The Johnsonian

Issue date: 9/6/06 Section: News

Weights and conditioning exercises are standard for most Division-1 basketball players during the off-season. Criss-crossing the globe for international competition against the worlds best isn't.

In Winthrop men's basketball player Craig Bradshaw's case, playing and traveling with the New Zealand national team was all the off-season workout needed.

"I have more confidence now," Bradshaw said. "International ball is a lot different than college. It's a more physical off the ball. Now that [opponents] know I've played against the best in the world, they'll respect me more."

Bradshaw was apart of his nation's team the New Zealand Tall Blacks all summer. The Tall Blacks began competing in New Zealand about six weeks after Winthrop won the sixth Big South Championship in eight years. The team then competed in Brazil, Argentina and Australia.

The culminating competition was in August at the 2006 International Basketball Federation World Championships in Japan where the Tall Blacks played other countries. Bradshaw played against teams with NBA stars like the Dallas Mavericks' Dirk Nowitski (Germany) and the San Antonio Spurs' Manu Ginobli (Argentina.)

"It was kind of strange to see Dirk Nowitski - someone who played in the NBA Finals - at the same hotel as you," Bradshaw said.

He recalls being humbled while sharing an elevator with the All-NBA first teamer. New Zealand lost to Germany 80-56 on day two of the FIBA tournament.

The Tall Blacks placed 13th overall according to the Fiba final rankings. Bradshaw averaged 11 points and 6.2 rebounds per game during the tournament.

Bradshaw was asked to try out for the Tall Blacks following his freshmen year at Winthrop. He was relegated to the 12th man spot until this summer when he became a solid starter following a MVP caliber performance against rival Austrailia, where he lead the Tall Blacks to victory with 25 points and nine rebounds. It was the first time New Zealand beat Australia on the road.

NBA player Andrew Bogut guarded Bradshaw during that game.

"I guess he wasn't trying," Bradshaw said with a smirk. He looks to the future positively.

"The big men that we do have are getting old so I saw it as an opportunity to step up," Bradshaw, the youngest player on the Tall Blacks, said. "I believe I did and think from here on out I'll be a permanent player."

After a busy summer traveling and playing with the team, he is back in Rock Hill attending Winthrop classes as a senior.

"It's good to be back and be in one place," Bradshaw, a 6'10" center, said. "A flight from Buenos Aires to New Zealand was 14 hours non-stop."

Bradshaw says he is ready to begin workouts with the Eagles and is fully focused on winning a third consecutive Big South Championship and another bid to the NCAA tournament.

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