BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - One on one with Talor Battle

October 29, 2009

Nate Bauer
BlueWhiteIllustrated.com Editor

The spotlight was once again on Penn State junior point guard Talor Battle at today's Big Ten men's basketball media day in Chicago.

At this point, he's used to it.

Named to the pre-season All-Big Ten team again, Battle was included with the best players in what many people consider a loaded conference this season.

After a summer spent playing with bronze-medal winning Team USA for the World University Games, Battle is poised to improve on his breakout sophomore campaign and bring his team along with him.

This morning, Battle sat down to discuss his latest honor, the success of the 2008 season, and what lies ahead for the Nittany Lions.

What do you think other people think of the program now after the success of last year?

Battle: I'm not really sure. You can argue that we lost those guys and a lot of teams may think it was a one-time thing, but at the same time, people's perception really doesn't matter to what we want to achieve or accomplish. We know what we've got and how hard we've been working. Nothing can be proved until you start playing the games so all of this is irrelevant. You walk around and there's six teams in the top 25 and they may be walking around with a little more swagger, but that's all irrelevant when the games start. You'll see teams falling in and out of that top 25. Nothing is proven until the games start and that's what I'm looking forward to to show people what we're all about.

Is respect important to you personally and for the program?

Battle: Respect is big. I mean, last year, people definitely respected us as a team and individually at the same time. Individually, all the guys respect me, but as a team, I'm not really sure. That's why we're working so hard. That's why the guys are so fired up because they all feel that they have so much to prove because everyone talks about 'they lost Jamelle' and 'they lost Stanley' so guys like Drew and Jeff and D.J., they have a great chance to step up and really shot the country what they got.

Do you have less to prove?

Battle: I have a chip on my shoulder. I'm never going to change. (It's been part of your identity for a long time) Exactly. I got a chip on my shoulder. I really feel offended that so many people are talking about they don't believe in the guys. Those are my guys. Drew, Jeff, so I'm right there with my team. Regardless of what the league has for me, they think I'm an all-Big Ten selection, I want them to know we're higher than ninth or tenth in the league. So, that's a chip I walk around with. It's not about the individual. At the end of the day, everything is about team. So, it's a chip that they have us finishing so low, and that's something we've gotta prove. That's why we're working.

Did you think you'd get any preseason love as a team after the NIT success?

Battle: Nah. I didn't think so. To be honest with you, I didn't think so. We lost those guys. That's just how college is and that's sports in general. When you lose some people, they're going to say, well, they've gotta do some rebuilding, but at the same time, you gotta think that a lot of guys couldn't really show what they had if someone is ahead of you. I feel like Drew is going to have a big year. Chris Babb didn't have the opportunity to play because of Stanley. So, no one really knows what those guys can do, but at the same time, they have yet to prove anything so that's where that ninth or tenth place finish comes from. Like I said, when the games start, we'll see where we're at and I'm looking forward to it.

Losing some of the pieces that you are, will the style of play be different this year?

Battle: No. I think we'll still try to run. It's so hard to tell right now until that first game starts. I mean, it's a little different. (Do you have a feel even within these first few weeks?) I think we look good so far. We're growing. We're young. We got a lot of talent. It's almost how quick do the young guys pick it up? I think once they get that and understand how hard you have to play and what it takes to play at this level, we'll be fine. I think our core group with me, Drew, Jeff and D.J., we're all juniors and we all came in together. We all went through that success last year, so we understand what it takes. We have Chris Babb and Tim Frazier and some younger guys that I really think can help us. I'm so excited to see what we look like when we play a game and to really get a feel for where we're at. It's so hard to tell in practice when you're split up here and there. When we start scrimmaging and things like that, we'll really get a feel for where we're at right now.

How much of the confidence of the young guys is your responsibility?

Battle: I think that's huge. And that's always what I've been. I've always trying to be the one to tell my teammates that they're the best because confidence to me and my family is the biggest thing going. That's how I carry myself with a lot of confidence and a little swagger. I gotta pass that down to my teammates to get them to play at my level and that's what I've been doing, each and every day. You score a basket and I'm telling you you're the best thing in the world. That's what it's going to take and I really believe in my guys, so I'm trying to pass the confidence I carry down to them.

It seems like you're trying to do that with Tim right away. Is he your project right now?

Battle: It's definitely tough with Tim. In an aspect, he really is my project, but at the same time, I'm competing against him every day. It's like my goal is to beat him up and then after I tell him you gotta do this and that. It's so tough at the same time when he's guarding me every day and that's who I'm competing against, to try to sit back and then teach at the same time. But I know he's going to be a huge piece of the team. So, I talk to him a lot and he's got a lot of potential. The kid is really good and he's making progress, picking things up fast, and he's always asking me questions. He really looks up to me and I'm trying to teach everything I know to him because we're going to need him and when we're gone, it's going to be his team.

Will he be in the backcourt with you a lot this year?

Battle: I think so. I definitely think so, especially... it depends. They get me off the ball a little bit, I'm sure coach will try to get us in or if coach just wants to bump up the tempo a little bit (You'll play some two this year?) I really don't know right now because we have yet to play a game. At practice, we got two point guards so me and Tim are always on the opposite team. So, it's so tough. I'm sure coach will try to put out the best guys and I understand that Tim is one of those guys, so I'm sure we'll be on the court at the same time.

Does he remind you of yourself at all when you came in?

Battle: Nah, he's a totally different player. Attitude and swagger, he's a fun loving kid, he's a great kid, but it's hard for me to try to compare people to myself. I can't remember being a freshman. But at the same time, when I came in, I was thrown into the fire to play such a big role. His might not be as big as mine was coming in so it's kind of tough. I try to tell him, but at the same time he might miss a shot here and there, and I can go and tell him I missed my first 33 shots or whatever, so don't let that bog you down. That has no prediction of what you're going to grow into. He's definitely a fun loving kid, brings a lot of energy and emotion and plays so hard. He's really good so I'm looking forward to seeing what he's going to do.

Is the preseason all-Big Ten announcement something you expect at this point or an honor?

Battle: To be honest, I really don't care about it because preseason doesn't tell you what's going to happen at the end of the year. It's the same thing I'm touching on with all these preseason rankings. Never will you see the preseason rankings finish the way they start and that's how the Big Ten all-team selections are. I'm just looking forward to going out and focusing and continue to play well and if I do that, I think I'll end up on the team just by my play. It's nothing I'm really thinking about or care about for that matter, all I want to do is win and I'm sure if we win, those individual accolades will come along with it.

Is this season NCAA-or-bust? Is it one of those situations where that's the only expectation?

Battle: In my opinion it is. To be honest with you, you go to the NIT and win it, so why would you ever even want to go back to it? A goal, if you made the NIT, I'm sure you wouldn't be too disappointed to going back if things didn't happen, but having won it already, there's no point to going back. The NCAA Tournament. That's what I dreamed about playing in my whole life, so I'm really looking forward to going to the Tournament and playing in that atmosphere and seeing what it's all about.

With that in mind, how important are these non-conference games you guys have coming up?

Battle: They're huge. We have a couple of tough games and some games that we can win that we can really help ourselves out. We're going to see what we're really made of. I can't wait to start playing. All this talking and stuff is cool, but I can't wait to start playing.

What has this experience been like coming out here for Big Ten media day right when things are getting rolling with practices?

Battle: It's a little hectic and a little different. At the same time, it's a little nice that you go to a nice hotel and get spoiled for a day. A little private jet. It's cool. But at the same time, it's a little tiring, throws you off your schedule, we miss a class, so it's going to be nuts to go back today focused and ready to practice and that's what it takes. It's a little different than the normal schedule but it's something that comes along with playing college basketball.

Does Drew get enough attention or respect from the media?

Battle: Ahh, I would probably say no, but he understands that and he's really looking forward to going out and proving to people what he's really made of. Last year he had to play back seat to Mel, who was our first threat in the post. It's kind of just waiting your turn and now Drew really has the opportunity and when we go into the post, it's going to be going into him for the most part. I think he's going to have a breakout year.

What has your relationship with him been like with him on the court? You had a chemistry with Mel, do you have the same thing with Drew?

Battle: Definitely. In my position, I try to build a certain relationship with everybody on the team to kind of understand what they think when you're making a move. It's something that me and Drew spoke all the time about, running a ball screen, coming off, when to throw the ball, when to catch and little things. When I kick it to you, not always cutting, maybe popping and shooting that mid-range jump shot that he can make. So, we've been touching base all the time about what to expect when I'm coming off a screen and that's something he's gotten better with.

How much of a learning process is it for you to take over the leadership role that Mel had? Now there's no question this is your team.

Battle: I mean, I had my teams back in high school so I experienced it but never have I experienced it on such a big stage. College is so different. In high school, it's little old high school, and now I'm in control and running the show and guys are looking up to me in a college atmosphere. But that's what my success has gotten me to, playing so well, they all look up to me and they all believe in me, but at the same time, I have to teach them what I know and understand and the ways of the game and things like that. The toughest part, and I keep speaking on this, is each and every day whether I have a bad day if my little sister is upset or something right there, I gotta come in and refocus and stay positive as much as I can. So, that's the hardest thing. I'm really adjusting and I've been doing great. The coaches have been great helping me with it, shooting me texts and just reminding me that it's new and I'm definitely doing a great job. I'm really excited and doing my best to lead the team.

There's a lot of pressure.

Battle: It's definitely a lot of pressure, but hey, everything is pressure. To have the ball in the last couple of seconds and take a shot is pressure, so I think I can handle anything.

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