John Murry (192-G-95, college: Austin Peay) is a 26 year old 193cm guard from Indianapolis, Indiana that is playing his third professional season in Germany with BSG Grevenbroich (Germany-Regionalliga). Before that he had experience with the Kitchener-Waterloo Titans. He played two years at Owens Community College playing 63 games and two years at Austin Peay State University (NCAA) playing 56 NCAA games and as a senior averaged 16.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 1.5apg, FGP: 54.0%, 3PT: 33.9%, FT: 81.1%. He and Miles Schmidt-Scheuber talk weekly about basketball.

After getting your first win last week, Grevenbroich suffered the next loss against Essen. How tough is it going from an ultimate high to a low again?

It is tough we are just trying to stay focused and keep the consistency in our play so we can grind out some wins.

How frustrating is it playing your heart out and scoring a career high 36 points and then losing?

It can definitely be frustrating at times but being positive is the key to the game so that’s how I try to remain at all times.

Talk a little about the game. I believe in this game, controlling the boards was a huge factor. You allowed as a team 15 offensive rebounds.

Yes and that’s something we talked about in practice, it doesn’t matter how tall people maybe boxing out doesn’t have anything to do with height so that’s something that we have to get better at.

What was key in crunch time for the ETB Miners being able to pull out the win?

Like you said in the previous question, we would get stops in the 1st possession but they would get 2 chance points off offensive rebounds and score of the second try and that’s what hurt us the most.

How crucial is the bench in general in a league like the Regionalliga? Essen won the bench points 31-5.

Definitely important for us to have the support off the bench, I can say we are getting better and better each day.

Was this another game where just not enough came from everyone else? You had to be that savior with 36 points.

I just feel like it’s a key of how focused you are on gameday, we can’t come in with the lack of focus like we did against a good team like Essen.

What positives do you feel could the team take from the loss? The team took better care of the ball again or not?

Yes the team definitely is taking better care of the ball and making smarter plays on offense, we fought hard and battled for 40 minutes so I must say I am super proud of my guys for the effort they gave. I definitely told them that’s afterwards.

You had 36/3/4 stats. When you lose a game like this do you feel like you could have done more with your playmaking?

Sometimes I do but then I look at the film and try to learn more about my teammates and ways I can make them better in certain situations.

You belong to the top players in the Regionalliga. You have such a huge desire to move up leagues, but does your exceptional play not feel the same when your losing so much?

Yes because at the end of the day I am a winner and as a team we have to all have the winning mindset because the game is played to win.

You next battle tough team Deutzer that are 6-2. What will be the focus this week to see that 2nd win?

Just keying in on defense trying to be better every day on help side and just making shots
When we are doing those things we are just as good as any team in the league.

Do you feel like the great Scottie Pippen is damaging his legacy in the way he seems to bash Michael Jordan in every interview?

I just feel like he deserves just as much respect as MJ because as good as MJ was he didn’t win a ring until Scottie Pippen arrived with the Bulls. Facts are facts.

Thanks John for the chat.