully and that's what I like to do. I like to be a bully on the court. I like to dunk on people and I like to rebound. I feel like that's going to give me the most success here because we've got scorers, so we need people to do the other things behind the scenes. I feel like I can do that."
Weber said Trice's buy-in to this role is crucial for him to not only earn minutes on a team that returns all five starters from last season's 25-win campaign but also for the team to take a step forward collectively.
"We've talked about it a lot with our guys, not only being efficient with your minutes, but figuring out what you do, figuring out your niche and doing it really well. That's how you're going to play," Weber said. "Do your job and be good at it. If you do that, you're going to get minutes and our team is going to be successful."
Trice's rebounding prowess will undoubtedly help when the regular season starts on November 9 against Kennesaw State in Bramlage Coliseum. Weber said it's already benefitted his teammates, however.
"Austin has helped us because when you're guarding him, you'd better box his butt out," Weber said, before pointing to a sequence from a summer practice as an example. On back-to-back plays, Trice showed why he was an NJCAA All-American last season.
"Boom, he went around Dean, tip dunk," Weber said. "Boom, he went around somebody else, got a layup."
"I just love it," Trice added. "I love rebounding and I love tip dunks. I feel like that's what I can do to help us be successful."
Since Austin Trice first stepped foot in Manhattan this summer, he's been pushed. Say a name on K-State's roster and the junior-transfer will likely associate it with that word — push.
Let's start with K-State strength and conditioning coach Ben O'Donnell.
"He's going to push you to the limit, for sure," Trice, who put on 20-plus pounds this summer, said of O'Donnell. "He's definitely going to try and get the most out of you and then some more after that. I love him."
Associate head coach Chris Lowery?
"He pushes me to the limit, too. He pushes me to the point where sometimes I don't like it, but I know for a fact it's to get me better," Trice said of Lowery, his lead recruiter out of Wabash Valley College. "He has the greatest interest in me, so whatever he tells me to do, I'll listen to him because I know it's going to lead me to more success."
Dean Wade, Makol Mawien, Levi Stockard III, Nigel Shadd and James Love III?
"Those are all guys that I learn from every single day," Trice said, "and we push each other to the limit every single day."
OK, let's turn the question around. What words come to mind when Trice's name is brought up to his teammates and coaches?
"So explosive," said O'Donnell.
"Super athletic," added Barry Brown, Jr.
"Electrifying," Xavier Sneed said.
A 6-foot-7 power forward, Trice's reputation as an athlete took little time to form at K-State.
Head coach Bruce Weber said Trice had more tip-slams this summer than the rest of the team combined. Thousands of Wildcat fans took in his dunking abilities at K-State's Madness in Manhattan event on October 12, when he jumped over the 6-foot-11 Love III for one of his dunks.
What Trice hopes his athleticism can provide K-State this season, including in Friday's home exhibition against Pittsburg State, is an extra boost — much like the one his teammates and coaches have given him since he got to Manhattan.?? Don't Hurt Em' Austin ??#KStateMBB #MadnessInManhattan pic.twitter.com/Lj6cdwrazN
— K-State Men's Basketball (@KStateMBB) October 13, 2018
Trice knows he can help in one specific area: Rebounding. In its Elite Eight run last season, K-State ranked last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin. Last season at Wabash Valley College, Trice finished in the top 10 nationally in four rebounding categories.
"I feel like rebounding is my niche," Trice said. "I've always had that mentality."
The Chicago, Illinois, native has a more specific name for this mentality, too.
"I try to keep a Dennis Rodman mentality," he said, referencing an NBA Hall of Famer and one of the greatest rebounders ever. "Dennis Rodman was a bully and that's what I like to do. I like to be a bully on the court. I like to dunk on people and I like to rebound. I feel like that's going to give me the most success here because we've got scorers, so we need people to do the other things behind the scenes. I feel like I can do that."
Weber said Trice's buy-in to this role is crucial for him to not only earn minutes on a team that returns all five starters from last season's 25-win campaign but also for the team to take a step forward collectively.
"We've talked about it a lot with our guys, not only being efficient with your minutes, but figuring out what you do, figuring out your niche and doing it really well. That's how you're going to play," Weber said. "Do your job and be good at it. If you do that, you're going to get minutes and our team is going to be successful."
Trice's rebounding prowess will undoubtedly help when the regular season starts on November 9 against Kennesaw State in Bramlage Coliseum. Weber said it's already benefitted his teammates, however.
"Austin has helped us because when you're guarding him, you'd better box his butt out," Weber said, before pointing to a sequence from a summer practice as an example. On back-to-back plays, Trice showed why he was an NJCAA All-American last season.
"Boom, he went around Dean, tip dunk," Weber said. "Boom, he went around somebody else, got a layup."
"I just love it," Trice added. "I love rebounding and I love tip dunks. I feel like that's what I can do to help us be successful."
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