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THIAGO CORDEIRO NAMED TECH MALE
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech has
named senior center Thiago Cordeiro (Recife,
Brazil)
as this week's Male Student-Athlete of the Week.
Cordeiro, who is a member of the Wonder Boys
Basketball team, earns this week's honor after helping
the Wonder Boys open Gulf South Conference play with a
3-0 record for the second consecutive year. Tech opened
league with an 80-59 win at Southern Arkansas and then
posted a 90-64 win at Henderson State last Thursday,
before earning an 82-66 win at home this past Saturday
over Harding. Cordeiro, who is a 6-foot-10 post player,
has been one of the key cogs in Tech's outstanding start
to the 2008-09 season as the Wonder Boys are 13-3
overall and are ranked 22nd in the latest NABC/NCAA D-II
Coaches' Top 25 Poll. For the week, Cordeiro scored 31
points and pulled down eight rebounds in Tech's wins
over HSU and Harding. In the win over HSU, Cordeiro, who
is a transfer from the University of Dayton scored 25
points and added seven rebounds, while blocking three
shots. The 25 point game was his second of the season as
he scored a game-high 28 points in Tech's GSC opener
against Southern Arkansas.
On the season, Cordeiro, who is one of two Brazilians on
this year's Wonder Boys team, is second on the team in
both scoring (11.3 points per game) and rebounding (5.2
per game) and leads the Wonder Boys in blocked shots (29
in 16 games). In addition, he is shooting 66
percent from the field and 73 percent at the free throw
line and has had nine double-digit scoring efforts, two
double-doubles and has blocked three of more shots in
six games, including blocking a season-high five shots
against Alabama-Huntsville.
The following is a question and answer segment to help
get to know this successful Tech student-athlete:
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Why did you
ultimately choose to come to Tech?
Thiago Cordeiro: Because, besides the
great basketball program, the coaches and
the people at Tech made me feel welcome. It
felt like a home away from home.
Outside of athletics, what is your favorite
thing about college life?
TC: I like being able to get to know new
people and making new friends.
What is your favorite type of music/group?
TC: I like brazilian "forro, samba, pagode"
and others. In addition, I also like
American hip-hop, rap and R & B.
What do you consider your hobby?
TC: If I had to choose one it would be
basketball, besides that I like to talk to
my friends here and also back in Brazil.
What sport other than basketball do you like
to watch or would you like to play the most?
TC: I don't really watch sports other than
basketball, but I love playing all sports
pretty much, especially soccer and chess.
Who is one person that has had the biggest
impact on your life?
TC: My parents, of course. It is not fair to
choose only one of them. All I do is to
think of them first.
 What is your most memorable moment as a Tech
athlete?
TC: When we went to Drake this season for an
exhibition game and almost won. It was a
victory to us.
What would you do on your dream vacation?
TC: I would like to travel around Europe
with my significant other.
What is your major at Tech?
TC: I am majoring in speech communication.
What do you plan to do after graduation?
TC: I would like to play professional
basketball for as long as I can.
Do you have a pet?
TC: I don't have any pets, but my parents
have two dogs, "Said" and "Mel".
How many times a day do you find yourself
checking facebook?
TC: I don't check it everyday during the
season, because I am always busy, but
whenever I can, I'm on there.
What's been the most rewarding class you
have had while being at Tech?
TC: It's my first year here, so I have to
say Biology with Professor Eric Lovely.
What are your goals for this season?
TC: I would like to win a conference,
regional and national title. I WANT IT ALL!! |
Tech Male Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
(2008-09)
December 9 - junior guard Dexter Hendrix
(basketball)
December 4 - junior guard Brandon Friedel
(basketball)
November 6 - senior defensive tackle R.C.
Wallace (football)
October 30 - junior running back Tim
Childress (football)
October 23 - senior offensive tackle
Shannon Dixon (football)
October 15 - senior punter/kicker Michael
Podobnik (football)
October 8 - senior receiver Justin Ray
(football)
September 30 - senior offensive tackle
Jeremy Ashcraft (football)
September 24 - senior pitcher Tyler
Mattox (baseball)
September 16 - sophomore linebacker Danny
Martin (football)
September 2 - sophomore defensive back
Tario Dansby (football)
August 24 -
senior receiver Tracey Stiger
(football)
Previous Tech Male Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
(2007-08)
May 5 -
junior Jarred Carlyle
(golf)
April 21 -
junior
B.J. Hawkins (golf)
April 14
-
freshman
outfielder Austin Gwatney
(baseball)
April 7
-
senior
quarterback Cole Barthel (football)
March 24 -
senior
pitcher Zach Weiss
(baseball)
March 4 - junior forward Troy Marcus
(basketball)
Feb. 20
-
junior
third baseman Tony Sanchez (baseball) |