| Andrew Francis |
by Sarah Silva
After waiting more than one year to suit up for the Roadrunners, junior transfer Andrew Francis has been an immediate contributor offensively and defensively for UTSA. The Houston native is willing to do anything he can to better the team, which includes bringing energy, athleticism and rebounding to the team. Francis took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to sit down with goUTSA.com and talk about his transfer from Houston, his workouts and his performance thus far.
How do you like UTSA as a school compared to the University of Houston?
“I like it a lot. UTSA is smaller, so it’s less of a college atmosphere, but you tend to know your classmates and everything else a lot better.”
Is there a difference in the style of play between UTSA and Houston?
“It’s very different. At U of H, it was more of a run-and-gun style. Any quick 3-pointers or open shot was taken, regardless of the time in the game. Here, it’s more structured, which is good. I think it helps us a lot because often times when teams are run-and -gun, they can either live or die by the jump shot. The playing style that Coach Thompson has implemented actually allows us to stay in a lot of games, and he teaches us how to take control of the clock.”
During your freshman year at Houston, you suffered a stress fracture in your back, forcing you to sit out the remainder of the season. How did you handle that?
“It was really tough. I remember thinking for a second that I wasn’t going to be able to play basketball. The doctor said it was going to be three months, and it was devastating to be told that I couldn’t play for the rest of the season.”
What did you do to recover?
“I rested, most definitely, and did a lot of abdominal work which strengthened my core and caused less strain on my back. Now, it’s not a problem at all.”
What made you decide to come to UTSA?
“I wanted to get away from home a little bit and also I wasn’t really enjoying my situation at U of H. I decided it was time for a change and UTSA wasn’t too far away, so I felt this was a good fit for me.”
What did you do during the summer and preseason to prepare for this season?
“I knew I was going to be playing a lot of minutes this season, so I just tried to run as much as possible and just work on my game.”
Knowing you would have to sit out another year for the NCAA transfer rule, how did you accept that?
“I was really disappointed with the way things were going in Houston, so it was just a sacrifice I had to take. It was frustrating, but at the same time it gave me something to look forward to. Plus, it gave me time to get my body right to make sure I wasn’t going to get any more injuries.”
Since you have been playing for UTSA, how do you think your performance has been?
“I think I’m relatively consistent. I’m rebounding and scoring and I think I give us a little bit of a chance to score inside. I need to develop my jump shot even more, but I’m just trying my best to help us out as much as I can.”
You play at the top of the zone defense. For a post, that would seem to be more difficult. Have you always been able to keep up?
“I’ve actually played more out on the perimeter than I have on the inside, so making that adjustment wasn’t really that hard for me. With the exception of a little bit of post work, a lot of the quickness and speed that I have is natural.”
You’ve had a lot of dunks during the games. Is that something you work on specifically?
“It’s pretty natural. I’m a bit of an athlete, I would say. If I feel like I’m high enough, then I’m going to dunk it. It’s an easier play and a higher-percentage shot than a layup to me, so I’d rather dunk. Plus, it’s a crowd booster.”
How is your bond with your teammates?
“As a team, we’re really close. It definitely shows on the court. There’s a lot of camaraderie out there and if somebody’s down, we try to pick them up.”
What types of things do you like doing, besides basketball?
“I skate a little bit on my free time and just hang out and watch movies with my teammates.
What are your plans after UTSA?
“Hopefully, I’ll be playing professional ball somewhere. As much time as I’ve put into basketball, I think it would be a waste to not have a goal like that. If that falls through, I think I could coach a little bit. Being a basketball player, you definitely owe it to other players to teach them and allow yourself to help other players grow."