Undefeated Month Fuels Men’s Basketball
Tim Brady ’12. (Photo by Sara Tincher)
The Ohio Wesleyan men’s basketball team went undefeated in January, defeating seven straight conference opponents including 11th-ranked Wabash.
The last time the Bishops had an undefeated month was during tournament play in March 1988. This hasn’t happened in the regular season for nearly 80 years.
Coach Mike DeWitt says players have been improving across the board. He says his team has been playing more as a unit recently, and credits this to recent success.
“Our team has grown more determined to do well as the season has progressed, and has begun to do the things that successful teams do on a consistent basis,” he says.
Tim Brady ’12, who has been the North Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week twice this year, says the team has been shooting with more poise and enthusiasm. He says practices have been fueled by “a lot more intensity.”
“I feel everyone on the team has elevated their games and started to play with confidence,” he says. “Wabash was a huge win and gives us great confidence as we move on with our season.”
Andy Winters ’13 also says the team has begun to show more self-assurance.
“Each player understands his role on the team and what he needs to do for the team to be successful,” Winters says. “Since we have so many freshmen and sophomores, the beginning of the season was good for us to grow and help shape the team we are now.”
DeWitt says the undefeated month gave the Bishops a boost of morale.
“I think our guys have a lot of confidence as we enter the final stages of the season,” he says. “We know we can play with and defeat anyone left on our schedule.”
Winters says he has been striving to improve on a personal level. “I am just trying to go out there and continue to do what the team needs me to do to win. I am shooting with more confidence and learning through the experiences we face in each game which will hopefully help come the tournament.”