Interviews

2010-11 Penn Quakers Welcome New Recruits

Jon Teitel — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:30:57 -0400

The 2009-10 season was a tough one for the Penn Quakers and their fans, as the 25-time Ivy League champions lost their first ten games (and 14 of their first 15) on the way to a disappointing record of 6-22 (5-9 Ivy). But a season with few highlights included Zack Rosen, Jack Eggleston and company handing eventual league champion (and Sweet 16 member) Cornell their first conference loss of the season, and with Jerome Allen beginning his first full season as head coach hope springs eternal.

Along with two assistants (former Hartford head coach Dan Leibovitz (now an assistant at Penn) and Rudy Wise) the Quakers welcome an incoming class of eight players, with the hope being that they'll lend a helping hand in grabbing Ivy crown number twenty-six. CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with four of the eight recruits: Miles Cartwright, Fran Dougherty, Chris Hatfield and Dau Jok.

Miles Cartwright

JT: You went to Loyola HS in Los Angeles, where you led your team in scoring. What position do you feel most comfortable at, and what is the secret to being a great scorer?

MC: My whole life growing up I played SG, but then my coach needed me to play PG during my junior year. I feel most comfortable on the wing where I can create my own shot. The secret to being a great scorer is just always being ready, because you do not know where the passes are coming from. It is also important to read the defense.

JT: One of your HS opponents was fellow Penn recruit Austin Kelly of Harvard-Westlake. What was it like to play against Austin, and what do you think it will be like to switch from being opponents to being teammates?

MC: Austin has always been a great friend of mine off the court, as we have played against each other since we were 9 years old on the AAU circuit. We have had some tough battles in the past, but I think being teammates will just make our friendship better.

JT: You played on an AAU team (California Supreme) with several big-time recruits (Gary Franklin, Dwayne Polee, Tyler Lamb, etc.). Who is the best guy you have ever played with, and who is the best guy you have ever played against?

MC: The best guy I ever played with was Hollis Thompson, who is now at Georgetown. He taught me a lot, as I watched how he carried himself. The best guy I ever played against has got to be Austin Rivers. He is a big-time player who is going to be a huge star in the pros someday.

JT: You are one of several guards in Penn's recruiting class of 2014. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for all of you?

MC: Not at all. The great thing about our class is that we just want to win, no matter what it takes or what the best formula is. We are already good friends through emails/texts/etc., so we are not worried about playing the same position. All we care about is wins and losses.

JT: ESPN/Scouts Inc. gave you the highest rating of any of Penn's recruits with a 90. What other schools did you consider, and why did you choose Penn?

MC: I was looking at Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Washington State, and some other mid-major schools out west. I ended up choosing Penn for the academics as well as the basketball tradition, even though it has been down the past couple of years.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen, and why do you want to play for him?

MC: I built a great relationship with former Coach Glenn Miller, and I was let down when Penn let him go. However, I am excited to play for Jerome, as he is someone who has been through it all and knows what it takes to win in the Ivy League.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college, and what do you think will be the hardest part?

MC: I do not know if this will make sense, but the easiest part will be just playing. The talent level will go up from high school, but we just have to play. The toughest part will be the speed of the game. I played pickup games in LA against guys who are going to Loyola Marymount and Gonzaga, and I was impressed by how fast everyone was.

JT: You had a 3.7 GPA in HS. What role do academics play in your life, and what subject do you look forward to studying most at Penn?

MC: My parents always told me that while basketball was a tool, academics was the key that would get me somewhere. They would not let me play ball until my homework was done. I want to be a broadcaster, so I would like to study sports journalism at Annenberg.

JT: Your younger brother Parker will follow in your footsteps as a freshman at Loyola in the fall. How good a player is he, and will you urge him to go to Penn if you enjoy your own time there?

MC: He has been written about as the top PG in the Class of 2014, and has already heard from most of the Pac-10 schools and been to a bunch of All-American camps. I will try to put something in his ear about my new team, but if he continues to progress, then I do not think I can get him to Penn.

JT: Your mother worked on the Judge Joe Brown TV show while your sister worked on the Judge Judy TV show. To you feel like you have a career in legal entertainment as a fall-back plan if basketball does not work out for you, and do they make you watch their shows all the time?

MC: My mom was one of the main producers for Joe Brown, and just started a new show with Nancy Grace. I am not a big fan of those programs, and I always tell my mom that, so I do not think I will end up working for any of those shows.

Fran Dougherty

JT: You went to Archbishop Wood HS in Warminster, PA, about 20 miles north of Philly. How important was it for you to stay close to home, and how special will it be to have your family be able to attend all of your home games at the Palestra?

FD: It was a big factor in my decision, and it helps that I can go home whenever I want to. It will be awesome to have my family come to games, and also my friends, as a lot of my friends live in or near Philly.

JT: You were team captain for 2 years in high school. What position do you feel most comfortable at, and what is the secret to being a great leader?

FD: I was most comfortable at the 4 spot in high school. The key to being a leader is to be vocal and be a good teammate.

JT: In addition to high school basketball you also played varsity tennis. How big an advantage was your size on the tennis court, and which sport do you enjoy more?

FD: I definitely like basketball better. The other sport was just a hobby, as a lot of my friends played tennis. My size definitely helped me on the court, especially with my serve.

JT: You are one of eight players in Penn's recruiting class of 2014. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for all of you?

FD: Yes, but you just have to work hard every day. Everyone has an equal chance with a new coach coming in, so everyone has a shot at proving that they deserve some playing time.

JT: You played a great game against Roman Catholic HS earlier this year (22 points, 14 rebounds and four blocks) despite a stress fracture in your foot. How were you able to play so well despite being injured, and how important is toughness in your own style of play?

FD: It was hard, but I did not think anything was wrong with my foot, so I did not let it affect me. I am not oversized for a college big man, so I have to play tough and get physical in the paint.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen, and why do you want to play for him?

FD: I know that he was a great player and a big part of the program at Penn. When I talked to the guys before Coach Allen even got hired, they told me how he would work hard to make you a better player by the end of your four years.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college, and what do you think will be the hardest part?

FD: I would not say there is an easy part from what I have seen so far. You are going up against experienced players who are stronger and faster, so that is tough.

JT: What role do academics play in your life, and what subject do you look forward to studying most at Penn?

FD: Academics have always been a big part of my life, as my parents always pushed me, which was another reason I came to Penn. I want to study environmental management or marketing.

JT: At 6'8" you will be one of the tallest players on the Penn roster. Do you think you are done growing, and how do you use your size to your advantage on the court?

FD: I am pretty sure that I am done growing, at least according to my doctor. There are other tall guys on the team, so I will also need to have the ability to shoot the ball and put it on the floor.

JT: You have spent this summer playing for team Trad Jazz with Jack Eggleston and several of your fellow incoming freshman. What has impressed you the most about Eggleston, and how do you think that playing with your future teammates this summer will help you during the season?

FD: Playing with Jack gave me a preview of what it takes to compete in the Ivy League, as he is one of the best big men in the conference and a good team leader. Playing with the other recruits should also help us in the fall.

Chris Hatfield

JT: You went to Miramonte HS in Orinda, CA, where you graduated as the school's all-time leading scorer. What is the secret to being a great scorer, and has it sunk in how prolific a player you were?

CH: Part of the key to being my school's top scorer was the fact that I played varsity all four years, so by my senior season I was very comfortable on the court and had already found my style of play. As for any "secret" to scoring, I had none; I simply did whatever I could to make the ball go through the basket. This often meant a lot of ugly, scrappy plays and scoring by sheer hustle rather than finesse, but it helped our team so I kept doing it. I would not say that my school has ever had the reputation of being a basketball "powerhouse" (no Miramonte team had gone further in the state bracket than we did my senior season), so I have to put the record into perspective. However, I am still proud to hold such a record.

JT: You were team captain for two years in high school. What is the secret to being a great leader?

CH: All I can say is that leaders can only lead because they have the respect of others. The reason I was voted captain in my opinion was because the other players respected my work ethic.

JT: What position do you feel most comfortable at on the court?

CH: I was somewhat obligated to play the 4/5 position because our team did not have anyone else who could guard a big man in the paint. While I could certainly play the 5 spot in HS, it is not my most comfortable position. During the playoffs I returned to my more familiar position of a shooting/small forward, which is where I am most comfortable. In college, however, I am going to have to move away from a big man position and work more on my shooting and wing play.

JT: Who is the best guy you have ever played with?

CH: That is hard to say. One of my favorite guys to play with was Brian Barbour on the Lakeshow AAU team. He is now at Columbia and can pass dimes like it is nobody's business.

JT: Who is the best guy you have ever played against?

CH: It was probably Desmond Simmons, a lanky 6'7" forward at Salesian HS who is now playing at Washington.

JT: You are one of eight players in Penn's recruiting class of 2014, and there are reports that you will start off on the JV team. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for everyone, and how long do you expect to stay on the JV squad?

CH: I have not really had that concern, nor do I really have an expectation as to how long I will be on the JV team. I have never played with any of the other players, so I cannot really gauge my skill level relative to the rest of the players. I am just happy to be on the team, and if the coaches do decide to move me up at some time in my career, I will be honored to play on the varsity squad.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen, and why do you want to play for him?

CH: I know very little about Coach Allen, as I have never met him or exchanged an email with him. I have only seen interviews with him, but I have a lot of respect for him as the head coach of an Ivy League and Division I program.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college?

CH: I do not really expect any part of the jump to be easy, especially seeing as how I am going to have an incredible academic workload on top of basketball.

JT: What do you think will be the hardest part about making the jump from high school to college?

CH: I am going to have to work most on my ball-handling and shooting as I transition from the 4-spot to a wing player.

JT: You are enrolled at Wharton (Penn's prestigious business school). What role do academics play in your life, and what subject do you look forward to studying most at Penn?

CH: Academics play a huge part in my life, as my choice to attend Penn was based primarily on its academic reputation and Wharton. The chance to play on the JV team was just icing on the cake. I am still open to different business subjects, but right now I am really interested in the actuarial science/risk management concentration in the business school.

Dau Jok

JT: You were born in the Sudan, where your dad passed away when you were 6 years old and you were raised by your mother before moving to the U.S. in 2003. How has growing up in a single parent household impacted your life, and what is the biggest difference between Africa and the U.S.?

DJ: It was hard having only one parent, but it made me stronger as it forced me to grow up quickly and adjust to different things. It also developed my work ethic, as it means you have to do a lot more than most kids your age. It taught me a lot of communication skills as well. My mom faced a big challenge in trying to raise us, but she is a tough individual and her struggle motivated me. Growing up in Africa everything was solved through violence, and in America you can solve more things peacefully, and there are more opportunities here as well.

JT: You went to Roosevelt HS in Des Moines, Iowa, where you had a 3.89 GPA. What made you choose Penn, and how important are academics in your life?

DJ: I chose Penn for the education, as a degree from here will make me better off in the future. There is so much diversity here and so many people to learn from. I think everything happens for a reason, and the coaching staff is made up of great people from top to bottom, so I think we are set up for a great 4-year run.

JT: You also lettered in cross country while in high school. How much of an advantage is your stamina on the court?

DJ: I think stamina is all in your head in terms of whether you let it affect you. I ran with a bunch of teammates who are now at Division I schools, so we had a great team.

JT: You are one of several guards in Penn's recruiting class of 2014. Are you concerned that there might not be enough playing time for all of you?

DJ: I am not worried about playing time; my biggest concern is just about what I can do right now to get better. Coach John Wooden said, "Make each day your masterpiece", so I am just worried about what I can control: going to class, making progress on the court, etc. The more powerful a team we have, the better, so it is not a bad thing to have a lot of good guards.

JT: You have been described as a three-point specialist. What position do you feel most comfortable at, and what is the secret to three-point shooting?

DJ: Two words: Ray Allen! I feel comfortable coming off of screens and running the break. I shoot a lot on my own all the time, especially this summer; that is the whole secret, so to answer your question, shoot. Another key is to be your own critic, in terms of footwork, motivation, etc.

JT: Your uncle is former NBA center Manute Bol and your cousin is current Bulls forward Luol Deng. How did you feel about Manute passing away earlier this summer, and what advice has Luol given you about how to succeed on the court?

DJ: I was not as close with Luol; I am closer to Longar Longar, who is at Oklahoma. He keeps telling me to understand why I am here; I did not come all the way from Sudan to screw around, so I just have to stay true to who I am. My biggest regret is that I was supposed to call Manute the week that he passed away, but I never got to do that. He will be missed, as he was a great humanitarian who tried to make the Sudan a better place for people who had nothing. He was a hero and we need more people like that. He motivates me to try to have the same effect on my people.

JT: Your brother Peter is a high school sophomore who is listed as one of the top talents in the Class of 2013. Which of you is going to end up as the better player, and any chance you can convince him to join you at Penn?

DJ: He is going to be WAY better than I am; it is not even a question! He got bigger and stronger over the summer and is doing stuff athletically that I cannot do. He has to take care of his academics and work on his people skills, and I hope he gets a chance to play at the highest level. I pray that he always does well, and hope he ends up as the best player to ever come out of Iowa.

JT: This past summer you played summer league ball with upperclassmen Jack Eggleston/Zack Rosen and freshmen Fran Dougherty/Steve Rennard on team Trad Jazz. What impressed you the most about Rosen, and how do you think that playing with your future teammates over the summer will help you during the season?

DJ: Zack has strengthened my values, as he respects everyone and works his butt off. If you get a chance to be around Zack, what you learn is priceless. He is Coach Allen's coach on the court. Everyone knows him around campus, and he is very engaging. The kind of person he is off the court impresses me more than the player he is on the court. I have never seen anyone work as hard as him; the dude works his ass off! He is not the tallest or the fastest, but he plays with heart and works the hardest. Summer league was a nice chance to get to know each other, but now is the time when we can really start to gel.

JT: What do you know about Coach Jerome Allen and why do you want to play for him?

DJ: I know that he cares about the person you are more than the player you are. The first thing he asks you is not how your shot is coming along, but how you are doing. His work in the community is well known, and I want to learn from the best. If I can only pick up 10% from each of our coaches, I will have picked up a lot.

JT: What do you think will be the easiest part about making the jump from high school to college, and what will be the hardest part?

DJ: I do not think anything will be easy. The hardest part is just being patient with the learning curve. Zack always says to move on and live in the now. I am willing to learn every day, even if it is a day when I struggle so that I can come back and be even better the next day. The college game is much quicker, and there is a lot of thought that goes into everything, but I am not too worried because I am in the right hands.

The BIG List: 2010-11 College Basketball Preview

Shawn Siegel — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:24:31 -0400

2010-11 PREVIEW: THE BIG LIST

No one has more college basketball preview material than collegehoops.net.. not even ESPN (and if you don't believe me, I dare you to read every single preview article we put online.. it might blind your eyes.. and maybe even your ears). Here's a comprehensive list of 2010-11 preview content to keep you busy for the next few months. Bookmark this page and check back daily for new preview goodness, we'll be be adding content until November. Like what you see? Spread the word..

As always, thanks for stopping by the site!

By Shawn Siegel

CHN Editor

Latest Additions 7/27 - The Top 144 Preview is Back! #144 to #141 to start it off

144 Teams in 144 Days runs from July to November!

Top 144 RSS Feed

Top 144 Team Previews

- #1 ?, #2 ?, #3 ?..

By Joel Welser

Preview Editor

- Teams #26 to 40 - #26 ?, #27 ?, #28 ?..

- Teams #41 to 60 - #41 ?, #42 ?, #43 ?..

- Teams #61 to 80 - #61 ?, #62 ?, #63 ?..

- Teams #81 to 100 - #81 ?, #82 ?, #83 ?..

- Teams #101 to 120 - #101 ?, #102 ?, #103 ?..

- Teams #121 to 144 - #121 ?, #122 ?, #123 ?..

- Alphabetical Team Previews/Ranking - Easy access to your favorite team's preview/ranking.

- Complete 348 Team D1 Ranking: 145-200 - 201-275 - 276-348

DAILY CONFERENCE POLLS

Who will win all 31 D1 conferences?..


ACC?	A10?	B. East?	Big Ten?	Big 12?	HL?	MVC?	MWC?	P-10?	SEC?	WCC?

..ALL 31 LEAGUES vote early, vote often

Other Polls

- What team should be preseason #1?

- Who will the National Title?

- What will be the best conference?

- Best Non-BCS conference?

- Best Freshman?

- Best Non-BCS Team? (new)

- all polls..

CONFERENCE BY CONFERENCE

In-depth previews of all D1 conferences, including league & team rankings, previews, CHN's All-Conference teams, and more.

CONFERENCE PREVIEWS / RANKING

- conference previews including projected standings, all-league, top freshman, leaders, and related league content.

(Our 2009 Projected Ranking is Below)

1 Big Ten

2 Big 12

3 ACC

4 SEC

5 Big East

6 Pac-10

7 Atlantic 10

8 MVC

9 MWC

10 CUSA

11 WAC

12 Horizon

13 Colonial

14 Sun Belt

15 MAAC

16 WCC

17 MAC

18 Big West

19 Summit

20 Big Sky

21 Southland

22 Ivy

23 Southern

24 America East

25 Atlantic Sun

26 Patriot

27 OVC

28 Big South

29 NEC

30 MEAC

31 SWAC

Five-Year Rankings - BCS teams ordered by a formula that counts postseason success & conference winning %

- ACC - Big 12 - Big East - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

High-Low Rankings - A range or projected finishes for BCS teams

ACC - Big 12 - Big East - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

BRACKETOLOGY, OTHER NATIONAL RANKINGS & POLLS

Get a head start on your 2011 NCAA Tournament bracket

2011 TOURNEY BRACKET

CHN's Top 144 plugged into a bracket. Start drooling about March in October.

Mid-Summer EARLY PRESEASON TOP 50: Purdue #1?

The Editor's take.. different from the official Top 144 ranking

2010 NCAA Tournament Bracketology: Preseason (new!)

Its never to early to project the Field.. all 65 heading to the Dance

National Media Rankings

- Coaches Poll

- AP Top 25

- The Preview Magazines: Consensus Top 25

How Athlon, Lindy's, and Sporting News compare

PLAYER AWARDS & RANKINGS

All-Americans, All-Conference & More

CollegeHoops.net Awards

- All-America Team (& commentary)

- High-Major All-Americans (& commentary)

- Mid-Major All-Americans (& commentary)

- All-Freshman Team (& commentary)

..all awards

Power Conferences: Top 25 Players

Ranking the best players per position in each conference (by Shawn Siegel)

- ACC - Big 12 - Big East - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

Editor's Picks

- 2010-11 All-America Teams

National Awards

- AP All-America Team

Official Coaches/Media Polls & All-Conference Teams

- ACC

- MVC

- SEC

- More

CHN Top 100

1	?
2	?
3	?
4	?
5	?
Complete Top 100 our annual favorite, ranking the game's best

FANTASY COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Projected stats, player rankings, etc

Fantasy Stats Previews - Fantasy Preview Archive

Projected stats for all starting BCS players

- ACC - Big East - Big 12 - Big Ten - Pac-10 - SEC

** 2009 MMAS Preview Archive

MARCH MADNESS ALL SEASON

Get prepared for the season with CHN's Jeff Borzello. Players, teams, conferences -- it's all here.

- Position Rankings: PG SG SF PF C

- Best Backcourts

- Best Frontcourts

- Group Rankings: Inside-Outside Combos Trios Wing Duos

- Old Faces, New Places: Impact Transfers

- Fifty Impact Freshmen

- Player Rankings: Defenders, Three-point Shooters, Break-Out Players, Mid-Major Stars, Go-to Guys

- Biggest Shoes to Fill

- Non-Conference Games to Watch

- Non-BCS Top 25

- Mid-Major Sleepers

Conference Previews

No. 33: Independents Preview

No. 32: Great West Conference Preview

No. 31: SWAC Preview

No. 30: MEAC Preview

No. 29: Atlantic Sun Conference Preview

No. 28: Northeast Conference Preview

No. 27: America East Conference Preview

No. 26: Patriot League Preview

No. 25: Southland Conference Preview

No. 24: Ohio Valley Conference Preview

No. 23: Big South Conference Preview

No. 22: Ivy League Preview

No. 21: Big Sky Conference Preview

No. 20: Summit League Preview

No. 19: Southern Conference Preview

No. 18: Mid-American Conference Preview

No. 17: Big West Conference Preview

No. 16: Sun Belt Conference Preview

No. 15: MAAC Preview

No. 14: Horizon League Preview

No. 13: West Coast Conference Preview

No. 12: CAA Preview

No. 11: WAC Preview

No. 10: Missouri Valley Conference Preview

No. 9: Conference-USA Preview

No. 8: Mountain West Conference Preview

No. 7: Atlantic-10 Conference Preview

No. 6: Pac-10 Conference Preview

No. 5: SEC Preview

No. 4: Big East Conference Preview

No. 3: ACC Preview

No. 2: Big Ten Conference Preview

No. 1: Big 12 Conference Preview

March Madness All Season Feed

By Jeff Borzello

March Madness All Season Blog

Jon Teitel's Interview Series: Pittsburgh Legend Charles Smith

Jon Teitel — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:40:11 -0400

CHN writer Jon Teitel spent time recently interviewing University of Pittsburgh legend Charles Smith, a two-time All American who also won a Big East Player of the Year award before graduating. Smith, who enjoyed a lengthy career in the NBA, can now be seen during the season on SNY during the network's studio show during Big East basketball telecasts in addition to other interests.

Jon Teitel: In 1984 you were named a McDonald's All-American. Which of your fellow high school seniors impressed you the most (Danny Manning, Chris Washburn, other)?

Charles D. Smith: Washburn; if he did not end up having so many off-court problems, he would have been a game-changing player. He had great size, he could bring the ball up the court, he was as fast as anyone else on the court, and was very aggressive.

JT: In 1985 you were named Big East Rookie of the Year. How were you able to come in as a freshman and contribute from the start?

CS: We were just trying to establish our school's prominence, and we had a good class that came in. We were able to come in and be impact players right away, as the offense was constructed to showcase our abilities.

1986 Goodwill Games

JT: You had a one-point win over Puerto Rico thanks to a late basket from David Robinson. Did you ever fear that you were going to lose or were you confident throughout the game?

CS: We took it game by game, but never thought we were going to lose. We had different guys step up at different times. Coach Lute Olson instilled so much confidence in me that I thought we could beat anybody.

JT: You scored 17 points in a four-point loss to Argentina. How did the international competition compare to the college guys you played against?

CS: The international guys were bigger and stronger, and everyone said we were outmatched despite the fact that the USA basketball team had always won the Goodwill Games in the past.

JT: You scored 18 points in a win over Canada. How did your team get back on track after the loss to Argentina?

CS: Robinson was in foul trouble, so Lute put me in at center. He told me to take jump shots from the top of the key because they played off me and left me open, so I did, and I made several of them.

JT: You had a nine-point win over Yugoslavia, who was led by future Hall of Famer Drazen Petrovic. Could you tell at the time that Drazen Petrovic was going to become a star?

CS: I did not know a lot about him at the time but the crowd was into it every time he touched he ball, as he was a powerful force. We did not pay much attention to any specific players during scouting, but just focused on the teams as a whole.

JT: You beat Brazil (who was led by legendary 5-time Olympian Oscar Schmidt) in the semifinals. Could you tell at the time that Oscar Schmidt was going to become a star?

CS: He was already a star at that point and a very emotional player. I saw him in the Pan Am Games the following year when he had 53 points in a game. Both Derrick McKey and I had to smother Schmidt, as we could not let him catch and shoot it.

JT: You scored 17 points in a two-point win over the USSR (legendary 5-time European Player of the Year Arvydas Sabonis had 16 points) in the gold medal game in Madrid. How was your team able to get it done?

CS: We were down by seventeen at the half, so we tried to come out in the 2nd half and get back in the game. We would start leaking out on the break when the USSR put up a shot, which helped us get right back in the game. The key to our comeback was a loose ball situation in the 2nd half when 5'3" Muggsy Bogues jumped over the 7'2" Sabonis and tipped the ball ahead to a teammate for a lay-up. We saw how hard Muggsy was working, so we all started playing harder.

JT: You had a roster full of players who were the best fantasy players from their respective schools (Sean Elliott, David Robinson, etc.). What are your favorite memories of that team?

CS: Most of my memories are with my teammates off the court: hanging out after practice, shopping, etc. We handled our business on the court even though nobody thought we would win. Even back then, we all kind of knew that Robinson would go on to greatness.

JT: In 1987 you said you were "80% sure" that you would turn pro, but you chose to return to school. Why were you going to turn pro, and why did you end up changing your mind?

CS: My academic advisor asked me what I was going to do, and when I told her I was thinking about going pro, she told me to come in and talk to her. We talked about the opportunity to graduate and enjoy my senior year. My major was Communications, and she said it made sense for me to get my degree; she was a deciding factor. It worked out well for me, as I was the 1st one in my family to graduate from college.

JT: In 1988 you were named Big East Player of the Year. What did it mean to you to win such an outstanding individual honor, and did it validate your decision to stay in school?

CS: I did not realize that I was the first unanimous Big East Player of the Year in a long time, which I thought was fantastic.

1988 Summer Olympics

JT: You scored two points in a six-point loss to the USSR (Arvydas Sabonis had 13 points and 13 rebounds after being sidelined for 18 months with an Achilles' heel injury) in the semifinals, the second-ever loss for Team USA in Olympic basketball competition. How crushing was that loss, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

CS: It was a very dark loss; a tough blow to stomach. We had lost Hersey Hawkins (our main outside threat) to a knee injury, so Dan Majerle became our key perimeter shooter.

JT: You scored 10 points against Australia to win the bronze medal. Did you consider your run in the Olympics to be a success (due to winning a bronze medal) or a failure (due to getting so close but not winning it all)?

CS: We all saw it as a failure but did not want to go out without a medal. Even after we won the game, no one celebrated.

JT: You had a roster full of players who were the best fantasy players from their respective schools (Stacey Augmon, Hersey Hawkins, Danny Manning, David Robinson, etc.). Do you think you lost to the USSR with all that talent due to coaching, or officiating, or the fact that Team USA eventually had to lose a game in the Olympics?

CS: The USSR was just a good team; they had three guys who either played or could have played in the NBA.

JT: What was it like playing with a teammate with the same name (Charles E Smith IV, who was named Big East Player of the Year the following year [at Georgetown])?

CS: It was tough for me all through college, as people would confuse me with him and think I went to Georgetown.

JT: In the summer of 1988 you were drafted third overall by Philadelphia (2 spots ahead of your Olympic teammate Mitch Richmond), but then immediately traded to the Clippers for Olympic teammate Hersey Hawkins. Were you thrilled to get drafted so high or stunned to get traded the same night?

CS: I was excited to go to Philly and play with Charles Barkley, but I was too young to understand the business of the NBA. The Clippers already had a young big man in Danny Manning, so I was not thrilled about the trade.

JT: You averaged 14.4 ppg and 1.4 bpg during your nine-year NBA career. Was there any specific highlight or proudest moment?

CS: I remember a string of 30-point games I had with the Clippers that was pretty good.

JT: In 1989 you founded the Charles D. Smith Foundation and Educational Center. How long had you wanted to make this dream come true, and what has it accomplished?

CS: It was not a lifelong dream, but people from my hometown of Bridgeport often called me to help underprivileged kids or give talks, so I bought a building where kids could come and find a safe place.

JT: In 1990 you scored a career-high 52 points (17-27 FG, 18-21 FT) in 37 minutes in a win over Denver. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone", and where does that rank among your career highlights?

CS: Nobody told me that I had tied the franchise record for points in a game with four minutes left in the game; otherwise I would have scored a lot more. It was a case of just making the right decisions: I was driving to the basket and shooting jump shots and making free throws.

JT: In 1993 you missed four straight point-blank shots for New York in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Chicago. Do you feel you could have done anything differently, and where does that rank among your career lowlights?

CS: You win a lot of games and lose a lot of games. That play ranks as one of the lowlights of my career, but I could not have done anything different. I gained some measure of satisfaction by playing well in Game 6 in Chicago (14 points), which helped a lot. Someone compared it to Kirk Gibson's famous homer in the 1988 World Series (it came in Game 1, but the media made it sound like it clinched the entire series). It was a tough loss, but I was able to bounce back.

JT: In 1994 you made the NBA Finals with New York, and had 10 points in a six-point loss to Houston in Game 7. Did you consider your playoff run a success (due to making the finals) or a failure (due to getting so close but not winning it all)?

CS: That was a lowlight too, as we worked really hard to get there and just came up short.

JT: In 1997 you retired due to knee injuries. Did you feel frustrated that you could not go out on your own terms, or satisfied that you had a nice long career?

CS: No one is satisfied when they are getting pushed out of the game: it is just a dark reality for professional athletes.

JT: After retiring from the NBA you ran a software company for 6 years and are currently getting your MBA at Seton Hall. Why did you go into the software business, and what do you want to do with your management degree?

CS: I went into software because I was being mentored by several executives who worked in technology, so I learned from some of the best. Technology becomes obsolete every 6-12 months, so I was able to become an expert in a lot of areas dealing with content and had a lot of success. I intend to use my MBA to create value for myself and make myself marketable to employers.

JT: You were recently elected executive director of the National Basketball Retired Players Association. What do you do in this role, and why did you want the job?

CS: I was on the board when the prior executive director was being removed, and some of my fellow board members asked me to put my hat in the ring. My role is to just run the organization to create opportunities and endorsements for retired players, and help their transition from the basketball court to the real world.

BIG EAST "Fantasy Picks"

Cincinnati: Oscar Robertson (1960) 2,973 pts (#1), 1,338 reb (#1), 425 ast (#3), 53.5 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American, 3-time national POY

Connecticut: Richard Hamilton (1999) 2,036 PTS (#2), 82.6 FT% (#3), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY, NCAA MOP

DePaul: George Mikan (1946) 1,870 PTS (#4), 3-time All-American, 2-time national POY, NIT MVP

Georgetown: Patrick Ewing (1985) 2,184 PTS (#2), 1,316 REB (#1), 493 BLK (#1), 62 FG% (#2), 3-time All-American, national POY, NCAA MOP

Louisville: Darrell Griffith (1980) 2,333 PTS (#1), 230 STL (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY, national POY, NCAA MOP

Marquette: Butch Lee (1978) 1,735 PTS (#2), 84.8 FT% (#2), 2-time All-American, national POY, NCAA MOP

Notre Dame: Luke Harangody (2010) 2,476 PTS (#2), 1,222 REB (#2), 3-time All-American, conference POY

Pittsburgh: Charles Smith (1988) 2,045 PTS (#1), 987 REB (#2), 346 BLK (#1), 2-time All-American, conference POY

Providence: Marvin Barnes (1974) 1,839 PTS (#5), 1592 REB (#1), 363 BLK (#1), 2-time All-American

Rutgers: Phil Sellers (1976) 2,399 PTS (#1), 1,111 REB (#1), 2-time All-American

Seton Hall: Nick Werkman (1964) 2,273 PTS (#2), 1,036 REB (#4), 2-time All-American

South Florida: Charlie Bradley (1985) 2,319 PTS (#1), 80.7 FT% (#4), conference POY

St. John's: Chris Mullin (1985) 2,440 PTS (#2), 449 AST (#4), 213 STL (#3), 84.7 FT% (#1), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY, national POY

Syracuse: Derrick Coleman (1990) 2,143 PTS (#2), 1,537 REB (#1), 319 BLK (#3), 2-time All-American, conference POY, national POY

Villanova: Howard Porter (1971) 2,026 PTS (#5), 1,325 REB (#1), 3-time All-American

West Virginia: Jerry West (1960) 2,309 PTS (#1), 1,240 REB (#1), 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY

Jon Teitel's Interview Series: ETSU Legend Keith "Mister" Jennings

Jon Teitel — Mon, 10 May 2010 01:25:49 -0400

Recently, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with East Tennessee State legend Keith "Mister" Jennings, one of the greatest players in school history. Jennings still ranks in the top four in six major statistical categories and nearly led the Bucs to an improbable upset of top seed Oklahoma in the first round of the 1989 NCAA Tournament. In the first of three straight trips to the Big Dance, the Bucs fell 72-71, one of only a handful of one-point losses for sixteen seeds.

Jon Teitel: How did you get the nickname "Mister", and do you like it?

Keith "Mister" Jennings: My dad started calling me that around age 6, and it just stuck, so everyone in my hometown calls me that. My teammates were going to call me Keith when I joined the team, because they did not want to call a freshman "Mister", but they came around after a week or so.

JT: Why did you decide to go to ETSU?

KJ: They were they only program that really offered me a full scholarship. VMI showed some interest, but I was not into the military. I am a competitor, so I wanted to display my skills against the best, which was D-1.

JT: You were named an All-American despite being only 5'7". How were you able to succeed despite being at such a height disadvantage on the court?

KJ: I always felt that I played bigger than I was: I always said I was 5'8", but people said it sounded better if I was listed as 5'7"! I did not feel like the smallest guy on the court. I always played against my brothers growing up who were similar in height to me. I never looked at it as a disadvantage: I actually felt it was easier for me to play against bigger guys, because I played inside and did not mind trying to battle for a rebound.

JT: What are your memories of the 1989 NCAA Tourney (you scored eight points and had seven assists but fouled out in a one-point loss to Oklahoma in Nashville, which almost became the 1st-ever upset by a #16-seed over a #1-seed; Stacey King had 28 points and 10 rebounds)?

KJ: When I look back on all my defeats that one sticks with me more than any other loss. I assume that most of the other players you talk to remember their losses more than their wins. We were a young team that did not fully understand how to win, but we gave it our all. We won our conference tourney, which was really special. It was the 1st time that I ever got a ring, after watching guys on TV get rings and cut down the nets, so that was important to me.

JT: What are your memories of the 1990 NCAA tourney (you scored a team-high 17 points and made a tourney-school record 5 three points in a loss to Georgia Tech. Dennis Scott had 36 points on 14-22 FG)?

KJ: It seemed like Scott had at least 20 points in the 1st half. We felt that we were seeded badly. Mid-major teams now are getting higher rankings, but even though we had a record of 27-6, we felt kind of shafted because we ended up as a #13-seed. We felt we had a good chance playing in Knoxville, but the ACC was a great conference, and Georgia Tech was stacked (Kenny Anderson, Brian Oliver, etc.). We could not run with them but we were the type of team that kept on fighting. We felt that the following year would be our best chance to make a splash.

JT: In 1991 you scored a career-high 37 points vs. Marshall. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?

KJ: Our other main shooters that night were something like a combined 2-for-22 from three-point range so I just tried to take over. We were ranked in the top-20 at the time, and just tried to keep moving up the list. It was a high-scoring game; the ball felt good when it left my hand and I had a lot of steals that led to easy lay-ups.

JT: What are your memories of the 1991 NCAA tourney (you scored 11 points and had a school tournament record 13 assists in a three-point loss to Iowa. Acie Earl had 18 points)?

KJ: That was one of the toughest losses for me, as it was my last game as a senior. We were 28-4, but got screwed as a ten-seed and got shipped out to Minneapolis. I had plenty of opportunities and did not make any turnovers, but I shot 4-of-13 from the field. I remember that we were missing two of our best players at the time; we never went into the tourney full-blast with a healthy team except in 1989.

JT: In 1991 you set a school and conference record with 301 assists in a single season. How were you able to balance your scoring and defense with your passing abilities?

KJ: I do not think a lot of people realized that I was a high-percentage shooter: I always tried to shoot 50% or above. When you play with other guys who can hit threes or catch alley-oops, then it is just a matter of "pick your poison". We had great chemistry, so nobody cared who got the press; we were a real unselfish team in a great situation who put winning above everything else. It was just a fun time: when I go back to campus, there are lots of people who still talk about that team as one of the best.

JT: In 1991 you also led all of Division I in three-point percentage by shooting 59% from behind the arc. How big a weapon was the three-point shot in your offensive arsenal, and what is your secret for three-point shooting?

KJ: There is no big secret: it is just a matter of repetition, hard work, etc. We did not have a three-point line in high school (it came into existence soon after I graduated). I would just wake up every morning and go shoot while my younger brother rebounded for me. Obviously, you also need to have good balance, a lot of confidence, etc. I never felt like I struggled with my shot, but I also did not take a lot of bad shots. If you want your team to win, you have to make shots. When you shoot a wide-open shot, it is very different than shooting with a hand in your face.

JT: You still rank fourth on the all-time list for career assists with 983. Do you feel that you were one of the best point guards in NCAA history?

KJ: When I look at the numbers I put up I think I have to be one of the best point guards who ever played, if you are looking for a complete point guard and going by the numbers. We won conference championships, and I like how my numbers stack up with anyone's.

JT: From 1992-1995 you played three years for Golden State, averaging 6 ppg and 3.7 apg. How satisfied are you with your career, and how do you want people to remember you on the court?

KJ: I cannot say that I was real satisfied, but it was a dream that came true. People always said I was too small, from high school through college and the pros. I actually got cut the first time I tried out for the NBA but God blessed me with a 2nd opportunity. Playing behind Tim Hardaway was a blessing but you do not get a chance to make a mistake with Tim on the bench. I also learned a lot from Coach Don Nelson. I felt that I could have been an NBA journeyman, but I just wanted to play, and did not get a lot of opportunities in the NBA.

JT: In 1995 you were picked by Toronto in the expansion draft but you never played for them. Why did they take you if they did not want you to play for them?

KJ: Things just did not work out contract-wise. Toronto GM Isiah Thomas called me right before the expansion draft to say that they would take me with the 4th pick. I was an All-American coming out of college so I was surprised to not get drafted originally. When Toronto took Damon Stoudamire in the real draft, they also took BJ Tyler in the expansion draft so I was stuck behind 2 other point guards.

JT: You spent the next decade playing professionally overseas. What did you learn from this experience and how did it compare to the NBA?

KJ: I just love getting on the court and showing my skills and helping my team try to beat your team. I was making good money and playing 35 minutes a game overseas, so I was pretty happy. My first year in Germany after I was cut by the Pacers was huge, because I got paid to do something I loved and I was an All-Star. I took it seriously because I wanted another chance in the NBA. We took a 2-week tour to play teams in California, and Golden State invited me in for a tryout. After getting cut by Toronto I had an opportunity to play in Spain and I was an All-Star and won a couple of three-point contests. The Spanish guys were not ready for a small/quick guy who could shoot the ball. It was nice to see the world by playing basketball. I was always a pass-first point guard, but European teams required their point guards to score; I just wish the NBA had been like that.

JT: From 2004-2007 you coached a boys' varsity basketball team at a private school in Virginia but said the job left you unfulfilled because your players were not motivated because they had an easy life. When trying to be a successful athlete, how does motivation compare to skill, effort, genetics, other?

KJ: I did not see the hunger from those high school kids that I had in myself growing up. When I go out now and recruit kids I look for 2 things: the hunger to be the best student/athlete you can be, and the toughness to win the test of wills. I do not care if you are 5-feet tall or 7-feet tall; you just have to try and stop your opponent without being scared.

JT: You currently are an assistant coach for the basketball team at Bluefield College. What is the main difference you have found in coaching high school players vs. college players and what do you hope to end up doing in the future?

KJ: I think college kids are getting more realistic about their chances of making it to the NBA from a small school, while high school kids are already thinking about the NBA. The college kids are not in awe of my status as an NBA veteran, but they respect me because they know I made it to the NBA. I want to be a head coach and run a program. Every coach I ever played for called me a coach out on the floor, and I got the most out of my teammates because I know how to talk to people.

ATLANTIC SUN "Fantasy Picks"

Belmont: Joe Behling (1990) 2,823 PTS (#1), 947 REB (#4), 142 BLK (#2), 3-time All-American, national POY

Campbell: Joe Spinks (1994) 1,711 PTS (#4), 954 REB (#2), 220 STL (#2), 155 BLK (#2), conference POY

East Tennessee State: Keith Jennings (1991) 1,988 PTS (#4), 983 AST (#1), 334 STL (#1), 223 3PM (#2), 49.3 3P% (#1), 86.1 FT% (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY

Florida Gulf Coast: Bryan Crislip (2005) 985 PTS (#3), 373 REB (#2), 606 AST (#1), 194 STL (#1)

Jacksonville: Ben Smith (2010) 1,971 PTS (#2), 515 AST (#1), 230 STL (#1), 220 3PM (#2)

Kennesaw State: Ronell Wooten (2008) 1,633 PTS (#2), 615 REB (#5), 262 3PM (#1)

Lipscomb: John Pierce (1994) 4,230 PTS (#1), 1,497 REB (#1), 4-time All-American, 2-time national POY

Mercer: James Florence (2010) 2,287 PTS (#1), 436 AST (#2), 222 STL (#1), 242 3PM (#1)

North Florida: Donny Lotz (2005) 1,412 PTS (#2), 660 REB (#2), 77 BLK (#2), 105 STL (#4)

South Carolina Upstate: Ulysses Hackett (1992) 2,688 PTS (#1), 908 REB (#2), 227 STL (#3), 67.1 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American, 2-time conference POY

Stetson: Kerry Blackshear (1996) 1,826 PTS (#1), conference POY

Q&A With Montana Guard Anthony Johnson

Jon Teitel — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 00:01:30 -0400

What goes through the mind of a player who's in "the zone"? CHN writer Jon Teitel had the opportunity to find out, talking to Montana star guard Anthony Johnson about his performance against Weber State among a variety of topics in advance of the Grizzlies' first round matchup with New Mexico.

Jon Teitel: Your halftime ritual/obsession is to rub lotion on your hands. How long have you been doing that, and why do you do that?
Anthony Johnson: I have been doing it for about 4 years now. It is just a superstition, but it helps me get adjusted to the game ball as it seems to stick to my hands better.

JT: Your mother raised you as a single parent, then you lived with your father for a couple of years during junior high school, then went back to live with your mother during high school. Was it hard to keep going back and forth like that, and what impact did it have on you?
AJ: It was not a hard adjustment at all; the hardest adjustment was living with my dad because we are so much alike. It was the first time that I had a father figure in the same house. I do not think it had that much of an effect on me, as I always had a great relationship with my mom.

JT: Your wife Shaunte Nance-Johnson plays guard for the Montana women's team. What is it like to be married while in college, and why did you both decide to go to Montana?
AJ: During the recruiting process I sold myself as a package deal along with my wife, and Montana was the only school that offered us both a scholarship. I had a great career at Yakima CC, but it was hard to find a school to take both of us.

JT: In 2005 you were washing dishes at a seafood restaurant trying to earn money to buy a car when the two of you started dating, and she ended up persuading the coach at Yakima CC to give you a tryout. How much of your success do you owe to your wife, and what has she taught you after her own trip to the NCAA tourney last year?
AJ: I owe everything to her; she got me my first opportunity to play and she believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I gave up the sport after high school, but was still playing at the YMCA and local rec center. She got my foot in the door, and then I ran with it. When I saw her win the conference title last year, it was a great experience for me, and it motivated our men's team for this year. That is also how it was at the junior college level. I learned from her about how to make a team work together and how to win games.

JT: Your coach Wayne Tinkle played 12 years of pro basketball. What makes him such a good coach on the court, and what is the most important lesson he has taught you off the court?
AJ: He is a player's coach; he knows what works and what does not. I am constantly studying him and have also become a student of the game. He is a role model both on and off the court: he has taught me to remain focused and consistent off the court.

JT: You shoot over 40% from the three-point line for your college career and almost 90% from the foul line. Which do you think is more important in the tourney, and what is your secret for being such a good shooter?
AJ: It is just hard work; shooters are made not born. I have learned how to be a great shooter, and had to make myself into a great shooter. The key for me in the tourney will be getting easy baskets. I have made it to the FT line a ton throughout my career, so I will just try to be aggressive from the start of the game.

JT: In 2009 you were named Big Sky newcomer of the year while averaging 18 PPG. How were you able to come in and contribute so quickly?
AJ: I have been fortunate to take a back seat and learn from other great players around me. Last year I was allowed to be in a system that was geared towards my kind of game, and I always remember to work hard and focus on our team's goal, which is to win.

JT: You scored a tourney-record 42 points and played all 40 minutes of the title game in a one-point win at Weber State, including a game-winning jumper with 10 seconds left to win the title. Was that the best game you have ever played, and do you think it will end up changing your life in the future?
AJ: I think it will change my life, and it is the best game I have played up to this point. I think it opened people's eyes, and also opened doors that I am not even aware of yet. I have had some high scoring games in my career, but not in a come-from-behind situation like that with so much at stake.

JT: Your team is a fourteen-seed who will play three-seed New Mexico. How do you like your chances against the Lobos, and what is your goal for the tourney?
AJ: My goal is to make it out of the first round. We are not satisfied with just winning the conference; we want to go out with our heads held high. I think...no, I know we can do it if we do not get behind early and do not turn the ball over.

JT: If you upset NM, then you will play either Marquette (where Coach Tinkle's father went to college) or Washington (who only beat you by four back in November). Is it easy to keep your focus on New Mexico, or do you see any signs of your coach or teammates looking ahead to a possible 2nd-round match-up?
AJ: We are completely in the moment. At tourney time it is "win or go home"; you cannot afford to stray from the task at hand and become unfocused. We are on a mission, and looking past New Mexico would be detrimental to that mission.

Q&A With Notre Dame Forward Tim Abromaitis

Jon Teitel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:37:50 -0400

CHN writer Jon Teitel recently spent some time talking with one of the most improved players in the Big East, Notre Dame forward Tim Abromaitis. Abromaitis and the rest of the Fighting Irish will take on Old Dominion on Thursday in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jon Teitel: Your older brother Jason played at Yale. What did he teach you about the sport, and who is the better player?
Tim Abromaitis: Since he is older, he was always beating me in 1-on-1. He taught me how to be competitive and have a good work ethic.

JT: Your father James played at Connecticut and then played pro ball for the New Jersey Nets. What was it like to grow up as the son of a pro athlete, and what is it like at home when Notre Dame plays against Connecticut?
TA: It was a real advantage. The games against Connecticut are fun for me because so many people back home are rooting for Connecticut, but some of them have started cheering for Notre Dame.

JT: You sat out all of last season to work on your game at Coach Mike Brey's suggestion, but came back this year to be named Honorable Mention All-Big East. How did you feel about redshirting, and how have you been able to make such a great comeback this season?
TA: It was a lot of hard work to be out: I tried to work every day to get better, and also took advantage of the free time.

JT: You have a 3.72 GPA, were named conference scholar-athlete of the year, and are also an Academic All-American. How important are academics in your life, and how does your intelligence help you on the court?
TA: I have always tried to put school first, as my parents taught me early on. I try to transition that into my game and be a smart player.

JT: You lead your team in both three-point and free throw shooting this year. Which do you think is more important in the tourney, and what is your secret for being a good shooter?
TA: There is no particular secret; I just try to be consistent, and have worked on it a lot.

JT: Luke Harangody recently became Notre Dame's first three-time First-Team All-Big East honoree. What is it like to play with Luke, and how was your team able to play so well after he got injured earlier this season?
TA: Luke is a great player, and we really missed him when he was gone, but we were able to build on our momentum and come together as a team.

JT: Ben Hansbrough scored 19 PTS in his last NCAA Tournament game (a 2008 loss to Memphis), and his brother Tyler won a title last year with UNC. What has the addition of Ben meant to your team, and has he shared any advice from his brother about what it takes to win it all?
TA: Ben doesn't really talk about Tyler a lot. He has been a great addition to our team, as he is a hard worker who brings it every day.

JT: Your team got a six-seed and has a first round game on Thursday against Old Dominion. How do you like your chances, and are you taking them even more seriously than you normally would knowing that they beat Georgetown back in December?
TA: We have a lot of respect for them. We have not finished scouting them yet, but we will take them very seriously.

JT: Your team won fourteen of its first seventeen games, then lost seven of its next ten, then won six in a row before losing to West Virginia by two in the Big East semifinals. Has the season been as much of a roller coaster as the results indicate, and how do you feel about your team's momentum going into the tourney?
TA: There were definitely some ups and downs, but we got rolling by the end of the season, and it has been a lot of fun over the past few weeks.

JT: Coach Brey's birthday is on March 22nd; is team going to get him anything special for his birthday?
TA: I think we will just get him a $5 foot-long sub or something.

Q&A With Lehigh Point Guard Marquis Hall

Jon Teitel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:22:58 -0400

Next up in Jon Teitel's interview series is Lehigh point guard Marquis Hall, the man whose responsibility is to get the ball to stars C.J. McCollum and Zahir Carrington. First up for the Patriot League champion Mountain Hawks: none other than top-ranked Kansas.

Jon Teitel: You had a 4.0 GPA in high school, were named class valedictorian as a senior, and just earned your 2nd-straight conference scholar-athlete of the year award. What value do you place on academics, and how does your intelligence help you on the court?
Marquis Hall: Academics are very important to me because your education is something that no one can take from you and what helps you be successful in life. I think this helps me on the court because it allows me to pick up on things that other teams may be doing making the game a little easier.

JT: You grew up in Portland, OR. How did you end up deciding to go to Lehigh?
MH: On my visit to Lehigh, the academics and the people here really made a large impression on me. I knew that this was a school that really wanted me in their program and I felt like I fit in well with the team.

JT: In 2007 you were named Lehigh's 1st-ever conference Rookie of the Year. How were you able to come in and contribute as a freshman, and how were you able to have such an easy transition from high school to college?
MH: As a freshman, I had a great group of seniors around me that really helped show me the ins and outs of what college basketball was about, which helped my transition. Other than that it was just hard work and dedication to being the best player I could be and help the team.

JT: Early in your sophomore year you hit 2 game-winning shots in a four-day stretch vs. St. Peters and St. Francis. How are you able to be such a clutch player, and where does that rank among the best weeks of your life?
MH: I think that it just comes with hard work and wanting the ball in those types of situations. Every day that you are in the gym, you are preparing for those kinds of situations, and I was just fortunate enough to capitalize. I did not realize that I had actually done that until just now by reading the question, so I would have to say that it was 1 of my better weeks, but definitely not the best: after winning the Patriot League tournament, this week is now the best.

JT: You are team captain. How proud are you to be captain, and what makes you such a good leader?
MH: I am very proud to be a captain, and happy that my team trusts me with that type of responsibility. In terms of leadership, I just try to lead by example. I am not perfect, but I just try to make sure that I do what I expect out of others.

JT: Your coach Brett Reed is one of only three D-1 men's basketball head coaches to have a PhD. Is it intimidating to have a coach who is so smart, and what are the most important lessons he has taught you about life/basketball?
MH: It is not intimidating because most of the time we are talking basketball with Coach Reed, which is something that we all understand. Coach Reed has taught me to stand up for the things that I believe in, no matter what they are. If you believe in them, they are worth fighting for.

JT: You are the only Patriot League player with 1,500+ PTS and 500+ AST. How are you able to balance your scoring and passing so well to help your team succeed?
MH: I just try to go out every night and do what the team needs me to do in order to win. If that is scoring, then I will try and provide that; if its passing, then I will try and do that as well.

JT: You earned a spot in the NCAA tourney this year after being knocked out in the 1st round of the conference tourney by Army in each of your first three years. What did it mean to you to finally win the conference title, and was it extra-special to beat Army in this year's conference tourney?
MH: It meant everything to me to be able to win it this year with my team and group of seniors. Winning a Patriot League championship was what we all came here to do, and we are very happy to be able to have accomplished that. Beating Army in the 1st round was a good moment for us, but if we would not have won the tournament then it would not have meant anything.

JT: You finished your career with most assists in school history. Do you realize how prolific a player you have become, or do you think it will not set in until you look back on it in the future?
MH: I do not think that it will set in until sometime in the future. Right now I am just trying to stay focused on the season and our team's success.

JT: How do you like your chances against one-seed Kansas, and what is your main goal for the tourney?
MH: We know that playing Kansas will be a challenge, as they have been the #1 team in the country pretty much all year, but we are excited to play them. Our main goal is to come out and play hard and leave everything out on the court.

Q&A With Lehigh Head Coach Brett Reed

Jon Teitel — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:08:24 -0400

In the latest installment of his interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Lehigh head coach Brett Reed, whose Patriot League champion squad will take on top overall seed Kansas in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Jon Teitel: You began your collegiate coaching career at Oakland CC where you were an assistant for your father Lynn (who won the National Junior College championship in 1987). What role has your father had on your coaching life, and what role has he had on your non-coaching life?

Brett Reed: Both of my parents have been a tremendous influence on my life. It was special to watch my dad coach and get to play with his players and coach alongside him. He helped me build by coaching philosophy, and helped me understand what he did and (more importantly) why he did it.

JT: You were an assistant at Lehigh for 5 years before being named coach in 2007 at age 35. What did you learn from your predecessor Billy Taylor, and what did it mean to you to become head coach at a relatively young age?

BR: Having the opportunity to learn from Coach Taylor and others was very helpful, as he was a great mentor. I also coached under Fran McCaffery (now at Siena). Both of them had a big impact on me and gave me tremendous resources to draw from. I knew there would be challenges when becoming a head coach, but I was eager for a chance to work directly with the players who I had recruited and helped develop. Making the transition to head coach was easier due to my familiarity with the university and the players.

JT: In 2004 you were an assistant on the Lehigh team that won the conference title and lost the NCAA play-in game to FAMU. How does this year's title compare to that title, and what did you learn from that year's NCAA tourney that will help you in this year's tourney?

BR: Winning in 2004 was special: when I came to Lehigh the program was at a relatively low point, but we were quickly able to turn that around. Getting to see the players perform to the best of their abilities was a special moment. I felt it is important for us to live in the moment in 2010, just as we did in 2004. We are excited to be in the tourney and have the chance to compete, but our combination of character and talent gives us an opportunity to win.

JT: You are 1 of only 3 D-1 men's basketball head coaches to have a PhD. Did you ever think about going into something besides coaching, and how does your PhD help you on the sideline?

BR: With my father being a coach, the thrill of coaching and desire to impact the lives of student-athletes was ingrained in me from a young age. I had a desire to be a college coach, but I thought about perhaps having my own business and just coaching on the side. My PhD is in instructional technology, and I have taken many of the theories that I was exposed to and used them to improve my skills as a coach and help me get our younger guys to play to the best of their potential.

JT: Senior PG Marquis Hall is Lehigh's 1st-ever Patriot League Men's Basketball Scholar Athlete of the Year. Is he the smartest player you have ever coached, and what role does his intelligence play on the court?

BR: We have been blessed with a multitude of individuals who have done extremely well in the classroom. Marquis has put himself in elite company with his combination of points/assists, and it is very comforting to have him as an extension of me on the court. He has an excellent basketball IQ, is able to remain calm in pressure situations, and has a great disposition.

JT: Senior PF Zahir Carrington is Lehigh's 1st All-District selection since the 1980s. Is he the best player you have ever coached, and how do you think he will do if he follows through on his plan to attend law school?

BR: Zahir is athletic and talented, and it has been a pleasure to coach him due to his great personal character. He took a leadership role within our program, and relished the opportunity to be a positive outreach member to the community. We have had some great players during my time here, and he is amongst the best we have ever had.

JT: Freshman PG CJ McCollum led your team in scoring this season, and was the 1st player to ever be named conference POY and ROY in the same season. How has he been able to play so well as a freshman, and do you think he will be able to maintain his focus as a freshman during the tourney?

BR: CJ is very smooth, with a soft touch on his jump shot. His recognition as POY and ROY is well-deserved due to his continued improvement throughout the season. He got better in conference play, whereas most freshmen get run down during the middle of their 1st year. A unique factor for his success was that his older teammates were very accepting of his skills and allowed him to get opportunities to show off those skills. CJ has been comfortable with his own abilities, so I have no reason to think he will not continue to perform in the tourney.

JT: You only have one player over 6'9". Do you think you will be able to compete against a tourney team that has a big man inside?

BR: Size is always a consideration for coaches facing such a challenge. Although we cannot match the size of some bigger teams, I look to the book "The Smart Take from the Strong" by former Princeton coach Pete Carril, and we will have a great deal of passion/heart on our side.

JT: You lost to a couple of good tourney-caliber teams earlier this year (Dayton/Richmond). What did you learn from those losses that you think will help you in the tourney?

BR: It gave us the chance to experience the atmosphere of playing in tourney-type venues against tourney-type players. I think it helped us understand that we have to be efficient on offense/defense and limit our mistakes. It also helped us appreciate the value of stopping runs by our opponents. You have to be together and disciplined, and you cannot compromise your confidence/eagerness.

Q&A with Minnesota Great Mychal Thompson

Jon Teitel — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 11:33:14 -0500

In the latest installement of his interview series CHN's Jon Teitel interviewed Mychal Thompson, who is widely regarded as one of the best players in the history of the University of Minnesota program. Thompson also won a pair of NBA titles with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Jon Teitel: You were born in the Bahamas, moved to Miami during high school, and decided to attend college at Minnesota. How did you first get into the sport of basketball while everyone around you was playing soccer, and how did you survive the move north for college?

Mychal Thompson: I out-grew soccer, which was a childhood love of mine. I was a rare tall kid in the Bahamas (6'9"); I am not sure how that happened. Everyone said I should try basketball, so I just made the transition. I did not survive the move to Minnesota, as I am still trying to thaw out.

JT: You were nicknamed "Sweet Bells". Who gave you the nickname, and did you like it?

MT: My high school teammates gave me the nickname. They used to tease me because I was not as good as Wilt or Kareem, so they called me "Bells" after Walt Bellamy, and later on after they saw some of my moves it became "Sweet Bells".

JT: In 1976 you had a triple-double against Ohio Dtate (34 PTS/12 REB/school-record 12 BLK). Was defense always a key part of your game and does that night stand out in your mind as your best all-around game ever?

MT: I loved playing defense in the post and taking on the challenge of inside scorers: it was a goal of mine every game. I tell my sons about that game against OSU because everything was just clicking that night. It is hard to get a triple-double with blocks: most guys do it with assists.

JT: After numerous court appearances during your junior year, the NCAA suspended you for 7 games in your senior year for selling your season tickets for more than face value even though you claimed that you did not know about the rule and your school claimed that the rule was void due to its vague wording. Did you feel that the suspension was unfair, and how close did you come to turning pro a year early to avoid the suspension?

MT: I did not know the rule, but ignorance is no excuse, so it was my fault. I considered going pro early, but it had nothing to do with the suspension. I just did not want to go to another cold climate in Buffalo (who might have taken me)!

JT: You finished your college career as the all-time leading scorer in school history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?

MT: You do not realize it while you are going through it, but you do reflect on it afterwards. People were saying nice things about me at the time, but it would be a bigger deal now with so much coverage on the Internet/blogs: I did not go home and read articles about myself after every game.

JT: In the summer of 1978 you were drafted #1 overall by Portland (5 spots ahead of Larry Bird), which was the 1st-time that a foreign-born player had been the top pick. How excited were you to be picked #1 and how excited were you to go to Portland only one year removed from them winning the NBA title?

MT: It was a great honor to be in such a special fraternity, but there is also lot of pressure to live up to. We did not have as much draft coverage as there is today, but I knew I was in uncharted territory coming from the Bahamas. Portland was perfect for me because I had never been to that part of the country before and it was nice to see what life was like out west. With the existing nucleus of Bill Walton/Maruice Lucas/Lionel Hollins, I thought we might win a couple of titles.

JT: You missed the entire 1979-1980 season due to injury. Were you worried that you were not going to be able to come back and play to the best of your abilities?

MT: I was not worried about it: a lot of people prayed for me, and I just had to be patient and get the chance to become healthy.

JT: In the summer of 1986 you were traded to the Spurs, who then traded you to the Lakers several months later. Is it hard to separate the personal side from the business side of professional sports, and how did you feel about playing almost a decade in Portland and then getting traded twice in under a year?

MT: You have to understand that it is a business and you cannot take it personally. It was easier for me because I was single at the time: it would have been much harder if I had a wife and kids. I was sorry to leave Portland because I liked it there, but excited to go to a storied franchise like the Lakers.

1987 NBA Finals

JT: The Lakers brought you in that year to back-up one future Hall-of-Famer (Kareem Abdul-Jabaar) and defend another one (Celtics forward/fellow Gopher alum Kevin McHale). What was it like to back-up Kareem and what was the key to defending McHale?

MT: Being in a locker room with Kareem was such an honor. I was in awe because I had grown up watching him on TV, so I could not believe that I was playing and dressing next to him. I felt like I finally had made it to the big time despite already being an NBA veteran: it was a dream come true. The key to defending Kevin was beating him to his favorite spots and making him operate farther out from the basket, otherwise you were at his mercy down on the baseline.

JT: Several of the Celtics' Hall-of-Fame big men entered the series with various injuries (Kevin McHale had an ankle injury/stress fracture, Robert Parish had a severe ankle sprain, and Bill Walton was unable to play at all due to feet and back problems) after a hard-fought 7-game Eastern Conference Finals against Detroit. Did you or Kareem feel like you were going to have a big advantage because of that?

MT: I like the Karl Malone theory: if your uniform is on, then you are ready to play. We did not take anything for granted. Everyone is sore and beat up by the Finals, and I did not see any problems with their mobility out on the court.

JT: In the 2nd quarter of Game 2 Michael Cooper had a Finals-record 8 AST, and he also ended up with a playoff-record 6-of-7 3PT. Did you think you had the series in hand after winning each of the 1st 2 games by double-digits?

MT: You have to "hold service" as Coach Pat Riley used to call it. Guys like Coop always came through in the clutch.

JT: In Game 3 Boston got back in the series with a six-point win by making 17-21 FG in the 2nd quarter: was that the most impressive 12-minute stretch of basketball you have ever seen?

MT: They were a great team capable of doing anything in the Garden. You almost have to expect them to do something like that: the key is to just maintain your poise and confidence.

JT: Down by one at the end of Game 4, Magic Johnson drove into the key and made a legendary hook-shot over the outstretched arms of McHale/Parish to give the Lakers a one-point win. What do you remember about that play, and where does it rank among the best game-winners ever?

MT: It is definitely up there due to the circumstances. What a lot of people do not remember is that if Magic had missed the shot, then Kareem would have tipped it in anyway as he was underneath the basket all by himself. I felt that Magic would make the shot, as he probably made that hook shot 80-85% of the time.

JT: Kareem showed up for Game 6 with a shaved head, and your own contribution was a double-double off the bench (16 PTS/10 REB) to win the series. How were you able to play so well when it mattered the most, and what did it mean to you to win the title?

MT: It is a combination of believing in yourself, having great teammates around you, and preparing mentally/physically. I knew that Riley would give me plenty of minutes to put up decent numbers. Winning a championship is the reason you put on a uniform: it is the best feeling you can have in the profession. Individual awards are nice, but you play the game to get rings and be called a winner, which stays with you forever. It was extra-special to win it on a historic team like the Lakers.

JT: During the championship parade Lakers coach Pat Riley promised the crowd that your team would repeat the following season (which nobody had done in 2 decades). What did you think of his promise, and did you have a target on your back for the next 12 months?

MT: Every champion has a target on its back, as people want to knock you off your pedestal, but you still have to go out and prove that you are the best team. Riley's guarantee did not scare us: as long as everyone stayed healthy, we felt confident that we could win it all again.

1988 NBA Finals

JT: In Game 1 the Pistons beat your tired Lakers team (coming off back-to-back 7-game wins over Utah and Dallas) by eight thanks to Adrian Dantley scoring 34 PTS on 14-16 FG. Where does Dantley's performance rank among the best shooting displays you have ever seen, and how big a dagger was Isiah Thomas' steal/half-court shot to beat the halftime buzzer?

MT: Dantley was not a flashy player, but he knew how to get the ball in the basket with high-percentage shots. He was a tough guy to guard despite not being super-quick. Isiah is one of the best clutch players in the history of the game, so you almost expect a Hall-of-Famer to make that shot.

JT: In Game 5 (the final game at the Pontiac Silverdome) the Lakers scored 12 straight points to start the game, but the Pistons rallied in front of a crowd of 41,000 to get a ten-point win and take a 3-2 series lead. Do you remember about the crowd having a big impact by standing and waving towels, and did you feel like your team could still win two in a row to capture the series?

MT: The crowd was very loud and very supportive, but we still had confidence going back home.

JT: Game 6 featured Isiah scoring 43 PTS (including a Finals-record 25 PTS in the 3rd quarter on 11-13 FG after stepping on Michael Cooper's foot and spraining his ankle), but Kareem made two free throws after Bill Laimbeer was whistled for a controversial foul in the final seconds to give the Lakers a one-point win. What do you remember about Isiah's performance, and did you think that Laimbeer committed a foul?

MT: That was one for the ages. For Isiah to do that on a sore ankle, it was just a case of mind over matter. As far as Laimbeer, only Kareem could draw that foul. It was a touch foul, but legends like Kareem get preferential calls.

JT: Isiah only played a few minutes in the 2nd half of Game 7 due to his ankle, but no foul was called when Magic knocked him the ground with two seconds left as the home crowd had already started to storm the court. Do you think the refs should have called a foul, and do you think you would have won if Isiah was healthy?

MT: I always wondered if referee Jake O'Donnell was going to blow the whistle. Maybe Isiah would have still done his thing if healthy, but when you have two legends vs. one (Magic/Kareem vs. Isiah), two beats one.

JT: You won back-to-back titles thanks to Final MVP James Worthy's Game 7 triple-double (36 PTS/16 REB/10 AST). Which title was sweeter, and which was harder to win?

MT: They were both sweet, but Celtics-Lakers is the ultimate rivalry and we owed them. Even though the Boston did not go 7 games, it was hard to beat the greatest front line in history, and hard to overcome the mental block we had against the Celtics.

1989 NBA Finals

JT: You swept all three of your playoff series that year leading up to the finals. Did you feel that you were unstoppable or were you worried that the Pistons were out for revenge after losing to you the previous year?

MT: We were 11-0 but knew it would not be easy against Detroit. We felt that we were going to 3-peat, but fate got in the way due to injuries to Byron (Scott) and Magic.

JT: Down by two in the final seconds of Game 2 Worthy was fouled and had a chance to tie it up, but he missed 1 of 2 FT and you ended up losing by 3 points. Did you think he was going to make them both, and even if he had did you think you could win in OT with Byron Scott and Magic out with hamstring injuries?

MT: Of course I thought he was going to make them both (that is why they call him Big Game James!), so we were shocked. Even if we had won Game 2, we knew the odds were up against us, but we were not going to quit.

JT: In Game 3 Finals MVP Joe Dumars scored 31 PTS (including 17 in a row during the 3rd quarter), blocked David Rivers' three-point try in the corner in the final second, and then saved the ball from going out of bounds to seal the win. What was the deal with yet another guy having the quarter of his life in the Finals, and did you think Rivers was going to make the shot?

MT: I thought Rivers had a good look, but Dumars made a great play. When you are an NBA-caliber player you can go off like that, and when a guy is hot you ride him.

JT: The Pistons finished off the sweep with an eight-point win in Game 4, and he Pistons all came out on the floor towards the end to join in the applause for Kareem (who announced his retirement after being in the NBA for 20 years). What was it like to play with such a legend, and did your team feel bad that he ended his career by getting swept?

MT: We felt bad that we could not get Kareem a title, but would have felt worse if we had lost the series with a full set of healthy guys. It was nice for everyone to pay homage to Kareem: he was arguably the greatest player ever (from high school through college and the pros), and he taught me a lot.

JT: You averaged 13.7 PPG and 7.4 RPG during your 12-year NBA career: how satisfied are you with your career, and do you have any regrets?

MT: I was okay, but I regret the two NBA Finals I lost. People think you are being greedy, but I am thankful for the 2 Finals that I won. I just wonder what could have been. I am still proud of fact that I played as long as I did.

JT: You are one of eleven retired players with 2,000 career offensive rebounds, 1,000 blocks, and 50+FG% who are not currently in the Hall of Fame (Alonzo Mourning/Artis Gilmore/Buck Williams/Dale Davis/Dikembe Mutombo/Horace Grant/James Donaldson/Karl Malone/Larry Nance/Tree Rollins). How did you never make an All-Star team during your illustrious career, and how do you want people to remember you on the court?

MT: I had a chance to make a couple of All-Star teams, but the competition for the center position in the West (Moses, Artis, Issel, Kareem, Sikma, Alvan Adams) was just too deep. It is not like now where you almost have to go looking for a center: Kareem/Moses were automatic picks almost every year.

JT: You currently work as the Lakers radio color commentator, and also co-host a sports talk show on ESPN radio. How do you like the two jobs and which one is your favorite?

MT: They are both a lot of fun, but being around the Lakers and watching Kobe win titles is a thrill. I am blessed to be around the world's greatest athletes. They never cease to amaze me.

JT: Your family is starting to develop a very impressive athletic lineage (your son Mychel plays basketball at Pepperdine, your son Klay plays basketball at Washington State, and your son Trayce signed to play baseball for UCLA after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2009 MLB draft by the White Sox). Is it a coincidence that you had such an athletic family or do you credit at least some of your kids' success to genetics?

MT: Definitely genetics; they all take after their mom! Seriously, she played every sport in high school and college. I am sure that I did my part a little bit, but she played track/gymnastics/volleyball.

Jon's Big Ten Fantasy List

Illinois: Dee Brown (2006): 1812 PTS (#3), 674 AST (#2), 231 STL (#2), 299 3PM (#2), 2-time All-American, conference POY

Indiana: Calbert Cheaney (1993): 2613 PTS (#1), 55.9 FG% (#2), 3-time All-American, conference POY, national POY

Iowa: Roy Marble (1989): 2116 PTS (#1), 183 STL (#4), All-American

Michigan: Glen Rice (1989): 2442 PTS (#1), 56.9 FG% (#3), 48 3P% (#1), All-American, NCAA MOP

Michigan State: Scott Skiles (1986): 2145 PTS (#3), 645 AST (#2), 175 STL (#2), 85 FT% (#3), All-American, conference POY, national POY

Minnesota: Mychal Thompson (1978): 1992 PTS (#1), 956 REB (#1), 56.6 FG% (#2), 2-time All-American

Northwestern: Evan Eschmeyer (1999): 1805 PTS (#2), 995 REB (#1), 132 BLK (#2), 59.5 FG% (#1), All-American

Ohio State: Jerry Lucas (1962): 1990 PTS (#3), 1411 REB (#1), 62.4 FG% (#1), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY, 2-time national POY, 2-time NCAA MOP

Penn State: Jesse Arnelle (1955): 2138 PTS (#1), 1238 REB (#1), 3-time All-American

Purdue: Rick Mount (1970): 2323 PTS (#1), 84.3 FT% (#5), 3-time All-American

Wisconsin: Michael Finley (1995): 2147 PTS (#2), 371 AST (#3), 168 STL (#4), 213 3PM (#3), 3-time All-American

Q&A with Colorado Basketball Legend Cliff Meely

Jon Teitel — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 23:20:14 -0500

In the latest installment in his interview "series", CHN writer spent some time with University of Colorado great Cliff Meely, who was a two-time All-America and is currently the school's third all-time leading scorer.

Jon Teitel: You were heavily recruited out of high school until you suffered a knee injury in a playoff game and ended up in a cast for several months: how did you cope with the injury, and what effect did it have on your recruiting process?

Cliff Meely: It was tough; when you are used to playing and then have to sit, it is no fun at all. We were 1 of the teams favored to win the playoffs until I got injured, and it was easier to play than to just sit there and watch. I was leaning toward going to Kansas, but they kind of backed off from recruiting me after my injury, as did many other schools.

JT: In 1967 you played at Northeastern JC and were named an All-American. Were you simply a better player than most of the opponents you faced?

CM: It was my passion: since age 15 all I wanted to do was play basketball. I played against some great opponents like Spencer Haywood (1970 ABA MVP) and John Johnson (who was a 2-time NBA All-Star), but I just had an outstanding year on a great team.

JT: From 1968-1971 you were a 3-time All-Big 8 performer. How did you make the leap from junior college to the NCAA, and how were you able to continue to dominate throughout the rest of your college career?

CM: I just enjoyed playing and I tried to play all the time. Colorado and the players it had were just a great fit for me. My big advantage was all the playing experience I had, so when I got a B average at Northeastern JC and was able to follow my plan of transferring as a sophomore, it was an easy transition for me.

JT: What are your memories of the 1969 NCAA tourney (you had a Colorado tourney-record 32 PTS and 11 REB in an 8-point loss to Colorado State, and followed that up with 26 PTS in a win over Texas A&M in the consolation game)?

CM: It was good to get the record, but difficult to lose to our in-state rival. We lost 2 starters during that season to injury, which greatly affected us, and we just did not have enough to compete.

1970 World University Games

JT: You scored 10.6 PPG in 8 games for Team USA: what did you think about the competition you faced?

CM: It was difficult because it was my 1st time outside the US. I tried to focus on defending the best player on the other team, and I think playing against great competition led to me having a great senior year.

JT: One of your teammates was Jim McDaniels of Western Kentucky: how does he rank among all the teammates you have had?

CM: Jim was a great player: we became good friends after rooming together on the tour. Jim was great, but I played against some great guys in the Big 8, and one of our other players on Team USA was George McGinnis, so I have been fortunate to play with a lot of great teammates.

JT: Team USA lost to the USSR in the gold medal game by 7 points (its first-ever loss at the World University Games). Why was the USSR able to pull out the win, and what was the feeling like in your locker room afterwards?

CM: The Russians just slowed the game down and hit some big baskets at the end. It was very difficult for us because we had never lost to Russia in basketball. We were supposed to win it all and carry the torch for USA basketball, so we were dejected because we did not come that far to win the silver medal.

JT: The USSR was led by future FIBA Hall of Fame coach Vladimir Kondrashin, who two years later coached the USSR in its controversial gold medal win over Team USA in the 1972 Olympics. Are coaches very important in international competition, or is it primarily a matter of the talent out on the court?

CM: I felt that Kondrashin was 1 of the top coaches in the world, but I played for some great coaches in Italy as well. Talent is very important, and foreign coaches improved by having American players go abroad, as American basketball was the model.

JT: In 1971 you were moved into the post after playing on the perimeter for most of your college career and you ended the season with a school-record 28 PPG. Why did you switch positions, and why was it so easy for you to make such an adjustment (at least on the offensive end)?

CM: I played a little at center in high school, and at Colorado we lost our 7'2" center, so I just did what my team needed me to do. My experience really showed during my senior year: it was not necessarily easy, but I got it done.

JT: Your best game in 1971 was when you scored a school-record 47 PTS and has a career-high 25 REB vs. Oklahoma after scoring 43 PTS against them the previous month. Why did you have such great success against Oklahoma, and do those games stand out in your mind as some of your best performances?

CM: It was just 1 of those things where you match up well against certain teams, as I had many outstanding games against Oklahoma during my career.

JT: You finished your time at Colorado with a career 24.3 PPG (a school-record) and 12.1 RPG: did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?

CM: I did not really come to Colorado to score points: I came to win games. In the midst of doing that, I did not really think about it breaking records. Now that I look back on it, I think to myself 'Wow. Look what I accomplished during my career.' I just did what the team needed me to do to give us the best chance of winning.

JT: In the summer of 1971 you were drafted 7th overall by Houston (one spot behind "Downtown" Freddie Brown of Iowa), while also being a 1st round pick in the ABA draft: did you ever consider going to the ABA, or was your heart set on playing in the NBA?

CM: Fred is a good friend of mine. I considered playing in the ABA a little bit because it was different, but as a kid growing up I watched the NBA, so my dream was to go play against the NBA guys.

JT: Houston coach Tex Winter allegedly fined you for saying anything and told you not to shoot the ball: was it just a personality conflict, or was there real resentment due to the salary you received after a contract dispute with the team?

CM: Tex did not fine me for saying anything; people just wanted me to be quiet, but I continued to talk. It was not a personal conflict: I had some of my best years playing under Tex. They asked me not to shoot as much: I was the best defensive player on Houston, so they wanted me to focus on defending the best opponent. If I shot the ball too much on offense, they figured I was not concentrating on defense and they would take me out, which affected my confidence. It was difficult: I came out of college after scoring about 30 PPG as a senior, and then they told me not to shoot the ball! I had one of the highest contracts when I came into the league, so I felt there was a certain amount of resentment due to that.

JT: You averaged 8.4 PPG and 5.4 RPG during your 5-year NBA career, but were forced into early retirement due to some back problems. Did you feel fulfilled because you had reached the peak of your profession or devastated that you had to cut short your career due to injuries?

CM: I was devastated because I did not accomplish everything I wanted to do in pro ball. It took me years to recover because I did not do everything I was capable of doing. My stats were not bad, but I had high expectations.

JT: From 1976-1980, you played and coached professionally in Italy and France. What did you learn from the experience, and how did it compare to the NBA?

CM: It was great in Italy; I played with Willie Sojourner in the 2nd-division and we made it all the way to the Italian league title game before losing. Italy was one of the best leagues in the world after the NBA, so I played against a lot of college stars and NBA veterans. I would play outside the country during the week, and then play in Italy on the weekends: it was a great experience for me.

JT: In 1985 you were sentenced to 90 days in jail and three years probation for pleading guilty to selling one ounce of cocaine to an undercover officer. Was the incident a direct result of your parents' poor health and your own multiple divorces, and what life lessons did you learn?

CM: My divorces played a part, and it was difficult to play ball for so many years and then to be out of basketball. I tried to distract myself from my problems by using drugs and becoming an addict, and after getting caught they gave me treatment, classes, specialists, etc. My doctors taught me about the harm of drugs, and they were able to get me off of cocaine and get me going in the right direction. I felt like I was a failure but my doctors helped me understand that I had succeeded as a college graduate who had won numerous awards in basketball. It was a difficult transition to be out of basketball so the lesson I learned was that I was blessed and had to move on with my life. I put everything in the right perspective, got my Masters degree, and worked with young people in the community. I wanted to show everyone that it was just a mistake in my life.

JT: In 1989 you founded the Cliff Meely Youth Basketball Program in Boulder. Why did you so and what has the program accomplished?

CM: I went around to corporations to raise money. If kids only had a dollar, they could get into the program and we would subsidize it with scholarships and donations to non-profit program. I wanted to be involved with kids, but after a while my injuries were so great that I had to stop. It was very rewarding, and I would occasionally do camps for the YMCA. Due to an irregular heartbeat, I had to give up basketball, but I still swim and golf.

JT: In 1996 you received the NCAA Silver Anniversary Award and were also named to the Big 8 All-Time team. What do these honors mean to you and which one are you proudest of?

CM: I am proud of both honors. The NCAA award was due to work I did after my basketball career, so that was a great way of showing how I had been able to move beyond basketball. Back in my day the Big 8 was 1 of the top conferences in the country and produced a lot of great pros, so it was a great basketball honor to me. I still swell up at the thought of it, as there were so many great players who came before me and after me.

Jon's Big 12 "Fantasy" List

Baylor: Terry Teagle (1982): 2189 PTS (#1), REB (#4), 3-time All-American, conference POY

Colorado: Cliff Meely (1971): 1940 PTS (#3), 971 REB (#2), 123 BLK (#4), 2-time All-American, 2-time conference POY

Iowa State: Jeff Grayer (1988): 2502 PTS (#1), 910 REB (#4), 199 STL (#5), All-American

Kansas: Danny Manning (1988): 2951 PTS (#1), 1187 REB (#1), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY, national POY, NCAA MOP

Kansas State: Rolando Blackman (1981): 1844 PTS (#2), 314 AST (#4), 2-time All-American, conference POY

Missouri: Doug Smith (1991): 2184 PTS (#2), 1053 REB (#1), 178 STL (#3), 129 BLK (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY

Nebraska: Dave Hoppen (1986): 2167 PTS (#1), 773 REB (#4), 60 FG% (#2), All-American

Oklahoma: Wayman Tisdale (1985): 2661 PTS (#1), 1048 REB (#1), 57.8 FG% (#2), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY

Oklahoma State: Byron Houston (1992): 2379 PTS (#1), 1189 REB (#1), 222 BLK (#1), 159 STL (#4), All-American, conference POY

Texas: Travis Mays (1990): 2279 PTS (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY

Texas A&M: Bernard King (2003): 1990 PTS (#1), 232 3PM (#1), 550 AST (#2)

Texas Tech: Rick Bullock (1976): 2118 PTS (#3), 1057 REB (#3), 149 BLK (#2), 56.5 FG% (#2)