The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 28, Ed. 1, Friday, December 8, 2000 Page: 3 of 8
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Optimist Wednesday December 6 2000 3
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Senior forward Peter Kiganya has''lofty
goals.
One would think the Nairobi Kenya
native had accomplished enough last season
after being named co-MVP of the Lone Star
Conference South Division first team NABC
all-south central region NABCOldsmobile
south central all-district and second team
Daktronics all-south central region.
But Kiganya does not want to be just one
of the top players in the south central region
- he wants to become one of the top players
across the nation in
NCAA Division II bas-
ketball. Humility however
has come with
Kiganya's stardom. He
knows if the team does
not win then the indi-
vidual accolades mean
less.
"Winning games
makes the honors bet-
ter" Kiganya said. "The
team comes first
because my teammates
and coaches make me
better.
"Regardless of the
honors I get it is disap-
pointing at the end of
the day if I score 30
points and get 20
rebounds and we lose
the game. Losing takes
the fun out of it. If the team does well it is
more satisfying."
A winning season is important to the
Wildcats who were 12-14 in 1999-2000 and
finished seventh in the LSC South Division.
During Kiganyas first season 1998-99
ACU advanced to the South Central regional
championship before losing to Truman State
University.
Kiganya said he still has the regional T-
shirt hanging on his wall as a reminder of the
Wildcats' success as a team.
"This season (we need to get experience in
the hard games and win those if we want to
advance to the regional toumey" he said. "We
also want to win the LSC toumey win at
home and on the road.
"Coach (Mike) Martin has been there and
done it and he can lead us back."
Martin mens head coach led the Wildcats
to three consecutive LSC titles from 1984-87
while earning LSC Coach of the Year honors.
Martin in his second tenure as head coach
at ACU expects a lot from Kiganya as well
"I expect a lot of things from him" Martin
said. "He is a great passer to add to his great
shooting and rebounding. We need him to
be consistent."
Kiganya a 6-6 forward who was only
given the ball to dunk while growing up in
Kenya has developed consistency and versa-
tility. "All I could do was dunk and block
shots" said Kignaya recalling his earlier
playing days. "I have improved much in
America. My three-point shooting has
improved along with other technical parts
of my game "
Last season Kiganya lead the Wildcats
in scoring and rebounding after the depar-
ture of the 1999 LSC South Division Player
of the Year Jarcd
Moslcy. who finished
his career 11th on the
school's all-time scor-
ing list.
Kiganya one of
the top scorers and
rcboundcrs in the
LSC led ACU with
19.8 points and 8 3
rebounds per contest
He led the Wildcats
in scoring 20 out of
26 games
His ability to score
points despite con-
stant double and
triple teams last year
was a tribute to the
versatility he brings
to the court and his
teammates and
coaches ability to get
him open looks.
"It was fun playing with J-Mo (Moslcy)
because teams paid attention to him"
Kiganya said. "It is harder for me now
because teams focus on me more. But
Coach Martin is a good coach because he
designs plays for me to catch the ball when
I am open. He is always there to teach me.
"My teammates get me the ball at the
right place at the right time. Everyone on
the team believes in me and encourages
me."
Kiganya who said he has always
thought of himself as a leader does not
expect anything less of himself this sea-
son. "J-Mo (Moslcy) left me the role to be a
leader on the team" said Kiganya who
along with Moslcy formed one of the best
Division II front courts in 1999. "I have to
help show the freshmen the way and the
coaches have put it on me to do that "
This season the task of leading ACU
back to the postseason will be tough for
Kiganya and the Wildcats who have five
freshmen on. the team
"Last year's team was more talented
individually" Kiganya said "But this year
team-wise we have much more chemistry
We have gone through a lot as a team and
we will havt a good team this year."
&
With.nll Sf the goals set for himself and
the tcajn thisseason Kiganya would like
to coritinue his basketball career beyond
college
Whatever the case Kiganya said he Is
happy about the things he has accom-
plished at ACU 'for himself his coaches
and his country.
I Happiness: a goal that cannot be. meas-
ured by any awards championships or
postseason honors. X
For Kiganya happiness has been meas
ured by doing what he loves doing most:
piaying oasKcioau.
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Photos by Amy Palmer Page design by Matt Lowe
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The Optimist (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 89, No. 28, Ed. 1, Friday, December 8, 2000, newspaper, December 8, 2000; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101689/m1/3/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Christian University Library.