Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
February 9, 2001

Kelly is leading his team with 17.4 points per game. (AP)

Check out what Texas guard Darren Kelly had to say during his chat about the season and playing in the Big 12.

An All-American candidate, Kelly has been the leader of the Longhorns averaging a team best 17.4 points per game. He is pulling down 4.4 rebounds a game and has 49 assists and 23 steals.

During their last game on Wednesday, Kelly scored 25 points to help his team beat Colorado 77-72. Chat transcript below.

Darren Kelly: Whats up everybody? This is Darren Kelly from the Texas Longhorn family!

Question: marty3: How would you describe your overall "Game" as a Player in College Basketball?

Darren Kelly: As of right now I am a pretty good player that has a lot of ability. Once I tighten up a few fundamental skills I will be a good all-around player. Not quite there yet. Like ball handling and becoming a more consistent shooter.

Question: big12er: Top to bottom, how tough is the Big 12?

Darren Kelly: I think the Big 12 is very tough. We have a lot of great players that people don't hear about. Every team in competitive. Even the ones with out winning records. Any team can win on any given night. We are one of those conferences.

Question: texasdevil: Who is the toughest player you've faced in the Big 12?

Darren Kelly: Lets see.. We haven't played everyone yet. But so far I would say probably Maurice Baker. He is 6'1" and pretty much does it all for their team. No matter how much you guard him or what you do he gives it his all. He finds a way to keep his team in a place to almost win every game. He's probably the toughest we've faced so far.

Question: brahmabull: How much has the loss of Chris Mihm affected your team?

Darren Kelly: Anytime you lose a player like a 7-foot skilled player, it hurts. Even though we miss him we have a lot of guys to make up for it. We lost him and picked up 3 or 4 big men to fill what he gave us last year. Of course we miss him but we gotta play forward.

Question: lnghrndave: As a former UT student, do the players wish the students could be seated a little closer to the action? Or that a better arena were available?

Darren Kelly: No.. not a better arena. But we would definitely wish the students could be closer. When its full this is one of the best arenas. But to have the students closer would make the game more exciting. We don't need a new area but would love to have the fans closer. A lot closer.

Question: lnghrndave: What do you attribute Texas' success against the Big 10 the past two years? Wins over Michigan State, Indiana, and Illinois, I think, have done lots for Big XII reputation.

Darren Kelly: For us, what we have done - what we bring, is defense. That is how we beat these teams. Coach Barnes' style is defense. All of his teams have been great D teams. Good D gives you good offense and when you get defensive buckets you win games.

Question: stymie: Are there any teams in the country that you'd like a crack at that you haven't had a chance to play?

Darren Kelly: the #1 team in the country. When we played Duke this year I wasn't a part of it. I am not saying we'd have won the game but if I was there maybe I could have made a difference. Just to play the best competition on the college level shows you where YOU are. So I'd say the #1 team in the nation.

Question: marty3: Describe how it feels to be considered an All-American Candidate as a Player for the U. of Texas?

Darren Kelly: That is the first I have heard of it! If that is true, I appreciate it. For me I have not been one to get a lot of recognition. Highschool, college, whatever. Winning a national championship is what would be the best. If we win then maybe something like that will happen for me. But it isn't that important.

Question: tourneytim: How did you end up at Texas?

Darren Kelly: I came here from Brown-Mackie Junior College. I was recruited to go to Rutgers and while being recruited Coach Lanier moved to Texas and talked Coach Barnes into coming to see me play.

Question: kellyfan: What can you tell us about Coach Barnes? What's it like playing for him?

Darren Kelly: It is a great experience. Any competitive player would like playing for him. He is all about winning. That is all he talks about, winning at the highest level. Even today we are playing for the national championship. He instills that in the players, to win. He is a great coach to play for.

Question: brahmabull: Does the team consider themselves to be a potential Final Four team for this upcoming tournament?

Darren Kelly: If they didn't, what are we playing for? Everyone that steps on the court gives it their all to be the best. That comes from Coach Barnes too. We are playing to win and we have the talent to do it. We just have to go out and execute.

Question: marty3: Describe what it's like to play in The NCAA Tournament?

Darren Kelly: Oh.. I mean there is NO feeling like it. Even though I only did it once so far, it was the time of my life. The competition level goes way up. Not a few but all the people are there to win. With me being the competitive person I am it is great. Not may people get to go. 64 of 300 or 400 teams. Just the excitement is indescribable.

Question: pav: Darren, I live in Lubbock and I was wandering, do you think the Women 'Horns can win this weekend at Tech?

Darren Kelly: Oh yeah. I know how good our team is. They are going through some things but if they put it together they can do it. They are talented and if they stick to their game plan they can pull off that win.

Question: brahmabull: Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

Darren Kelly: Definitely my mother. Mother raised me by herself. She told me to be strong when things were tough. All my life has been faced with adversity and she was always there. She is my savior and everything to me.

Question: carlosv: What do you like to do when you're not on the court? Does the team hang out together off the court as well?

Darren Kelly: We do hang out. We go out and do little things, nothing too much. Our schedules are hectic with school and basketball. But we will go play pool and whatever. Most of the time I am in study hall, class or practice or travelling. We're not out there having a ton of fun all the time like many people think.

Question: lnghrndave: Who were your favorite pro and college players when you were growing up?

Darren Kelly: My favorite player was Grant Hill. Pros and college. He was the one who seemed he could do it all. Do well in college and better in pros. That is what I want to be.. maybe not tall enough to be him. But he is the one I want to be like.

Question: big12er: Will you do anything different against Oklahoma Saturday?

Darren Kelly: No. I think we will go in, and use our game plan. The 1st game we played there we didn't make the plays. This time we will stick to the game plan and play hard nosed defense. We are definitely more confident and they will see a different team than they saw the first time!

Question: kellyfan: The team seems to suffer through shooting troubles sometimes, what are you all doing to address that?

Darren Kelly: The reason we have shooting problems is because we have trouble executing the offense. We tend to break out of the offense instead of running it through. Now we are taking the shots when they present themselves. Besides that we are just going to knock down shots. We have plenty of people who can score, we just have to knock em down. We shoot a lot in practice and we have more confidence now. That is all it is.

Question: tourneytim: What is your major at Texas and what is the hardest thing you've discovered about being a student-athlete?

Darren Kelly: My major is Sports Management. The hardest thing is going from class to practice, get at it hard in practice, and then go to study hall. You try to read chapters of books when you are tired from practice. It's hard to do it all. I don't think people realize what it is like for an athlete to manage their time. That is the thing I've learned, time management.

Question: bignit: What game has been the most exciting to be involved in during your career to date?

Darren Kelly: Hmm.. I would say the tournament game last year against LSU. It kept going back and forth and we were both giving it our all. We didn't come out on top but we felt good competing against a team that way.

Darren Kelly: Thank you for supporting the Longhorns and myself. We hope to get a lot of fans to come out this weekend and the rest of the home games. Thanks everyone, take it easy.