Georgetown Center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje  

Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
January 23, 2001

The 7-footer is averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game and is ranked 15th in the nation in blocks per game (3).(Allsport)

Check out what Georgetown center Ruben Boumtje Boumtje had to say about the Hoyas great start, rankings and much more.

The 7-foot senior has been having a well rounded season. He is averaging 10.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting just over 60-percent and is ranked 15th in the nation in blocks per game (3).

Last season, Boumtje Boumtje was named third team All Big East. He was the second leading scorer (12.8), leading rebounder (7.7) and shotblocker (78) for the Hoyas. He set career highs in scoring (32) and rebounding (15). Chat transcript below.

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Hello to everybody!

Question: gtowngal: Is there anyone you modeled or styled your game after? And why?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I think I looked at all the centers that are good. I have tried to learn the post moves to make, the attitude on the court, the aspects like double teaming. I look at all of them like Tim Duncan and Shaquille O'Neal.

Question: boumboum: What do you consider to be the strength of your game? Is it rebounding? Blocking?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I think both of those. Those are things I like to do and do well. As a center I like the rebounding and blocking shots. Hopefully I can improve in that area.

Question: smashing: What do you feel you still need to work on to make it at the next level?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I probably think speed. I need to react quickly and know where my teammates and make quick moves. The rest will come easier. I think I have enough skills, down load and all.. at least for the college game. But I think speed, moving quicker and making adjustments.

Question: suzzy: What have you done over the summer to get ready for this year?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I was coming back from an injury. Most was rehab. I did a lot of swimming. I wanted to get heathy. Swimming, riding a bike, lifting weights. I didn't have a chance to drill or anything. The most important this was to get healthy for this season.

Question: bigpostman: What do you do in the off-season to stay in shape?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: A lot of running, individual workout, post moves and stuff like that. We do play some summer leagues. Some teammates come in and play in the gym. You always try to find some way to drill to stay in shape.

Question: erric: What is the most difficult part of playing basketball when you are so tall?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Wow! I think from what I hear.. the assumption is that since you are so tall you should have rebounds and block all the shots! That is the most difficult ting, being 7 foot tall. You have to react quicker and handle the double team.. you just have to learn how to do it.

Question: hoopsters: What is a normal day like for your during the season?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I wake up in the morning, get breakfast and go to class. We practice at 4:30, then I go back and do more work in the dorm. It is the same thing over and over. Oh.. play the game if we have a game. But usually it is the same thing.

Question: georgetown: What made you decide to go to Georgetown to play basketball?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Well I visited it and loved the fact that the school was good in basketball. It had great tradition. Also academics, it is one of the leading schools in the country. And my guardian was in DC and sticking close to DC was important since it was my 2nd year in the country. So those were all important factors in coming to Georgetown.

Question: hoopsters: What is the hardest thing about being a student athlete?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Being able to work hard in class and on the court too. The amount of work we get in class, if you can keep up with than and can still perform well sport-wise.. it is a great accomplishment. It is very difficult to get out of practice and go back to class and do both well. It is a challenge to arrange your schedule to handle both of them.

Question: georgetown: Does your coach ever talk about the great tradition at Georgetown?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Yes! Of course. All the time. That is one of the first things you hear. All the people in the community are proud of Georgetown. The tradition is something people try to carry on.

Question: smashing: What is it like playing for Coach Esherick? What does he bring to the team?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Well he is very demanding, of course. He wants us to give everything we have on the floor and in school. He teaches us a lot about life and athletics and the whole environment. He encourages us to give our best.

Question: levitron: What are the your individual and team goals for this season?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: To get in the NCAA and perform well is our goal. That is something I want to be part of as a Senior. We haven't been in three years and definitely want to get in there and do well.

Question: holidays: Do you guys worry about the rankings right now or is something that gets more important as the tourney starts to get closer?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I don't think much of it either. We think if we play well and win we will be in good shape. It is good, but the most important thing is to play well and win. Then we will get the ranking. We don't think about where we are ranked.

Question: boumboum: Starting the season 16-0 is phenomenal! What did it take for you guys to do that?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: We worked hard, definitely. We trust each other and learned how to play with each other. We have a bunch of great guys with good skills, starting and coming from the bench. We know we have the skills and have to do it together.

Question: hoyathere: What is it that Pittsburgh brought to the court that allowed them the upset? Were they the best team you've faced so far?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Well I would not say that. I think they are a good team who came to play but I don't think we stepped up to the level we needed. We need to come every day and be ready to play. The schedule is getting tougher, not easier. But they do have a good team but not the best team so far.

Question: erric: What was the feeling in the locker room after the team's first loss of the season? What did coach tell you guys?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I think everyone was really sad. We lost one game and it is not the end. We have 12 more games to go and focus on those. He said we have to learn from the Pittsburgh game and learn. We watched tape to see what we did wrong and right and we will correct those things and learn.

Question: sfohoya: Ruben, I understand that you still might have another year of eligibility. Will this be your last year at GU.

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I think probably. I think hopefully .. I love the school but I don't think anyone anticipated I would stay. But we will see how it goes and make a decision on it.

Question: hoyathere: What do you think it will take for you to be successful in the NBA?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: The only thing I know is hard work. It is all I know since I started playing this game. I will have to learn what the NBA is all about and if I can make the adjustments hopefully I will have a pretty good career there.

Question: dchoya: How has your role changed this year?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I am probably more of a leader. We have 4 or 5 seniors, but as a captain I try to get the team to play together. We all have to make a sacrifice to win. I help create some kind of uniformity in th team. If we win together we will all benefit. We aren't looking for a superstar. As captain I try to get the teammates to understand that you have to do the little things that help us win.

Question: pav: Ruben-Do You think yall can make it to the final four?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I hope so! We are going to work hard at that. I think we have a good enough team to do it. We just have to play the Georgetown way to play basketball and hopefully things will work out for us!

Question: bigpostman: What would you like to do after you are finished playing basketball?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Well.. Hopefully, depending on how long I play, I am a pre-med student so I might go to med school or business. I have a lot of options, depending on how my career goes I will then decide.

Question: hoopsters: What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: Never give up on your dreams and hopes. Always work hard. Maybe one day they will come true!

Ruben Boumtje Boumtje: I would like to thank all the people who follow Georgetown basketball and encourage us every day. I hope we can show you what we are all about and have a good season. Goodbye!