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May 23, 2013
Texas
Kenny's Korner: Jason Klotz

After converting on a team-leading 59 three pointers last season, senior guard Kenny Taylor is off to another strong season for the Longhorns, averaging 11.7 points per game (tied for third) and connecting on a team-leading 19 three pointers (19-42, 45.2%) through the first seven games. Taylor also has post-basketball ambitions that may involve a career in sports journalism. He has been on the receiving end of interviews with the likes of CBS' Bonnie Bernstein and ESPN The Magazine. Now, Taylor moves to the other side of the microphone. Throughout the season, he will interview one of his Texas teammates for TexasSports.com.

This week, Kenny sits down with senior center Jason Klotz. As one of the top post recruits out of Texas (Klein Forest) in 2000, Klotz came to Texas to develop his game under head coach Rick Barnes. Even without a single start this season, Klotz enters Wednesday's contest against UT-Arlington averaging 11.7 points and 6.9 rebounds per game, good enough for third-best on the team in both categories.

Kenny Taylor: Coach Barnes is from the South (North Carolina). What makes him a true southerner?
Jason Klotz:
Whenever we go to a restaurant or eat dinner as a team, he's always asking if they have sweet tea, or he just adds a lot of sweetener.

KT: What did Coach Barnes tell you when you were being recruited that made you decide to attend Texas?
Klotz:
He told me that if I came to Texas, I'd have a shot at playing at the next level.

KT: What elements of Coach Barnes' coaching style have benefited you?
Klotz:
I would say his running game. I can run with any big guy and get up and down the court.

KT: What are the toughest aspects of Coach Barnes' coaching methods that may be hard for the younger players to understand? What advice would you offer them?
Klotz:
Coach Barnes is very intense and sometimes he can say something that may rattle a young guy's confidence if he doesn't have mental toughness. I would tell those young guys to listen and learn the first time.

KT: What qualities do you think all great coaches have?
Klotz:
Great coaches have a great feel for the game. Coach Barnes helps us to not only understand the system, but he helps us understand the game.

KT: What qualities should great assistant coaches have?
Klotz:
Assistant coaches should be guys that stay after practice and help a player get better as an individual because head coaches have to work on the team element so much. They should be confidence boosters too.

KT: How have Texas' assistants helped you over the years?
Klotz:
They've helped everyday with scouting reports for players and teams. They help us prepare and they're there to answer questions about on and off the court issues.

KT: What does having a strength and conditioning coach like Todd Wright do to help the program?
Klotz:
He keeps us all healthy and on the court. His program gets us in shape and bolsters our mental toughness.


 

 

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