Interview: SHARIF CHAMBLISS

Though he only played one season for the University of Wisconsin, Sharif Chambliss had a tremendous impact on the men’s basketball program. In the 2004-05 season, Chambliss averaged 7.5 points per game, and led the team with 95 assists. The senior team captain, who transferred from Penn State, helped lead the Badgers to a 25-9 overall record, 11-5 in the Big Ten. In the 2005 NCAA Tournament, he and the Badgers came within one game of the Final Four, losing 88-82 to the eventual national champions, North Carolina. Chambliss averaged 9 points in UW’s four tournament games, including a 15-point performance against Northern Iowa in the first round, hitting 5 three-pointers. I recently was able to ask Sharif some questions about the 2005 Tournament and his thoughts on this year’s UW team.

TS: What are your favorite memories from the 2005 NCAA Tournament?

Sharif Chambliss: The whole experience overall was just amazing. Having a chance to end my career the way I wanted, and leaving it all out on the floor was awesome. Also, being able to share it with my family and close friends was more than I could ask for.


TS: From a player’s perspective, what is the Tournament experience like? Is it hectic? Are you able to step back and enjoy it, or is it mostly business as usual?

SC: The Tournament is a lot of fun, but it always seems like you have something going on. Nothing wrong with it at all. We did a lot of media stuff with us being seniors. You are definitely able to enjoy it. You try hard and stay focused, because the goal is not just to get to the Tournament, but to win it all; and that goes game by game.


TS: What do you think are some of the important qualities a team must possess in order to make a run in the Tournament?

SC: I believe obviously you have to great team chemistry, know what your strengths and weaknesses are, and be able to feed positively off of each other. You need great guards and solid big men, and to top all of that off, a great leader that everyone believes in as a coach.


TS: What are your thoughts on this year’s Badger team? How do they compare to the team you played on at UW?

SC: The team this year has defied the media’s odds and a lot of people’s thoughts on them. They go out and win the Big Ten outright, and take the Big Ten Tournament…and now are on their way to the Sweet Sixteen by beating a good Kansas State team, with arguably the most dominate player in Michael Beasley. What more do you want?


TS: A common criticism that a lot of basketball analysts direct at UW teams, is that they play “ugly.” What are your thoughts on this?

SC: If winning is ugly, let me sign up for it! Call it what you want to call it, but I have never played on a team that has won and we call that win ugly.


TS: What makes Bo Ryan such a successful coach? What were the most important lessons you learned from your time at UW?

SC: Coach Ryan is a great communicator and he knows the game of basketball. A lot of his coaching theories are based around the early fundamentals of the game, and keeping the game simple. He is a great leader and coach, but an even better person.


TS: What are you doing now at UWM? Do you think coaching at any level will be in your future?

SC: I am now working at UWM as an Academic Mentor for mainly the men’s basketball team, and would like to start working my way into coaching.


TS: Who do you like in the Tournament this year? What are your Final Four picks? Who do you think will win the championship?

SC: After this first weekend of the Tournament, I like the Badgers obviously, because they are fundamentally solid. They have a LOT of size and guards with tournament experience. I am not quite sure what to think as far as the Final Four is concerned, but I am excited to follow the rest of the Tournament as it goes on.