Much has been said about this class outperforming expectations and putting the program back on the right road. With this particular class, however, I'll miss a lot more than their combined talents.
I think a lot of fans, like myself, fell in love with this team. Even with all the hoopla surrounding next year and the coming of the "Thad Five", these guys refused to be forgotten and looked over. I will genuinely miss some of these guys, as much for their personalities as anything.
Matt Sylvester - the "Swagger"
As much as we all have been guilty of Sylvester "bashing" at one point or another, Matt brought a confidence to this team. He wasn't scared of the spotlight and wasn't scared of failure. He wanted the ball in his hands because he had confidence in his game and wouldn't let potential failure scare him. It's an attribute that more athletes today need.
J.J. Sullinger - the "Energy"
I loved watching J.J. before and during games this year. He was always smiling and dancing. He kept the guys loose and he always played with the same energy. My dad once made a comment that J.J. always worked so hard on the court. I said "Dad, you're wrong. J.J. goes after rebounds, chases loose balls and runs the court like that not because he's trying to work hard...but because he's having fun." J.J. was living his dream, playing for his hometown Buckeyes, and he defines what it means to "be a Buckeye".
Terence Dials - the "Leader"
Terence has always been mature beyond his years. A leader by action more than words, he is kind of quiet and unassuming. He's classy and handles his business in a professional manner. Terence was never in trouble, never demanded spotlight, always stressed "team" above the individual and, oh...was Big Ten Player of the Year! Also, let us not forget he had a hand in picking Thad as the next head coach and was the glue that held these guys together during the transition. Make no mistake, next to Thad, Terence was the second in command.
Je'Kel Foster - the "Intensity"
I loved watching Je'Kel as much as any player in history, and his late-season slump absolutely broke my heart. This kid played every aspect of the game in a way that any coach would love. Whether or not he got praise or was scoring, Je'Kel would ALWAYS find a way to be an asset to the team. I loved the concentration and passion on his face during the game. The word "quit" isn't in his vocabulary. Need defense? he'll shut a guy down. Need rebounding? He'll mix it up with the big men. Need a distributor or scorer? He'll do either. Je'Kel would dive for a loose ball if they were down by 20 with a minute left, and he demanded no less from his teammates.
In closing...I'll sincerely miss these guys. To me, they were a lot more than players. They symbolized the entire University's struggle in the past couple years. They fought through adversity and took some bumps and bruises, but always shined through in the end. These guys are the opposite of everything that major athletes stand for these days. They worked harder, had more fun, were more team oriented and were easier to love than any team that comes to my mind. You'll be missed, seniors...good luck!
