TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

This season, you have successfully shut down some of the best players in the Mid-American Conference, including Trevor Huffman and David Webber. What's your focus and mindset on defense?
It's team defense that's the key. Just because one guy is assigned to a player doesn't mean he deserves all the credit. It takes one or two other guys to help out in stopping him. The concept is team defense.

Talk about being rewarded with both team and personal success in your senior year as a member of the Bulls.
What can I say, it's great. I'm greedy, so I feel it could be better, but I'm having fun. It's a great group of guys. Winning is contagious, and you can see that with the guys on the floor. The past seasons I've been here, we've struggled to get wins. This year, that's changed in large part because we all work well together.

What's the major difference in this squad and the ones of past years?
The talent is here now. But it was before, too. The team's attitude is different now. There's also a lot more chemistry, and that has been a big reason for our success.

How much more comfortable are you in the role of shooting guard, now that Turner Battle handles the point?
It really doesn’t matter to me. I actually liked playing the point better. Going back to the two-guard wasn't really an adjustment. I don’t think anyone has a problem moving to a position called 'shooting guard.' But in all honesty, I'm a little more comfortable at the one-guard spot.

What would it mean to your team to host a first round MAC Tournament game?
It would mean a lot. Every team in the MAC plays well at home, and it's very hard to win on the road in this conference. To be at home would give us a great advantage. It would give us an excellent chance to advance to Cleveland.

Speak about the advancement of this program in the MAC over your time at UB.
For a while, we we're at the bottom of this conference. The only way to go was up. The time has come now where we are clearly making strides. There's still a long ways to go before this program can be tops in the MAC, but with some more time it will be there.

How important is the three-point shot to your team's offense at this point in the season?
Sometimes we shoot it well, but on other nights, the exact opposite is true. We don't rely on the three, but if the shot is there we aren't going to hesitate to take it. If they go down that's great, but if not we need to excel in other areas of our game to win.

After exploding for 19 points against Central Michigan, do you feel you're beginning to get your feel back on offense?
The opportunities were there so I took advantage of them. It's not about getting my rhythm back, it's just about continuing to play hard. That's when things will start to go my way. If not, there are others guys on this team that can score and pick up the slack.

What does it mean for you to complete your education at the University at Buffalo?
I've seen a lot of people come and go during my time here. Finishing my five years of schooling with two degrees is something I can be proud of. There have been some rough times, but I've stuck it out. I know that I did something that a lot of guys didn't stick around to do.

Is there any one memory in particular that sticks out for you?
There are so many, and that makes it hard to choose. When I think about it though, that day probably hasn't come yet. It will probably be the best moment for me when I walk across the stage at graduation.

-The '10 Questions with…' feature is compiled by Geoff Nason