Tommy (New York, NY)

you both grew up in Manhasset, NY - one of the country's most storied lacrosse towns. can you talk about what is was like growing up with that tradition and support?

Billy Bitter

  (1:02 PM)

We started playing at a young age in an excellent youth program which benefited us a great amount in the long run. The coaches we have had always pushed us to our maximum potential to get the best out of us.

Gavin Petracca

  (1:02 PM)

From an early age we grew up playing and looking up to the varsity players. It was always a dream for me to play on varsity. Our town really is a laxtown and thrives around our lacrosse team so playing for such a storied program was a great experience for both of us.

Meatball Mccall from Yorktown

Gavin, I know that you bring the high heat game after game. How can I improve my shot to be packing more mph's in the top corners?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:03 PM)

Well it all starts on the wall having great stick skills is the first step in being able to shoot hard. I really worked on my form and getting my hands separated from my body also working on stepping into my shot to create as much power as i can. The stronger your legs are the harder you'll shoot it.

Pop-pop from Manhasset

Billy, is there any added pressure tonight because you are battling against your brother? What does your dad say to you both before a game like this?

Billy Bitter

  (1:04 PM)

This definitely adds more pressure to the game, with both my parents and my oldest brother and oldest sister down here to watch makes it that more intense of a game. I have always looked up to my brother and I am excited to play against him tonight. This game has really gotten the blood flowing in my Dad. I think he is more excited than my brother and I. He just tells us to put everything we have worked for into this game. "May the best son win"- is his famous saying.

Tad Repmop (Fort Salonga, NY)

Hey Gavin, You're the greatest, i love your stick fakes, they are the best in the country. What is more important when throwing those fakes? Crazy strong wrists or a really deep bag in your twig? Go Tar Heels!

Gavin Petracca

  (1:06 PM)

I'd have to say that having a pretty big bag is essential in throwing a good Sky Wammy. having a deep pocket really helps grip the ball.

Christi Schnurr, Bates, Maine

To billy bitter: After getting flagged with an unsportsmanship conduct foul against Denver, is this a sign that your once calm and collected attitude has stepped aside and the new tougher Billy Bitter has burst onto the scene?

Billy Bitter

  (1:09 PM)

It was just an unfortunate situation that i got myself into. The intensity of the game got me fired up. I know not to make a mistake like that again. The toughness will always be there but in good fashion.

Jack (Va. Beach)

How is the atmosphere under coach Breschi? How intense are practices?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:10 PM)

The atmosphere has been great all of the guys have really taken to our new Coaching staff; everyone is definitely pumped for the season. Coach Breschi really brings a lot of enthusiasm to 7 am practice and harps on us matching his excitement. So practices are pretty intense.

Rob McCrawly (Manhasset, NY)

Hey Billy, i've heard you have the sweetest itunes collection in DI lacrosse. Is that true?

Billy Bitter

  (1:12 PM)

I do not want to sound cocky, but yes. They are sick! I would be happy to send some songs to anyone out there.

Matt (PA)

How have you guys prepared for Navy? Will you guys be able to put up twenty on the Midshipmen, or is their defense the best you have played and going to hold under that twenty goal mark?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:13 PM)

We've really been working hard in practice and trying to scout their D the best we can. Our offense is going to be very organized tonight and hopefully really share the ball well, but Navy's D is always one of the best in the country so I don't foresee 20 goals tonight.

Mark (Virginia Beach, VA):

Billy, would you say Duke's lacrosse team is significantly better than the Tar Heels or phenomenally better? Feel free to elaborate. Also, if you weren't playing lacrosse (perhaps because you walked through a strange vortex and were now living in an alternate universe where lacrosse was banned by a galactic congress), what other sport would you play and why?

Billy Bitter

  (1:15 PM)

Duke has always been a great lacrosse team and has gotten the best of us these past few years. I look forward to playing them March 14th....I would probably be ski racing up in Stowe Vermont right now because skiing has always been a hobby of mine. There's nothing better than ripping down some fresh powder in the high altitudes.

Denis Cole, New York, NY

Gavin--every athlete has their rolemodels, and I noticed you mentioned growing up looking up to the varsity players in your home town. Who are/were some of the guys you look up to as role models?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:16 PM)

Well when i was in 8th grade, the varsity had a great attack line of Dennihan, Miller, and Bitter. They always played real hard and put up a lot of Goals so they were exciting to watch.

Steiny (NYC)

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

Billy Bitter

  (1:17 PM)

It would have to be my father. He started playing at a young age and knows a lot about the game. He has been teaching me since i was 2. It has been non stop lessons about lacrosse. With my Dad everything in life is somehow related to lacrosse. He loves the game.

Steiny (NYC)

Gavin, at what age did you start playing Lacrosse?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:19 PM)

Well my mom recently showed me a picture of myself at age 2 running around with a stick. But we started PAL in Manhasset in 1st grade.

Alota Butter (B-More, MD)

Do you guys like facing a goalie that plays on a low arc, or a high arc like Navy's goalie?

Billy Bitter

  (1:20 PM)

All week we have been scouting a goalie that plays a high arc which is tough to score against. Every week we face different goalies with different styles. We prepare ourselves to adapt to anything we might see in the game.

Mark St Louis MO

Who has the most accurate shot on the team? Who has the fastest shot on the team? Who has the best behind the back shot?

Billy Bitter

  (1:22 PM)

Gavin has the most accurate shot putting the balls in the low corners. Ben Hunt has the fastest shot with 100+ high heat. Bart Wagner has the best BTB for sure.

Gavin Petracca

  (1:22 PM)

Bart Wagner definitely throws some of the best BTB's i've seen. I'd say that Ben Hunt shoots as hard as i've seen anyone over 100 mph. I'd say bobby mcauley is pretty accurate even though he has an arc on his shot at times.

John H. (Baltimore, Md)

Billy and Gavin- both of you have really stepped up this year is it because of your tireless 1 on 1 and extra practice sessions in the past with great defensemen like Brian Burke and Tim Kaiser?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:26 PM)

Both Brian and Tim have helped me mature as a player because they both have different games; brian is a little more power while tim has the finesse game so they have helped mold us I'd say.

Matt (PA)

Billy, would you want to post up some of those songs from your beast itunes collection?

Billy Bitter

  (1:26 PM)

As of now every Tuesday I send new songs out to our team via email.

2Fat4LAx Chapel hill, NC

Gavin... would you rather not be able to play brick breaker on your Blackberry the rest of your life or not be able to play lax the rest of your life?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:28 PM)

I'd say no more brick breaker because they're are always more Sick games out there.

John. Boca Raton, Florida

Billy, what kind of arm-guards do you use?

Billy Bitter

  (1:28 PM)

guards do you use? The new Brine Dozers. They are very comfortable with great protection.

Mark (Cold Spring Harbor, NY)

Seeing that you two are both from New York, a place known for their delis, I was curious if you had found any good delis in Chapel Hill?

Billy Bitter

  (1:30 PM)

I would have to J & J's deli in Chapel Hill would be the closest taste to the New York Delis

Gavin Petracca

  (1:30 PM)

J & J's deli and Lorussas have been a saviors for me they both make NY style Sambo's.

Charlie, Garden City, NY

Do the tar heels have any customs or habits for games? How do you guys get pumped up for a game?

Billy Bitter

  (1:32 PM)

We always listen to a warm up CD prior to the game in our locker room. A lot of kids re-tape there shafts before every game.

Eric Bean (the Thrill, NC)

How is Coach Myers doing leading the offense? Is he intense? Is he the reason you guys are scoring at will?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:35 PM)

coach myers is a great coach, he has really put a lot of new twists into the offense this year and is continuing to put more in every week. He is intense on the field and we know he is so intense because he wants us to be the best we can. Coach Myers has definitely helped us this year and has really improved all of our shooting, we get a TON of reps in practice.

Candide Thorvax (Vail, CO)

Billy, I'm sure you hit the epic pow in Stowe, VT, but what other mountains do you like to knife through freshies at?

Billy Bitter

  (1:36 PM)

I have been out west several times. Snowbird and Alta were great. But i would have to say that Jackson Hole, Wyoming was the best mountain to ski with endless amounts of terrain and fresh powder.

Brian Manhasset, NY

Gav - is it fun to have the chance to play on the same team with your brother?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:38 PM)

It has been great playing on the same team as my brother. We were able to play in high school together and im really happy he decided to join me and UNC. He's already gotten some time in the first 2 games so he's had a great start to his career.

Bewkes (Darien CT)

Billy you did a post graduate year at deerfield academy. how did the lacrosse there get you ready for UNC?

Billy Bitter

  (1:38 PM)

I was fortunate enough to have a great coach like Coach Davis to help me prepare myself for the college level. I was really happy I made that decision to do a PG year and I could not have picked a better school to attend. We had a great undefeated season and it was an awesome experience.

Dave, Charlotte VA

Conor English from your town is coming to UVA. How good is he?

Billy Bitter

  (1:39 PM)

Yes, I have seen him play. He is a tough player and goes to the cage hard!

Heels Rule (Baltimore, MD)

Hi Billy and Gavin! Great season you guys are having so far. I have a question for both of you: How jealous do you think fellow starting attackman Bart Wagner is that he was not included in this interview, and how do you guys think this is going to affect your on field and off field relationships? Do you see spin off reality blogs containing off field strife for college lacrosse players in the near future?

Gavin Petracca

  (1:41 PM)

Our team isn't like that and i dont think Bart is jealous or anything like that really. So it wont affect our relationship at all on or off the field. I don't really seem many spin offs happening

Dale Doughback, Washington

Billy, How would you describe your game? Last year you had incredible "flow" can we expect to see that again?

Billy Bitter

  (1:41 PM)

I just play the game hard and listen to what our coaches have to say. Yes the flow is on its way, if my mom is okay with it.

joseph (charlotte)

You guys have games on Friday and Sunday this weekend. What will you guys do on Saturday to stay fresh?

Billy Bitter

  (1:44 PM)

We will play hard on Friday and hopefully win. I will spend my day on Saturday off of my feet and relaxing at my house by playing some Mario Kart on Wii. As well as eating healthy and drinking a lot of fluids.

Gavin Petracca

  (1:44 PM)

On saturday i'm going to spend a lot of time Horizontal and off my feet to try to get fresh. I'll also try to have some good energizing food to replenish my body for sunday.

James Maimone-Medwick (Manhasset, NY)

You boys ready to bring the NCAA Championship Trophy back to 'Set? It hasnt seen our neck of the woods since Diconza and I brought her home in '05

Billy Bitter

  (1:46 PM)

We will do our best and play as hard as we can all season long. We will take one game at a time and listen to our new coaching staff. It would be an incredible opportunity to play in such a big game.

Gavin Petracca

  (1:46 PM)

I hope we get the chance to play for the Championship this year. It's a long season and hopefully we'll peak at the right time and make a really good push in the playoffs.

Jon Brand

  (1:48 PM)

The guys have to get ready for the big game against Navy tonight at 7:30. You can follow that live on InsideLacrosse.com. Our intrepid reporter Christian Swezey will be down there.

Jon Brand

  (1:49 PM)

Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. We'll see you here next week. You can head to InsideLacrosse.com to keep up with the lacrosse action all weekend long.