As one of four seniors, expect Davide Curletti to log plenty of minutes for the ‘Cats this season. He was Coach Bill Carmody’s front-court jack of all trades last season, playing almost 15 minutes per game off the bench. While he averaged four points and two rebounds last year in limited playing time, Curletti’s biggest impact comes on the defensive end. His shot-blocking prowess gives the Wildcats the flexibility to spell starting center Luka Mirkovic by stepping in and guarding the opponent’s top big man. Curletti’s versatility and veteran leadership, particularly in the wake of last season’s disappointing end, should win him even more playing time his senior season.
So what do you think of the new court?
I’ve got to be honest, I was pretty skeptical. This summer I didn’t really get to see it because they had it all locked up and it was really secretive. But, it’s nice. It’s different. I liked our original one a lot but I’ve grown to like the new one.
What would you have thought if it was completely purple?
[Laughs] That would have been…bad.
Do you think the players on the team feel more pressure because the school has never made the tournament?
I don’t think there’s more pressure. For us seniors there might be more pressure; the other guys still have at least one year left. But for us seniors, it’s not pressure anymore; it’s more like anger now. We’ve made the NIT [National Invitational Tournament] three straight years but it’s time to step up. We really have to make that next step to become an elite team.
How do you feel about the work the team has put in this offseason and what are the biggest strides you’ve made?
Alex [Marcotullio] played in Great Britain, John [Shurna] has played all the time with NBA guys so he’s doing great. Nick [Fruendt] and I have been working on our games together. We always get up a lot of shots. The gym’s always open to us in the summer. It’s basically up to us – the coaches aren’t allowed to be there – so it’s really up to us to motivate ourselves and come in here and get shots up. Hopefully it’ll pay off at the end of the year.
You guys lost a couple of heartbreakers last year to Ohio State. Is there a particular mindset you’re going to have when you play them in December?
The Ohio State losses were really heartbreaking, especially that Big Ten Tournament loss. That one’s the one that sticks out in my mind. When we’re all around talking, just chilling on the weekend, we actually do talk about some of the shortcomings we had last year and that’s one game, at least for me, that always comes up in my mind. Not a lot of teams get to play the No. 1 team in the country and we had that opportunity twice and we came so close. So we just need to focus and finish games.
What would you say is your most memorable moment as a senior looking back on your career?
Honestly, the most memorable moment was losing to Ohio State. I know it sounds weird, but that Big Ten tournament loss just really stuck in my mind. I hope this year we can make it to the tournament, or at least beat [Ohio State] or another equally good opponent because right now, that’s the one thing that sticks out, so I hope I don’t go out that way.
How would being the first team to make the tournament compare as a memorable moment?
It would absolutely be the best. Around the Northwestern program that’s what everybody talks about. Other teams have done it a bunch of times. We still haven’t done it so it’s really time for us to get it done. It’s engraved in our minds, at least for the seniors. We have to do it.