U Weekly. Serving The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio

Evan Turner

Junior, men's basketball

By VR Bryant

I haven't done a lot of interviews in my time as a writer - probably because I'm rude and generally off-putting. But when I had the opportunity to get Evan Turner on the phone after Saturday's World University Games contest with South Korea, I took the chance.

Turner is in Serbia now with the national WUG team, cutting his teeth on the international circuit before coming back to rough up the Big Ten again, this time as a junior. And since he is very likely to someday log meaningful minutes in the Association, I think him actually taking the time to jaw with me was kind of generous. I mean, he's no Mark "The Shark" or anything, but he's kind of a big deal.

How's the tournament going so far, just in general?
It's been a good couple of days all around. We're playing good team ball, we're all playing hard. We're all playing defense, and we're winning - that's the best thing about it.

I understand that Bo Ryan [Wisconsin] is coaching the team. Pretty intense guy. What's it like playing for him?
He's done a good job. He's an old-school type of coach. He definitely doesn't take any BS, and you're held accountable for everything you do. But he loves the game, he's really passionate, and that's what makes you like playing for him.

You're also getting to play with Robbie Hummel, a guy you've squared off with in the past. How's that working out?
Actually, he's my roommate.

Huh. Very cool.
Yeah, he's a stand-up guy, and he knows how to win. Good guy to have around - good guy in general. But he definitely knows how to win, and that's the most important part.

I don't know how much you pay attention, but you've gotten some press recently about potentially having a breakout year - expect any big improvements from yourself?
Not only out of myself, but out of my team as well. I expect the best and to keep building the team. I think my confidence is there, I'm just going to keep working and worrying about The Ohio State University.

I'm not sure how much you can really say about the loss of scholarships, but I guess you could just say that you don't have to worry about adding any new pieces. Is that a good thing?
I see it as a great thing. We've basically got everybody back except for B.J., and they've all been through the fire. We all know how to conduct ourselves in practice, we all know the system and how each other play, and we've definitely got great chemistry.

Do you see yourself at the point at all this year?
I think I'll be handling the ball a lot again this year, but our point guards have been doing a tremendous job. P.J. did a great job, and Jeremie Simmons came in and did a great job too. That was really his first time ever playing point guard. He's always been a scorer. He's been working hard this spring and summer to get better and help the team out. But I think I'll have the opportunity to move over to point guard when it's called for and run with a big line.

As a fan, I can't help but look ahead to the 2010 class, which features four guys in the ESPN top 100. Any comments on that?
We have some really good players in that class who are going to come in and help a lot. We've played with them before and they're pretty mature kids. I think we'll have an opportunity to make a lot of noise that year.

So...you're staying for your senior year then?
(laughs) Uh, that's what I signed up for. But I'm just worried about today. And who knows, maybe I won't be as hot next year as I was last year, but I'm just all about getting ready now. I signed up for four years, and I'm going to focus on bettering myself so I can help out my teammates.

Hate to bring it up, but about the way last year ended: does the Siena game still bug you? Does it bug the team? Or are you over it?
You know, I still watch that tape at least once a week. There was one...I spun into the paint at the end of regulation and I could have dropped it off to B.J. And I just think about, "Well, what if I had dropped it off to B.J.?" I shot the ball. It usually goes in - it went out. That hurts a little bit. But you can't do anything about it now.

What about expectations for this year?
We just have the mentality that we expect to win. We're not working for third or fourth, we're trying to win the Big Ten. No doubt in my mind we'll be near the top.

Alright, I have to ask. What's with the whole Titus blog 'Club Trillion' thing? Are you in on it, or what?
Me and Mark have a love/hate relationship. I love the kid to death, but our relationship is just flat-out bashing each other 24/7. (laughs) And you never know, he sees everything that I do, and he just brings it up. I don't have anything to do with it - I'll just pop it up and see my name in there again, but it's all in fun. He's a great writer. I mean, I thought the blog would maybe amount to something, but...

Yeah, it's getting a lot more attention than I ever thought it would, that's for sure.
Yeah, no, me too. But no, I'm personally not involved. Me and Mark have a lot of respect for each other, though, and I think it's just a way for him to shout me out a little bit.

So the 'Villain' nickname - you're not sticking with that?
Nah, I'm not sticking with that at all. I'm 'The Kid'.

Alright, well, I should probably ask you some goofy stuff now, like what your favorite food is, but I won't put you through that ringer. How about just telling me how you spend your time these days?
I go to Waffle House a lot. When I'm not at Waffle House, I'm usually at the gym, working on my skills, just trying to be a better basketball player. I know it sounds cliché, but...

No, I don't think Waffle House and the gym is cliché. That's the first time I've ever heard of that.
Well, okay, let's copyright that. (laughs)

Yeah. What do you get when you go to Waffle House?
I get the same thing. They know what I'm getting as soon as I walk in, soon as they see me, and they start my order. I get a double waffle, sausage patty, and an orange juice. With hash browns.

Nice. Nice.
Every single time.

Well alright, man, that's all I've got. Have fun with the rest of the Games - what have you got, eight teams, three rounds or something?
Oh man, I don't know. It's crazy. I'm just looking to go out there and pulverize.

Originally Published: July 8, 2009

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