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10 Questions Battier speaks about team, brother, stunt future
Posted: Wednesday February 16, 2000 05:24 PM
Shane Battier is one of the most versatile players in college basketball. He won last year's national defensive player of the year award and is a contender for this season's Wooden Award. Recently, CNNSI.com sat down with Battier for this edition of 10 Questions.
1. How much does last year's loss in the national championship game drive this team?It drives us a lot. Every day this summer, you wake up and you think about that sick feeling that you get from getting so close and not finishing the deal. I know for the veterans coming back, it was a huge motivating factor.
2. How long did it take you to get over the loss?I think the first day back (helped). With all of the new guys, it was a new year, a fresh start, we were able to move on and start preparing for this year's championship.
3. You guys started off 0-2 and you had so many new faces. Are you surprised that the team was able to play as well since then with all of the new players?Not really, because our guys are eager to learn and so eager to improve. So when you have such a coachable group and you pair that with one of the best teachers of this game ever (Mike Krzyzewski), you're going to be successful.
4. What was it like to win 31 straight ACC games?It just seemed like we won a lot of games in a row. What makes our team so good is our ability to focus on the game at hand and not get caught up in streaks. The most important fact now is that we're 1-0 (after beating Georgia Tech on Saturday) and we're 2-0 against Georgia Tech this season.
5. Duke blew a big lead in the North Carolina game and needed overtime to win it. Yet after the game, Chris Carawell said that was the best game in the history of the rivalry. How did you feel about that game?
You throw out the records and all you do is look at the history of the game. You know it's going to be a barnburner every time the Carolina Blue faces the Duke Blue. It was a great game played by two great teams.
6. You take a lot of charges. How does your back hold up?Pretty good. I think I've only been hurt once. I broke my elbow in high school taking a charge. I guess if things don't work out in basketball, I could be a stunt man learning how to fall.
7. What gives you more pride, offense or defense?I think shutting down my man defensively is part of the game I really enjoy. Defense is something you can control, night in and night out. Offensively, you're going to have bad nights, but defense is constant.
8. A lot of people that watch Duke on television say you look older than most of the guys out there. Do you feel that way or is that just because Mike Dunleavy Jr. looks so young?It feels like I've been here 20 years already. But I love it and I'm not in a hurry to leave.
9. After whom do you pattern your game?I really admire Grant Hill and what he's able to do. I think he's the most complete player in the league. I pride myself on trying to succeed in as many facets of the game as possible.
10. Your brother, Jeremy, is heading to Duke to play football and that program hasn't been as successful as the basketball program. What advice do you have for him?Coming from a successful high school program and being used to winning, I'd tell him just to take setbacks in stride instead of getting discouraged. There's going to be some bumpy roads early on. Use it as motivation and a means to improve yourself. In the end, it will really help you be a better person and player.
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