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| Darren Brooks and the Salukis will enter this weekend's MVC Tournament as the No. 1 seed. |
Darren Brooks in the Chat Room Wednesday Night at 5 p.m.Saluki guard Darren Brooks joined us in the chat room on Wednesday . Brooks, who led the team with 20 points and nine rebounds Monday against Illinois State, answered your questions about Saluki basketball and a variety of other subjects.
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| Moderator: Thank you for joining the chat room this evening with Darren Brooks. He was named Honorable Mention All-Conference yesterday by the MVC. He was also picked for the All-Defense team. We have many questions to get to, so let's get started. |
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| Chris Todd (Carbdonale): What did you feel like after the game against Creighton? Excellent job containing Kyle whatever his name is. |
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Darren Brooks: I was just real excited and happy for my teammates and coaches. We finally separated ourselves from Creighton. We felt really special. |
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| Justin (St. Louis): It is my dream to play Basketball at SIU. Can you give me some tips on fulfilling my dream? |
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Darren Brooks: Keep working hard. Listen to your parents. And listen to your high school coach. Believe in yourself and believe in God. |
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| Bob (Lemont): Congratulations on a great season! Have you gotten a uniform to Nelly yet? I've heard he is a good player. Is he?? Good luck in the MVC tourney! |
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Darren Brooks: No, not yet. I'm still working on it. He's pretty athletic, but he's short, so that kind of hurts him basketball-wise. |
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| John Thomas (Washington, IL): What do you perfer to play, point or #2 guard? |
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Darren Brooks: It doesn't really matter, actually, as long as I'm out there playing and helping the team. I think I'm a threat at either position. |
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| Flyiian Hawaiian - Chuck (Springfield): Awesome game Monday! Do you believe that SIU Basketball will finally be recognized as a legit powerhouse program in the next few years? |
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Darren Brooks: I think so. I think if we continue doing the things we've been doing and working hard over the summer, listen to the coaches, I think we'll be a team to be reckoned with in the future. |
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| John (Murphysboro): Who are the biggest influences in your life? |
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Darren Brooks: Definitely my mom. I have her picture tatooed on me. Also, my two brothers and my father and my grandmother. What I'm doing here is all for them. I'm trying to make something happen for my family and put smiles on everyone's faces. |
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| Keyion Watts (St. Louis): Are you kind of upset that that Creighton is ranked, and you guys knocked them off? |
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Darren Brooks: What up big Key! Not really. That's how politics works. We just have to keep working hard and try to beat them again in the Tournament. |
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| Jerry (Carbondale): Do you think you and Stetson will be looked at as the team leaders next year once Kent and Jermaine are gone? |
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Darren Brooks: Yeah, I think so. I think me and Stetson have proven ourselves that we are dedicated to winning and willing to do whatever is needed on the court for that to happen. |
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| GoDawgs (Carbondale): How'd you like the student crowd at the SIU/CU game? There are CU fans complaining we were too reckless. Great game! |
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Darren Brooks: It was incredible! True college basketball game. Hopefully next year, it will be the same way. They weren't too reckless. Keep yelling and distract Korver! |
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| Karen (Marion): Congrats on all that you and your team have accomplished so far! Tell us about the celebration Monday night. |
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Darren Brooks: Everyone was ecstatic in the lockerroom. Everyone was jumping around, yelling as he passed out the MVC Champions t-shirt, chanting whoever's name he called out. It was a tribute to the hard work that we put in and it definitely paid off. It really brought our team even closer. |
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| Todd (O'Fallon, MO): Do you think you can shut down Korver again and win if a third meeting with Creighton presents itself? |
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Darren Brooks: Hopefully, I can shut him down again. I think they may change around a few sets to get him different looks, and hopefully I'll be able to adjust. |
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| Bartolo (Montreal): I heard that you used to play baseball in high school. What's your favorite baseball team? |
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Darren Brooks: Yeah, I played baseball. There were a couple pro teams looking at me in high school. The Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets. But if I had signed, I wouldn't be able to go to college, and the money wasn't very good. My favorite baseball team is the Texas Rangers, and Alex Rodriguez is my favorite player. |
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| Jim (Carbondale): What do you know about the new recruits coming in from St. Louis? Tatum and Falker? |
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Darren Brooks: I haven't seen Tatum play, but I hear he's pretty good. I've seen Falker play. He needs to get stronger, but he has a nice touch and good jumping ability. |
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| Rocky (St. Louis): What's up DB? I saw you play at an AAU tournament in St. Louis a few years back. You are a pleasure to watch. Do you know anything about a transfer from Wisconsin to ISU (Neil Plank). Is he a good player for the Valley? |
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Darren Brooks: What up Rocky! Thank you. I remember playing Plank at a camp called Future Stars a few years ago. He's pretty good and can jump out of the gym. |
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| Ryan Schallenberg (Peoria): Who is the best basketball player among the student athletic trainers you've seen? Tell me it's not Cory. |
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Darren Brooks: I think Cory has a nice shot and pretty decent handle, but I take it from him. Jason Pacanowski can shoot, but he's not an athletic trainer, he's a team manager. |
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| Dale (Elk Grove, IL): DB,
Who, besides Korver, was the toughest player you had to guard this year?
Also, if you guys make the BIG DANCE, who would you really like to play?
Thanks! |
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Darren Brooks: That's a tough one. Everybody I've guarded is pretty good. Maybe Demon Brown from Charlotte. He could shoot just like Korver, but he doesn't put the ball on the floor. |
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| Larkin (Carterville): How do you see your role on the team changing next year when Kent and Jermaine are gone? |
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Darren Brooks: I see myself stepping up on offense and defense and rebounding. I'm not a real vocal person, so I'll leave that part up to Stetson. |
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| Lindsey (Harrisburg): Hi Darren, first off, congrats to the whole team for being the #1 seed in the tournament! My question is, are you guys going to be doing anything different to prepare for Saturday's game? Who would you rather play, Drake or Illinois State? |
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Darren Brooks: Thanks. No, we're not really going to do anything different. We'll do the same thing we've been doing. It doesn't matter who we play, hopefully we'll come out with the same intensity regardless. |
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| Edward (Downers Grove, IL): Hey Darren, what are the emotions around the locker room heading to St. Louis this weekend? |
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Darren Brooks: Right now, everyone is cool and calm. But I know once we get to St. Louis, the emotions will change, and we'll get hyped up. |
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| Michael Ferrer: This is not a question . However if you could
It would be very nice if you could let him know how proud the
students and staff members are of him and his efforts this season.
Dean Ferrer
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Darren Brooks: Thanks Dean Ferrer. For those who don't know, he was my Dean at Jennings High School. Hopefully, I can continue to make people proud and continue to represent my city and high school. |
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| DCB St. Louis: Great job on Korver the other day. You have come a very long way on the defensive end. Honorable mention in the valley is good, but everyone knows you should have at least been a second teamer. |
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Darren Brooks: What's up. DCB is my brother Derrick. I know I've come a long way on defense, but you could never score on me! That's OK I didn't make second team, it'll just motivate me for next season. |
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| Marshall Duke (jennings): Is it true that you have D up David Lee of U. Florida in high school and have played against the likes of Larry Hughes and Darius Miles and totally held your own, and is it also true that you were once offered a scholarship to play QB for Wisconsin. |
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Darren Brooks: What up Marshall! (He's an offensive lineman from my high school.) Yeah, it's true I played against David Lee in high school and we won four out of the five times we played them. It's also true I played against Larry Hughes and Darius Miles in the Anthony Bonner League and did extremely well. As far as the Wisconsin scholarship, they told me I had to pay my first year and be a walk-on at quarterback and see how that year went. Then they would discuss the scholarship situation. But I wanted to save money for my family and play basketball anyway. |
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| Mike Smith - (Mt.Vernon,IL): The Salukis appear to be playing true team-bb now - the unselfishness really shows.I think because of this and individual maturity, you guys are better than when we had Rolan. Do you agree? |
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Darren Brooks: I'm not sure. Rolan was the shot blocking presence we needed in the paint to intimidate players from driving. On the other hand, our free throw shooting went up drastically because of him leaving. That's a good question. Are we? We'll find out soon. |
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| Bill (Marion): How much do you like getting to play in front of the home crowd when you go to St. Louis for the MVC Tourney? |
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Darren Brooks: I really enjoy getting the chance to see my family and friends. I just try to play my best when I go home. I'll probably have at least 50 or 60, maybe more, to see me. |
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| Benzinger (Carterville): I read in the media guide that you listen to your favorite song over and over again before a game. What's your favorite song? |
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Darren Brooks: I listen to various music before the game, but before the game starts, I play my favorite song. I wish I could tell you, but I've never told anyone. |
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| Zach (Belleville): Darren, My Dad says you're the 2nd best player in the Valley behind Korver. Sorry you didn't make the all-conference team. You're goin to the NBA. Everyone else is just dreamin'. Show 'em this weekend who the boss is! |
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Darren Brooks: Tell your dad thanks. It's alright I didn't make all-conference team. Winning the conference and going to the NCAA is even better. I hope one day I do make it to the NBA. |
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| Jeff (Carlyle): Great game Monday night DB! College RPI.com projects us as a 10 seed playing Purdue in the first round of the Big Dance, How would you feel about that matchup, and how do you think Coach Weber would feel about it? |
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Darren Brooks: Thanks for the compliment. I think it would be a good game. I played with their starting point guard in Australia a couple of summers ago, Willie Dean. It would be a good matchup going head-to-head against him. I think it would be an emotional game for Coach Weber, but hopefully, we could come out on top. |
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| Mike (Lagrange, IL): Great Game vs Creighton Darren!! You are the unsung Hero of this year's great run! Also, I loved the dunk vs. Creighton! Was that your first dunk as a Saluki in a regular game?
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Darren Brooks: Thanks! That was my first dunk in a regular game. I dunk in practice every now and then. Hopefully, there are more to come. |
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| Bob Vigars (London, ON Canada): Hey Darren, I'm a 1967 SIU PE grad. Great basketball then - great now. What makes you in particular (and the team too) so strong on defense? |
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Darren Brooks: Coach Weber really emphasizes defense. We do tons of defensive drills in practice. The loser has to run suicides, and nobody wants to run suicides, so everyone plays their hardest. It carries over to the game. |
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| Craig (Wheaton): Do you feel as if you are in the NCAA tournament as an at-large bid right now (as Dickie V said on ESPN last night) or do you need to at least win a couple of games in the MVC tourney? Good luck and we'll be watching you from Chicago. |
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Darren Brooks: We have to win a couple games in the MVC Tournament. |
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| Brett (Staunton): You are so silky smooth. How did you get that way? How do you always find yourself in position to get offensive rebounds and little put backs? Great job this year! |
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Darren Brooks: I watched Larry Hughes and Anfernee Hardaway play a lot as a kid and in high school. I try to pattern my game after them. I think I just have a knack or a nose for the ball. I just try to get good position for offensive rebounds. |
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| Trevor D. (Elk Grove, IL, age 11): What are your favorite game systems and what are your favorite games? |
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Darren Brooks: Playstation2. NBA Live 2003. Grand Theft Auto Vice City. Hitman 2. |
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| Moderator: That will do it for tonight's chat room session with Darren Brooks. Thanks so much for spending time with us DB. If we can work it out technically, we'll do another chat room session this weekend from St. Louis, so stay tuned to www.SIUSalukis.com |
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