Live From DC: Interview w/ Xavier's Derrick Brown

Live from Washington DC, CHN's Jon Teitel is covering the NCAA Tournament pod featuring Xavier/Georgia, Baylor/Purdue, West Virginia/Arizona, and Belmont/Duke. He'll be checking in periodically with player & coach interviews as well as news updates from the Verizon Center.

This afternoon, he returns within an interview from Xavier's Derrick Brown:

Q: What is your day like today?

A: We are just trying to maintain our concentration.  Coach Miller has done a great job of getting us prepared.

Q: What do you know about Georgia?

A: I only caught glimpses of them in the SEC tournament, as we were busy in the A-10 tournament.  I am not really worried about their nothing-to-lose situation.  It is a 1-game season with a lot of adrenaline, and it is a chance for every team to redeem their entire season if they can keep winning, or end their season if they lose.

Q: I know you're not a doctor, but how is point guard Drew Lavender recovering from his ankle injury?

A: You will have to ask Drew himself, but he looks ready, and I know he will come to play with everything he has got.

Q: What is Coach [Sean] Miller like?

A: Honestly, he is 1 of the best guys I have ever been around.  He is a players’ coach, and he makes us want to work hard for him, even when he occasionally yells at us.

Q: Your team is very balanced with a lot of double-digit scorers: how does that affect your offensive game plan?

A: Nobody cares who scores, which helps us play better as a team.  If we need a basket at the end of the game, we have several options, rather than a single go-to-guy.

Q: You had a very difficult schedule this year: how has it prepared you for the NCAA Tournament?

A: Our non-conference schedule was pretty hectic, so we are ready to go.

Q: What did you learn from the loss to Ohio State in last year’s NCAA Tournament?

A: It was my first time in the tourney, so it was interesting to see what it was like to be on a big stage against a big-time opponent.  Now that I have that experience under my belt, it will allow me to focus this year on getting the job done.

- Interview w/ Georgia's Troy Brewer