Our men’s basketball team completed its best season in a decade with a fourth straight appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) last month. The team’s achievements and the support of its fans have reminded us of the role of athletics at our University.

I thank everyone who celebrated our basketball players at the pep rally held in the Great Court on February 28. Men’s coach James “Bruiser” Flint, women’s coach Denise Dillon and I were proud to see the passion that Drexel students, faculty and staff have for our teams.

The men’s team garnered unprecedented local and national attention for a season that resulted in 23 wins, the most since 1995-96, including a nation’s-best 13 road wins. For the first time, Drexel beat three Philadelphia Big 5 teams in the same season, as well as national power Syracuse and leading “mid-major” Creighton. Our NIT opponent, North Carolina State, was the first Atlantic Coast Conference team ever to visit the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The New York Times and Philadelphia Inquirer ran feature stories on this year’s team, and many college basketball experts went on record as saying that Drexel deserved a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

I want to thank the senior leaders—Chaz Crawford, Bashir Mason, Dominick Meija, Matt Stevenson and Jake Rauchbac—who helped make the season a success, as well as Athletic Director Eric Zillmer and his staff, who work hard on behalf of all our student athletes. I also congratulate Coach Flint on the great honor of being named National Association of Basketball Coaches’ District 3 Coach of the Year.

Although the men’s basketball team was disappointed not to be invited to the “Big Dance,” several Drexel athletes did qualify for NCAA championship competition this winter, including diver Kate Hynes and wrestlers Ryan Hluschak, Steve Mytych, Nick Kozar and Chris Cowen. I congratulate them and everyone who competes in a sport for Drexel and brings credit to the term “scholar-athlete.”

C.R. "Chuck" Pennoni Interim President