As a former player under Coach Rose, obviously not hiding my identity through my username, I wanted to share my thoughts on IWU's senior class. I won't touch on the game, as I think everyone here has adequately summed up last night's matchup. In addition, there is already a much larger IWU contingency on this board than any other team in the CCIW and that clearly rubs some posters the wrong way.
IWU's senior class this year deserves the utmost praise from any person who values what the experience of being a Division III student-athlete is about. Not only were they a huge part of two Final Four runs and two CCIW championships, the first of both for Ron Rose, each senior is as well liked and well respected on campus as anyone in my time around Illinois Wesleyan. Each senior carries a tremendous GPA, is actively involved in some type of community service, a few are very involved in campus ministry, all put in extra time in the gym, and I think if you ask anyone at IWU they would say this group is friendly, engaging, and Coach Rose would describe them as very coachable. Not to mention the unselfishness of the group who in four years have accepted any role given to them without ever a complaint. Without waxing poetic completely, this group is full of good basketball players who are better people and make IWU the program it is.
I think Malcom proved this year that players do in fact read the board when they are still playing. I know we used to read it on bus rides home from road games to get a feel for how other games in the conference went, and frankly, used some of this board as motivation when people said some things about us we didn't agree with. I think this room (and D3Hoops.com, which is awesome) makes Division III basketball a much better overall experience for those involved. I enjoy reading and following throughout the year and think it makes a great league in the CCIW a little bit better for fans. Looking forward to what next year has to offer for all teams and posters here. Go Titans.
IWU's senior class this year deserves the utmost praise from any person who values what the experience of being a Division III student-athlete is about. Not only were they a huge part of two Final Four runs and two CCIW championships, the first of both for Ron Rose, each senior is as well liked and well respected on campus as anyone in my time around Illinois Wesleyan. Each senior carries a tremendous GPA, is actively involved in some type of community service, a few are very involved in campus ministry, all put in extra time in the gym, and I think if you ask anyone at IWU they would say this group is friendly, engaging, and Coach Rose would describe them as very coachable. Not to mention the unselfishness of the group who in four years have accepted any role given to them without ever a complaint. Without waxing poetic completely, this group is full of good basketball players who are better people and make IWU the program it is.
I think Malcom proved this year that players do in fact read the board when they are still playing. I know we used to read it on bus rides home from road games to get a feel for how other games in the conference went, and frankly, used some of this board as motivation when people said some things about us we didn't agree with. I think this room (and D3Hoops.com, which is awesome) makes Division III basketball a much better overall experience for those involved. I enjoy reading and following throughout the year and think it makes a great league in the CCIW a little bit better for fans. Looking forward to what next year has to offer for all teams and posters here. Go Titans.