Coming off three outstanding seasons with the Blue Devils, Michele Matyasovsky, a 6'1" forward, is a solid shooter, especially from outside, and a strong defender. Growing up in Somerdale, N.J., Matyasovsky won High School All-America honors at Triton (N.J.) Regional High School, where she was named the New Jersey Basketball Player of the Year in 1999.

In her first year at Duke, she was selected to the ACC All-Freshman team, and in her second she was named to the ACC All-Tournament team. As a junior, Matyasovsky reached a personal best for field goal percentage (.517), 3-point percentage (.359), free throw percentage (.909), steals (25) and rebounds (130), playing in all 35 contests, and leading the Blue Devils into the Final Four.

Now, as one of only two returning seniors, Matyasovsky has a new role. Playing alongside junior Alana Beard and junior Iciss Tillis, Michele is expected to be a leader, maintaining the balance on a team full of stars, and taking the Blue Devils to a national title.

So far this season, Matyasovsky has started in six games, tallying 34 points, 30 rebounds and 10 steals before being temporarily sidelined by a shoulder injury. We spoke with Matyasovsky about her transition from high school to college, the lessons she's learned from four-time ACC Coach of the Year Gail Goestenkors, and the importance of setting goals.

You've had to sit out the last couple of games. How are you feeling?
Well I have a stinger, which is a compressed nerve in my shoulder, so I'm trying to get some feeling and strength back in that, but there isn't much I can do for it. I just have to let it heal by itself.

Is this the most painful injury you've had?
Oh, no. Freshman year I had three lacerations to my eye from a fingernail. I missed one game and when I came back, I had to wear goggles, it was pretty funny. And sophomore year I broke a bone in the middle finger on my right hand, so I was out for a couple of weeks during preseason. Those have been the two most painful things.

What's it like to have to sit on the bench and watch?
It's awful, I just want to be out there playing. So I hope it won't happen again.

How do you feel the season is going so far?
Really well. We started off strong, and hopefully that will continue. Practices have been really intense, and our chemistry is great, which was probably the biggest concern that we all had, because we've got five freshmen. But they're doing really well, it's great to watch them grow, and we're all just getting along great, both on and off the court.

What's been the highlight of this season so far?
Beating Tennessee in our second game. Definitely. I was pretty happy with my defense. I was guarding Gwen Jackson and I thought I did a pretty decent job. And we had a good trip down to the Virgin Islands, and a good game against Arkansas. So things are going well.

Does it feel different to be an upperclassman?
It's a great feeling. It's nice to be a leader out there, helping out the younger kids, and knowing what Coach G wants.

How are you helping them out?
Helping them learn the plays, getting familiar with the system, and letting them know what Coach G expects of all of us. Sheana [Mosch] and I have been around the longest, we've been in the Final Four, so we're trying to help them out, keeping that composure.

How is it different from when you started?
It's a lot easier. I've matured, as a player and as a person, in every aspect. In my schoolwork, in the way I handle people, in my communication skills. And on the court, I'm a lot more confident. When I was starting out, I learned a lot from Georgia Schweitzer and Peppi Browne and Rochelle Parent, they just helped me out tremendously. So that's what I'm trying to do right now with the underclassmen.

Why did you choose Duke?
I knew that I wanted to play in a really strong conference, and I knew I wanted to go south, and I was looking for a strong academic school. I knew basketball wasn't going to be my entire life, so I wanted to have a good academic background, and Duke has a great blend of everything. It just felt right.

What are you studying?
Political Science. Also, I have a certificate in Markets Management.

How much schoolwork do you have to do?
It's a pretty fair amount. Actually, I have a final later today and another one tomorrow. So I'm stressing about that right now.

When you made the transition from high school to college, which was harder: academics or basketball?
Well, I took some hard classes in the beginning, some math classes and econ classes that weren't really my strong points. But once I got into my major, things have been a lot better. Basketball-wise, the game here is at a totally different level. It's so much more intense than high school and AAU, we're going against great competition every night and every day. The intensity level is the biggest transition. Also, you have to be a lot stronger, that was the biggest adjustment I had to make. Especially down in the post, I really had to work on the physical parts of my game. I didn't come in as a very strong freshman, because I didn't really lift very much in high school.

How much are you lifting?
In pre-season, we lift four times a week, and we do a lot of conditioning. In season, we probably lift two or three times a week, depending on our game schedules. Nothing too strenuous, just trying to keep our bodies in shape.

What are the most valuable exercises that you do?
They're all pretty valuable. To strengthen out my legs, my chest, my shoulders. Helps when I rebound.

What do you need to work on the hardest?
Well, I feel pretty strong right now. But you can always work on your legs, definitely. That drives a lot of your power and your shots.

What comes easiest for you?
I'm pretty fortunate because the system we have here at Duke has a lot of motion. I'm a good motion player, and I'm a pretty smart player, so Coach G trusts me. I have a lot of freedom. I can post up if I need to, or I can go in motion, or I can step out and shoot a three. She allows me to be versatile.

What have you learned from her?
She's taught me about setting goals, that whatever goal we set we can achieve. She's just so passionate, so knowledgeable about the game. She's amazing, she just gets you so motivated. She's an unbelievable coach.

What has she worked on with you individually?
I've learned a lot defensively, because I didn't come in as a very strong defensive player, and that's one of the things I've definitely improved on, especially in the post. I've actually learned the most from the team drills that we do, we break down into guards and posts and we have position coaches who work with us for 10 to 20 minutes during practice. Offensively, we've fine-tuned a few things, but mostly she just trusts me to play my game.

What's your role on the team?
Right now, we're going with a bigger lineup, so I'm starting at the three. Really, I just go out there and do whatever Coach G needs me to do, whether it's making a pass or hitting a shot or setting a screen for Alana. Coach G expects me to be smart, to make good decisions and remain consistent. To stay aggressive and hit my shots when I'm open.

What are you learning from your teammates?
How to have fun. It's unbelievable playing with this team. Alana is just phenomenal, and I have the chance to play with her every day, so I'm having a good time. And I'm learning to be more passionate about the game. I've always had a passion for it, but now, playing on this team, I love it even more.

How old were you when you knew you wanted to pursue basketball?
I was pretty young when I started. I used to play basketball with my dad. What was great was that my parents never really pressured me, they just allowed me to pursue what I wanted to, and whatever I wanted to do, I knew they would be there for me. They supported me every step of the way, gave me a lot of opportunities. I also played softball, but by sixth or seventh grade I'd decided basketball was definitely the direction I wanted to head in, and that's when I started to play AAU.

You played tennis, too.
Yeah, in high school. That was a late development, but I loved it, I just decided that I would go out for the team. And actually, I played pretty decently.

What have you been learning about yourself as a player?
That I can do whatever I want if I set my mind to it. Playing with this team, you realize that you can accomplish anything if everyone puts their minds to it and we all have a common goal.

What are some goals you've set for yourself?
When I was in high school, my biggest goal was I wanted to play basketball in Division I, in a really good program, and get a full scholarship. So now that I'm here, I've just concentrated on team goals, and obviously one of our main ones is to win a national championship. And personally, I want to graduate with some direction for a career path.

Do you know what you're going to do after graduation?
I'm not really sure. I'm looking into some things with the US Olympic Committee, and I'm looking into sports marketing, which sounds pretty interesting. Or I might keep playing overseas. I'm just tossing some things around, nothing definite.

What advice do you have for our readers?
Just to set goals for themselves, that's the biggest thing. And always stay focused, especially on your schoolwork. Because it's not just about basketball. If you get hurt and that's taken away from you, you have to have something to fall back on. A lot of times I see athletes who have no balance in their lives, it's all basketball. And that's a shame, because if something happens to them, they don't know what to do. So that's my advice: Set goals, stay focused.

Interview conducted by Gball Editor Kenny Berkowitz.


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