Before the Overwatch Champions Series North America Stage 2 Main Event, Kryix had a chat with Wheats, Professor (aka head coach) for Students of the Game and Winthrop University.
How does coming into a pre-built team like SOTG differ from your previous coaching experiences?
I think coming into a roster instead of building it is pretty chill because I don't really have to think about decisions related to the roster. I can just focus on coaching what I have.
The Students got into some pretty contentious on-stream spats during the Swiss stage. What is your role in managing the personalities on the team?
I think teams talking to each other like that is more normal than people realize, almost every team I have seen and been on will get at each other after a loss. However, since I joined, I have talked a lot about how to deal with adversity in a better way, like taking all disagreements to after scrim review instead of arguing about it during or between maps.
Have those mental adjustments have paid off?
I think it has made us more productive in scrims. The players are really focused, but I can't attribute it all to us just dealing with adversity differently. I think they are really locking in because we think we can make DreamHack Dallas.
When you look at the teams above you in circuit point standings, who’s your main target?
I think M80 should be much better than last stage with their upgrades and the Koreans staying here at Winthrop. But I don’t think we are too afraid of anyone, to be honest. We are hitting a good groove.
So Happy and Pelican are dorming at Winthrop?
Yeah, Happy is in Rupal's old room as my roommate and Pelican is staying with Lyar right now. And they are playing in our facility. I don't think Hawk is traveling to Rock Hill.
Speaking of which, collegiate teams like Winthrop play in several different competitions, but which one is most important or prestigious to the team?
Definitely the Blizzard one, Overwatch Collegiate Championship, that’s counted as the national championship each semester.
Over, say, one of the LAN tournaments (e.g., CECC)?
I think the LANs are more fun but since it’s not the official one backed by Blizzard it’s not as prestigious. Winning a LAN and bringing a trophy home is definitely awesome for schools. I’d say Blizzard's tournament is first, LANs are second most important, then all the other online leagues are third most.
Students of the Game begin their Main Event run against Atlanta Phoenix Guard: Pirates in Pyjamas this Thursday, April 25, at 5:00 PM EDT (11:00 PM CET). Watch the match at https://www.twitch.tv/rakattack or https://www.twitch.tv/pge4.
Follow Wheats on Twitter.
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