Q&A with Khadeen Carrington
Q: I know you're a big James Harden fan, he's made a nice transition from the 2g to the point, what have you taken away from watching him make the switch?
A: I have definitely taken notes on what he did. I feel like he stayed aggressive on offense and it kind of opened it up for everybody else. I think that's the same approach I should take. Last year I feel like I kind of focused on being the typical point guard a little too much and it threw me off a little bit. I'm going to stay aggressive on offense.
Q: What role does this team's experience play heading into the season?
A: It helps a lot. We've see it all already. We've been brought the lows and now we're trying to go through the highs now. The last two years we did a good job of staying focused and we know we can do even more this year. This year is going to be the biggest year for us, it's our last year, it's our last chance.
Q: Being picked second in the coaches poll, teams are going to play you even tougher. How do you deal with that and how do you personally handle the notion that defenses are going to throw everything they have at you to disrupt your game and effect the rest of the team?
A: We have to keep our heads straight and stay focused like we have been in the past. I think that we've done a good job with that the past couple years and this year we have to keep the same mindset, play hard for each other, play hard for coach. I have to just be me and play my game and be prepared to handle whatever is thrown at me.
Q: Coming into the season with all of the success you guys have had the last two years with the Big East Championship and two NCAA appearances, what are the team's realistic goals or expectations without putting too much pressure on yourselves?
A: I don't feel like setting goals is putting pressure on ourselves. I think we have enough talent to make a deep run in the tournament. I feel like we have enough talent to win a Big East Championship. I'm not putting anyone down or anything, but we have the experience, we have the players, we have the depth to make a deep run.
Q: You guys have had the biggest crowds around you today, bigger than Xavier and Nova who are neck and heck with you guys in the coaches poll. What does that say about you guys as players, your personalities and as a team?
A: I think it just goes to show our hard work. Freshman year there was probably two people around our table, but I think that the hard work we put in has put us in this position. I talk to coach all the time and he says we put ourselves in this position amongst some of the best basketball players in college. Three 1,000 point scorers right here and it's because we worked for it and listened to coach.
Q: What was your summer like preparing for your final college year?
A: I tried to play a lot more. I tried to run up and down in pick up games to stay sharp. I put up a lot of shots and worked on my ball handling with Coach Sha. I went out to the west coach to work out a little bit, out to Phoenix with one of my trainers from New York. I just tried to change the scene a little bit. It's hot down there though, too hot.
Q: How did you react when Angel decided to come back for his senior year and you guys were going to get to do this all over again?
A: I was really excited. I mean, I've known Angel since day one when he first came to the country. It's exciting to finish out out senior year and get our degree together.
Q: How has Angel changed over the years?
A: He hasn't changed at all. His game has changed a lot though. When he first came he wasn't big and strong, he's put on a lot of muscle and built up his physicality. He's worked on that little short jump shot a lot, which he didn't have the last few years. He can pick and pop a little now or roll to the basket, adding that to his game, I think he can be unstoppable. It's going to help me get a lot more assists. On a serious note, it's going to help a lot more because defenses really focus on him. He gets doubled a lot in the post, that's where he gets a lot of his turnovers, even though he's an unselfish guy and looking to pass it out. That short little jump shot should open things up more.
Q: Do you feel any pressure being picked second or is it more excitement?
A: It's excitement. We don't really put pressure on ourselves.
Q: This team's been known for its edge and toughness and defense. How does this team approach those concepts and continue to build off that reputation to make it even more of a focal point to intimidate opponents?
A: I feel like experience the last three years helped us to this point. I think that our defense can be even better this year because our experience will allow us to know where to be or how to execute to get a couple more steals or get a couple more rebounds, which is the difference in a game.
Q: A lot of new players entering the fold this year, how are you helping the, acclimate and get the message across regarding the team's identity?
A: We talk to them everyday about it. A guy like Jordan Walker is asking questions everyday and he's trying to learn. We physically show them in practice. We want to stay in their ear because as a freshman you can get lost a little bit, I know it happened to me, I didn't really have guys to talk me through things. We all went through it ourselves really because we didn't have the older guys who really wanted to show us. We want to help the younger guys because we want the legacy to go on after we leave.
Q: Any games or players you're looking forward to playing against this year?
A: I circled every one. We will take it one game at a time.
Q: I know you're a big James Harden fan, he's made a nice transition from the 2g to the point, what have you taken away from watching him make the switch?
A: I have definitely taken notes on what he did. I feel like he stayed aggressive on offense and it kind of opened it up for everybody else. I think that's the same approach I should take. Last year I feel like I kind of focused on being the typical point guard a little too much and it threw me off a little bit. I'm going to stay aggressive on offense.
Q: What role does this team's experience play heading into the season?
A: It helps a lot. We've see it all already. We've been brought the lows and now we're trying to go through the highs now. The last two years we did a good job of staying focused and we know we can do even more this year. This year is going to be the biggest year for us, it's our last year, it's our last chance.
Q: Being picked second in the coaches poll, teams are going to play you even tougher. How do you deal with that and how do you personally handle the notion that defenses are going to throw everything they have at you to disrupt your game and effect the rest of the team?
A: We have to keep our heads straight and stay focused like we have been in the past. I think that we've done a good job with that the past couple years and this year we have to keep the same mindset, play hard for each other, play hard for coach. I have to just be me and play my game and be prepared to handle whatever is thrown at me.
Q: Coming into the season with all of the success you guys have had the last two years with the Big East Championship and two NCAA appearances, what are the team's realistic goals or expectations without putting too much pressure on yourselves?
A: I don't feel like setting goals is putting pressure on ourselves. I think we have enough talent to make a deep run in the tournament. I feel like we have enough talent to win a Big East Championship. I'm not putting anyone down or anything, but we have the experience, we have the players, we have the depth to make a deep run.
Q: You guys have had the biggest crowds around you today, bigger than Xavier and Nova who are neck and heck with you guys in the coaches poll. What does that say about you guys as players, your personalities and as a team?
A: I think it just goes to show our hard work. Freshman year there was probably two people around our table, but I think that the hard work we put in has put us in this position. I talk to coach all the time and he says we put ourselves in this position amongst some of the best basketball players in college. Three 1,000 point scorers right here and it's because we worked for it and listened to coach.
Q: What was your summer like preparing for your final college year?
A: I tried to play a lot more. I tried to run up and down in pick up games to stay sharp. I put up a lot of shots and worked on my ball handling with Coach Sha. I went out to the west coach to work out a little bit, out to Phoenix with one of my trainers from New York. I just tried to change the scene a little bit. It's hot down there though, too hot.
Q: How did you react when Angel decided to come back for his senior year and you guys were going to get to do this all over again?
A: I was really excited. I mean, I've known Angel since day one when he first came to the country. It's exciting to finish out out senior year and get our degree together.
Q: How has Angel changed over the years?
A: He hasn't changed at all. His game has changed a lot though. When he first came he wasn't big and strong, he's put on a lot of muscle and built up his physicality. He's worked on that little short jump shot a lot, which he didn't have the last few years. He can pick and pop a little now or roll to the basket, adding that to his game, I think he can be unstoppable. It's going to help me get a lot more assists. On a serious note, it's going to help a lot more because defenses really focus on him. He gets doubled a lot in the post, that's where he gets a lot of his turnovers, even though he's an unselfish guy and looking to pass it out. That short little jump shot should open things up more.
Q: Do you feel any pressure being picked second or is it more excitement?
A: It's excitement. We don't really put pressure on ourselves.
Q: This team's been known for its edge and toughness and defense. How does this team approach those concepts and continue to build off that reputation to make it even more of a focal point to intimidate opponents?
A: I feel like experience the last three years helped us to this point. I think that our defense can be even better this year because our experience will allow us to know where to be or how to execute to get a couple more steals or get a couple more rebounds, which is the difference in a game.
Q: A lot of new players entering the fold this year, how are you helping the, acclimate and get the message across regarding the team's identity?
A: We talk to them everyday about it. A guy like Jordan Walker is asking questions everyday and he's trying to learn. We physically show them in practice. We want to stay in their ear because as a freshman you can get lost a little bit, I know it happened to me, I didn't really have guys to talk me through things. We all went through it ourselves really because we didn't have the older guys who really wanted to show us. We want to help the younger guys because we want the legacy to go on after we leave.
Q: Any games or players you're looking forward to playing against this year?
A: I circled every one. We will take it one game at a time.
