Projo Sports Blog

Will Daniels: Hi everyone - Will here. Just want to say hello before we get going with the chat. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by.

Rhodewarrior: Will, you guys are off to a great start- congrats! What are you guys doing to intensify your defense this year. There are a lot of open looks for other teams and with a deep bench what are the plans to get a March Ready defense in order?

Will Daniels: What's up RhodeWarrior - we need to keep preparing in practice for our opponents. Team defense requires helping each other out, talking on D, and that's what Coach B stresses.

AnthonyD: Will i went to red hook high school, i was a freshman when you were a senior and i remember you playing against greg nero and how everyone said that greg was better. You've obviously proved who was better. Im glad to see how much you've accomplished at rhode island and hopefully people from around here will get the chance to see you play in the NBA next year. Keep up the good work.

Will Daniels: AnthonyD - Greg is a good player and a friend and it was great playing with him during high school. It's good to see him having a lot of success over at Fairfield. I think Red Hook beat us all four years when I was at FDR, so thanks for not bringing that up.

PlayerNumber6: Will, Thanks for being part of this great team at URI. Your style of play has gotten you into foul trouble a couple of times this season. However, during the St. Bonaventure game, you and your team mates did an excellent job preventing this foul trouble. Have you been working on this aspect of your game with your team?

Will Daniels: Player6 - the better team defense we play, the easier it is for us to stay out of foul trouble. It's on all of us to do that. In the St. Bonaventure game, we did a better job of limiting penetration and keeping our man in front of us. That's what limited our foul trouble.

twisted3829: will awesome year so far. how does the team feel about the student support you are getting not only at games but around campus? Also how do you feel about being on ESPN2 and on national television?

Will Daniels: Twisted - thanks very much. We enjoy the student support and we're encouraging more to come out for the rest of the season. As far as the national attention, it's been great. But we need to keep up our success to remain in the national spotlight.

Bruce: Will: Congratulations on a great season to date! Two questions--first, tell us about your relationship with Coach Baron. Secondly, I noticed that, on some of your threes, you have a very flat arc and on others, the arc is much higher. Is that done on purpose? Good luck on the rest of the season.

Will Daniels: Bruce - Coach B and I have a great relationship. He is the main reason I chose Rhode Island four years ago and I enjoy playing for him. We've been through a lot together and it's helped our relationship grow. As for my jumper, I try to shoot with a high arc and sometimes it doesn't work out that way...

617RhodyFan: Hey Will, hope to see you onto bigger and better things both this year and for the rest of your playing career. Can you talk a little bit about the team's comfort level playing at the Ryan Center? Obviously it's very high with your record at home.

Will Daniels: 617 - We're very comfortable at home. Our fans do a great job of supporting us, which has a lot to do with it. We're very confident at home, which plays a key role in our home wins.

GandysFantasy: Will, first of all, congratulations on an outstanding URI career thus far. What would it mean to you, as a senior, to actually reach the NCAA Tournament. What are your goals for the remainder of the season?

Will Daniels: Gandy - it would mean a lot to me as a senior - as well as Parfait and Joe as seniors - to be able to make the NCAA tournament. We as a team take things one game at a time, but our primary goal is to reach the NCAA tournament and win it.

Brian: Hi Will. Which of your former teammates were especially heplful in your developement, both as a player and a leader? Thanks and good luck the rest of the way.

Will Daniels: Brian - All of my former teammates have helped me along the way. But two stick out in my mind: Dawan Robinson and Randy Brooks. Dawan taught me about leading by example and Randy has taught me more about playing at the Division I level and how to be more of a vocal leader.

section104: Will, It's been awesome to see you mature over the years. How was your experience at the Lebron camp this past summer? Do you see it helping your draft status come draft time?

Will Daniels: 104 - it was a great experience to be at the LeBron camp and play amongst some elite college players - Jon Scheyer from Duke, KC Rivers from Clemson, Scottie Reynolds from Nova and Jason Thompson at Rider. LeBron playing with/against us also helped. A camp like that can only help you in the long run.

URIGONZO: Hi Will, As a team leader is it difficult to get the team up and ready during A-10 play?? It seems like URI now has a target on its back and every game from here on out will be a tough one, especially road wins. Personally I feel a huge burden lies on your chest as the team leader to not only get yourself ready for these tough games night in and night out, but you must also make sure your teamates are ready to rumble.

Will Daniels: Gonzo - no, it's not difficult to get the team up for A-10 play. The entire team is determined and motivated and knows what it's going to take to achieve our goals.

keaney blue: Hey Will congrats on a great start this season. On the same lines as PlayerNumber6, it looks like GW had everything going at you in an attempt to get you into foul trouble. Did you get that feeling?

Will Daniels: keaneyblue - GW is an aggressive team that attacks a lot. So it's easy to get called for cheap fouls. We've been working in practice on doing a better job with team defense, which should help with that problem.

RHODY 09: Will, congrats on the great season so far. What do you guys plan to do differently on Saturday to prepare for the big rematch against Dayton?

Will Daniels: Rhody09 - I think we have to play better defense than we did out there. Do a better job containing and contesting shots, and limiting their strength as a team. Dayton is one of the best teams in the league and we need to bring it on Saturday.

RhodyFanForLife: You’ve improved every year since you’ve been at Rhode Island, going from a skinny freshman to one of the top players in the league. What has helped you improve over the years?

Will Daniels: RhodyFanforLife - I dedicated myself to lifting weights and working out. I also make sure I get my time in the gym to get shots up and practice. Experience has a lot to do with it, because you know what to expect every season.

drose: You guys have taken over as "the team" in Rhode Island. How important was the victory over Providence to you and to the rest of the team?

Will Daniels: drose - It was an important win because it's an in-state rivalry game and it meant a lot to us and our fans. It's always good to beat a team in the Big East, which gets a lot of national exposure.

Sam Worthen: Alright, alright. Will you are having a great season. Who is your favorite pro player?

Will Daniels: Sudden Sam - I don't have one favorite pro, but I like different aspects of different players games. I like Kobe's leadership, how a guy like LeBron dominates but keeps his teammates involved. Kevin Garnett has a warrior's determination.

URIHoopsFan: Hi Will, what has been the most memorable game in your Rhode Island career?

Will Daniels: URIHoopsfan - Wow...good question. I'd have to say the win at Syracuse this year because it showed how hard we had to fight through adversity, nobody expected us to win against a program like Syracuse in an arena like the Carrier Dome that had 22,000 Orange fans. It was the third Big East team we beat this year, so we celebrated in the locker room after the win which made it even more special.

GandysFantasy: have you ever met some of the ram greats from the past - cat mobley, tyson, sly, lamar etc

Will Daniels: Gandy - I know Tyson, he plays with us in the offseason. I've always been a fan of and wanted to meet Cuttino Mobley and Lamar Odom. Hopefully I'll get the chance someday.

URIHoopsFan: Will, why do you wear #25?

Will Daniels: URIHoopsfan - My two favorite numbers are 21 and 5, and when I got here, Scott Hazleton had 21 and Dawan had 5, so I picked 25 to compliment them both.

redfoxes2005: As a long time season ticket holder I just want to let you know how much enjoyment the team has provided this season. Games are so much fun that I hope we get to see many more this season (post season too !!) My question to you is what is a typical game day like for you. What do you do and how do you prepare for that nights game. Thanks and continued success the rest of the way. GO RHODY !!

Will Daniels: redfoxes - We have the same routine on every gameday. Shootaround is very important, pre-game meal is important but the most important thing is getting a good amount of rest before the game.

GandysFantasy: Will, let's have a prediction - Giants vs Pats?

Will Daniels: Gandy - Pats win, but it'll be close.

marc: Hey Will, great year so far. How do you and the team feel about the upcoming dayton game?

Will Daniels: marc - We play Richmond tomorrow night. That's our only focus - one game at a time.

Bruce: Will: Of all the A-10 arenas, which is your favorite to play in (beside the Ryan Center, of course) and which is your least favorite to play in?

Will Daniels: Bruce - My favorite road arena is Xavier, even though the fans get on you the whole time, it's a great atmosphere to play a game. I don't have a least favorite.

Chris: Will, I graduated in 2006 and miss making it to every game as I once did. Was it disappointing getting dropped from the top 25..and is that extra motivation for you and the team?

Will Daniels: Chris - yes, it was disappointing to drop from the top 25 polls. But it is extra motivation for the team to work harder and try to get back in.

thatdamram1: will, i really like the focus that this team has. what do you do as an individual to keep your focus, any superstitions?

Will Daniels: thatdamram - I remember our team goals whenever I start to lose focus. I realize that bad things can happen whenever you start to lose focus. As senior leaders, myself, Parfait and Joe have to be the most focused on the team - there's no next year for us. I don't have any superstitions.

Rhody74: Hi Will .... the team seems to be especially close this year. Is that true? If so, how important is that to your team's success?

Will Daniels: Rhody74 - Good question. The team is closer this year than in years past. It plays a lot in our success and our motto this year is "brotherhood" and to treat every individual on the team like a brother.

Sam Worthen: Alright, alright. With the A10 having a great season, how many teams do you see dancing in March (besides the mighty Rams)?

Will Daniels: Sam - I think that the league is as tough as it's ever been in my four years here. I expect there to be a good number of teams happy on selection sunday. We're working hard, every day, to make sure we're one of them.

Rhodewarrior: outside of yourself who do you find to be the best player in the A-10?

Will Daniels: Rhodewarrior - I'd say Brian Roberts from Dayton, my boy Ahmad Nivins from St. Joe's, Gary Forbes at UMass, Dionte Christmas at Temple is really good. And there are many others. The A-10 has a lot of good players.

GandysFantasy: Will, you committed to URI over 4 years ago. Have your expectations been met, here in Kingston? How good has the "URI experience" been for you?

Will Daniels: Gandy - The URI experience has been great. I established a lot of relationships with many people and it's helped me mature as a man. Coach B preached it before I got here, and pretty much every day since, about the importance of earning your degree and graduating. I'm proud to be on track to graduate in May.

thatdamram1: will, who is the guy that you would least like to play "horse" with on this team?

Will Daniels: thatdamram - Jimmy. No question.

RHODY 09: Will, you are obviously a huge powerhouse within the team's dynamic on the court, both with your playing and leadership abilities. Who do you see stepping up next year to take over this role?

Will Daniels: Rhody09 - With me, Parfait and Joe moving on, I see Jimmy and Kahiem stepping into a senior leadership role. They're already leaders on the team, and that should continue into next year.

Will Daniels: It's getting close to wrap up time, so I'll take one or two more questions.

Rhodewarrior: Whose idea was it to put that slogan on the back of uniforms. While self explanatory in nature what exactly is the genesis and what is it that you believe in?

Will Daniels: RhodeWarrior - "Together We Believe" came from Kahiem Seawright. It basically means that as a team, if we want to achieve our goals, we have to do it together.

uri07: Will, when you started here as a freshman I could see and told everyone that you would end up a big time player at URI. Early on with the team struggling the first few years did you ever feel like it wasn't going to happen here

Will Daniels: URI07 - When I joined the URI program, I always had confidence that we would be a good team and establish ourselves. With hard work, dedication, and believing in ourselves, we've become a team to reckoned with.

Will Daniels: Thanks to everyone who stopped by to chat. I had fun talking with you all and I hope you continue to support our team. Don't forget that Parfait will be chatting on Thursday as well (on ESPN.com) - be sure to ask him some tough questions! Go Rhody!

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