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Chante Black Question & Answer
3/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
March 25, 2005
Duke freshman Chante Black has come on strong at the end of the season, after dealing with injuries to start off her career with the Blue Devils. An ACC All-Freshman honorable mention and All-ACC Tournament second team selection, Black has averaged 6.4 points and 7.9 rebounds this season in 32 games. Over the last two games, Black has pulled down 22 rebounds to lead Duke in the NCAA Tournament. Black sat down with GoDuke.com this week to talk about the season and the upcoming NCAA Tournament.
GoDuke.com: How exciting is it to be playing in the NCAA Tournament?
Chante Black: It is very exciting. It is fun to be in this situation and traveling to Chattanooga for the regionals.
GoDuke.com: Have you noticed anything in the games that is different in the NCAA Tournament than the regular season games?
Chante Black: It is similar to earlier in the season playing certain teams and then the intensity started picking up. In each round of the tournament, the intensity starts picking up and we are playing quality team's game in and game out.
GoDuke.com: Over the first two games of the tournament, you have pulled down 22 rebounds. What has been the key for you in rebounding so far in the NCAAs?
Chante Black: I don't really know a certain key, but rebounding is one of my strengths is rebounding and I try to get in the right position after a shot so I can get the rebound to help the team.
GoDuke.com: What do you need to do to be a good rebounder?
Chante Black: A lot of it comes from being focused and having the determination to go after the ball a lot. You just have to read where the shot is going to come from a lot and the angle of the rim. Just jump up and get it.
GoDuke.com: How has your freshman year been with the struggles you went through early with the injuries?
Chante Black: I have had a lot of fun. I was able to join a great team with a whole bunch of great people who have helped me with my ups and downs. It has been really, really fun.
GoDuke.com: So what is the story about the blue mouth piece we keep hearing about?
Chante Black: I am sure everyone knows the story now, but it is basically having frequent injuries with my mouth. Our trainer, Joe Angus, suggested I try a mouth piece. I wore it one game and did great, wore it again and did great. So it just continued from there. It is like a good luck charm.
GoDuke.com: How is it playing for Coach G?
Chante Black: She is a great coach and is intense. She tells you if you are doing something wrong. If you listen you will learn a lot from her. I have enjoyed playing for her and she is right up there with the best.
GoDuke.com: How much different is high school basketball and college basketball? Was it tough for you making the change?
Chante Black: It is a lot, especially being my height. There is not really a night where I can just go out, turn around and shoot over people. If they are short they have strengths. In high school, you went up against girls that were not as talented all the way around. There might have been one good player on a team and now there are at least four or five out there on the floor.
GoDuke.com: How do you like playing on a team that has only eight players?
Chante Black: It is good just because you get a lot of playing time and stuff like that. At the same time, injuries kind of hurt us at times. This year it was kind of good for me because I was able to learn a lot of different roles on the team and a lot of different situations being put in. So it was nice.
GoDuke.com: What makes this Duke team so special?
Chante Black: I think chemistry has a lot to do with it. We are not really as hostile team. I mean every now and again on the court you may have a little attitude just because a pick was set or something like that. But that is mostly in a game moment. We love one another and get along well. We hang out together outside of the gym, which I think makes for good chemistry.
GoDuke.com: Who is the team comedian?
Chante Black: I would say Wanisha. She does a little bit of everything from singing goofy songs to just doing crazy things.
GoDuke.com: Did you play any other sports growing up?
Chante Black: I played volleyball and softball a little.
GoDuke.com: What do you like to do besides playing basketball?
Chante Black: I like to travel a lot, go to movies, and go to the mall. I usually go to the mall though for a purpose. I love shopping.
GoDuke.com: Where is a favorite place you have been to and where you would like to go?
Chante Black: My favorite place I have been is Portland, Oregon. I would like to go to is somewhere overseas. Maybe Paris as I have always wanted to go there.
GoDuke.com: How has it been for you being close to home? How often have you been able to travel home to see family and friends?
Chante Black: It is great. I am right here at home. People always say that when we go play at Wake Forest, how is it to be playing at home, but I don't really look at it that way. My friends and family are always at Duke. It is rare that I don't have someone come to one of our games. During the season, I haven't been able to go home very often, but in the preseason and summer I was home most every weekend.
GoDuke.com: What is one thing that most people don't know about Chante Black?
Chante Black: Probably that I am shy at first, but once you get to know me I am really an outgoing person and will talk you to death probably.
GoDuke.com: Do you have any idea yet what you would like to do after graduation?
Chante Black: It is definitely going to be pre-med. I am in-between deciding whether it is Biology or BAA. If I go Biology it would probably be pathologist.
Favorites:Type of basketball shoe: Nike's Lebron Gym to play in: Central YMCA in Winston-Salem Food: Tacos and nachos with sour cream TV Show: America's Top Model CD: Ludicrous Actor/Actress: Cecily Tyson Professional team: Minnesota Timerwolves Professional athlete: Carmello Anthony Class at Duke: Women's Studies 20 Place at Duke: Cameron Indoor Stadium
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