Northwestern University Athletics
Drew's Views
2/1/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 1, 2010
Hello Wildcat Fans!
I'm writing this week's entry on the bus on the way back from our game in East Lansing. We lost a tough one to Michigan State by the score of 79-70. We played well in the first half by controlling the tempo and keeping them from scoring in transition. The halftime score was 30-28 and in the locker room we talked about our need to rebound (they had 12 offensive rebounds in the first half) and continuing to control the game with our offense. In the second half our defense faltered and they went on an 18-4 run to open the half. We fought back in the last few minutes, but their solid free throw shooting made it tough to pull it close.
Now halfway through the Big Ten season, our record is 3-6 in conference play. So far our schedule has been very difficult considering we've played five games against the top four teams in the Big Ten. We've been playing well at home the past couple of weeks, and four out of our next five games are at Welsh-Ryan Arena. We hope to get some momentum in this next set of games and put ourselves back in a good position in the standings. Our next contest is against Michigan on Tuesday, Feb. 2 at home. The fan support has been unbelievable this year and it makes playing at home a fun and exciting experience. There is no better sound than the roar of a packed Welsh-Ryan Arena when our team knocks down a big shot!
With all of the traveling and time we put into basketball many people wonder how we keep up with academics, keep our bodies fresh, and manage our time accordingly. The truth is...we are spoiled! The Northwestern staff, from our academic advisors, to our trainers, to our managers, does everything it can to make our lives as easy as possible when we're not working hard on the court or in the classroom. My academic advisor, Betsi Burns, is an angel! She is strict when it comes to maintaining my grades, and she is unbelievably helpful in giving me advice and setting me up for success with my classes. The time management is hard between basketball and academics, but being in constant contact with Betsi makes things much easier. Aside from our academic staff, we have a staff of athletic trainers who are dedicated to keeping us healthy and injury-free.
Our trainer, Lanny Bradford, knows exactly what is going on with each player and he is always available to help us with therapy, stretching, and maintaining our health. Anytime I have something nagging me, Lanny is great at giving me advice on how to get better. Not to mention he sets up massages for us once every week. A local massage therapist named Mark comes every week to loosen us up and relax our bodies. It is definitely one of the best 20-minute periods of my week!
We also have a staff of team managers who do everything they can to make us happy. They are always available to rebound for us when we want to get extra shots up. They give up their time to travel with the team to help us on the road, and they make things so much easier for us. After every game, whether at home or on the road, we have a meal waiting for us in the locker room or on the bus. The staff orders the food and makes sure we have everything we need after our games. Last week we were on the road in Minnesota, and the morning before the game I was complaining of a canker sore that was killing my lower lip. With the shootaround and film session, I had no time to buy medicine for it so I figured I would have to deal with the pain. However, when we came back to the hotel after shootaround, one of our senior managers, Daniel Blumenthal, handed me a tube of medication that he had gone to the store to get for me. With the pain that canker sore was giving me, that generous act made my day! Daniel is great with helping us with whatever we need, and we all greatly appreciate what he does for our team. Our entire staff is so helpful, and it has helped me adjust to life as a college basketball player.
Hope to see you Tuesday!
