Interview with Al Brown, Duke Women’s Assistant Basketball Coach
Few individuals have better coaching credentials. How about head men's basketball coach at Ball State, assistant men's basketball coach at Tennessee, advisor to the Tennessee football team, assistant women's basketball coach at Tennessee, assistant women's basketball coach at Michigan State and assistant women's basketball coach at Duke. That's Al Brown for you. College Sports Madness caught up with him just prior to the Duke - Connecticut women's game at Gampel Pavillion.
College Sports Madness: Just how big is college football in the current sports landscape?
Al Brown: I have been meaning to talk to Mike (Krzyewski) about that. It is huge. Bigger than ever before.
CSM: Why does Notre Dame have so much success against UConn in women's basketball?
AB: They play them so much that the intimidation factor is gone.
CSM: What did you think when you heard that Tyler Summitt got a coaching job at age 21?
AB: I am so proud of him.
CSM: I have written a lot about the issue of committing a foul when a team is up by three and less than five seconds on the clock, what are your thoughts?
AB: Well I saw it backfire against Rick Pitino when he was at Kentucky and Alan Houston was playing for Tennessee and managed to make the first, miss the second off the side of the rim get the rebound, score and get fouled.
CSM: Did you ever think that in mid-January the Duke women would be the only undefeated men's or women's college basketball team?
AB: It is a tough thing to do.
CSM: What are your thoughts about the Big East?
AB: I feel so sorry for some of the remaining teams.
CSM: What is the strength of your Duke team?
AB: Defense. We held Monmouth to three points at the half. That is tough to do on any level.
CSM: What was your biggest role on the National Championship 1998 Tennessee football team?
AB: I gave the inspirational speech before they took the field.
