It's been a rough go the last few years, but we must remember that these "kids" put their heart into the team, and this year's group did that and then some.
DJ was the heart and soul of this team. He played his ass off every time he was out there. Sometimes him going 100 mph led to some mistakes and got him in trouble, but he got every ounce of production out of his ability. He could have hung it up after his tough injuries but he gave back to fans and the school (that he didn't really owe anything to) and worked his tail off to get where he is. DJ Johnson will forever be one of my all time favorite Cats.
Wes could be maddening at times but there's no question he was vital to our team. He could have left after the mass exodus, but he stayed the course, through all the crap, and stayed committed to our team. He handled the ball, passed well, improved his shot, and was a great defender. I'll always appreciate Wes and he will sorely be missed next year.
Carlbe didn't get much credit for doing the dirty work. He did everything kind of awkwardly, but he did it to the best of his ability. And who could forget his offensive rebounds. Best 6'3 PointCenter I've ever seen. Will miss his energy and effort.
Budke, while not a major contributor, was still a good teammate. He earned his scholarship and when his playing time decreased he was still the first guy to jump off the bench to clap and yell for a teammate. We often wondered why he was playing, but it wasn't his fault he was either needed or evaluated poorly. He made the best of his ability and gave his all.
In a time where we're all frustrated with coaching and mistakes, I feel we should take time to appreciate the guys that put in the sweat and blood in our team. It's always sad to see guys who put so much in your favorite program have to leave. But life moves on, and all these guys should be remembered for giving us something to cheer about.
DJ was the heart and soul of this team. He played his ass off every time he was out there. Sometimes him going 100 mph led to some mistakes and got him in trouble, but he got every ounce of production out of his ability. He could have hung it up after his tough injuries but he gave back to fans and the school (that he didn't really owe anything to) and worked his tail off to get where he is. DJ Johnson will forever be one of my all time favorite Cats.
Wes could be maddening at times but there's no question he was vital to our team. He could have left after the mass exodus, but he stayed the course, through all the crap, and stayed committed to our team. He handled the ball, passed well, improved his shot, and was a great defender. I'll always appreciate Wes and he will sorely be missed next year.
Carlbe didn't get much credit for doing the dirty work. He did everything kind of awkwardly, but he did it to the best of his ability. And who could forget his offensive rebounds. Best 6'3 PointCenter I've ever seen. Will miss his energy and effort.
Budke, while not a major contributor, was still a good teammate. He earned his scholarship and when his playing time decreased he was still the first guy to jump off the bench to clap and yell for a teammate. We often wondered why he was playing, but it wasn't his fault he was either needed or evaluated poorly. He made the best of his ability and gave his all.
In a time where we're all frustrated with coaching and mistakes, I feel we should take time to appreciate the guys that put in the sweat and blood in our team. It's always sad to see guys who put so much in your favorite program have to leave. But life moves on, and all these guys should be remembered for giving us something to cheer about.
