Chat Transcript
CBS SportsLine.com
March 13, 2001

Porter is averaging 15.1 points per game and has 97 assists. (Allsport)

The NCAA Tournament is finally here! Check out what Fresno State guard Demetrius Porter had to say during his chat about the tournament selections and his upcoming game.

Porter, a senior, is finishing up his final year in style. He is averaging 15.1 points per game and has 97 assists. He is shooting 39-percent from behind arch, but during conference play, he upped that to 44-percent. His assist-to-turnover ratio is almost 2:1.

Demetrius Porter: Hello to all you Bulldog fans. And to those who don't know about the Bulldogs, hello to you too!

Question: nuthin_but_net: Hey Demetrius? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Would you consider a win over Cal to be a good birthday present?

Demetrius Porter: It would be a GREAT birthday present. Making a big run in the tournament would be the perfect present for me this year.

Question: from rdb_fsu: Meetchie, it seems like the team hit it's peak during the 13 game winning streak. Do you think we can come out and play our best game yet on Friday?

Demetrius Porter: I don't think we hit a peak. I think teams got wiser to our flow and they scouted us well. Now we have to make adjustments and hopefully those adjustments will pick up our level of play.

Question: az_why: Is the team mentally prepared?

Demetrius Porter: Yeah. I think we are mentally tough. The things at the start of the season, defensive slides for an hour, make us tough. We can take the bad with the good and fight out of the bad.

Question: dawgz: How difficult was it for you to move over to the 2 guard from the 1? It seems you took to your new role without much difficulty.

Demetrius Porter: Actually it was a bit of a challenge at the beginning. It was a slow start because I didn't think it was going to be as big of a change as it was. Later, when I got comfortable, things started to pick up.

Question: fsdawgz: Rumor has it that this team will have trouble with more battle-tough teams because your level of competition has been shaky. What do you have to say to that?

Demetrius Porter: I don't think our level of competition has been shaky. people don't give the WAC enough credit. They don't always have the level of talent of some other conferences but they have guys who go out there and give 110% percent. When you have that, they are always dangerous.

Question: cragar: What's it like to be coached by Tark?

Demetrius Porter: It is great! He is such a funny and humble guy and is willing to lay it all on the line for his players. He is quick to take the blame for the players even if it is our fault. He says "Maybe I should have done this or that" when it is our fault.

Question: adminjp: The game against Cal is a rematch of a game in the 1999 tourney have you seen their fine guard Shantay Leggins..what kind of challenge does guarding him present?

Demetrius Porter: I haven't seen film on him yet. Our assistant coaches have scouted them. Whatever they say to do we will do because they watched film on him all day long.

Question: jetz: The team had some perplexing losses this year including losing to Hawaii in the tourney. Have you all pinpointed what happened in those games?

Demetrius Porter: Actually those games we had trouble executing our offense. Not to take anything away from Hawaii. They were super and prepared well and were good on their defense also.

Question: bulldogs: I played ball against you in high school... I'm so sick of people saying CAL is gonna win... has Tark prepared you guys on shutting down Lampley yet?

Demetrius Porter: Yeah. he has prepared us to shut him down. Well you can't shut him down but you can contain him and take that part of the game away. The key to Cal or one of them is to stop him.

Question: fsdawgz: Are you all happy about playing in the South this year? Do you expect the Red Wave to follow you down south to root on the team?

Demetrius Porter: We have two charters full of fans going down there! Everywhere we go is the Red Wave. No matter how far the distance, we know we will have loyal fans to cheer us on. It makes a difference in those games.

Question: doggie_you: So was it fun playing with chris Jefferies and Deshawn in H.S.

Demetrius Porter: Actually I didn't play with Deshawn. he came in a year after. But the times I played pickup was fun watching him take the lobs to the hoop. Chris brings another level to the team offensively and defensively and makes our jobs easier. It's been fun playing with him.

Question: jetz: You’re a senior this year – what will you be doing after graduation?

Demetrius Porter: After graduation, if it is the Lord's will, I will be playing somewhere. Whether it is NBA or overseas it would be great to make a living playing the game I love.

Question: dreamcazt1: How has your stay in fresno been?

Demetrius Porter: It has been great. I have been able to stay home with my family and given my family a chance to see me play and support me. Having the local fans treat me with kindness and support and letting me know things are alright is great. It has been beautiful here.

Question: tarkshark: Not that you have much this time of year, but what do you like to do in your free time?

Demetrius Porter: My free time? I like to go back and spend time with my Mom and grandparents and family members. Going to church with them and spend time with them. It relieves the stress.

Question: uconnhcc: If you beat Cal, how do you think you will match up against Michigan ST.?

Demetrius Porter: I think we match up well with MSU. We have great athletes and they do too. It will be a battle to the finish. People count us out because of losses to Hawaii and all. But when the level of competition steps up, we step up too.

Question: tarkshark: Who does the team look to for motivation/encouragement?

Demetrius Porter: Each other! We are like a family. When we see another family member down, it takes all of us to lift their spirits. Sometimes all of us are motivators.

Question: ubbdogs: Do you think you are underrated by the press?

Demetrius Porter: I think we are. Since coach has been here, his first few years he didn't have as successful seasons as we'd like. Now we have to prove ourselves constantly and show Fresno State has players also!

Question: hoopty_girl: Demetrius, you, Chris and Shannon all had over 50 steals this year. Would you say this is one of your team strengths?

Demetrius Porter: Actually this year it has been fun to play defense. Me and Shannon had contests to see who had the most steals! It wasn't as much fun last year but this year was fun!

Question: uconnhcc: What would you say is your weaknesses?

Demetrius Porter: That is a good question! Possibly a slow tempo game. We like to get up and down. Once we become a half court set team, we get into slow plays are aren't as comfortable as we are running up and down and getting baskets.

Question: dreamcazt1: How is this years team different from last years team with Courtney alexander, and how do you think you compare with the top team in the nation like UNC and stanford?

Demetrius Porter: This years team has more weapons than last year. Last year we had to go through one person with the scoring. But he was a great player. Now we spread the ball around and any person could be the man for the night. And we are closer than last year. We like each other and have no animosity. We just go have fun.

Question: ubbdogs: How much different emotionally is a tournament game than a regular season?

Demetrius Porter: Very emotional. During the season you know you have another game. With this, if you lose, your season is over. Every game could be your last.

Question: bigpostman: The name Demetrius doesn't pop up every day. Were you named for someone in particular?

Demetrius Porter: I hear that, when I was born, Mom left it up to my grandmother to pick a name. She looked into the bible and found Demetrius. And that is where it came from.

Question: tarkshark: Have the rumors started yet about Tito moving to the NBA?

Demetrius Porter: Yeah. Since he started he had a stretch of like 5 games and people started wondering then. As far as I know he feels he has another year to mature and work on his game and won't go.

Question: dreamcazt1: Last year you were paired with wisconsin with there slow grinding game were you happy to get someone like cal this year?

Demetrius Porter: Yeah. Because we know Cal is not going to slow it down and not run 20 seconds off the clock before a shot. 5 or 15 seconds, they will take what the defense gives them and that is how we like to play.

Question: #261 from adminjp: Demetrius what was practice like today..will you guys spend a lot of time preparing for fresno or concentrating on what your team does best??

Demetrius Porter: Right now we are working on Cal's offense and getting our pressure D back. And tuning things up to give us a better flow of the offense.

Question: dreamcazt1: How far do you think fresno can go this year?

Demetrius Porter: I think we can do like Wisconsin and get to the Final Four. We have to play as a team and realize that the goal is to win. Winning will bring happiness to the team. Tasting that makes you realize that hard work pays off!

Demetrius Porter: I want to thank all you Bulldog fans who supported us and hopefully we will make you proud in the tournament! Goodnight!