thirtysomething Q&A with Landon Shipley

June 12, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. -
Redbird All-Access members, watch Landon Shipley's full interview (30 questions) on Redbird All-Access, your exclusive home to full student-athlete video interview's during this summer's "thirtysomething" series.

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GoRedbirds.com: You've been on campus for more than one year now, after your transfer from Austin Peay. What was the transfer year like for you?
Landon Shipley: It's a lot different. I think that year (your transfer year) either makes or breaks you. You can either work hard to get better, or you can sit around, mope, and say that all you want to do is play. Having "Champ" (Chamberlain Oguchi) there with me was really good, because I didn't have to go through the redshirt year myself. Having someone alongside you that also wants to get better really helps.

GR: Redbird Arena certainly had its electric moments last season. How much more exciting is it from a player's perspective when the home crowd is behind you in a big game?

LS: It's a lot more exciting, because you have that much more of a burst for energy when the crowd is behind you. When it's a little quieter, you are trying to motivate yourself. But when the fans are screaming, they are like a sixth man out there. They really help you to stay motivated.

GR: If you are Chicago Bulls general manager John Paxson, do you select Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley with the first overall pick in this month's NBA Draft?

LS: I honestly think that is a toss-up. When you have (Kirk) Heinrich and (Ben) Gordon, already there, I don't know if it is such a smart idea to take (Derrick) Rose. But you never know how good Rose is going to be, either. Personally, I would go with Beasley, just because I think it is a sure thing that it will work out. But Rose could end up being the leading assist man in the NBA, who knows? It's really a toss-up.

GR: Finish this sentence: the biggest thing I miss about St. Louis is ...
LS: The biggest thing I miss about St. Louis is Imo's Pizza. It's good.

GR: Illinois State was one of the best defensive teams in the Valley last season. What is the secret to being a great individual defender, and how does that translate to great team defense?
LS: I think defense has a lot to do with your mindset. You also need to be stronger than the guy you are guarding. But mostly, it has a lot to do with how much you want to stop the opposing offensive guy. As a team, if you work day in and day out on positioning and help defense, when you get in the game, those principles are going to become repetitive from practice.

GR: Who was your basketball idol growing up?
LS: I am gonna go with Bobby Hurley. Growing up, I loved watching Duke, and I wanted to model my game after Bobby. After he got in the car accident, he obviously wasn't playing anymore, but when I was growing up, from the time I was about five or six years old into my early teenage years, it was all about Bobby Hurley. That is why I like Duke to this day, because of him.

GR: What opposing Valley team that came to Redbird Arena last season impressed you the most?
LS: It was definitely Drake. They extended the court so much; I have never seen a team take the ball between 10 and 15 feet outside the three-point line, and run their offense from there, looking to shoot. Everyone on the court could shoot, and then with that point guard (Adam Emmenecker), he gets a step on you, kicks it out, and then someone is shooting from the Illinois State emblem and knocking it down. What are you supposed to do about that defensively?

GR: Do you have a summer job lined up yet? Enlighten ISU fans on what that is.
LS: I work at a car wash, PAL (Parkway Auto Laundry) up on Veteran's Parkway. Yeah, I dry off the cars. But they are training me on tires and windows this week!

GR: I know it's still early, but what do you see as your career aspirations upon graduation?
LS: I've actually been going back and forth with that. Ultimately, my career goal has always been to become a college coach. But as I get closer and closer to finishing my degree, I am starting to really enjoy this exercise science program that I am in, and have thought about becoming a personal trainer. My dad is in sales, so pharmaceutical sales are always an option, too. When I'm finished with school I'll get it all figured out. Right now I'm not really sure what I want to do.

GR: How, if at all, do you feel the extended three-point line will affect college basketball next season? How will it affect you and the rest of the pure shooters on the team?
LS: I think it will affect a few people, but it's only a foot longer. Guys like me, (Brandon) Holtz and Osiris (Eldridge) don't really even `toe' the line when we shoot. There are some other guys on the team that this would apply to as well, but Holtz and I in particular are shooters, and people know that about us and will defend us that way. We will shoot from three or four feet behind the line anyway, so it won't affect pure shooters as much. It will widen the lane and some defenses, though. You will have to come out to defend, and that is one more step. Dribble penetration may be tougher too, but I don't know that it will have a huge affect. It's only one foot, and to a shooter, that isn't much at all.

GR: Again, it's early, but what is your outlook on the upcoming 2008-09 season for the ISU basketball team?
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