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Chat Reel: Maurice McAfee
McAfee ready to pile on some wins
Posted: Thursday October 26, 2000 8:45 PM
Updated: Friday October 27, 2000 9:57 AM
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Maurice McAfee and the Musketeers open the regular season against in-state rival Miami Nov. 18. Otto Greule Jr./Allsport |
Nearly unbeatable at home, Xavier University is picked by many to win the Atlantic-10 Conference championship.
The steady play of Maurice McAfee is one reason the Musketeers are a preseason A-10 favorite. He led the team in scoring at 15.1 points a game and he expects to put up better numbers this season.
McAfee spent time chatting with CNNSI.com users on Thursday, Oct. 26. A transcription follows:
CNNSI Host Welcome to our college basketball chat with Xavier's Maurice McAfee. Welcome, Maurice.
Maurice McAfee: I'm pleased to be here on-line.
From T-Bear in West Chester, Ohio: Has it helped you to practice harder and better knowing you have a tough competitor and skilled athlete waiting in the wings, in Lionel Chalmers?
Maurice McAfee: Well, anytime you have good competition at every position, it helps push you to be the best player you can be. So it is an honor to have someone as good as he is, and for that matter, the rest of the new players to challenge not only me, but everyone in every position. That just keeps it competitive in practice, and prepares us even more for the games.
From lighty: What are your first impressions of our new arena, the Cintas Center?
Maurice McAfee: I feel it's unbelievable. It is the best arena in the Atlantic area by far. And by being right here on campus, we finally have a place where we can practice, play, lift and do virtually everything in one arena.
From Dan Lang in Stevens Point, Wisc.: Mo, The Muskies have great depth at the guard and small forward positions, with yourself, Chalmers, Alvin Brown, Romain Sato, Lloyd Price, Brandon McIntosh and David Young. However, the depth on the front line is questionable beyond David West and Kevin Frey. Additional help must come from the two newcomers on the front line. How have they looked in practice, and will they be able to give you "serious" minutes this year.
Maurice McAfee They've been looking good. Anytime you have a newcomer it is kind of difficult. When you go from high school to college, it is a different ball game. I feel like all of our guys give us a tremendous help, and depth and will have a great deal to do with the success we have.
From K. Vanoli in Cincinnati: I'm a Xavier season ticket holder and proud to have watched you mature over the past three years. But I have to ask you something. Mo, what is the deal with your socks? You wear them so high up that you look like my grandma. What gives?
Maurice McAfee: (Laughs.) Well, I really started wearing them high because my legs would get cold in high school so I used to pull them up to warm my legs. So it became a habit, and even if they weren't cold I'd pull them up. But that's how it got started.
From Chris Rupp in Dayton, Ohio: Historically, Xavier has been almost unbeatable at home; however, less than stellar on the road. What are the keys you see to becoming successful on the road too?
Maurice McAfee: First of all, you have to be mentally tough. And the same attitude that you have at home where you feel you are unbeatable you have to take that on the road. Just as you have the crowd behind you at home, it creates a chemistry you have to use the boos from the other team's crowd and use that energy to keep the team chemistry going.
From benpac: Mo, I believe having a go-to guy/team leader in late-game situations is very important. Who is the go-to guy for the Muskies this year?
Maurice McAfee: I think we have a lot of go-to guys, not just one person it depends on the situation. I feel that in any situation I could be a go-to guy or Dave West, Kevin, Lloyd Price or even the new guys. I feel that we are that talented that anybody could be the go-to guy given the right situation.
From lighty: As an Information Systems major how are you able to balance your work with basketball?
Maurice McAfee: It's hard. But my parents instilled good study habits and good work habits in me ever since I was really young. I understand that basketball is not always going to be there. I could get injured or something else. So I know how important academics is. I have to be able to make a living off the court so I use that as a motivation -- its something I have to get done.
From Ed Hamann in Cincinnati: Do you think that your minutes at point guard will be reduced this year with the presence of Lionel Chalmers? And do you think that you will spend some time at the two guard? Good luck and let's go Moe!
Maurice McAfee: Lionel will be playing somewhat this year so I won't have to play a full game like I did last year. I will have the opportunity to play some two and sometimes some three. I should be spread around more this year than last year and give us a different look. It will give Lionel and I a chance to play together and people will see how good it will be, playing different positions, giving our opponents different looks.
From Mo: Hey how are you? How do you see your team finishing the season?
Maurice McAfee: I'm doing fine. I see us doing real well this year -- making our way into the NCAA tournament and doing some damage. We have a lot of talent this year everyone is on the same page with a positive attitude. We expect big things and everyone seems eager to get out on the floor and get the job done -- and pile up some wins.
From lighty: What can we expect from the freshman this year, especially Sato? He looked amazing at Midnight Madness, how has he looked in practice?
Maurice McAfee: Sato is an amazing player. He is extremely intelligent, and picks up things fast. Sato will perform well. He is a great player. Dave Young is a great player, Lionel Chalmers, Khalil Nixon and Anthony Coleman they are all good players and picking up things in practice very well. So we expect a lot from all of them this year.
From benpac: Mo, how is the team chemistry this year? Do you guys hang out together off the court?
Maurice McAfee: Yes, we're trying to make that a point more so this year than in the past. As we understand that team chemistry is not only on the court, it is bonding off the court also. We go to the movies and other functions together to get to know each other, and carry on the chemistry on and off the floor.
From Paul J. Dougherty in Bronx, N.Y.: In the Atlantic 10 who do you expect to give you the most difficulty in the upcoming season?
Maurice McAfee: To tell you the truth, I don't know because I don't know who has what recruits, and I really don't care. I just want to go out and put it all on the line for my team. We just want to pile up the wins.
CNNSI Host: That's all the time we have with Maurice McAfee. Maurice, thanks for joining us.
Maurice McAfee: All right, it was an honor to be on CNNSI.com.
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