Atkins averaged 12.1 points, 4.1 assists and 3.2 rebounds in 37.9 minutes per game in 2011-12. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND
tween the veteran and newbie never went that far. "Atkins is smart
enough not to come to blows with Ben or he would have been out for the season," he ex- plained.
enough to realize now that the tough love from Hansbrough was ex- actly what was needed. "I had to deal with
Atkins is also mature
Ben yelling at me, but he helped me out a lot," Atkins said. "We went at
it in practice every day. I think we both made each other better. He is a fiery type of guy, but I'm not going to back down from any chal- lenge — not Ben, not anybody in this league. He definitely made me
