The University of Delaware men's basketball team did not have an ideal season this year, to say the least. With a few close games, the team finished 7-23 and last in the CAA (Colonial Athletic Association). The university is attempting to fix such a sad showing by appointing a new coach to take over the helm from Monte Ross and appointing a new athletic director. Let us not remember Coach Ross' legacy by this season, rather the entirety of his tenure and his success, notably in 2014.
March Madness has started, and many students at division one schools are left perplexed as who to cheer for since their own school did not make the bracket cut. At the University of Delaware, many people such as myself are left in this conundrum. This was not the case in 2014, when the Blue Hens put up their second best record in school history and finished 25-10. The team continued to enter the NCAA Tournament, yet was not a favorite. The team went on to lose to Michigan State 93-78. The effort was valiant and UD was proud to be in contention at all. Monte Ross and the basketball team excited not only Newark, but the entire state of Delaware. Before 2014, it had been 15 years since the team last made it into March Madness!
The team still exhibits a great venue to cheer. The atmosphere is always luminous and the stands are packed with students, alumni, or simply fans whenever a home game is undergone. It is part of what makes a Delaware student feel like a Blue Hen, and cannot be missed! Between Joe Flacco and Joe Biden, our school has tremendous alumni and many more reasons to be proud! For example, our Physical Therapy was just announced as the best program in the country! And nobody besides the Blue Hens community is at fault for these greater waves coming our way.
Although this year was not bright, UD did still manage to have a better overall record than Drexel, who went 6-25! The team still has youth and chemistry building up, which spikes potential. The team will surely learn from this past season and look to return to the glory days next season. It is always a great day to be a Blue Hen!