Wake Forest Athletics
Steve Lepore's Chat Wrap
1/19/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2002
Moderator: (11:59 AM ET ) TheACC.com and ESPN.com would like to welcome Wake Forest's Steve Lepore today's chat session.
Bryan (Woodberry Forest): Steve, First of all, congratulations on your season so far, you were incredible in the UNC game. My question is, how different is the style of play at Wake from that at Northwestern and how well have you adapted?
Steve Lepore: (12:00 PM ET ) I think the biggest difference is it is much more uptempo. The players are more athletic. I have to change my style from just shooting threes and shooting more off the dribble. I still have a long way to go.Z. Silk W.V.: I love coach Prosser's coaching style! Was it hard for the the team to adapt to it after the "Odom era"? Also, Iwas there in person to see you lite up UNC! good luck !
Steve Lepore: (12:02 PM ET ) I don't think it was hard. I think for anybody it is going to take a while to get accustomed to it. Most of us played this way growing up and in AAU. So it really wasn't that big of a change.George, Kernersville, NC: Steve, I've heard from Wake athletes that you work really hard in the off-season in the weight room and in the gym. Do you think your off-season work is what has made you such a great player today?
Steve Lepore: (12:03 PM ET ) That is definitely a big part of it. I am not as athletic as most of the guys in the ACC or even this team. So that is the way I make up for it and I plan to keep on doing it.Ahad Khan, Mooresville, NC: Against Maryland, how are you going to control Dixon and Blake, one of the best backcourt duos in the league?
Steve Lepore: (12:04 PM ET ) We had yesterday off, so we really haven't talked about it yet. We will probably play a lot of man to man because both of them can shoot it. They have some good players down low too, so it is going to take a team effort to stop them.Corcoran,MN: What is the best player you have guarded this year?
Steve Lepore: (12:05 PM ET ) Let me think. Probably Roger Mason of Virginia so far because he was shooting so well that night. He can shoot and is quick off the dribble and that is tough to defend.Charlie, Charlotte: Your performance has improved and become more noticable in this second half of the season. Is there something specific you've been working on in practice or what do you think has made the difference? Secondly, what happened to the socks?
Steve Lepore: (12:06 PM ET ) I think the main thing was accepting my role and gaining my confidence back. I am still not where I want to be. Personally I am disappointed in my performance this year and I hope to keep on working to get better.Lolly (Winston-Salem): What sparked your impressive play against UNC?
Steve Lepore: (12:08 PM ET ) I remember the game last year. I went and watched it from the bench. It is a great atmosphere to play in and I became very motivated after we lost last year. That made me want to play harder.BD, Hight Point: Can you talk about the play of some of the other Deacon newcomers, specifically Downey, Levey and Danelius
Steve Lepore: (12:10 PM ET ) All three of them have done a great job. We have done better lately because we are getting use to playing with each other. They all bring something different to the table and that is another reason for their success as freshmen.Brent (pfafftown): Now that Darius AND Vytas are on the team, have you picked up any Lithuanian?
Steve Lepore: (12:10 PM ET ) I think everybody knows one curse word because they say it so often in practice. But beyond that no because they speak it too quickly.Jim (winston-salem): Is Wake Forest as much fun as you thought it would be? How do you like the small school?
Steve Lepore: (12:12 PM ET ) The basketball is definitely above and beyond what I thought it would be. As far as the school being small, it really has not been too much of an adjustment because Northwestern is small too.Elliot (winston-salem): What is it like having a brother that also played collegiate sports?
Steve Lepore: (12:14 PM ET ) He was always pushing me when we were younger. I think that made me a better player. Once he did get a scholarship, that set the standard. I wanted to do that as well or do even better. It was great to watch him on TV and go to his games.LH: Steve, continue your improved play. We like it. Who on the team makes you laugh and who helps you get serious?
Steve Lepore: (12:16 PM ET ) I would say the people that make me laugh are Antwan and Allan Williams. Ervin does a little bit of both he makes me laugh and get serious.93Deac: Steve- I think you're a great addition to our team- you bring so much to the table and it is starting to show. I know you and Craig aren't shooting the way you would like- what, if anything, do you think will help?
Steve Lepore: (12:18 PM ET ) I think the only thing that can help is to keep shooting extra until you get your confidence level up and feel like you aren't going to miss a shot. You can also watch tape to see if there is anything mechanically wrong with your shot.Greg, DC: What happenede to the socks?
Steve Lepore: (12:20 PM ET ) We always get long socks in practice. One day I pulled them up and kind of liked it. When I watched the game on tape it didn't look as good as I thought it did. I decided to go back to the old style.Moderator: (12:21 PM ET ) That is all the time Steve has for us today. TheACC.com and ESPN.com would like to thank Steve for stopping by. Don't miss Steve and the Demon Deacons as they host Maryland on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN2.
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