Martinas Geben Approaching Upcoming Season With Different Mindset
Last season was a self-proclaimed roller coaster for Irish forward Martinas Geben.
The 6-foot-11, 255-pounder started the majority of the season until moving to more of a role player designation as the year progressed.
It took some time for Geben to adjust to the change.
“You don’t necessarily expect it, but you have to adapt and be coachable and take criticism,” Geben explained. “It took some time for me to mentally readjust, but I think I picked it back up toward the end of the season.”
This summer Geben focused on improving his athleticism in an effort to provide more offensive firepower for the Irish in 2017-2018.
“That’s the goal every summer,” Geben said. “To get slimmer and stronger. I’ve been working at that and expanding my skills and shooting touch around the bucket.”
Geben is changing his mental approach to the season given it will be his last in a Notre Dame uniform.
“Playing like I have nothing to lose,” Geben said. “That’s the biggest mentality change for me. It’s my senior year…if I’m holding back I’m going live for the rest of my life with regret that I didn’t leave it all on the floor.”
Notre Dame will be replacing over 30 percent of its total offense with the departures of V.J. Beachem and Steve Vasturia. Geben, like other returning Irish players, is taking it upon himself to improve his efforts offensively.
“More leadership and a bigger offensive role,” Geben said of what he is hoping to bring to the court this season. “I think that’s what the team needs losing Steve and VJ, our two big parts from the offense last year. Just being active on offense and looking for my own looks, but continuing to bring the same type of game, being able to pass, defending.
“The three of us — Bonzie Colson, Austin Torres and I — we’re going to have the majority of the role of rebounding and defending down low. Those are extremely important against the big, athletic teams in the ACC.”
Mike Brey expects more from Geben this season, but continuing to be the player he is.
“Martin Geben being who he is, banging away for us and giving us that big defensive presence,” Brey said about who could step up as the fifth, sixth and seventh options for the program. “I think he can have a good senior year for us.”
Geben more than doubled his point total (1.4 to 3.1) and tripled his rebounds (0.9 to 3.4) from his sophomore campaign to junior. Replicating that jump in consecutive years would be a special feat.
Geben is currently in his home country of Lithuania after being one of 15 players invited to the Lithuanian Students National Men’s Basketball team camp held July 18-25 which will play in the World University Games in Taipei, Taiwan, Aug. 13-30. The team will travel to China first for an exhibition tour before cutting down to 12 players heading into the World University Games.
----
• Talk about it inside Rockne’s Roundtable
• Subscribe to our podcast on iTunes
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @BGI_CoachD,
@BGI_DMcKinney and @BGI_CoreyBodden.
• Like us on Facebook.