At 6-foot-11, Brian Carlwell stands out. The freshman center passed on taking a redshirt this season, and although the early games brought some confusion, Carlwell is starting to find his comfort zone. The Maywood, Ill., native is averaging 2.3 points per game and 1.5 rebounds per game. Last Friday, Carlwell talked to the Daily Illini about his match-up with Greg Oden, dunking against Iowa and his future with Illinois.

Daily Illini: Do you finally feel like you’re starting to get in sync with everything (motion offense, defense, style of play in the Big Ten)?

Brian Carlwell: Yeah, coach (Weber) has got me working a lot, especially on offense, trying to get a better feel of the game. I think my defense has improved as far as my stance and just jumping to the ball, so I think I’m getting comfortable with everything.

DI: Are you pleased with your decision not to redshirt this season?

BC: I definitely think it’s working out well. It’s just a lot of stuff I don’t think I would have been able to learn, just as far as the game experience from playing in the games, especially big game match ups. So, I think it was a good decision.

DI: How hard was that decision for you?

BC: I would say it definitely had me in a bad mood for maybe that whole week when they first started talking to me about it. I was inconsistent at practice, and I was just real mopey because I just wanted to show up the decision. But I was just real happy to get it over with.

DI: Last week, you matched up with Greg Oden (in Illinois’ loss to Ohio State). What was that experience like?

BC: It was a normal game. I really didn’t go in looking at it like they project him to be No. 1 in the (2007 NBA) draft, or he’s supposed to be this, or he’s supposed to be that. He’s just another player, another ball game that you have to try to win.

DI: What’s the toughest part of adjusting to dorm life?

BC: I’m just like a real personable person. It’s kind of hard for me to get around a bunch of people and just try to open up and be friendly. That was something I had to work on. I think I did a better job at it, and I’ve got a lot of friends in the dorms now.

DI: In the game against Iowa, many Illini had a number of dunks, and you were able to add one for the fans. How does it feel to be involved?

BC: We were talking in the locker room, and I told them, ‘It’s been a long time since I got a picture somebody e-mailed to me of me dunking, and I was like, I’m going to go out and get one of those tonight.’ Luckily, I was able to go out and get one.

DI: It seems as if you have a happy-go-lucky attitude. Would you say that describes your personality?

BC: Yeah, just because where I was raised was kind of a bad neighborhood so just to get out and try to make something of myself, I just don’t really see a reason to be angry or upset about things.

DI: Earlier in the season, Weber said you could be one of the best big men to wear an Illini uniform. What kind of meaning does that have?

BC: I’m honored by that, that he would have that much confidence in me to even say that publicly. If somebody asked me if that’s pressure, I don’t think that’s pressure. If I just do the things he asks me to do and do things to help the team, I think it could happen. I’m trying to be what Shaun Pruitt is this year; I’m trying to be that now. Hopefully, Shaun will keep improving, and I will keep improving.

DI: As far as your overall game goes, what types of strengths help you stand out?

BC: I’m not sure of one thing because when I came down here I wasn’t just working on one thing. I think overall I improved on everything; that’s what I was trying to do first. Now, I think I’m starting to get to the stage where I can become a good offensive player or a good defensive player.

DI: When playing football (wide receiver, tight end, free safety) at Proviso East, did you ever consider giving up basketball?

BC: I love football; that was the first sport I ever played. I played from when I was eight until I graduated high school. There came I time when I really wanted to play football, and I was actually thinking about doing the double here, but I think that’s kind of hard. Doing basketball is hard enough.

DI: As far as finding a leader for the team, are you starting to see that from some of the seniors and Brian Randle?

BC: I think they definitely started to step up, especially when we went on the three-game losing streak. They tried to do more of getting the whole team together and making sure everybody realizes what we’re trying to get accomplished so far.