The Battalion
Veu
Wednesday • Aprili
Hot Corner
Transfer Craig Kuzmic has added much-needed firepower to Texas A&M lineup
The Battalion’s
NBA Attitude Tes
By Robert Hollier
Staff writer
Some players are offense-minded and put
up the eye-popping numbers that impress fans
and players alike, while more defensively-
minded players make the outstanding glove
plays in the field.
However, Texas A&M junior third base-
man Craig Kuzmic has done both for his
team this year.
Originally from California, Kuzmic is a
transfer from Cypress Junior College in Cali
fornia where he was a triple-crown winner, the
JUCO Player of the Year and helped lead
his team to a state championship.
“That was definitely my most
memorable moment in my
career,” Kuzmic said. “I
want to win another con- dt .
ference title and go to the 1
College World Series with
this team, too.”
As a catcher for Cypress,
Kuzmic came to A&M as a
back-up catcher, but was moved
to third base because of his talent hitting the
ball and his ability to make plays in the field.
“When we recruited him, I really anticipat
ed a lot from him,” Coach Mark Johnson said.
“His potential is so good. He hits the ball well
and he has a real good arm. He was perfect for
the hot corner.”
Kuzmic said even though he came to
A&M as a catcher, he enjoys playing third
base because of all the interesting plays that
come his way.
“You really have to concentrate and antici
pate the ball because it comes at you so quick,”
Kuzmic said. “The ball gets there so fast and
you have to react.”
Kuzmic also said he chose to come to A&M
because of the tremendous program Johnson
and the rest of the cfraches hhY^
“The facilities here are outstanding,”
Kuzmic said. “The field is one of the best in the
country and the fans here are great. They real
ly support the team.”
As the starting third baseman, Kuzmic has
certainly done his share in helping his team to
a 29-11 record and a No. 13 national ranking
in the latest polls.
In 38 games this year, Kuzmic has post
ed a .270 batting average in 141 at bats and
has a .525 slugging
percentage,
m
which is second
on the team.
Kuzmic has
also hit eight
home runs,
which is also
second be
hind John
fensive and defensive), but I would like to be
hitting around .360, though.”
Johnson said that Kuzmic’s ability to pro
vide offensive power in the lineup was one of
“His potential is so good.
He hits the ball well and he
has a real good arm. He was
perfect for the hot comer.”
Mark Johnson
Baseball Coach
Scheschuk’s
nine homers,
and he has
driven in 30
runs.
He is also
second on the
team in runs
scored with 32, be
hind Jason Tyner’s 42.
His numbers in Big 12
Conference play are just as
impressive.
He is currently sporting a
.279 batting average in Big 12
play, and he leads the team wit
six home runs and 19 H
“I’ve always felt my sirei
were offensive,” Kuzmic said. “Right'
now, my strengjphs are a little of both (of-
the main reasons he won the job at third.
“We recruited him as an offensive player,”
Johnson said. “He’s showed a lot of maturity
and a lot of confidence when he’s in there. He
hasn’t shown any anxiety and has fit in and ad
justed very well.”
Kuzmic said he owes most of his success
to his older brother John. John played for
Pepperdine when he was in college.
“He (John) has been my greatest in
fluence,” Kuzmic said. “He’s been
through it once before and he can tell
me what to do and what not to do in
certain situations.”
After he graduates from A&M,
Kuzmic hopes to one day play baseball
professionally and would like to play for
a new ball club like the expansion Devil
Rays of Arizona Diamondbacks.
“I really hope I get drafted by one of the
expansion teams,” he said, “but it doesn’t re
ally matter which one.”
If Kuzmic continues to put up blister
ing offensive numbers this season, the
majors will provide a friendly home to his
dreams.
In light of recent player revolts
at the University ofTexas and oth
er examples of blatant disrespect
of authority in basketball, The Bat
talion would like to test the knowl
edge of those readers who think
they are ready to jump to the NBA
realm of basketball bad attitude.
—Answers at hot tot n of page —
NBA Attitude Test
1. If you are suspended from
you college basketball team for
academic reasons like Luke Axtell
at Texas, you should:
a) Work harder to improve
your grades and be reinstated on
the team.
b) Declare yourself eligible for
the NBA Draft and languish In the
CBA for three years before being
called up, most likely by the
Houston Rockets.
c) Threaten to transfer until
your current coach announces
his resignation.
2. If you are tired of P.J. Carlesi-
mo yelling at you for not shooting
free throws correctly in practice
like Latrell Sprewell, you should:
a) Run over and choke your
coach after threatening to kill
him while teammates continue to
practice free throws.
b) Call Allen Iverson and get
some tips on the latest cornrow
hair styling.
c) Ask your agent about that
trade that was supposed to hap
pen with San Antonio.
3. If you dislike Brii.i
coaching style, asOrlaifl
ny I lardaway did.you
a) Claim your calf is J
jured and sitoutonoilif
games in a season.
b) Grab Lil’ Penny J
a little one-on-onewiM
Ban ks providing therJ
c) Give the managej
Hiiiatum: l.itheryouniyM
4. If Doug Collins ksB
suiv si vie of coachinggiB]
you! skm like it did to I
you should
| (I
a) Give the manage:' ^
ultimatum: Either youirl
b) Shoot yet anothei
nmercial.
c) Shoot yet another!
commercial.
5. If management ref,
re-sign Phil Jacksonand
Michael Jordan, don’t®
play for anyone else, yoi
a) 'Uneaten to retirera
Mike, what left do you ha:
prove?
b) Put in another55p
game on the Knicksinth
c) Take off the masks
you were really God the*
time, just toying with thtflyl
humans.
Scoring Guide
5-4 — Ready for the h
3-2 — Need to get a Ik
you’re ready.
1 -0—Thought abouta
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