February 23, 1995
Nicole Keb and Nancy Ewing couldn't be more different if they tried.
Keb is relaxed, preferring to spend her free time at the mall shopping for friends, watching movies or hanging out at the beach. Ewing's energy practically oozes out of her. She has a devilish flicker in her eyes that gives away her mischievous side -- she used to tell people that NBA star Patrick Ewing was her cousin, and she is always good for a practical joke or two.
Despite their vast differences, the two SF State senior basketball players have many similarities.
Both players graduated from local high schools. Keb went to Immaculate Conception Academy, while Ewing attended Balboa High School.
Also, neither expected to find herself at SF State playing basketball for four years.
Ewing planned to go to San Jose State University with many of her high school friends. Instead, she chose SF State and, on a whim, decided to try out for the basketball team.
"I wanted to play, but that wasn't my intention when I came here," she said. The liberal studies major planned to earn her degree and become a teacher.
"I just love kids," she said. "They have so much energy."
Keb shares Ewing's love of children, and she also plans to earn a teaching credential.
Unlike Ewing, Keb said that after she graduated from high school she didn't want to go to college at all, but decided to send in the application to SF State.
Once she was accepted, she knew she wanted to play basketball.
"Originally, I was only going to play two years to get the letter jacket," she said. "But then I got suckered into playing the last two years. I'm glad I did, though. Not many people survive four years of college basketball and I think it's something to be proud of."
Head coach Arden Kragalott agreed and added that it is even harder when the players cannot get scholarships.
The Gators play in the Northern California Athletic Conference, the only non-scholarship Division II conference in the nation.
"It's a great accomplishment," Kragalott said. "Even through the bad times they stuck with it, and they've set an example of how much you can grow and learn."
For Ewing, that growth included learning how to use her energy to her advantage instead of just letting loose on the court.
According to Kragalott, Ewing has turned her energy into a leadership tool.
"She's more of a feisty player who will go out and play hard," Kragalott said. "She sets the tone for the team that way. She's like an adrenaline injection when she comes off the bench. When she starts, she needs to be more steady, more of a calming influence."
Ewing said she enjoys getting her teammates excited.
"I try to get my teammates pumped up," she said. "Nikki really thrives off the crowd. I don't usually hear the crowd at all, but she loves it. When the bench and the crowd and everybody are really into the game, it helps."
Keb agreed and said, "I'm always jumping up and down. I want to get everybody going."
For example, the Gators were down against Humboldt State on Feb. 4 when Keb came into the game and fired up the entire team and the crowd. The Gators won the game.
"I got pumped up against them, and that really got everybody else into it," she said. "A positive energy like that can pump everybody up and keep them going."
Despite the highs a good game can provide, both players admitted there have been times when they just didn't want to practice -- when they wanted to get away from the game.
Ewing said she really depends on her teammates during those times to keep her going and she also keeps going even when it gets tough, simply because she loves the game.
"I'm a part of the team, and I'm going to do my best," she said. "I'm going to go out and play hard, even if I don't always feel like it."
Keb said she sometimes finds it hard to find the energy to play day after day, but that other people help her stay focussed.
"When you get to play in a game situation, it shows that your coach has confidence in you." Keb said. "I just keep building on that. For me, it's hard to get motivated, but when I play a good game, I can really get fired up."
Kragalott said she thinks Keb has begun to shine as the season progresses.
"A lot of times I don't know what to expect from Nikki in practice," Kragalott said, "but these last few games, she's really started to reach her potential.
"Actually, both of them have become more aggressive and more assertive on the court. They're not timid in tight situations."
Both players said they might change some things if they could do it again, but they're content with their achievements.
"You always want to do more, but I'm satisfied with myself," Ewing said."Even the greatest athletes have faults. That's me. I'm not putting on a front for anybody."
Keb and Ewing will play their last basketball game as SF State Gators tonight. The team will travel to play Sonoma State at 5:30 p.m.