A lot has changed over the course of a year for Rutgers guard Corey Chandler. Last season, Chandler came to Rutgers as the prize of the 2007 recruiting class. This season, Chandler will take on a new role as he helps acclimate the prized players of the 2008 recruiting class to life in the Big East.
"The summer's been great with all the new freshmen in," said Chandler. "It's still like I'm kind of new too. I know a lot of people don't really look at me like that, but it does feel good not to be a new kid on the block. Actually, a lot of things changed from being a freshman to being a sophomore."
Chandler already looks like a more mature player before he even steps out onto the co
urt. He talked about the physical changes he has been able to make since last season.
"I gained a little weight and I got a little more muscular. I've been in the weight room working hard. I increased my reps and everything."
Chandler now appears to be ready to make an even greater impact than he did as a freshman, a season that saw some of the wind come out of his sails after going down with a foot injury in the early part of the schedule.
"It really messed me up a bit last year, coming back from injury," Chandler stated. "But I really have no signs of hurting anymore, so I'm good. I don't really think about it because in the past, I broke my wrists in back to back years when I was a freshman and a sophomore in high school. I never really thought about getting hurt after that. It just makes you tougher."
Overall, Chandler was satisfied with his first run through the Big East. Now, during his sophomore campaign, he'll have the added role of tutoring the players who will be going through the same things he experienced last year.
"My first year was good, but I got more experience now. I have to teach all the freshmen that are coming in. Somebody had to teach me. Last year, the coaching staff and the players taught me so now I'm doing the teaching. I have to show them all to calm down and relax during the games," said Chandler.
Perhaps the most important lesson Chandler learned last season was the reality of how tough life is in the Big East. It is a reality that can only be learned through experience. Nevertheless, Chandler expects a lot more out of himself as well as his team this season.
"We're going to do a lot more. We have high expectations. Now, we have a McDonald's All-American and we have a lot of good talent around us. We work hard and we should be able to win. It will be tough because everybody's competitive in the Big East. It's a tough game every night. It doesn't matter who you play, it doesn't matter where you play. It's tough and competitive and that's what I like about the Big East."
"The summer's been great with all the new freshmen in," said Chandler. "It's still like I'm kind of new too. I know a lot of people don't really look at me like that, but it does feel good not to be a new kid on the block. Actually, a lot of things changed from being a freshman to being a sophomore."
Chandler already looks like a more mature player before he even steps out onto the co
urt. He talked about the physical changes he has been able to make since last season."I gained a little weight and I got a little more muscular. I've been in the weight room working hard. I increased my reps and everything."
Chandler now appears to be ready to make an even greater impact than he did as a freshman, a season that saw some of the wind come out of his sails after going down with a foot injury in the early part of the schedule.
"It really messed me up a bit last year, coming back from injury," Chandler stated. "But I really have no signs of hurting anymore, so I'm good. I don't really think about it because in the past, I broke my wrists in back to back years when I was a freshman and a sophomore in high school. I never really thought about getting hurt after that. It just makes you tougher."
Overall, Chandler was satisfied with his first run through the Big East. Now, during his sophomore campaign, he'll have the added role of tutoring the players who will be going through the same things he experienced last year.
"My first year was good, but I got more experience now. I have to teach all the freshmen that are coming in. Somebody had to teach me. Last year, the coaching staff and the players taught me so now I'm doing the teaching. I have to show them all to calm down and relax during the games," said Chandler.
Perhaps the most important lesson Chandler learned last season was the reality of how tough life is in the Big East. It is a reality that can only be learned through experience. Nevertheless, Chandler expects a lot more out of himself as well as his team this season.
"We're going to do a lot more. We have high expectations. Now, we have a McDonald's All-American and we have a lot of good talent around us. We work hard and we should be able to win. It will be tough because everybody's competitive in the Big East. It's a tough game every night. It doesn't matter who you play, it doesn't matter where you play. It's tough and competitive and that's what I like about the Big East."
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