Know Your Dons - Matt Glover
1/14/2015 7:27:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Let's play USF basketball's version of numerology, shall we?
15-8-4.
20-12-4.
8-7-9.
The relationship between this series of numbers and a coinciding event points directly to USF senior Matt Glover, who has the ability to put an emphatic stamp on his stat line any time he takes the floor with his unique style of play that often combines the best qualities of a Division I basketball player and a NFL tight end.
Glover can round out a stat line like no other. Hawai'i – 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Evansville – 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Pacific – eight points – seven rebounds – nine assists. His ability to score, rebound and pass make him one of the most versatile players in the West Coast Conference – and perhaps the toughest.
There is nothing subtle about Glover's style of play on the court. Every trip down the floor is a test of wills, a 40-minute, high-stakes personal battle not for the faint of heart. Whether it's a tomahawk slam against Pacific, turning back Saint Mary's big man Brad Waldow above the rim, fearlessly driving the lane or starring down an opponent, Glover's no-nonsense style of play is his own unique brand.
"His desire to win and be successful is second to none," said head coach Rex Walters. "I have never seen him back down regardless of who he is guarding or who we are playing. I appreciate that quality in a player. He is as competitive as any player I've ever coached.
"He has a big chip on his shoulder and that's fun to watch and coach. I've never had to tell him to put his nose on the ball or take one on the chest. He does it naturally."
Walters admits he sometimes has to dial back Glover's intensity for the sake of making sound basketball decisions.
"His greatest strength is sometimes his greatest weakness," said Walters. "His will to win is so great he can sometimes get in his own way. I was like that as a player. Some guys you have to get in their face to ramp it up. With Matt, I have to get him to slow down because he wants it so bad."
Though few can match Glover's toughness on the court, his playing style sets the tone for the style of basketball that Walters' expects of all his players. One player who immediately took notice of Glover's style of play was Tim Derksen, who often went head-to-head with the 6-5 tough man in practice sessions as a freshman.
"Jumbo set a very high bar and was a great role model for Tim," said Walters. "Matt had a lot to do with Tim's growth as a player. They developed a common respect based on how hard each other played."
Glover's on-court persona belies his personality away from the game.
Soft-spoken, kind, introspective and giving, the Southern California-native enjoys taking in the City's cool air on Welch Lawn outside of St. Ignatius Church or can be found on the campus courts pursuing his other passion during the off-season – tennis.
"Know Your Dons" is an on-going feature on USFDons.com designed to personalize the student-athletes of the University of San Francisco. Meet @GloveNoLove5, Matt Glover.
Student Life
Favorite spot on campus: The grass area next to St. Ignatius Church
Favorite class: Communication and Culture
Hardest class: Latin Perspectives
Favorite place to study on campus: Gleeson Library
Keys to balancing the demands of school and your sport: Staying very organized and disciplined
What experience made the biggest impact on you in the classroom: The personal interaction with my professors
The best thing about USF is: The view from Lone Mountain
What does "Change the World From Here" mean to you: You have all of the resources here at your fingertips. It's up to you what you want to do with them.
Pop Culture
Favorite TV show: Dexter
Favorite movie: Seven Pounds
Last book you read: Mind Gym by Gary Mack
Favorite singer or band: Drake
What's on your iPod: Hip-hop, Rap
Team
Top skill: Winning
One thing you are always working on: Winning
One skill of one of your teammates you wish you had: Chris Adams' shooting ability
Pre-game rituals or superstitions before events: Take a nap
Funniest teammate: David Irby
Favorite saying: "Work" – Dwayne Polee
Favorite bonding moment with your team: Playing softball, kickball and dodgeball
Sports
Sports teams I follow: Los Angeles Clippers
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite athletic memory: Winning in overtime at Portland last season
Biggest sports thrill: Getting a chase down block
My second-best sport: Tennis
Sport I'm the worst at: Trick question. I'm an athlete
Earliest sports memory: Going to basketball clinics with my dad
First sport you ever played: Basketball
Food and Travel
Favorite meal: Breakfast (bacon, eggs, pancakes, smoothie)
Favorite ethnic cuisine: Mexican (burritos and chips)
Favorite snack food: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Guilty pleasure: Collecting Jordans
Least favorite food: Fish
Who is the best cook on the team: Derrell Robertson
If stranded on an island, what would you bring with you: My comfy bed
Most interesting place you've ever visited: 9-11 Memorial in New York
Place you'd most like to visit someday: France
Favorite place in San Francisco: Union Square
Describe your perfect day in San Francisco: Hanging out or walking around the city on a sunny day
This and That
Hobbies: Collecting shoes
Pick three words to describe yourself: Tough, aggressive, tenacious
Early riser or night owl: Whenever I can get into the gym
Something people would be surprised to know about me: I have narcolepsy
Person I'd most like to meet: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, Michael Jordan
Talent I wish I had: A good singing voice
Role models: My siblings and my mother
My parents were right when they said: My nickname would stick with me
Moment in my life I'll always remember: Graduating from USF
In 10 years, I'd like to be: Happy regardless of what I'm doing for work
If I could trade places with someone for a day, it would be: I'm grateful for the life I live
Three people from history you'd like to have dinner with: Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Barrack Obama
Pet peeves: People who whine and complain
Cats or dogs: Dogs, especially Great Danes
Best advice you've ever received: "If you are good at anything, it's your own damn fault." Coach Boss
Describe your perfect day: Waking up and spending the day with my family and playing basketball
Describe the student-athlete experience at USF: USF provides a great atmosphere to thrive and be successful both academically and athletically.
15-8-4.
20-12-4.
8-7-9.
The relationship between this series of numbers and a coinciding event points directly to USF senior Matt Glover, who has the ability to put an emphatic stamp on his stat line any time he takes the floor with his unique style of play that often combines the best qualities of a Division I basketball player and a NFL tight end.
Glover can round out a stat line like no other. Hawai'i – 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Evansville – 20 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Pacific – eight points – seven rebounds – nine assists. His ability to score, rebound and pass make him one of the most versatile players in the West Coast Conference – and perhaps the toughest.
There is nothing subtle about Glover's style of play on the court. Every trip down the floor is a test of wills, a 40-minute, high-stakes personal battle not for the faint of heart. Whether it's a tomahawk slam against Pacific, turning back Saint Mary's big man Brad Waldow above the rim, fearlessly driving the lane or starring down an opponent, Glover's no-nonsense style of play is his own unique brand.
"His desire to win and be successful is second to none," said head coach Rex Walters. "I have never seen him back down regardless of who he is guarding or who we are playing. I appreciate that quality in a player. He is as competitive as any player I've ever coached.
"He has a big chip on his shoulder and that's fun to watch and coach. I've never had to tell him to put his nose on the ball or take one on the chest. He does it naturally."
Walters admits he sometimes has to dial back Glover's intensity for the sake of making sound basketball decisions.
"His greatest strength is sometimes his greatest weakness," said Walters. "His will to win is so great he can sometimes get in his own way. I was like that as a player. Some guys you have to get in their face to ramp it up. With Matt, I have to get him to slow down because he wants it so bad."
Though few can match Glover's toughness on the court, his playing style sets the tone for the style of basketball that Walters' expects of all his players. One player who immediately took notice of Glover's style of play was Tim Derksen, who often went head-to-head with the 6-5 tough man in practice sessions as a freshman.
"Jumbo set a very high bar and was a great role model for Tim," said Walters. "Matt had a lot to do with Tim's growth as a player. They developed a common respect based on how hard each other played."
Glover's on-court persona belies his personality away from the game.
Soft-spoken, kind, introspective and giving, the Southern California-native enjoys taking in the City's cool air on Welch Lawn outside of St. Ignatius Church or can be found on the campus courts pursuing his other passion during the off-season – tennis.
"Know Your Dons" is an on-going feature on USFDons.com designed to personalize the student-athletes of the University of San Francisco. Meet @GloveNoLove5, Matt Glover.
Student Life
Favorite spot on campus: The grass area next to St. Ignatius Church
Favorite class: Communication and Culture
Hardest class: Latin Perspectives
Favorite place to study on campus: Gleeson Library
Keys to balancing the demands of school and your sport: Staying very organized and disciplined
What experience made the biggest impact on you in the classroom: The personal interaction with my professors
The best thing about USF is: The view from Lone Mountain
What does "Change the World From Here" mean to you: You have all of the resources here at your fingertips. It's up to you what you want to do with them.
Pop Culture
Favorite TV show: Dexter
Favorite movie: Seven Pounds
Last book you read: Mind Gym by Gary Mack
Favorite singer or band: Drake
What's on your iPod: Hip-hop, Rap
Team
Top skill: Winning
One thing you are always working on: Winning
One skill of one of your teammates you wish you had: Chris Adams' shooting ability
Pre-game rituals or superstitions before events: Take a nap
Funniest teammate: David Irby
Favorite saying: "Work" – Dwayne Polee
Favorite bonding moment with your team: Playing softball, kickball and dodgeball
Sports
Sports teams I follow: Los Angeles Clippers
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite athletic memory: Winning in overtime at Portland last season
Biggest sports thrill: Getting a chase down block
My second-best sport: Tennis
Sport I'm the worst at: Trick question. I'm an athlete
Earliest sports memory: Going to basketball clinics with my dad
First sport you ever played: Basketball
Food and Travel
Favorite meal: Breakfast (bacon, eggs, pancakes, smoothie)
Favorite ethnic cuisine: Mexican (burritos and chips)
Favorite snack food: Peanut butter and jelly sandwich
Guilty pleasure: Collecting Jordans
Least favorite food: Fish
Who is the best cook on the team: Derrell Robertson
If stranded on an island, what would you bring with you: My comfy bed
Most interesting place you've ever visited: 9-11 Memorial in New York
Place you'd most like to visit someday: France
Favorite place in San Francisco: Union Square
Describe your perfect day in San Francisco: Hanging out or walking around the city on a sunny day
This and That
Hobbies: Collecting shoes
Pick three words to describe yourself: Tough, aggressive, tenacious
Early riser or night owl: Whenever I can get into the gym
Something people would be surprised to know about me: I have narcolepsy
Person I'd most like to meet: Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcom X, Michael Jordan
Talent I wish I had: A good singing voice
Role models: My siblings and my mother
My parents were right when they said: My nickname would stick with me
Moment in my life I'll always remember: Graduating from USF
In 10 years, I'd like to be: Happy regardless of what I'm doing for work
If I could trade places with someone for a day, it would be: I'm grateful for the life I live
Three people from history you'd like to have dinner with: Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks and Barrack Obama
Pet peeves: People who whine and complain
Cats or dogs: Dogs, especially Great Danes
Best advice you've ever received: "If you are good at anything, it's your own damn fault." Coach Boss
Describe your perfect day: Waking up and spending the day with my family and playing basketball
Describe the student-athlete experience at USF: USF provides a great atmosphere to thrive and be successful both academically and athletically.
Players Mentioned
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