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Sitting Down with Erik Stenger
3/5/2013
Three weeks ago I had the chance to sit down with junior forward Erik Stenger for a feature for the Xavier Newswire. We talked about the transfer process, playing for a Division I school, finding out he received a scholarship and his intensity on the court. I thought it would be something to share online, as well.
Erik Stenger came back to Cincinnati because he was looking for a good school and a strong program. It was a plus that Xavier happened to fit both of those, and he could be back at home, not that he was too far away at Northern Kentucky University.
“I really wanted to find a good school first, and then look at the program,” the junior forward said. “I wasn’t far away at Northern Kentucky, but it was definitely a plus staying local. My family and friends are all in Cincinnati.”
Stenger, a Cincinnati native and St. Xavier high school graduate, came home to play for fellow St. X alum Chris Mack after spending two years with the NKU Norse. In his sophomore year he averaged 6.6 points, four rebounds and nearly one block in 14.9 minutes a game.
After sitting out a year at Xavier, Stenger walked on to the team. Despite the transition to Division I basketball, the coaches had him ready.
“The coaches here are great,” Stenger said. “They got me a lot better in terms of being stronger. Strength coach Matt Jennings really helped a lot. I was just able to improve my game, being a lot bigger and stronger.
“And playing for Coach Mack is great. He’s a great coach and a better guy to play for. The players all love playing for him, and we’re lucky to have a guy like him.”
Stenger doled out the praise for Mack while Xavier’s coach issued him something every walk-on dreams of: as scholarship. After performing well in the exhibition against Kentucky State (12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks), Mack surprised his hard-working forward.
“I was kind of surprised at first, when he told me right before practice,” Stenger said. “It was great, one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. And then it all kind of hit me at once.”
“Erik is an excellent athlete,” Mack said before the season began. “This year is going to be a huge learning experience for him, adjusting from Division II to Division I basketball and getting a better feel for the game at this level.
“I think he’ll be a high energy player and certainly a guy that will push our players in practice. Who knows where that leads to in his own playing time as his career develops.”
Mack’s foresight was dead on. It wasn’t going to be easy for Stenger in his transition, but he earned it.
“Every day is a grind,” he said. “You can’t slip up and take days off or else you are going to be a couple of steps behind.”
Stenger earned his way into the fan’s good graces with 12 points (6-6 from the field) and four rebounds against Fairleigh Dickinson in the home opener. He followed that up with a couple of hustle plays for loose balls and offensive rebounds against Butler.
And even as his minutes have dwindled into the single digits as the season has gone on, Stenger’s intensity on the court has remained. Just last Saturday he pulled down five rebounds (three offensive) in eight minutes of play. That kind of effort will continue to get him minutes, even as Mack reloads for next year with an influx of new talent for a depleted roster.
“It’s my role,” Stenger said of his intensity. “Coach said everyone on the team has to play their role for us to be successful, and that’s what I do best.
“Plus, it’s the only way I’m going to get any minutes.”
Xavier will reload next year with new players and better athletes. One thing won’t change, however. Erik Stenger will continue to make the most of his minutes on the court, scrapping and fighting for every loose ball and rebound.
That intensity will always get him playing time for a coach, fans and a program that appreciate the little things and maximum effort.
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