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| Southern Illinnois guard David Carney |
Monday afternoon, Saluki senior guard David Carney stopped by the chat room. Southern Illinois plays in the championship game of the MVC Tournament Monday night for the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. If you missed David, here's a wrap-up of his chat.
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| Moderator: We'll start today's chat room session with David Carney in just a few minutes. The team's shoot-around here at the Savvis Center is going a bit longer than expected as Coach Weber is putting a few new wrinkles in. |
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| Dennis (Carbondale): Would you agree with me when I say that Dearman is a post-season magician? Together with last season's post season run, and this year so far in the mvc tournament, he is playing as good as any player at his position in the nation, agree or not? |
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David Carney: Yeah, Jermaine is playing really well. He's hitting buckets and getting rebounds as wellas anybody I've seen in college basketball. I think he's just coming into his own because he knows his senior season is winding down. Knowing that, right now, he's putting us on his shoulders. |
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| D-money (Carbondale): Dave, who would one on one between you and Chris Drew? |
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David Carney: There's no doubt in my mind that if we played a best of seven series to 10, I would beat Chris four games to zero! He has no jump shot, is slow and can't jump. If you see Chris around, be sure to relay the message! |
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| Carl (Mckendree College): Dave, who would win in horse between yourself, Kent, and Korver? |
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David Carney: I'm a pretty confident person, so I'd like to say myself, but with three great shooters, anyone of the three could win. Kent and Kyle are extremely good shooters and would be tough to beat. |
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| Matt, Pekin: What is the atmosphere like down there? With the team? With the fans? What kind of respect are you guys getting from local media, and your opponents? |
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David Carney: The first three days we were here was really exciting because of all the alumni in our hotel. They would gather and cheer for us as we'd walk through the hotel to the bus. I haven't dealt with the media as much as some of my teammates, but I think we're slowly gaining more respect. |
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| Brian (Chester): Most of us only see Coach Weber on TV, what kind of person is he in practices and away from the games? |
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David Carney: In practice, he is very focused, yet he isn't so focused that we don't have a good time in practice. Away from practice, he's just your average guy who likes to joke around with us and have a good time. |
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| Scott (Mattoon): I'm certain Ryan Walker goes to the same barber as Kyle Korver. Do they meet half way in Missouri or something and get their haircut together? |
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David Carney: I haven't heard Ryan mention this, but the team thinks he looks like he has a dirty mop on his head. He tells us the women like it, but it's hard for us to believe that, because we see no women around him! |
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| Dennis (Carbondale): Dave, in your five years at SIU, who is the all around best player you have played with? |
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David Carney: That's a hard question to answer, so I'll give you my top five...Monte Jenkins, Rolan Roberts, Kent Williams, Jermaine Dearman and Chris Thunnel. Because of players having different games, it's hard to compare the big guys with the guards. |
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| Wayne Chrebet (new york): Dave, I appreciate what you're doing for the team. I have been in a similar position for most of my life also. Quick question, who is the best dunker on the team? |
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David Carney: I'd give it to Sylvester Willis. He by far has the most hops on the team and originallity on his dunks. |
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| Jay Gruden (Orlando, FL): How fast do you run the 40 yard dash in and how much can you bench and squat? |
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David Carney: I run the 40 in 4.3, bench 270 and squat 500. Hey, Jay, it looks like you could use a defensive back next year, get in touch with my agent and we'll work something out! |
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| Chris Drew (Carbondale, IL): Dave, once season is over, we're gonna have to get in the gym and see if you can back that up, LOL. Will you accept the challenge? |
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David Carney: Chris, I'll put some loafers on and still beat you every single game. |
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| Tom Koutsos (nuff said, hehehe): What's up, Dave. Good luck tonight, hope you guys take charge and get momentum going in the ncaa's. If you hadn't gone to SIU, where would you have liked to go? |
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David Carney: Thanks, Tom, for the good luck. I know that the guys who will play tonight will give everything they have. If I hadn't gone to SIU, I was going to go to Indiana University and just be a regular college student. |
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| Russ (Chicago): If taken by the Cavs over Lebron, what will you do with your signing bonus? |
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David Carney: First off, my parents, sisters and extended family will be taken care of. After that, I'll be spending time in about every city imaginable. I'd see the world and wouldn't think about a dime I'd spent. If I'm able to stick with the Cavs, I'd shoot every time I touched it. I couldn't do any worse than they're doing right now. |
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| farlow biddle: How have you managed to befriend so many of the Valley officials? |
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David Carney: Well, Farlow, when you're nice to people, they're usually nice back. Through a little chit-chat with the refs, I've managed to develop gametime friendships with them. Good question, Barney Fife. |
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| Larry Hughes (cbc): Dave, who gets the most women on the team? |
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David Carney: Larry, don't you have a game tonight? But to answer your question, I'd be lying if I said I didn't! |
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| Brett (Staunton): You have been a big part of this team. You have been a good senior leader. What do you plan to do after you graduate? |
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David Carney: Thank you for the compliment. Right now, I have a lot of option with what I can do after graduating. I've made contact with quite a few people concerning different avenues I can take. After the season, I'll sit down and consider each one to see what I'll do. These jobs would be in my major, which is landscape architecture. |
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| Rob (Resident Dawg Pound Member): First off, congrats on a great run at SIU. My question for you is how much do you love the attention that you get from the Dawg Pound towards the end of games and when you finally get in? |
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David Carney: The attention is great! It really makes a person feel good. When they put so much time and effort in, it's a great feeling to hear they're appreciated. Keep up the good work, Dawg Pound. |
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| Jeff (Newton): Are you the comedian on the team?
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David Carney: Mostly Sylvester. In my younger days on the team, I was known more to pull tricks on people. For example, in hotels I would set buckets of water against teammates' doors, so when they opened them, water would spill onto their feet. This year, though, I did pull this trick on mop-top (Ryan Walker). |
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| Rick (Racine): Card Shark: Is is still unsafe to walk the streets of Tell City?? What has been the highlight of this season? Do you still do crazy things on road trips like you did when I played? |
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David Carney: What's up, Ricky?! Yeah, you don't want to get caught on the west side of Tell City after dark! So far the highlight this season would be winning the conference outright. But tonight would top that. Every now and then, I pull a few tricks out of my sleeve on road trips! Hey Ricky, I think I can still take you one-on-one. |
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| Rafe - Janesville: How do you maintain course work while on long away trips? |
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David Carney: Nathan, back in the day, it was a little tougher to maintain coursework, but this semester, I only have one class I need to graduate, so coursework isn't so demanding, at least for me. Looking forward to fishing in Canada this summer! |
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| Kevin Conway(Waterloo, IL): who do you think is the hottest cheerleader on the team? |
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David Carney: I would say without a doubt, Katherine Diane Whitlow is my top pick. She's also known as The Kat. If you see her around, tell her I said so. |
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| Bill Phillips (golden, co): if you could pick one actress, model, singer to go out with for one night, who would it be? |
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David Carney: I have a soft spot for Meg Ryan. I think she's hot, yet has an innocent cuteness to her. |
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| Josh (Boonville,IN): David, just wanted to tell you guys good luck and I am glad to see a Southern Indiana boy representing |
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David Carney: Josh, thanks a lot. Feels good to represent Southern Indiana in a positive way. |
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| Greg (San Francisco): Congratulations on another great season. How was this year's team able to have an even better MVC season than last year's team, especially with Robert's graduation? |
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David Carney: I still believe we miss Rolan a tremendous amount. The difference maker would probably be that everyone is a year older and wiser. They've been able to work on their games, and it has shown. |
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| Kelvin Hayden (Joliet, IL): Did you ever play any other sports in high school, and which position? |
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David Carney: I played baseball, but not for the high school team. I played for the American Legion. I played first base, centerfield and pitched. I was also the leadoff hitter. Baseball was kind of in my blood as my father played at Indiana State. |
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| Dorsey: I was wondering what you do with all the gear that you get as a basketball player and if you would have any left over. |
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David Carney: Whenever we receive gear, I try it on, and if it doesn't fit or doesn't look good, it becomes a present to my family. They have received many a gift the past five years and always ask for more. |
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| Renee (Carbondale): I first want to say good luck tonight, I know ya'll will do an awesome job and beat CU. My question is what has been the biggest challenge the team has faced this year? |
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David Carney: I feel the biggest challenge was the beginning of the year. Each and every player had to figure out their role on the team. The team had a different identity than last year, and it took us 7-to-10 games to figure this out. |
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| Frank (Carbondale,IL): How would it feel to go out of SIU as the greatest benchwarmer of all-time? |
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David Carney: That would be great! It is what I've been striving for since arriving at SIU. |
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| Taylorville: What is Coach Weber's worst habit at practice? |
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David Carney: His worst habit would be he gets to ranting and raving about a mistake a player has made, and his voice is so high and squeaky, his voice ends up cracking. The team always gives him flack about this. |
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| Lindsey (Harrisburg): First off, no matter the outcome of tonight's game, you guys have done an awsome job this year and made being a Saluki fan very exciting! Have you guys been working on any new plays specifically for Creighton? Thanks, GO DAWGS! |
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David Carney: No, we haven't put any new plays in. We are just going to go out and play hard and do what we have to do to win. |
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| Joe Fumagali(Carbondale, IL): Dave, what is your favorite beer? |
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David Carney: I would have to say Bud Light, but I am not discriminatory against other beers. So what is available is what I'll take. By way, I'm 23 and this doesn't take place during the season. |
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| Doc Knapp (Benton): You've enjoyed a nice career at SIU and I hope you're happy being a Saluki. I've heard there's a new young lady, Caroline Elise, in your life. Could you provide us with some details? |
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David Carney: Doc, thank you. You've been a great team doctor and fan at the same time. A team couldn't ask for anything better. Caroline Elise is my new niece. My sister, Sarah and brother-in-law Scott, are the new proud parents of a baby daughter. Hopefully, if we make the NCAA Tournament, we will play in Tampa where they live. |
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David Carney: Thanks everyone for your support, and I know you'll be rooting for us tonight. If I didn't get to your question, I'm sorry, but I have to head back to the hotel for our pre-game meal. Thanks again for supporting us! |
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| Moderator: On behalf of Saluki fans, thanks, David, for spending time with us today. FYI, we'll be posting David's latest journal entry shortly. |
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