Oct. 10, 2009

Every Monday, MGoBlue.com's Brad Rudner will sit down and ask 10 questions to a different person surrounding the Michigan men's basketball program. In the inaugural feature, Brad sits down with Michigan sophomore guard Laval Lucas-Perry to discuss his adjustment to point guard and the team's expectations entering the season.

Brad Rudner: Several publications have Michigan ranked in the top 15 in the nation, and some have you among the top four in the Big Ten. Are these expectations realistic?

Laval Lucas-Perry: Of course. Coach Beilein tells us not to look at rankings. They do not mean anything to us. You could be the worst team and beat the number one team in the country. We have not accomplished anything. We are back to 0-0 just like everyone else. We are going in like we got something to prove again because there are a lot of teams out there that are looking to do the same thing. We cannot have big heads just because of what we accomplished last year. It is a fresh start for us again.

BR: After the team made such a dramatic improvement last year from the year before, what can the team do to improve this year?
LLP: I think we can work on staying consistent throughout the whole season. We should be going 110 percent every day in practice and hopefully that translates to games. We have also got to help our freshmen, our newcomers, with plays and getting adjusted to Coach Beilein's system.

BR: Which of the freshmen has impressed you the most?
LLP: All of them have. They have shown great improvement. Darius is a strong point guard and can run the team. Matt can shoot the ball. Blake and Jordan give us some big bodies on the floor. They all have their strengths and weaknesses like everyone does, but every one of them have stood out.

BR: How have the freshmen blended with the team both on and off the court?
LLP: They have blended in well. Our chemistry is picking up. We are starting to know how they play on the court and it is always easy off the floor. They are great people to be around and they seem to be picking things up pretty quickly.

BR: With C.J. Lee and David Merritt gone, who will fill the leadership void, as well as the point guard duties?
LLP: I think Stu [Douglass] and I are going to fill that role. We will be the floor leaders and be `Coach Beilein' on the floor. It is going to be our job to bring the team together, to lead and to get players the ball. We are going to distribute, but we are also going to score when needed.

BR: What about Coach Beilein's coaching style has helped you improve the most?
LLP: His confidence in me. He has told me what I need to improve on. I know where my strengths are and I know where my game could improve. He has been critiquing me on what I need to improve on. I think I have done a good job of that so far.

BR: Last year the team featured only DeShawn Sims, Zach Gibson and Eric Puls at the post positions for most of the year. Do you expect the team to play a bigger lineup this year with the return of Ben Cronin and newcomers Blake McLimans and Jordan Morgan?
LLP: Coach Beilein always makes adjustments during the game and we are going to play based on how our opponents play us. If we need to go big, we will go big. If we need to go small, we will go small. Everyone is going to be a chance to play and show what they got.

BR: What was your initial reaction when you heard Manny and DeShawn were returning to school?
LLP: Great feeling for me. They are both great players and will be for the rest of their playing careers. Just having them back on the team will only improve our chances of making it to the Final Four. Hopefully, by them coming back, we will be able to keep winning.

BR: What is the primary goal for the team this season?
LLP: Like any team, we want to win as much as we can. Our goal is the win a Big Ten championship and an NCAA championship. We are looking to improve with a bigger and better season.

BR: What aspect of your game did you focus on the most this summer?
LLP: My point guard skills. I lost some weight and got quicker, stronger. I am learning how to be more of a floor leader, a general. I just want to win games. That is my focus.

Lucas-Perry played in 26 games last season (12 starts) after transferring from Arizona, averaging 6.5 points per game as one of the Wolverines' top three-point shooting threats.