Issue Date: March 4, 2007

SPORTS

As March Madness beckons, we talk with two of the NCAA's top basketball stars.

One-on-one
By Tim Wendel

He's the hulking player who dominates the paint, trying to steer his struggling team into the Big Dance. She's the savvy guard on a top squad who's as dangerous with the pass as she is with the shot. Regardless of their teams' records, these two make it easy for USA WEEKEND to choose a pair of top players for our annual March Madness chat: North Carolina's Ivory Latta and Louisiana State's Glen "Big Baby" Davis are the stars to watch this month. Both are Final Four vets, and when they take a break to swap stories with us, the chemistry is obvious.

Glen "Big Baby" Davis Louisiana State University Height: 6-foot-9 Position: Center Class: Junior Major: Business management What's on his iPod: Fergie; some Cajun music What's in his DVD player: "Law & Order," cartoons Dream one-on-one opponent: Bill Russell Favorite pre-game meal: Reese's candy

Ivory Latta University of North Carolina Height: 5-foot-6 Position: Point guard Class: Senior Major: Exercise science What's on her iPod: Tamia What's in her DVD player: "CSI: Miami" Dream one-on-one opponent: Allen Iverson Favorite pre-game meal: Sirloin steak

And the pressure is on both of them right now: The major conference tournaments start this week. The men's and women's NCAA tournaments follow, concluding with the men's championship game April 2 in Atlanta and the women's finals April 3in Cleveland.

Although the two play different positions, they've found much common ground, weighing in on crazy fans, sumo wrestling and ... Barney? To find out more, read on:

Which position -- guard or center -- is the most difficult to play? Be honest.
Ivory: It has to be guard.
Glen: You be careful now, Ivory.
Ivory: Glen, you know as well as me that the guard is the one who sets everything up. You have to control the team. That can be tough in a hostile environment.

What if Glen joins you in the backcourt?
Ivory: I probably wouldn't have a choice. But that would be one of the oddest-looking backcourts ever.
Glen: I can't run too long, baby. If I'm going to play out there, we better get a shot made and head back down to the other end of the court. You don't want to see the big man get weary, holding on for a TV timeout. It's not pretty.

Do opposing fans call you names?
Glen: All the time. One of the worst was Grimace, that dumb guy from the old McDonald's commercial. It's because sometimes we wear purple uniforms. I've also been called Big Barney -- after the kid-show dinosaur.
Ivory: I'm lucky. The worst that I've been called is "Latta Nothing." That's not too bad. But I need a good nickname, like Big Baby.
Glen: If Allen Iverson is "The Answer," we can call you "The Problem."
Ivory: Hey, that's hot! I like it!

What's the craziest off-court activity you've participated in?
Glen: We usually don't get snow. But it got cold in December and somebody got a snow machine. We had a snowball fight outside the arena. Now, I didn't realize this, but you're not supposed to throw a snowball at somebody if you don't know them. But everybody knows me, so I'm getting pelted, and I'm trying to find my teammates so I can throw one, too.
Ivory: I did sumo wrestling in an inflatable suit. But I'm so short, my head barely stuck out the top. I went down hard.
Glen: You call me next time. You need backup.
Ivory: You, in a sumo suit? That's something to see.

Ivory, you had a difficult offseason. How hard was it?
Ivory: I hurt my knee during the Final Four. So this whole summer was nothing but rehab. That was very depressing. But I'm through it. I had to drop a couple of pounds, too. All of this makes you stronger. It's paying off now.
Glen: And Ivory, I just wanted to say that you're looking good.
Ivory: Oh, please. Be quiet.

Career-wise, what's life beyond basketball?
Glen: I love doing improv comedy. That can be tough, but if you get the crowd going, nothing is better.
Ivory: I'm looking to go into pediatrics. I love working with children.
Glen: Well, what would you think of working with a Big Baby?
Ivory: Sure. I'll work with all kinds of babies.