Aug. 10, 2011
UICFlames.com: You and the other eight newcomers have been on campus for about two months now. How has the adjustment to taking college classes and working out with your new teammates been?
Marc Brown: It's been a lot of fun, and a different experience. It's my first time away from home, so that's been an adjustment. But I feel like we've bonded pretty well, both on and off the court. It feels like we've known each other forever. Overall, it's been great spending the summer with these guys.
UICFlames.com: After re-opening your recruitment following committing to Florida State, what attracted you to UIC?
Brown: It came down to the relationship I had with UIC's coaches. I had a relationship with Coach Moore that I didn't feel like I had with some of the other coaches that recruited me. I felt like the coaching staff here could help me become a better player and a better person. I'm really looking forward to playing for this staff.
UICFlames.com: How would you describe your game to Flames fans that haven't seen you play yet?
Brown: I'm a physical guy that does everything pretty well, as far as shooting the ball, ball handling and attacking the basket. I'm not great at everything, and definitely have a lot of room for improvement in my overall game. I really like playing defense; I take a lot of pride in it. My goal in college is to be a lockdown defender.
UICFlames.com: Your defensive ability has been praised by a lot of the people that follow high school basketball in Texas. Talk a little bit about the mentality that a good on the-ball defender has to have.
Brown: It's a mentality; you have to know yourself that the guy you are guarding is not going to score on you. You don't have to be the most athletic guy; it just comes down to making it a priority and a mindset. You have to take pride in getting stops.
UICFlames.com: It's pretty unique that you're coming into this recruiting class with another player from Dallas, in point guard Gary Talton. What kind of relationship have you formed with him, and did you play against him at all growing up?
Brown: I actually did not know Gary at all before we came here. But with both of us being from Dallas, we can definitely relate, and got along right away. All of the other new guys that are from Chicago like to give us a hard time about being from Texas, and make jokes about Dallas. But Gary and I have each other's back, so we can joke back with those guys. It's been cool having him around. When I found out that he signed, I got his phone number, and he talked a few times before coming up here, but never met.
UICFlames.com: Coming from Dallas, how excited were you to see the Dallas Mavericks break through and win the NBA title this season? What impressed you most about that surprising run?
Brown: Everyone in Dallas went crazy. Everybody has always been a Dirk (Nowitzski) fan, but everyone really embraced the team this year, especially during the playoffs. It was a great run, and something that a lot of people didn't expect. They just came together as a team at the right time, and guys all played their roles.
UICFlames.com: From playing in pick-up games with all of your teammates this summer, what do you feel will be one of the main strengths of this team when the season tips off in November?
Brown: We're going to be very versatile. We can go inside; we have great point guards and good wings. And we can all play defense; that's been a real focus of ours. I think the sky is the limit as far as potential goes; we just have to take advantage of our versatility and prove it on the court when the season starts.
UICFlames.com: In what areas do you feel you need to improve upon the most before the season begins?
Brown: I would say the biggest thing is my ball handling, and taking advantage of my athleticism. I've been working a lot with Nick (Zostautas), our strength coach. I've gotten quicker and improved my strength, so I'll continue to focus on that. Other than that, I've just got to learn the college game better. I've been observing a lot of our returning guys, and how they compete at this level. I'll do the same thing with players from other teams, just seeing how they approach the college game.
UICFlames.com: With classes wrapping up, you and your teammates will be able to go home for about two weeks before returning to campus. What are your plans during your break from basketball and classes?
Brown: I'm going to be working out; I want to stay in shape. Nick (Zostautas) gave us a workout plan for the next two weeks, and Gary (Talton) and I are planning on working out together. We both live in the suburbs of Dallas, so we're only about 15 minutes apart. We plan on pushing each other and coming back to campus in great shape.
