Men's basketball player Frank Patton III.
COURTESY OF DEPAUW.EDU
It's been a busy few days for DePauw University’s men’s basketball team in the North Coast Athletic Conference tournament. After a double overtime win over Wittenberg University in the quarterfinals, the Tigers upset the tournament’s number one seed, the Ohio Wesleyan University Battling Bishops 69-65, and in the process, earned head coach Bill Fenlon his 500th career win. DePauw would go on to defeat the College of Wooster Fighting Scots the next day to claim the NCAC crown and advance to the NCCA tournament. Key to that surge was senior Frank Patton III who led the offensive attack for the Tigers. Over the three contests of the conference tournament, Patton averaged over 13 points per game that included a career-high 20 against the Fighting Scots in the championship game. These numbers were good enough to award Patton the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award and make him this week's The DePauw Tiger of the Week
The DePauw (TDP): What does it mean to you to be a part of the team that got Coach Fenlon his 500th win?
Frank Patton III (FP): It's something special. The way we got his 500th win made the moment even more special. The locker room after that game is something I will always remember.
TDP: How does your preparation differ for win or go home games like the ones in the NCAC tournament?
FP: We try to prepare just like it is any other game. We obviously know there is more on the line than a regular season game, but at the same time there is no reason to play tight or scared. These are the moments I live for.
TDP: What changed for you this past weekend that allowed you to amp up your offensive production?
FP: I think it goes back to the last question. I knew going into the weekend that this game could be my last and I wasn't ready for that happen. So my mindset going into the game was to do whatever was necessary to win.
TDP: What does it mean to you to be singled out by the NCAC as the tournament's MVP?
FP: It's a great honor and accomplishment. It was not my intention to go out there and win the MVP. However, my intention was to do whatever I could do to make sure I was going dancing at least once in my collegiate career. So that was the most important thing, but I'm not going to lie and say I'm not happy that an MVP came with the opportunity of playing in the NCAA tournament.