10 Questions with Men's Basketball Player Jeremy Byrd
11/14/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2007
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - USC Upstate senior point guard Jeremy Byrd was eager for the 2007-08 season to start. It wasn't just because the Spartans were playing their first season in NCAA Division I, but also because he was on the cusp of setting a new Upstate career record.
Byrd entered Upstate's first game of the season at Utah last Friday three steals away from passing the record of 276 steals set by Terrance Gist (1994-98). Byrd got the number he needed and doubled it by breaking the record with six steals along with nine points in an 86-52 loss at Utah. One of the things that will be counted on from Byrd this season is leadership since he and fellow guard Luke Payne are the only seniors on the team this season.
Byrd recently sat down with Adam Walker of upstatespartans.com to discuss the steals record, the trip out west for the men's basketball team and nicknames.
US.com: What were you feeling just before the tip-off of the first game at Utah?
Jeremy Byrd: Nervous. It was a big arena (at Utah) with all the fans they had at the game. I'm nervous before every game, but I was more nervous about playing good and the team playing well that night.
US.com: You needed three steals to set a new Upstate career record coming into the game. How much did you think about that during the off-season?
JB: I thought about it a lot. I was mad when the season ended last season because I wanted to break it then instead of this season. I came into this season thinking I would break it during the first game at Utah.
US.com: Did you smile a little bit when you broke the steals record early in the game?
JB: I didn't even know I did it. I wasn't even thinking about the record before the game and it didn't cross my mind until after the game. I was just trying to lead my team.
US.com: How has the trip been out west?
JB: It's been fun and we've seen so many things. The thing that has been hard has been adjusting to the West Coast time. We've also been getting better as a team in our practices out here as well.
US.com: Has it been hard adjusting to the time differences between the East Coast and the West Coast?
JB: Out here, it's good because I get to sleep more, but everything happens early out here. It gets dark at five o'clock and that's a little bit earlier than it does in Spartanburg. Plus, you might want to call your friends at nine o'clock, but you have to realize that it's midnight where they are.
US.com: Who has the best nickname on the team?
JB: (Head) Coach (Eddie) Payne called Rory Spencer "GQ" because he has these glasses that say Dolce and Gabbana. He gave him that nickname. I think he's the only player he's ever given a nickname to.
US.com: Who is the flashiest dresser on the team?
JB: A lot of players on the team dress well, but I would have to say that I'm one of those guys that dress really well on the team. I try to look my best everywhere I go and present myself in a good way.
US.com: If you could switch places with a famous person, who would it be and why?
JB: My answer is Dwayne Wade because I would like to play with Shaq and play in the NBA as well. We saw the Detroit Pistons practice at the Nike facility and the looked like they were having so much fun. I would like to switch with Bill Gates as well because he has a lot of money.
US.com: How do you describe your head coach, Eddie Payne, when people ask you what he's like?
JB: He's great, smart, live, knows the game very well and he's very funny. People don't know that about Coach Payne, he's one of the funniest guys I know. He's a caring guy that wants you to graduate and play hard for him as well.
US.com: This is your final season on the team. What are your goals for this season?
JB: We were ranked 12th in the conference in the preseason and I want to win the conference, but I also want us to win some of these games against some of the good teams that we play this season such as Wake Forest, Iowa State and others. I also want us to have a winning season, especially since this is my last year.
