Spring Break
Q&A: DeLuca discuss teammates' improvement
by Mike Prada
Editor in Chief
Sports | 3/11/08
Posted online at 4:42 AM EST on 3/11/08
Ever since his breakout sophomore campaign in the 2005 to 2006 season, forward Steve DeLuca '08 had been the face of Brandeis men's basketball. That face, however, has not been in action for the Judges' second straight NCAA Tournament run, as back and hamstring injuries forced DeLuca to the sidelines for the entire season. DeLuca, a two-time All-University Athletic Association performer, said he will undergo corrective surgery March 17 and intends to take a medical redshirt. He should be healthy to return next season, but without him, the Judges have not missed a beat, advancing to the third round of the tournament and achieving a No. 5 national ranking.
DeLuca sat down with JustSports last week to talk about the team's play in his absence.
JustSports: When you first learned that you were going to be out for a long period of time, what did you honestly think about the team's chances of succeeding?
Steve DeLuca: I thought we were still going to do really well. Even last year, when I was playing, I wouldn't lead the team in scoring every night. We were really talented last year, and we have even more talent this year. I noticed early on that guys were stepping up. [Guard] Joe [Coppens '08] has pretty much become the leader of the team this year, and everyone follows his lead. He's been playing great, and he's a great leader and a great character. So I was confident. I was more worried about my health because I kept thinking I was going to come back, and as time went on, it was like the door was closing.
JS: What have you noticed about [Coppens] from watching him? How has he improved his game?
SD: He hasn't really had to rely on me for the scoring load. I told him early on, "I'm not sure when I'm going to be back, so you need to step up and take the lead here." It kind of compared to how he probably played in high school, being the main guy and taking all the big shots. I'm sure he had been in that role before, and he's doing great [now].
DeLuca sat down with JustSports last week to talk about the team's play in his absence.
JustSports: When you first learned that you were going to be out for a long period of time, what did you honestly think about the team's chances of succeeding?
Steve DeLuca: I thought we were still going to do really well. Even last year, when I was playing, I wouldn't lead the team in scoring every night. We were really talented last year, and we have even more talent this year. I noticed early on that guys were stepping up. [Guard] Joe [Coppens '08] has pretty much become the leader of the team this year, and everyone follows his lead. He's been playing great, and he's a great leader and a great character. So I was confident. I was more worried about my health because I kept thinking I was going to come back, and as time went on, it was like the door was closing.
JS: What have you noticed about [Coppens] from watching him? How has he improved his game?
SD: He hasn't really had to rely on me for the scoring load. I told him early on, "I'm not sure when I'm going to be back, so you need to step up and take the lead here." It kind of compared to how he probably played in high school, being the main guy and taking all the big shots. I'm sure he had been in that role before, and he's doing great [now].
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