GREEN BAY, Wis. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - Now a senior, Steve Baker (St. Paul, Minn.) is not hiding his excitement about the upcoming season with the Green Bay men's basketball team. Showing what may be the makings of a new leader in the program, Baker talks with more excitement and energy about the improvement he has seen in his teammates and about the program's newcomers than he does himself.

Like fellow senior Jarvis Williams (Milwaukee, Wis.), Baker is adjusting from being a first-year junior college transfer to being a senior with one last hurrah. After starting 14 games and averaging 6.5 points per game during what was at times and up and down junior campaign, the 6-2 guard is working to improve his game for the 2011-12 season.

Along with his teammates, Baker and his teammates are going through voluntary workouts and pick up games while attending summer classes. Throughout the summer, GreenBayPhoenix.com will catch up with members of the men's basketball team with a weekly Q and A.

What have your individual goals been for this offseason?
"Knock down the shot consistently. Get stronger and faster. Try to become more of a leader. Work on going to my right."

What has working with new strength and conditioning coach Rick LeFevre been like?
"It has been great. He gives you the confidence to do anything and anything is possible with him. Everybody is getting stronger and you can see it. [Alec Brown] is getting stronger and pushing up plates, [Daniel Turner] is squatting about 400 pounds and we were not moving weight like that before. I like him a lot, and I definitely feel stronger. People might not notice it with Al yet, but you see it with how much he lifts."

What did the coaches challenge you to improve on after the season?
"Going to my right more and knocking down the three more consistently. Also just to keep working on my ballhandling."

With last year being your first year at the Division I level and in the Horizon League, what did you learn about the Division I level and about the conference?
"To be patient. I felt like last year I was a little anxious at times and a little worried at times that the guys would be bigger and stronger, but you realize you just have to come out and play your game. The league is a good league, but next year we are going to have just as good a chance as anyone. We have talent coming back, and with it being my second year I know what to expect."

What are you most excited about heading into next season?
"We lost three seniors, but we gain Al with another year. Playing with him every day, he doesn't miss. It is like he is out there by himself, but we are out there guarding him. And [Terry Johnson], people don't know what Terry is going to bring because they have never seen him, but he is going to be exciting. Jarvis is balling right now, DT is getting stronger and finishing, Kam is knocking shots down, Red is picking and popping. Hopefully I will do what I am supposed to do, and then with the freshmen coming in I feel like we are gaining more than we lost.

Have you challenged yourself to become more of a leader with Rahmon Fletcher and Bryquis Perine having graduated?
"The coaches want Jarvis, DT and I to be more of the leaders, but to be honest we should all have the same goals and want to win. Everybody needs to be leaders. I want people to be able to tell me if I'm slacking and ask me what is going on. It is my last year, and I'm going to be out there doing the little things as a senior stepping up. I'm going to be out there if someone needs someone to talk to and my teammates know that."

What have you learned about the newcomers and what are you excited about with that group?
"I have played with all of them besides Aaron [Armstead], and I'm excited. With [Brennan Cougill], you do not see anyone at his size that can move like that. I have only seen him a couple times, but when I did see him he looked like a pro. I know after working with Coach LeFevre he is going to knock some weight off. Josh is here now and he is tough. He is a freshman, but once he gets it going he is athletic and jumps out the gym. He can defend. Kiefer [Sykes] I saw rip Fletch and he is the only one that I have seen do it. I'm excited to see Aaron play because from what I hear he can play. They are going to come in and put some pressure on us, and I just want good players that want to win."

With it being your last year, do you feel more focused because you know this is it for you in terms of college basketball?
"I want to go out with a bang. I have been to the big stage at every level that I have been at, and this is my last year to get to the NCAA Tournament. I am going to do whatever it takes to get there. I know Jarvis is hungry too. We talk about it all the time and we are going to do whatever it takes."

What are the keys to being more consistent this season?
"My keys to being consistent are just to stay focused. With me [last year] it was too many mental mistakes. That is me being too anxious so I just need to be more focused and stay healthy. As a team, we just have to rebound and defend to be consistent. Everyone can score. It is not hard to score. It is hard to get stops when the other team goes on a run. It is hard to get that final rebound to put the game away. Everybody is on the same page on that and we are going to be more together and dialed in."