With Bo's back back, so are 'Cats
1/29/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Then it happened. "I went to sit up in bed and it blew out. It was the worst pain I’ve ever been in," said Segeberg, who had played with back pain for several years. "I almost called 9-1-1, but instead I told Kenny (Plummer, MSU teammate) to go get coach (Scott) Carson. He and coach Carson came over and they brought Jaime (McCafferty, MSU’s athletic trainer). They loaded me up in the back of coach’s car and brought me (to the Fieldhouse). Dr. (John) Campbell looked at me for about two minutes, and I was in surgery that night."
A year-and-a-half later, Segeberg is nearing full health and full speed, and has provided the Bobcats a major boost. He had 16 points and nine rebounds against Montana last weekend, and is averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. He leads the team in shooting at 52.6%, and except for a one-point, one-rebound performance against Eastern Washington has been in double-figures scoring in each league game.
"Bo has really been active, and he’s really given us a lift inside," said MSU coach Mick Durham. "He’s playing with a lot of confidence. There’s no question that the Montana game was his best game on both ends of the floor."
While Segeberg played his best game yet against MSU’s arch-rival, he’ll be playing his own rivalry game on Thursday, when the Bobcats host Sacramento State. The Wrightwood, Calif., native began his college career at Sac State in the fall of 1999, playing one season for the Hornets before transferring to Antelope Valley Junior College. He came to MSU in the fall of 2001, but played in only five games because of the back injury.
Segeberg said there will be extra motivation for him in MSU’s Thursday night clash with the Hornets. "I’m really excited," he said. "I think I’m more excited for Thursday than I was for last Saturday. They have a buddy I played JC ball with, my roommate from my freshman year, and a couple of other guys I know."
Segeberg said he has nothing but respect for Sac State coach Jerome Jenkins, who was an assistant to Tom Abetamarco during Segeberg’s season there. "I really like Coach Jenkins, I think he’s a real good guy," Segeberg said. "He’s doing a good job there."
As his comfort level rises, Segeberg said, so too does his productivity. "Other guys on our team, Jason and Pete, have played together for the last couple of years," he said. "The further we get into the season the better. It takes a long time to get into the flow of games. You can practice as much as you want, but the more games we play the more comfortable we get with each other. I feel like I’m getting in better shape as the season goes on. I don’t think I’ve really changed anything, I’m just getting more comfortable."
As Montana State’s rebounding has stabilized, the Bobcats have become more dangerous. Segeberg has shown a knack not just for rebounding, but for crashing the offensive boards and for getting to long rebounds. "I like rebounding. I feel real comfortable shooting from out on the perimeter, and I feel comfortable rebounding from out there because I can judge where it’s going to come off the rim. Plus, when you can get a run at it, it’s hard to box someone out."
Segeberg’s resurgence primarily comes down to his health and repetitions. The surgery in the fall of 2001 to repair three herniated discs and the nerve damage in his left leg was successful, as was the arduous rehabilitation. "I think it’s just a matter of getting the games in," he said. "Having not played in games for over a year it took a while to adjust, and also the last time I played was at the junior college level, and you have to go about things differently here."
Whatever happens Thursday or the rest of the season, Segeberg is pleased with his decision to join the MSU program. "I couldn’t be happier with the way things have worked out," he said. "I love it here."
A year-and-a-half later, Segeberg is nearing full health and full speed, and has provided the Bobcats a major boost. He had 16 points and nine rebounds against Montana last weekend, and is averaging 9.1 points and 4.5 rebounds a game. He leads the team in shooting at 52.6%, and except for a one-point, one-rebound performance against Eastern Washington has been in double-figures scoring in each league game.
"Bo has really been active, and he’s really given us a lift inside," said MSU coach Mick Durham. "He’s playing with a lot of confidence. There’s no question that the Montana game was his best game on both ends of the floor."
While Segeberg played his best game yet against MSU’s arch-rival, he’ll be playing his own rivalry game on Thursday, when the Bobcats host Sacramento State. The Wrightwood, Calif., native began his college career at Sac State in the fall of 1999, playing one season for the Hornets before transferring to Antelope Valley Junior College. He came to MSU in the fall of 2001, but played in only five games because of the back injury.
Segeberg said there will be extra motivation for him in MSU’s Thursday night clash with the Hornets. "I’m really excited," he said. "I think I’m more excited for Thursday than I was for last Saturday. They have a buddy I played JC ball with, my roommate from my freshman year, and a couple of other guys I know."
Segeberg said he has nothing but respect for Sac State coach Jerome Jenkins, who was an assistant to Tom Abetamarco during Segeberg’s season there. "I really like Coach Jenkins, I think he’s a real good guy," Segeberg said. "He’s doing a good job there."
As his comfort level rises, Segeberg said, so too does his productivity. "Other guys on our team, Jason and Pete, have played together for the last couple of years," he said. "The further we get into the season the better. It takes a long time to get into the flow of games. You can practice as much as you want, but the more games we play the more comfortable we get with each other. I feel like I’m getting in better shape as the season goes on. I don’t think I’ve really changed anything, I’m just getting more comfortable."
As Montana State’s rebounding has stabilized, the Bobcats have become more dangerous. Segeberg has shown a knack not just for rebounding, but for crashing the offensive boards and for getting to long rebounds. "I like rebounding. I feel real comfortable shooting from out on the perimeter, and I feel comfortable rebounding from out there because I can judge where it’s going to come off the rim. Plus, when you can get a run at it, it’s hard to box someone out."
Segeberg’s resurgence primarily comes down to his health and repetitions. The surgery in the fall of 2001 to repair three herniated discs and the nerve damage in his left leg was successful, as was the arduous rehabilitation. "I think it’s just a matter of getting the games in," he said. "Having not played in games for over a year it took a while to adjust, and also the last time I played was at the junior college level, and you have to go about things differently here."
Whatever happens Thursday or the rest of the season, Segeberg is pleased with his decision to join the MSU program. "I couldn’t be happier with the way things have worked out," he said. "I love it here."
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