Ask The Bears Responses: Geno Carlisle
From Alan in Los Angeles:
Hi Geno, Welcome to Cal, its great to have you. What made you choose
Cal, in spite of the NCAA sanctions this year ? And what would you
tell a potential recruit is the single most important thing about
choosing Cal over any other school ?
Carlisle: "Before I came, I didn't know for sure we'd be on probation, but I knew it
was a possibility. The two main reasons I came here was the coaching staff
and coming in together with Thomas Kilgore.We had a lot of faith in Coach
Braun and we knew the type of team he was trying to build.
My advice to a recruit would be that we're building a winning program here.
We have a chance to do a lot of things over the next few years. We have a
lot of talented players and one of the best coaches in the nation. You
couldn't go to a better place to learn and grow as a player."
From Dan Richardson in St Louis, MO:
Congradulations to a great start on the court at Cal. What were some
of the reasons you decided to come to Cal and what have you enjoyed
and not enjoyed since you've been at Cal?
Carlisle: "One of the reasons I decided to come was the coaching staff. I've known
Coach Braun ever since I was in high school and I respect him. Also, Cal
fan support is like no other in the country. I grew up with Thomas Gilgore
and when I found out he was coming, we both decided to come together. The
things I like are my teammates and the type of family environment that
we've built. The only thing I don't like is that were on probation, but
we'll have our chance next year."
From Larry in Berkeley, CA:
Geno, congratulations on a fine start to the season. How would you
compare the competition in the Pac-10 with the Big Ten?
Carlisle: "It's two different styles of play. The Big 10 is more physical and has more
of a set-up style of basketball. The Pac-10 is more free-style, run-and-gun
type play with a lot of good athletes in the Pac-10."
From Rus in Calabasas, CA:
Geno, in the games I've seen you play, you've demonstrated an obvious
ability to score, filling Ed Gray's shoes as the "go to guy". Seems to
me the thing the Bears, or any successful team for that matter, also
needs are players that make everyone else around them better -- not
just by ball distribution, but by attitude as well. Think it will be
difficult to balance being a top-notch scorer as well as a selfless
leader?
Carlisle: "I think so. One of the reasons I came to Cal was the type of talent the
team had that wasn't there with me at Northwestern. I don't really go out
to try to lead the team in scoring. Mostly, it's just who has the hot hand
to help us win. There's a pretty good distribution of shots on this team
and that's the way I like it."
From Eric Hartnett in Berkeley, CA:
I heard that you once stated that you thought you were the second best
player in Chicago. So do you think you are the best player in the Bay
Area? We don't have Jordan here.
Carlisle: "That was something that the media created. I never said that, at least not
in that context. I do believe that you need that type of confidence and I
have that level of confidence, but I would never disrespect other players
like that. I let my game prove what I can do."
From Stan Wong in Belmont, CA:
Do you miss those Chicago-style pizzas?
Carlisle: "Yeah, I do sometimes. I really miss the Midwest, because I liked the change
of seasons and the whole midwest attitude. But I also like it here in the
Bay Area and am really enjoying myself on this team."
From Chris Avery in Oakland, CA:
The word among many Cal fans, especially the group that hangs out
together on the Internet, is that while the current team has a lot of
talent, it hasn't yet integrated into fully effective team play. Does
that assessment seem right to you?
Carlisle: "I thnk we have a lot of unselfish players on this team. You have to realize
that this is our first year playing together, and as Coach Braun has said,
it'll take awhile to mesh all that talent and we can only get better."
From Terry Kellerman in Fremont, CA:
What in your opinion are the best reasons for young and talented
players from across the country to come to Cal to play?
Carlisle: "Like I said before, the type of fan support we have at Cal is something
every player would love to play before, and the type of talent we have on
this team and what we're building under Coach Braun should make it an
attractive place for the top players. It would be great for a person being
recruited to be a part of that, because we're really making strides."
From Andy in Richmond, VA:
I have a three-part question: (1) With so many new members on this
year's Cal team, what is the chemistry like? (2) How hard is it for a
lot of guys unfamiliar with each other to gel and play as a team? (3)
In your opinion, is the team playing as a single unit yet?
Carlisle: "I think the chemistry is about the best in the country, when you consider
we're a team that's put together out on the court for the first time and
then facing all the adversity of having Thomas and me meshing in during
mid-December and not having the NCAA Tournament to play for. With all that,
we are really a close group and the chemistry is great.
Getting this team to gel hasn't been all that difficult, because guys
recognize there are a lot of talented players and are willing to sacrifice
for the good of the team. For example, I'm used to scoring. But I know, in
order for our team to be successful, I have to let go of some of that
scoring. I think we're playing better as a single unit every game."
From Megan in Walnut Creek, CA:
Did Kilgore's transfer to Cal have an impact on your decision to
transfer?
Carlisle: "I had considered coming to Cal. And then I heard he was talking about
coming out here to and we talked about coming out together. It had a big
impact on my decision and I'm glad we're playing together."
From Randy Singh in San Francisco:
You seemed to be hitting your stride against the Oregon schools and
Stanford. What do you think happened to throw your shot off against
the LA schools ?
Carlisle: "I don't think it was the LA schools. I just wasn't comfortable with the
rims here at the Oakland Coliseum until the Arizona State game on Thursday.
I'm not making excuses, it was probably just a mental block that I had to
get out of my mind. Coach (Charles) Ramsey helped me with some extra
shooting drills in practice. I think I've found my niche now."
From Lisa Velasquez in San Francisco:
What are your goals as a player this year and next year?
Carlisle: "Our goal is to challenge for the Pac-10 title down the stretch, or at least
have an impact in the league race. We want to build the team up and have
some momentum going into next year when we can get to the (NCAA)
Tournament."
From Dan and Stew in Evanston, IL:
If you've paid attention to NU at all this year, what do you think?
Carlisle: "I've watched their results. I wish them the best and I love those guys.
But, the one thing that sums it up the best is that History seems to repeat
itself."
From Ben Knoester in Grand Rapids, MI:
I went to GR Christian High School. Do you and Thomas Kilgore ever
trash-talk about the Class A Regional Final game at East Kentwood when
Ottawa beat Union but Thomas had something like 46 points on you guys?
Carlisle: "Yeah, we always talk trash about that game. He still claims his team was
the best, but we walked out with the victory. It's fun to still talk about
that game. It's one neither of us will ever forget."
From Curtis Godt in Sacramento, CA:
How you are finding living in Berkeley versus living in Evanston.
Carlisle: "I like living in both places. The weather is great out here, it's warmer. I
don't have to deal with all that snow."
From John Robson in Long Beach, CA:
What basketball player have you always looked up to?
Carlisle: "I look up to my dad and my uncle as basketball players ever since I was
just a little kid. My dad played with the (Detroit) Pistons for a year and
my uncle played in the ABA. They taught me a lot and I owe a lot to each of
them."
From Danny in San Ramon, CA:
Geno, Congrats on your win over Arizona State on Thursday night. It was a
fast break game most of the night. Is that something the Cal players like
or do they like to run plays in a half-court situation?
Carlisle: "We have a lot of players who love to run and that type of game is really
fun for everybody on our team. Not every game is going to be like that and
sometimes, we have to execute in the half-court offense in we're going to
be successful, but most everybody on our team loves to run when there's an
opportunity."
