Pittsburgh News, Ray Mernagh

WITH BIG SHOES TO FILL, CHASE ADAMS LOOKS TO MAKE MARK AT PITT IN 2009-2010

by RAY MERNAGH

Editors note – Chase Adams enters the mix at Pittsburgh to replace three-year starter Levance Fields as the point guard for Jamie Dixon’s Panthers. Adams joins Pitt following three season at Centenary College where as a junior last season he was voted the league’s Defensive Player of the Year. Adams, who played his high school basketball at well-known Mt. St. Joseph’s in Baltimore, averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 2.7 steals, good for 8th in the nation, last year. Adams posted solid games last season against Mississippi State (15 pts, 6 assists), LSU (16 pts), Texas Tech (23 pts, 6 rebs) and Missouri (14 pts). With Centenary de-emphasizing athletics, the NCAA allowed Adams to transfer and be immediately eligible this season. With that opportunity, he chose the Panthers and he was a popular target of questions at the recent Pitt media day. Here is a Q&A session with Adams from last week which included several questions from NBE’s Ray Mernagh who was in attendence…

Q: You and Travon (Woodall) are going to be battling at the point, is your relationship good with the young redshirt freshmen that you’re in effect going to be competing with?

Chase Adams: It’s a great situation because these guys have been so welcoming and Travon was one of the first guys I met on the team when I came in and he understands this is a collective effort and it doesn’t matter who’s playing, who’s starting, etc. it’s all about winning at the end of the day, we both understand that and our relationship is great.
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Q: Give us a thumbnail sketch of Chase Adams as a basketball player, what can Pitt Panther fans expect from you?

CA: You can expect me to be very tough, hard-nosed, tough and intense is what you can expect with a lot of energy.
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NBE: Coming in to this program as a senior transfer, how long did it take to get comfortable with your new surroundings?

CA: I got comfortable actually really quick. I got adjusted and acclimated really fast because the guys have taken me in under their wings and really have made me feel like I’m one of them from the start. I realize I jumped into a situation that’s very unique and they embraced me totally and its allowed me to get comfortable a lot quicker than I expected. Looking at the banners and the plaques and all the awards around this place it can be a bit overwhelming at times but it’s truly everything I’ve ever wanted as far as a basketball/school situation. It’s just basketball at the end of the day and I’m ready for this opportunity.
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NBE: What can you add to the mix that this team might not have had without you?

CA: I feel like I bring a lot of energy and passion for defense, not saying their defense has been bad in the past, but I really care a lot about getting stops and battling and fighting for loose balls. I think this group has a ton of toughness already and I think I add to that with my toughness and I bring a veteran presence to a team with a lot of young guys on it along with Jermaine, Brad and Nas.
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NBE: I talked to some of my guys in the Summit League — coaches who’ve palyed the game at a high level — and they said your on-the-ball pressure is off the charts. Is that one of your things, can you really lock people up on the ball?

CA: (Laughing and hesitant to answer) Yeah, over the years I’ve gotten a lot better off the ball too, but I’ve been known to be a guy who on-the-ball can lock guys up a little bit but my off-the-ball is jsut as good too.
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