An Interview With Lindsey Arndt

 

Home grown Lindsey Arndt will be completing her final year as a Lobo next season. She will be returning after earning first team All-Mountain West Conference selection in her junior year. From the get go Lindsey has been a fixture as a starter, a spot she has earned in 90 out of 93 games in her first three seasons. Coach Flanagan puts a high priority on defense and defense is where number 42 shines. Add strong rebounding, exceptionally good ball handling for a post player, and the ability to score as an inside outside threat, it is not hard to figure out why Lindsey’s spot as a starter is a given.

Lindsey came to UNM from the Lobo Women’s Basketball farm club Sandia High School. Well, not really a farm club, but just seems so after producing current Lobo Judy Voight and former Lobos Miranda Sanchez, Nikki Heckroth, and Jamie Roberts. In high school she averaged 16 points and 12 rebounds per game her senior year while leading her team to a State Championship. Her play got attention nationally as she was the 75th best prospect in America as rated by U.S. Grass Roots Report. Locally she earned the State Farm basketball player of the year her junior and senior seasons, the USA Today New Mexico player of the year as a senior, and was named the Albuquerque Tribune/Maloof basketball player of the year her last three seasons.

She made an immediate impact as a Lobo, averaging 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds per game as a freshman. A surprising aspect of her game as a freshman for the 6’ 1” post player was her ability to step out and hit the three. While taking 37 three point attempts, hitting 27%, may not be all that surprising it is when considering she never attempted a three pointer in her high school career. The summer following her freshman year Lindsey tried out for the Australian National team, an opportunity made possible because her father, Peter Arndt (a former UNM tennis player) is from that country. Her sophomore year saw offensive production drop off slightly as she averaged 5.8 points per game even though her shooting percentages improved (39.2 % as a sophomore compared to 35.9% as a freshman). Her three point shooting percentage also improved as she shot 32.4% her second year. Rebounding also decreased her second season as she averaged 4.3 a game.

Lindsey bounced back with a vengeance last season, her junior year, as she nearly doubled her scoring average at 10.4 points a game while hitting 41.4% of her shots. She was also a force once again on the boards, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game. While a team effort from a team lacking “superstars” was what led to a second straight MWC Tournament Championship along with winning the regular season title, Miss Arndt’s contribution to the team effort in so many ways puts her close to the superstar status in my book.

So before she begins her final season I thought I would ask Lindsey a few questions that may give us some insights about Lindsey the person, Lindsey the basketball player, and about her thoughts concerning the team. Enough of my words and let us now read what Lindsey has to say in a question and answer format about her experiences as a beloved Lady Lobo.

Q: You had a good freshman season by just about anyone’s standards, but according to some your sophomore year was disappointing. There was speculation in Loboland as to why. I have heard or read comments such as, “her hearts not in it”, “her experience trying out for the Australia National Team did more harm than good”, and “her foot injury was more serious than reported and effected her game”. How would you rate your sophomore year and if you feel it was disappointing by your standards, would you mind sharing what you feel contributed to this?

A. As far as my sophomore year goes, it just wasn't fun in any way. I had a lot of issues going on outside of basketball that really affected my game and my entire life. I was involved in a bad relationship and it messed with my head so much that I just wasn't happy. I didn't really want to play that year, work hard and didn't even really care about much. School wasn't fun and since I started the season off bad because I was out of shape from not being able to do much the summer before, the season just continued to spiral downward and I felt like I was in a deep hole and couldn't get out. I was really just happy to get that year over with. I still liked basketball, I just let this person affected my emotions so much that it changed a lot of feelings and the way I acted. Many people have ideas on why I had such a bad sophomore year but not many people at all know that the real reason was because of the terrible relationship that I put myself in. It makes me sad that I wasted a whole year of basketball and of my life feeling so bad but I wouldn't be where I'm at emotionally and spiritually if I hadn't gone through that. I understand God had a reason in allowing me to go through it and I'm grateful now for growing from the experience.

Q. After your struggles in your sophomore year, and it is no secret that Abbie Letz had a tough second year, credence seems to be given to the “sophomore jinx” theory. The real world explanation is that there are more than likely factors that can make the sophomore year more challenging? Do you agree and if so what are these factors? What advice would you give last years freshmen to help them have a good sophomore year?

A. The sophomore year is notorious for being a downfall for many athletes and I don't know many reasons why but I do have a few thoughts as to why. Like I said before, I had issues outside of basketball, but in many cases, after the freshmen year people have expectations for the next year and they are usually pretty high. When you have a successful first year people just want to see more and there is nothing wrong with that, but a lot of time, it gets in people's head and becomes a mental thing. Also, the freshmen year is so fun and everything is so new, that when your sophomore year comes around you know what to expect and it just seems to be very repetitive. I think sophomores also think about how much longer they have to go and that might affect their thoughts too.

I would give the advice to enjoy every moment of the four years because it goes by soooooo fast and you never want to walk away from something regretting what you did. So many times seniors that graduated look back and wish it wasn't over and see how fast it went and wish they had made the most of it while it lasted. So I would say to the freshmen to make the most of it all because it will be over before they know it.

Q. You are about to enter your senior year after a very good junior year, a season good enough to earn 1st team All Conference honors. It has been reported that you are hard on yourself with the upside to this, in my opinion, is that this attitude strongly contributes to a desire to keep improving. Keeping this in mind, are there parts of your game you are unhappy with and if so what are you doing to overcome these self-proclaimed deficiencies?

A. I have a lot of parts of my game that I want to be much better at but the biggest thing I have struggled with is my inconsistency. I have always been that way since I was young in soccer and basketball. I will play okay one game and then look like I've never played the sport the next game. So this year I really want to work on that. I understand that I will have bad games, I just don't want them to out number the good games. I want to be more of an offensive threat this year also. I need to work on my guard skills more so that I can do more outside the paint. I will try and take one game at a time instead of looking forward to games to concentrate more on, and this means not overlooking games against weaker opponents.

Q. Last season the team really had a difficult time shooting during the beginning of the season. Coach Flanagan often commented how the team shoots “lights out” in practice, yet games were a different story. I believe the intense competition for playing time may have been a factor, but obviously not the only factor as returning players seemed to struggle more than the incoming freshmen. What do you think caused the early season shooting struggles and could we have the same problem next season, and if not why?

A. I hope we don't have the same problems shooting this year but I think maybe we just weren't relaxed enough out there. It is so fun playing in front of huge crowds but also can be very nerve wrecking. At practice we are at ease and there is no one watching us but when we put a uniform on and let about 8,000 people in the gym, things change a little. There was a lot of competition for playing time last year and there will also be this year so I think we just need to shoot more and get comfortable shooting a lot.

Q. Perhaps a redundant question because I think we already touched on this but I will ask anyway, what do you think were the team’s biggest weaknesses last season and do you see improvement in those areas for next season? Along these lines have you had a chance to see how any of the incoming freshmen play and if so in what areas do you think they will contribute?

A. I think the team’s biggest weakness last season was our inconsistency. One game we would be shooting lights out and the next game we couldn’t hit anything at all. That can really hurt teams and in many games I think this is what lost them for us. As we have discussed we shoot all the time and really well at practice but we have just got to be a more consistently good shooting team this year. I have only seen the freshmen play a little bit but Lindsey(Black) looks good, Dion (Marsh) is very athletic and Morgan (Saso) is very strong and aggressive which we need. They all had a good summer and should contribute a lot in my opinion.

Q So far in your three year career you, like other athletes, have had your share of ups and downs. Would you mind telling us what was one of your toughest moments and also share what you feel has been one of your best experiences to date (and we know the best is yet to come!)?

A. Probably the most frustrating time for me in my three years was the Utah game this past year at Utah. I could just not get into the game. I was so out of it and I felt bad for coach because he kept trying to give me chances but I couldn’t get with it. I played terrible. One of the most fun time was probably at this years tourney. It was a fun atmosphere. We played well and then we won the whole thing. Although winning the MWC title was more fun my sophomore year because it was the first time, I really enjoyed this tournament too.

Q. I remember when you decided to commit to UNM you indicated your faith was an important part of your life in a newspaper article. Has your faith had any impact in helping you deal with the challenges and pressures of being a student athlete?

A. My faith and relationship with God is the only way that I have made it through anything I've ever faced, but especially through my college years. The Lord has always been there for me and patient with me through all of my stupid decisions. Before I decided to go to college I never really worried about it because I knew where ever I went I was supposed to be there. When It was time to make my decision I didn't really talk to anyone about what I was thinking and just announced where I was going. I prayed about it forever and was completely at peace about staying a UNM. Everything about it fit me perfectly and I still thank God everyday for his blessings in my life and this amazing opportunity to play Division I basketball. Most of all I thank God for my parents because they have raised me in such a loving, Godly home and have been so supportive in everything I've done and it has put me where I’m now.

Q. Charles Barkley once said he is not a role model and should not be looked at as a role model. But the fact is, young individuals tend to emulate anyone in the public eye. Do you mind sharing your thoughts on any connections between athletes and role models?

A. Anyone in the public eye is someone’s role model. Many don't see it that way but people are always watching. Although I don't always feel like being a role model either I know that there are little girls who really look up to the Lady Lobos and admire women’s basketball. It is nice to know people appreciate hard work and it is even better having loyal fans. Coach Flanagan always reminds us that we are role models and we re always being seen and to represent the university well.

Q. What are your aspirations for after college? Do you plan on pursuing basketball at a higher level?

A. I'm a physical education major and I would like to be a physical fitness instructor and I also want go to cosmetology school to be a make-up artist. I'm not planning on basketball after this tear but if something comes up, I will try it.

Q. Is basketball fun for you?

A. Basketball is very fun for me and it has taken me places I never thought I'd go. Being involved in sports has been so good for me for many reasons. I have wonderful relationships and life long friendships, I have got to travel all over seeing all kinds of neat places and now, It is giving me a free education and I'm very thankful for that.

Lindsey, I really appreciate, along with so many other fans, the time and effort given for this interview. I sincerely hope your senior year exceeds even your highest expectations and I want to let you know how grateful we as fans are that you decided to choose The University of New Mexico as the place to display your talents. And we wish you all the best in everything you do.

Gary Stepic