TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

We are very excited; we’ve been waiting since the last game we played against Central Michigan (in the MAC Tournament). We’re anxious to play, we’re anxious to get on the court against some opponents.

2. You scored a career-high 27 points in the final game of the season last year and you averaged over 20 points per game in the last four games. Does that strong finish give you any extra confidence or momentum headed into this season?

Yeah, it definitely does. That helped me a lot; it let me know that I’m on my game and that I am doing what I need to be doing. Now I just need to pick back up that intensity and everything should be fine.

3. You led the Bulls in steals last season and you are the second among returning players in the MAC in steals per game. Is the defensive stoppers role something that you enjoy?

Definitely. Ever since I was a little kid I was always told “defense, defense, defense.” In high school we did mostly just defensive stuff, our offense usually came from our defense so it’s been about defense my whole life and I love it.

4. With only two seniors on the team, the junior class will be looked at to carry a heavy load this season, how do you see your role now that you are an upperclassmen and a leader on this team?

I definitely feel like I have to take more of a leadership role. We’re a younger team, so there are a lot of guys coming in that don’t know the system so we’re helping them out there when they need some help. But it has been fun playing with them (the newcomers).

5. Turner Battle has joined the coaching staff this season. How do the players, in particular the guards, benefit from having someone on staff that was in your position of being a player just a couple of seasons ago?

So much, he’s played here; he’s been to the MAC Championship so he knows all the ins and outs of the MAC. So having Turner on the staff is really good, especially for the guards because he can tell us the little stuff that happened to him or whatever and we can us that in our own game to help us out even more.

6. With the graduation of two frontcourt players in Yassin Idbihi and Parnell Smith, the strength, or at least experience of this team is more on the perimeter than it was last season, does that change things?

It pretty much means that now we are a much faster team. We’re an up-tempo team, we’re looking to push it and our big men are looking to run this year. So hopefully that becomes of good thing for us.

7. What are your goals and expectations for this season, both for you individually and for the team?

Personally, I would like to be the MAC Defensive Player of the Year and hopefully First Team All-MAC too. As a team, it’s simple, were trying to get to the MAC Championship.

8. Besides at home in Alumni Arena, do you have a favorite place that you have played so far in your college career?

In the MAC Tournament, playing over in Cleveland (at Quicken Loans Arena). The gym is really nice and it’s cool to see the fans from every different school all together in one place. I love the atmosphere of the tournament.

9. Do you have a pre-game routine and, if so, what is it?

Sort of, but not really. I usually listen to Jay-Z, the Black Album CD. That used to be our warm-ups in high school and my high school team was really good so that helps me get into a good feeling going into a game and bring that feeling into Buffalo.

10. What has been your favorite moment as a student-athlete at UB?

My favorite moment was probably last year, playing against Pitt, the number two team in the country, in a packed arena with a big-time atmosphere. It was awesome.