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Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year Kevin Dillard said he needs to take on a larger leadership role next season.
The Daily Egyptian caught up with Dillard fresh off the lanes of the Student Center bowling alley to talk about his love of R&B, prowess in video games and his hatred for the reigning NBA Champions.
Daily Egyptian: It appears you’re better with a ball on the court than in the lanes..
Kevin Dillard: I agree with that. Today wasn’t my best performance. My average is about a 150, I didn’t get it today. I’m a little under the weather.
DE: Do you think the “Mr. Basketball” title and the loss of Bryan Mullins increases the need for you to play a larger leadership role next season?
KD: Well, you know, that title is a high school title. In college, people don’t respect that. So, I do need to come into the leadership role a little more; that’s what I’ve been working on.
DE: Some have said that you have NBA potential. Do you think about that much?
KD: Yeah, yeah, I think about it all the time. That’s what I’m trying to get to. Hopefully I have a good year, and then one of these years I have a good career.
DE: Thinking of your teammates, tell us about Anthony Booker.
KD: Anthony, he’s going to have a breakout year. Last year people really didn’t get to see him because coach felt like he was an emotional rollercoaster, but he’s got his attitude straight, he’s got the work ethic and everything he needs to bring to be a strong force in the Valley this year.
DE: What about Tony Freeman?
KD: He’s our captain. He’s going to try and take over the role that Bryan took. We’re going to try and follow his lead. He’s a senior. He’s the oldest guy on the floor. He had success in the Big Ten, and hopefully he’s going to bring that here.
DE: What about the DE, do you read the DE?
KD: Yeah, yeah, I always read the DE. I always look at the sports section first, though. I’ll admit I don’t really read the rest — I only read the sports.
DE: I didn’t see you in the paper much last year. Can we expect to see you in there more this year?
KD: (laughing) Hopefully. Hopefully, it’ll be for wins instead of losses though (still laughing).
DE: OK, what about what’s on your iPod?
KD: I’ve got a little bit of everything. I’m an R&B type of guy, so I listen to a lot of soft stuff. You know I always get a lot of jokes about it, but it keeps me calm though. I’m kind of a laid-back kind of dude, so it keeps me mellow.
DE: What about gaming? Looking at past “15 Minutes,” Christian Cornelius said you were beating everybody, schooling everybody. Is that still true?
KD: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
DE: What games?
KD: NBA 2K9. I only play sports games, though. I suck at the shooting games and all the gory things like that; I don’t like those. But sports, I do with the best of them. I tend to practice a lot.
DE: So on the game system, do you have any competition from your teammates?
KD: Yeah, the new guy, John Freeman. He came in and took the throne. I can’t beat him. (Starting to laugh) I’m actually going to try to play him tonight and try and get my crown back.
DE: OK, one last question. When you are in the NBA, what’s the arena or team you look forward to playing in or against?
KD: Well, seeing that the Lakers won the championship this year — I don’t like the Lakers, so, I look forward to playing in the Staples Center, I look forward to playing Kobe (Bryant), Derek Fisher — if he’s still in the league — and everybody else on that team, because I generally don’t like them. So, hopefully I could have a good game against them so I could rub it in everybody’s face.
