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Monday, January 15, 2001
For Levandusky, X(avier) marked the spot
By Beth Mowins
Special to ESPN.com
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Many people have played a role in the recent success of the Xavier Musketeers. Coach Melanie Balcomb and seniors Nicole Levandusky, Taru Tuukanen and Jennifer Phillips have played pivotal roles.
But we can't overlook the unsung efforts of people like ... uncle Andy Levandusky.
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SEASON OF SENIORS
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The Class of 2001 -- which includes Tamika Catchings, Svetlana Abrosimova, the Miller twins and dozens of other standouts -- is touted as one of the country's best in history.
But before we say goodbye to this talented group, ESPN.com will take a closer look at several of these super seniors. The Season of Seniors began over the summer and will resurface throughout the season.
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If it wasn't for uncle Andy, his niece Nicole might not have attended Xavier, and the last four years might not have been as fruitful for the Musketeers.
"Uncle Andy lives in Hamilton, Ohio, which is just north of Cincinnati," said Nicole Levandusky, now a senior at Xavier. "In high school in Pennsylvania, only Division II and Division III schools were recruiting me. But I wanted to play at the highest level so uncle Andy sent one of my game tapes to the Xavier coaches. They started to recruit me and they were the only Division I school going after me, so I headed to Cincinnati."
The move has turned out to be the right one for all parties involved. Xavier has competed in the past two NCAA Tournaments, including a second-round trip to Connecticut two years ago that scared the heck out of the Huskies, who barely held on for an 86-84 win.
Xavier also has won an Atlantic 10 title and is working on another one this year, while Levandusky has spent her time rewriting the Musketeer record books. The 5-foot-9 senior guard/forward is the school's all-time leader in steals and 3-point shots.
"This has been the best experience I've had playing with my teammates," Levandusky said. "We've (fellow seniors Phillips, Tuukanen, Jennifer Parr and Erin Hall) been together four years. We know each other's tendencies on the court and we've become good friends off the court. This year expectations are high to win the Atlantic 10 and go deep into the NCAA Tournament."
Levandusky likes the family atmosphere at Xavier, since it's similar to the one she has at home.
"My older brother, Eric, has been a big help to me," said Levandusky, an All-A10 selection last year. "When I was little, everywhere he went, I went. I followed him all over the place to play sports. He taught me so much about the game."
Levandusky has evolved into one of the top 3-point shooters in the country. When the latest Division I statistics were released on Jan. 9, Levandusky ranked 17th among 3-point shooters, sinking 45.3 percent (39-for-86) of her attempts. More than half of her shots are 3s, including a remarkable 7-for-8 performance against Fordham in early January, when she scored 29 points in 30 minutes.
|  | | Nicole Levandusky was the Atlantic 10 tournament MVP last season. |
The shooter's mentality comes from her father, Glen.
"My dad always kept my spirits up," said Levandusky, who averages three 3-pointers a game. "He always said that shooters are streaky. He told me not to worry about the last shot, just be confident going into the next shot."
Coach Balcomb gives Levandusky the green light from anywhere on the floor. She'll often set up plays and fast breaks to specifically get her star shooter the ball.
"Nicole has always been our shooter," said Balcomb, whose teams have won more than 60 games in the last 2½ years. "She's comfortable shooting the ball from anywhere. She doesn't get bothered if someone is in her face. Like any great shooter, she doesn't remember her last shot and she keeps putting the ball up."
George Washington coach Joe McKeown is all too familiar with Levandusky, having to face her twice, and sometimes three times a year in the Atlantic 10. Earlier this month, McKeown's Colonials got the best of the Musketeers and Levandusky. But they were not so fortunate in last year's A-10 tournament, when Levandusky lit them up en route to the championship and tournament MVP honors.
"You have to become her shadow, don't allow her to get open looks at the basket or she will hurt you," McKeown said. "We try to get a quick defender on her and contest everything she does. If that works, we have a chance. If not, we're in trouble."
Levandusky understands that teams are going to try anything they can to limit her 3-point effectiveness. Still, as a marked woman this season, she has elevated her game.
"Nicole used to be just a shooter, but now she's more complete," Balcomb said. "Teams try to take away her 3, so she has adjusted. She's gotten better off the dribble, she gets to the free-throw line more and she's rebounding better so she gets more easy baskets, too."
Levandusky says there is no secret to her success -- she has reached the top of her game through hard work and countless hours in the gym.
"Honestly, I don't watch a lot of games on television," said Levandusky, who not only leads the A-10 in 3-pointers but in steals, as well. "I don't watch how other people do it. I'd rather go to the gym and play than sit in front of the TV.
"That's how you improve, you work on your game. The only guy I used to watch, really, was Larry Bird, because he could shoot and pass and play with solid fundamentals."
Just the way Levandusky plays. Which is not at all bad for a kid who most scouts thought couldn't make it in the big league. And now, she's an inspiration to any player whose heart tells them they can beat the odds and play against the best in the country.
"Never give up on your dreams," she insists. "Go after them as long as it takes and don't give up on what you want. I signed late in the spring of my senior year in high school. Xavier has worked out great. Don't look back later and say, 'I could have ....' "
And Xavier fans, don't forget to say thanks to uncle Andy.
ESPN's Beth Mowins is a regular contributor to ESPN.com's women's college basketball coverage.
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