Last week, the NCAC released their 2013-14 men's and women's first and second All-NCAC teams. The women's first-team featured two Tigers, including senior center Alex Gassaway. Gassaway, who was on the first team last year as well, averaged 13 points and six rebounds per game. Senior Ali Ross, Gassaway's teammate, made the All-Second team for her consistent play this season. The two seniors are set to compete this Friday, against Carthage College in the NCAA Round of 16. For the men's team, senior Michael Wilkison was honored on the All-Second NCAC team. Wilkison has played for the Tigers all four years, and recently scored his 1,000th point as a Tiger. The DePauw Sports sat down with the three seniors: Ross, Gassaway and Wilkison to reflect on their successful DePauw careers.
Alex Gasaway, Forward, 5'10"
TDP Sports: What struggles have you endured as a Tiger?
AG: There are struggles each new season in any sport, but the one that's most recent on my mind is tearing my ACL at the end of regular season last year. Any injury, major or minor, can be a struggle, but I think my previous experience playing with a torn ACL in high school enabled me to move past the injury in order to contribute whatever I could in the post-season run. But I think how I overcame that struggle is less important than how my teammates were able to elevate their play and end the season on a win.
TDP Sports: What impact has coach Huffman had on you both on and off the basketball court?
AG: Coach Huffman has taught me so much throughout my career here. From little tweaks to improve any skill technique, to showing me what it really felt like to work hard. She always talks about that "next gear" and as a freshman it's hard to know what she's talking about. You think, "She's crazy. I'm working as hard as I can." But you find out hopefully midway through your sophomore year that you're the one who's crazy to not have trusted her the whole time. She has this incredible way of drawing out your potential, and motivating you to find that next gear without you even realizing it. It's tough to describe unless you've experienced it. She's an incredible coach.
TDP Sports: How would you like your legacy to end as a Tiger?
AG: Every player wants to end their career on a win. There's no better way to say goodbye to the sport you've spent your life playing. If it ends up that we are unable to do that this season, I just want to be able to walk away from the court with no regrets, knowing that I gave it all I had.
Ali Ross, Guard, 5'7"
TDP Sports: Did you expect that you would have this much success when you decided to play at DePauw?
AR: I did not expect to do any of this. Coming in, I knew this was a good team, but I think as a freshman it seems like a crazy goal. We always have it, but is it actually possible to get to? So when it happened, it was unreal in my mind and it has taken a while for it to hit me. It was like I was in a dream state. The experience has just been awesome mostly spending time with the team whether it's bus rides or pre-game meals. Those have been the most fun times aside from playing in the games. We don't talk about the streak much under coach Huffman's watch. We play for each moment and each game, and all of the streak was awesome It was a great thing we achieved, and it's a game by game thing.
TDP Sports: What was your best moment as a DePauw Tiger?
AR: The best moment was in the locker room after the national championship game when I finally saw coach Huffman let loose a little bit and relax for once. She's just working so hard to prepare us for each day; just to see her goof around and dance. I don't know what she was doing; she was doing a lot of things, it was just so much fun to see everyone excited as we were after the game.
Michael Wilkison, Guard, 5'10"
TDP Sports: What has your basketball experience here done for you as a person?
Michael Wilkison (MW): I have become more of a leader, and I have learned a lot about life from the situations that I had the opportunity to be a part of throughout my basketball career. In my four years of DePauw, I had some struggles balancing my social life with my basketball career. I learned that you have to give up certain things in order to succeed at others. I have become a lot more conscious of handling one task at a time instead of looking at the overall big picture on certain things.
TDP Sports: How do you think you we're able to turn into a 1,000 point scorer, and what does the achievement mean to you?
MW: I was able to become a 1,000 point scorer because I was given the opportunity to play as a freshman. I also learned from the upperclassmen who put in a lot of work in the gym, as well as learning from my coaches. The coaches invested their trust in my abilities as a basketball player, and I tried to take advantage of that from the start. It's a nice accomplishment, but I would of rather have won a championship.
TDP Sports: What has been your best experience as a Tiger?
MW: My best experience during my time at DePauw is a hard one to pin-point. I think the experience as a whole, having the opportunity to play at the collegiate level, has taught me a lot about life as well as the game of basketball. If I had to narrow it down to one time, it would probably be beating Wabash College all three times, my senior year and getting to the 1,000 point mark during the last one at home with my parents there to watch.