April 20, 2009
Chad Troyer just completed his final season at Pacific as a redshirt senior. This past season, Chad was second on the team in points per game with 10.7. He led the team with a .870 free throw percentage and made over one third of his 196 three point shots.
In his junior season, he started 30 contests and establishing a reputation as one of the top scorers with 397 points. Chad averaged 12.8 points per game and scored in double-digit figures in 18 games, six of which with 20 points or more.
Casey Neimeyer is gearing up for summer workouts in preparation for the 2009-2010 season. This year, Casey saw action in 31 of the basketball team's 34 games. He is also on Pacific's baseball team, where he redshirted in order to finish both sports a the end of next season.
In his sophomore season, Casey finished out the year averaging 4.1 points per game with 119 on the season and 2.0 rebounds per game with 58 overall. He also pitched 13 innings while striking out eight batters.
Casey, how tough is it to play two sports at Pacific?
Playing two sports is not as hard as everyone thinks. Coaches are good at letting me finish my sport before the other team gets their hands on me. Once basketball is over, I go to baseball, so I'm not really doubling up sports. Sometimes it gets hard because I don't get any breaks. I don't get time off for holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas or spring break. Baseball spills over to the end of school into the summer. Once baseball ends, I start working out for basketball again.
I have to redshirt in baseball this year so I can finish both sports at the same time. I decided to do this in case I decide to pursue baseball after school is over. The hardest thing about playing two sports is getting my arm in shape for baseball. I only play baseball for three months during the year.
Most Memorable moments playing at Pacific?
CHAD: My fondest memory while playing basketball at Pacific happened last season at a home game against Northridge. We were down by two with about 1.5 seconds left in the game. We had to inbound the ball from under the basket on the other side of the court, so things weren't looking too good for us. Coach T drew up a play where Casey was supposed to thrown the ball down the length of the court to me, and I would catch and shoot as fast as I could. The problem was I was double teamed and all I could do is get a hand on the ball to tip it. Fortunately, the ball went right to Michael Kirby and he was open enough to get the shot off and send the game into overtime. We ended up winning that game. I'll never forget it.
Another fond memory I have is scoring my career high 30 points at Santa Barbara during my junior year. My teammates call that the "black out" night. I was just in the zone and everything was falling. I shot one that was closer to half court than the basket, that was my heat check, and it went in.
CASEY: By far my most memorable time playing basketball at Pacific was the whole NCAA Tournament experience during my freshman year, even though I didn't get to play. Just being on the bench for that game against Boston College was amazing.
My most memorable experience playing basketball was the summer before my senior year in high school at the AAU tournament. We were in the A division and went to Elite 8 in Las Vegas. We lost to OJ Mayo's team. If we would have won we would have played against Greg Oden. Also, I guarded Dwight Howard in Portland. He didn't dunk on me, which is probably saying a lot for how I did against him. He dunked on everybody. In the first half we were up by four, but the second half turned into a dunk show and they dominated from there. On that team was Josh Smith and Brandon Rush, who are in the NBA right now.
Most embarrassing moment?
CHAD: As far as basketball goes, my most embarrassing moment was shooting 1-11 against Bradley in the semi-finals of the CollegeInsider tournament. I had great open shots all night, but I just didn't make them. I am also pretty embarrassed about the ridiculously corny nicknames that are given out by the coaching staff. I'm not going to tell what mine were, but there were many.
Another time before a game during my junior year, Michael Nunnally and I used to give each other chest bumps during introductions. One game we jumped and our lips touched. That was pretty embarrassing and awkward for both of us.
CASEY: We were all in locker room after practice and nobody could open their lockers. Johnny Gray switched everyone's locks to different lockers, and we had to spend a lot of time trying to figure out which ones were ours. Our laundry lady had put our clothes in the lockers and left the locks open, so he had the chance to switch them around before anyone noticed.
What sports did you play growing up?
CASEY: When I was really young I loved to swim. I also played soccer at YMCA and one year in junior high. I never played football because my high school was so small they didn't have a team. I started playing organized basketball at eight years old. I had a little basketball hoop and played with my dad since I was born. My family has a baby picture of me playing basketball naked.
I started playing baseball at a young age. I had a big red bat and whiffle ball and we would play in the back yard. When I was around eight or 10, I started playing organized baseball. I was actually bigger on baseball in my younger years. When I got to eighth grade I really started getting into basketball. I played on travel teams for both sports before that, but basketball really clicked around eighth grade. I was always taller than most kids. When I was a freshman in high school I was 6'6. I grew grew two more inches during my junior year. I first dunked a basketball in eighth grade. I went up and grabbed the rim and the ball went in. It wasn't really a legitimate dunk, but it still counts.
CHAD: I played all the usual sports when I was a kid. Basketball really stuck out for me at a young age. Ever since I was younger I always dreamed of playing in college and professionally. I'm really happy that everything worked out. I had a great career in college, and I can't wait to continue my career over seas.
What are your plans for next year?
CASEY: I will be back playing both baseball and basketball. I am going to finish the classes I need to get my degree and hopefully play well enough in either sport to play professionally after school.
CHAD: I am most likely going to be playing over seas next year. I will be leaving at the end of August or early September and I am currently in contract negations with a few teams. I am really considering an offer from a first division team from Switzerland. I'm staying in shape the best I can in the off-season in preparation for my career as a professional.
Before I leave I have to finish up my Master's degree here at Pacific. Right now I am keeping busy with my comprehensive exams. I have to take those in a couple of weeks, as well as working to finish up my last few graduate courses. I had a great time at Pacific, and I am very excited about the future. The best part was making new relationships as well as playing for this coaching staff.
You guys had a chance to play in a post season tournament. How was the experience?
CHAD: The CollegeInsider Tournament was a great experience for the team. It is a sign of respect anytime you are picked for post season play. We had a good year and played well down the stretch, so it was good to keep playing and win a couple of extra games.
Our overtime loss at the Big West tournament was really emotional. It's so hard to get that close to making the NCAA Tournament and falling just short. It was also tough because I have prepared most of my life to earn a Division 1 scholarship to play basketball, and now it is all over.
