Q: Last season the team was ranked No.1 and made it to the Final Four, but this season you’ve gotten the chance to play a lot more. How do you compare the two? Is there one you like better than the other?

A: That’s a tough question. We don’t know the outcome of this season, and I think we’ll have another outcome like last season. So I’m going to say, once we have the same outcome, that I’ll like this season better because we’ll make the Final Four and I’ll be playing more.

Q: What is the best thing about having eight days between games?

A: You get more rest. There’s a lot of people getting injuries and all that, so it’s good to rest up.

Q: What do you do when you get a day off?

A: I sleep. I sleep a lot. I’ll sleep all day, easily. Then maybe come in, get treatment, and try to handle some extra schoolwork.

Q: Why is being a sophomore better than being a freshman?

A: You haven’t been here for a long time like an upperclassmen, but you have experience so you get treated better than a freshman does. They can’t put a whole lot of pressure on you, but at the same time they don’t look at you like you don’t know anything.

Q: How has your game improved since last season?

A: I’m probably in better shape, even though I still need to get in even better shape. But I’m stronger and just more confident, knowing the system better.

Q: What will be the key to Illinois winning the Big Ten?

A: Handling our road games at Michigan and Michigan State, staying out of injury, and keep playing hard.

Q: How does being a lefty help you as a post player?

A: Not many people are left-handed, so a lot of people don’t know how to play or are not expecting me to be left-handed, so it creates a little advantage.

Q: Kenny Battle is also from West Aurora. Do you ever talk to him?

A: I talk to him probably once every couple weeks. He calls me just to congratulate me on a game, things like that. He tells me to play hard, telling me that I have his support. He says to keep doing what I’m doing and things will work out for me.

Q: Which of your teammates do you live with, and do you have any good stories about him?

A: I live with Calvin. He’s just funny. I can’t tell all the stories, he’s just a character. He’s probably the funniest guy on the team. He makes some random comments.

Q: What are the best and worst things about being an athlete?

A: The best thing is that you get a lot of opportunities to travel a lot of places and be in the spotlight as far as fans and things. The worst thing is that there’s a lot of stereotypes. It’s a lot of hard work, so while some people get away with more, if you’re an athlete and you get busted you get cracked down on a lot harder.

Q: If you could play any sport at any school, other than basketball at Illinois, what sport would you play and where?

A: I’d play football at USC, I guess. I don’t like any other sport besides basketball, but I bet they have a nice time out there, a lot of parties.

Q: What is your favorite Champaign restaurant and what do you get there?

A: I’ve got two. The Ribeye, I like their steak and shrimp. Then I like Niro’s Gyros. I like their gyros and their cheese fries.

Q: Who has been the biggest influence on your basketball career?

A: I’d say my dad. He’s taken me a lot of places, like for AAU trips and everything. He used to drive me everywhere.

Q: What would you consider your career highlight?

A: I would say going downstate and going to the Final Four. Both of those are the extremes of high school basketball and college basketball, so it’s good to have those experiences at both levels.

Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

A: Hopefully if not in the league, doing something that’s making money. And having a wife and kids.