Marquette University Athletics
Golden Eagle Q&A With Lazar Hayward
7/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
July 24, 2009
Milwaukee -
By Shannon Walsh
PHOTO GALLERYSenior Lazar Hayward recently captured a bronze medal competing with the United States at the World University Games in Serbia. He sat down with GoMarquette.com to share his experience overseas and insight on the upcoming season.
What were your first thoughts when you learned you would represent the United States at the World University Games? The first thought is that I was very surprised. Just to be selected to tryout for that team was a very big honor for me and I was very surprised. I called my dad right away, and he was really happy. He said it would be a good opportunity for me and it would be a lot of fun. The first day or two of tryouts, I didn't really play well at all. It was a new environment, there were a lot of good players out there and a ton of people watching, so I was just trying to do all of the little things - focus on getting rebounds, guarding guys, talking to everybody, making sure everybody was okay. The first few days I wasn't really happy about my performance, but then as I got more comfortable and got to know the guys, I started progressing.
What was the environment and atmosphere in Serbia like?
The other teams were very focused - soccer teams, volleyball teams, water polo - from top to bottom. You could see all of the other countries up in the morning with the athletes running or practicing right outside. It was like a campus, but more so like a village. All of the countries were in there, and as soon as you walked outside you'd see all of the different athletes training. It was really fun. Serbia is a really big basketball country and they love their team. I guess they were excited to see the U.S. play - they wanted to see what we were like - so there was always a good attendance for us at all of our games.
What were some off-the-court highlights for you during your trip?
We went sightseeing. There are two parts of Serbia - an old Serbia and a new Serbia - and we were staying in the newer version. We'd see the malls and all of the modern things, but when we went sightseeing, we went downtown towards the older Serbia. That's where all the ancient things were. We got to see their downtown where all the stores were. It was really, really nice - a lot of good stuff.
Are there any players from the team you got to know well?
I already knew Corey Fisher from Villanova and Talor Battle from Penn State. He's from Albany and I'm from Buffalo, so we played on the same AAU team a couple of times, it was good to play with him. Also, Corey Fisher just because he's from Villanova - that little rivalry - so we got to talk some stuff to each other. Everybody on the team was really cool and I got along with everybody - Deon Thompson from North Carolina, De'Sean Butler from West Virginia, Evan Turner from Ohio State - they were all really cool and we were all close. That's why I think later on in the weeks, we started winning games a lot more.
How was it to play for Coach Bo Ryan, who is obviously the coach of big Marquette rival Wisconsin?
It was fun. Bo is a really, really good coach. I respect him a lot, and got to know him a little better. He is a great guy, very intelligent coach also. He was very intense and I didn't know that until I got to know him out there. I thought he was more laidback, but there was one time I don't think I dove for a loose ball, and he was like, "Zar, you've got to dive," and I was like, "Alright Coach, my fault." All coaches are like that though - they all want to win and they're very intense. He was really good though, he's a really good guy.
What were the most memorable on-the-court highlights for you?
I don't think it was me scoring, but just being able to play every day with U.S.A. written across my chest and being with some of those guys. I'm sure some of them will be in the NBA next year, so it was really good. My best experience is when we were all rolling, playing real well, playing together - it was a lot of fun and very exciting.
How will this international experience help you with a potential professional career?
I think it will help a lot and most importantly, it will show people I can play on that level. There are some who may have doubted what I can do on that level, but now they could see the type of game that I play - no matter who I'm playing for, I'll always be working hard trying to be an elite player. If they had any doubts, I'm sure they can see now.
Was adjusting to the European style of basketball a difficult transition?
At first it was really different for us - we got called for traveling a lot in our friendly games because over there you have to dribble the ball before you take a step, and here you can take a step before we dribble. I would say that was the most difficult thing for us to get used to. Also, smacking the ball off the rim. Coach Ryan had us doing drills in practice where we'd shoot, and whenever the ball was off the rim, he had us try to swipe it off and get those blocks. I would say those were the two most difficult things to get used to.
What surprised you most about your time in Serbia?
Just being in another country, waking up everyday there, being away from family and Marquette here was very different at first. We kind of got accustomed to it after awhile and we all liked it. The whole team had a great time.
How has it been to come back to Marquette and get back in the swing of things in Milwaukee?
It's great. I emailed a lot of them, and some of us have Skype, so I'd talk to them on Skype. This is like my extended family so I missed all of them and all of the coaches. I emailed Coach Autry back and forth all of the time, and Coach Buzz. Finally being able to get back here, get in the swing of things, and getting to know the young guys a lot more - they have a really, really good work ethic. I think a lot of people don't know that because they don't know them, so they're probably wondering how they work. Coach Buzz did a really, really good job recruiting this year. These kids are very, very hard workers. We have conditioning at about 6:30 in the mornings and some of them are beating me to the gym, so that's always a good sign. They are all taking great pride in what they're doing, just taking it a step at a time.
What will fans see that's different about you on the court this year?
What I'll want them to see the most is how hard I will get every person to play. I'll always make sure I'm at the top of my game and playing as hard as I can. I'll make sure that I will instill in everyone of our young guys that they'll always take pride in anything they do. From beginning to end, I'll make sure I always make my teammates better - always, no matter what. That's going to be my main focus.
As a senior, will that be your idea of leadership?
Yes, for sure. I think a lot of people don't think I have leadership, because the great leaders we had with Wes, Jerel, 'Nique and Dwight. It's not that I don't have it, it's just that I wasn't able to show it as much. If there were times something happened and those guys stepped in and said it, it would be like I was repeating everything they said. That's why people may think I lack certain leadership, but I don't - I just wasn't able to display it all of the time. Now you'll be able to see it more often than not.
What adjustments will you have to make for next season preparing for a new role?
Being more vocal, definitely, and just getting those guys to play hard no matter what. Those young guys know that they are going to have certain roles and need to do certain things to help us win, but what I'm trying to do is make sure that the little things help us win games and they don't have to do too much. They may be thinking, "We don't have this person," and "We don't have that person," so I need to do some extra stuff. You do, but you also can just sit back, let things come to you, and just take it step by step. I need to make sure they know that so they don't go out and do too much.
How fast have these last three years gone?
It's gone really fast. Cubi and I talk about it all the time. I was actually talking to Trend about it today - we were over at the Broken Yolk eating, and I was saying I can't believe I'll be a senior. He was like, "Yeah, I wake up everyday and it just sinks in." I know I won't be able to play much longer with my college guys. I told him I don't like thinking about the future, but I am for sure going to cry at the banquet. That is not a day I'm looking forward to. I just want this to go as slow as possible, because it's been so fun playing with those guys that graduated and now being able to put my mark on and help these younger guys keep this basketball program great. It will be very exciting.
With the players that graduated in May (Jerel McNeal, Wesley Matthews, Dominic James, Dwight Burke), much of your success was hinged on them, and vice versa over three years. What will it be like having another season without them?
It's going to be very different, of course. I played with those guys for three years and we went through a lot. It helped me become a different person, a better person, a better basketball player. It's going to be very different but I think playing over with the U.S.A. team will help a whole lot, because I had to play with a bunch of different guys - some guys that I didn't know at all - and it worked out fine. Now I have my younger guys with me and we have all this time. For the U.S.A. team, we had two weeks to get together and become one. I have a great deal of time with the guys I'm going to be playing with, guys that want to win for me and vice versa. It's going to be fine, I'm not worried at all. Hard work pays off and we're just going to take it one day at a time.
How do you want to be remembered after you graduate?
I want people to remember me as a class act guy, definitely a winner, and a person who always made his teammates better. That's how I want to go down in history.
