Dear Coach Drew -
You've outdone yourself this time. I was watching the game with some friends a few states away from dear ole Valpo (near the heart of opposition country). At halftime, one of the skeptics said, "You guys are going to need some serious halftime adjustments to pull this one off." I said, "I'm not worried." And I wasn't.
You and your staff taught Vashil how to DOMINATE the lane defensively, and his progression on offense is epic. I remember his catch and dunk from his first year, and I compared it with joy on multiple occasions tonight with great respect for you and your staff.
You and your staff taught Peters how to play at a measured pace and DOMINATE when it matters. He didn't look to shoot first tonight (that's what Coach Wardle taught Sykes to do), and he contributed when it mattered.
You and your staff taught Carter and Nickerson how to play defense with passion and rip the ball away late, preventing much needed desperation threes.
You and your staff coached this team through multiple seemingly catastrophic injuries, making necessary adjustments to near-perfection.
You and your staff showed a group of mostly Freshmen and Sophomores how to play as a team and how to win with class.
You and your staff taught the entire team how to shoot free throws under pressure.
You and your staff led a young team to a 28-5 record, the best in school history, and potentially the highest NCAA tournament seed in school history.
GB came out looking for their first tourney appearance in 19 years, and scored just 19 points in the second half. You even adjusted the full court press break away from "6th man Brian Wardle", who infamously and repeatedly tried to block the sideline escape with his ample bosom, in a clear break of coaching decorum.
You would never do that, Coach Drew. You wouldn't need to do that.
SO proud to be a Crusader tonight. Good luck with your well deserved 12 seed.
I am looking forward to the next few seasons with you and the Valparaiso Crusaders.
You've outdone yourself this time. I was watching the game with some friends a few states away from dear ole Valpo (near the heart of opposition country). At halftime, one of the skeptics said, "You guys are going to need some serious halftime adjustments to pull this one off." I said, "I'm not worried." And I wasn't.
You and your staff taught Vashil how to DOMINATE the lane defensively, and his progression on offense is epic. I remember his catch and dunk from his first year, and I compared it with joy on multiple occasions tonight with great respect for you and your staff.
You and your staff taught Peters how to play at a measured pace and DOMINATE when it matters. He didn't look to shoot first tonight (that's what Coach Wardle taught Sykes to do), and he contributed when it mattered.
You and your staff taught Carter and Nickerson how to play defense with passion and rip the ball away late, preventing much needed desperation threes.
You and your staff coached this team through multiple seemingly catastrophic injuries, making necessary adjustments to near-perfection.
You and your staff showed a group of mostly Freshmen and Sophomores how to play as a team and how to win with class.
You and your staff taught the entire team how to shoot free throws under pressure.
You and your staff led a young team to a 28-5 record, the best in school history, and potentially the highest NCAA tournament seed in school history.
GB came out looking for their first tourney appearance in 19 years, and scored just 19 points in the second half. You even adjusted the full court press break away from "6th man Brian Wardle", who infamously and repeatedly tried to block the sideline escape with his ample bosom, in a clear break of coaching decorum.
You would never do that, Coach Drew. You wouldn't need to do that.
SO proud to be a Crusader tonight. Good luck with your well deserved 12 seed.
I am looking forward to the next few seasons with you and the Valparaiso Crusaders.