Durr Aids Bobcat Cause Off the Bench
2/23/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Carson Durr never saw it coming.
"I didn't really think going into this season that I'd be a defensive specialist," said Durr, Montana State's versatile reserve forward who has filled a variety of roles this season. "But if I can help out and it keeps me on the floor, I'll do whatever I can."
Durr, a sophomore from Roberts, has seen the floor in each of Montana State's 25 games, and has seen considerable action lately. "Carson has picked up some minutes at power forward," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham. "His willingness and ability to handle that has really helped us. He's a solid player."
Although Durr played inside in high school, he was tagged for the perimeter at MSU. Inconsistent play off the bench and injuries forced Durr to play inside, a surprising and memorable transition. "The game I first started playing the four (power forward), I didn't have any clue it was coming," he said. "I hadn't done any scouting of (opponent power forwards), but we do pretty much the same defensive drills in practice."
The most interesting challenge, admitted Durr, was keeping his 200-lb frame from getting horsed by bigger players. "That was kind of a wake-up call," he laughed. "I was not used to banging like that. But when I get into the flow of the game it's not that hard. I just have to suck it up and do it, or I won't be in the game."
While Durr has three more seasons in the Bobcat program, the upcoming home games will mark Senior Weekend for his brother, Sheldon. The elder Durr brother (Randy Durr, father of the pair, was a Rocky Mountain College hoops star), one of the great personalities to pass through the MSU program in recent years, has been a Bobcat student manager for five years.
"I'll miss him," Carson said. "It's been nice to have him around."
Below is a closer look at Bobcat forward Carson Durr...
WHO WOULD WIN A GAME OF HORSE -- YOU, SHELDON, OR YOUR DAD?
Probably the old man. He does tricks -- he'll bop it off his head, that kind of thing. If it was just straight shots it would probably be me. But Randy, he pulls out all kinds of tricks.
THE BEST THING ABOUT GROWING UP IN ROBERTS?
The people that you know, you get to know so well it's like family. I've lived with two guys I grew up with, and we're like brothers.
YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL THRILL?
Well, I'm not going to say the state championship. I'm going to go with my first dunk, that I got in the little Roberts gym. It was against Rapelje. That gym is really little, the people just jumped up and down.
FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM?
The Atlanta Braves.
BETTER HALF-COURT SHOOTER -- MICK OR CASEY?
It has to be Mick. I don't think Casey has made one this year.
FAVORITE MICK DURHAM MOMENT OR SAYING?
When he hits a half-court shot and does that little arm swing.
BETTER DEFENSIVE PLAY -- BLOCKED SHOT OR TAKING A CHARGE?
Charge.
TWO BLOCKED SHOTS AGAINST NAU -- HUGE SURPRISE, OR ABOUT TIME?
The first one was a bit surprising, but the second one wasn't that big a deal.
THE ONE ITEM OF CLOTHING YOUR BROTHER OWNS THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BE CAUGHT DEAD IN?
His cowboy hat.
WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO SHELDON ON SENIOR NIGHT?
That it's been real fun having him around, being able to BS with him before and after practice, that it's been great having someone around that I can spend time with.
GREATER BOZEMAN HIGH LEGEND -- CASEY DURHAM OR NICK DISSLY?
It's Dissly. I've gone to a Bozeman High game with him, and when we walked in everyone was like, 'Ooooh.'
"I didn't really think going into this season that I'd be a defensive specialist," said Durr, Montana State's versatile reserve forward who has filled a variety of roles this season. "But if I can help out and it keeps me on the floor, I'll do whatever I can."
Durr, a sophomore from Roberts, has seen the floor in each of Montana State's 25 games, and has seen considerable action lately. "Carson has picked up some minutes at power forward," said Bobcat coach Mick Durham. "His willingness and ability to handle that has really helped us. He's a solid player."
Although Durr played inside in high school, he was tagged for the perimeter at MSU. Inconsistent play off the bench and injuries forced Durr to play inside, a surprising and memorable transition. "The game I first started playing the four (power forward), I didn't have any clue it was coming," he said. "I hadn't done any scouting of (opponent power forwards), but we do pretty much the same defensive drills in practice."
The most interesting challenge, admitted Durr, was keeping his 200-lb frame from getting horsed by bigger players. "That was kind of a wake-up call," he laughed. "I was not used to banging like that. But when I get into the flow of the game it's not that hard. I just have to suck it up and do it, or I won't be in the game."
While Durr has three more seasons in the Bobcat program, the upcoming home games will mark Senior Weekend for his brother, Sheldon. The elder Durr brother (Randy Durr, father of the pair, was a Rocky Mountain College hoops star), one of the great personalities to pass through the MSU program in recent years, has been a Bobcat student manager for five years.
"I'll miss him," Carson said. "It's been nice to have him around."
Below is a closer look at Bobcat forward Carson Durr...
WHO WOULD WIN A GAME OF HORSE -- YOU, SHELDON, OR YOUR DAD?
Probably the old man. He does tricks -- he'll bop it off his head, that kind of thing. If it was just straight shots it would probably be me. But Randy, he pulls out all kinds of tricks.
THE BEST THING ABOUT GROWING UP IN ROBERTS?
The people that you know, you get to know so well it's like family. I've lived with two guys I grew up with, and we're like brothers.
YOUR GREATEST BASKETBALL THRILL?
Well, I'm not going to say the state championship. I'm going to go with my first dunk, that I got in the little Roberts gym. It was against Rapelje. That gym is really little, the people just jumped up and down.
FAVORITE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS TEAM?
The Atlanta Braves.
BETTER HALF-COURT SHOOTER -- MICK OR CASEY?
It has to be Mick. I don't think Casey has made one this year.
FAVORITE MICK DURHAM MOMENT OR SAYING?
When he hits a half-court shot and does that little arm swing.
BETTER DEFENSIVE PLAY -- BLOCKED SHOT OR TAKING A CHARGE?
Charge.
TWO BLOCKED SHOTS AGAINST NAU -- HUGE SURPRISE, OR ABOUT TIME?
The first one was a bit surprising, but the second one wasn't that big a deal.
THE ONE ITEM OF CLOTHING YOUR BROTHER OWNS THAT YOU WOULD NEVER BE CAUGHT DEAD IN?
His cowboy hat.
WHAT WILL YOU SAY TO SHELDON ON SENIOR NIGHT?
That it's been real fun having him around, being able to BS with him before and after practice, that it's been great having someone around that I can spend time with.
GREATER BOZEMAN HIGH LEGEND -- CASEY DURHAM OR NICK DISSLY?
It's Dissly. I've gone to a Bozeman High game with him, and when we walked in everyone was like, 'Ooooh.'
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