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Driven Carr Leads AU Down Uncharted Road
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Carr's career had a promising start with 28 appearances and 42 percent three-point shooting as a freshman, but the following year, his playing time did not increase significantly and his scoring average dipped to 3.8 points from 4.8. The reasons were a veteran corps of guards and Carr's substandard defense.
"I would always ask, 'Coach, what do I need to do to be out there?' " he said. "It went back to defense. I admit I wasn't the most solid defensive player and Coach Jones is a defensive coach. My mind-set coming to college wasn't to be a defensive stopper. My attitude has grown since I've been here. He planted a seed that defense is going to be important and that there was more to getting onto the court than just offense."
Said Jones, "Quite honestly, it was difficult to keep him in there if he wasn't shooting well."
This preseason, Jones was still not sure who would start at shooting guard, Carr or freshman Nick Hendra. But it soon became clear that Carr had made enough defensive strides to earn the job.
He made 26 three-pointers the first six games, later hit seven at Dayton and only once missed every attempt (vs. Jacksonville). In 13 of 32 games, he made at least five three-pointers and his 89 percent free throw shooting was the best in the Patriot League.
In the conference final last Friday at Bender Arena, Carr's third three-pointer midway through the second half stopped Colgate's 8-0 run and paved the way for a 52-46 victory, a first Patriot title and a dose of countrywide attention -- even in Washington state.
"A lot people out there, now when I say 'American' they know exactly what league it is in, what city it is in," Carr said. "Before I came here, people would ask me where I'm going and I'd say, 'American University in Washington D.C.,' like it was part of the school's name. Hopefully, now I can just say 'American' like any other school."
