A Legacy Reborn: The History of Roosevelt University Basketball
Roosevelt University, located in the heart of Chicago, Illinois, boasts a rich history, and a significant chapter of that history is the story of its athletic program, particularly the men’s basketball team. After a hiatus of two decades, Roosevelt University revived its athletic program in 2010, ushering in a new era for the Roosevelt Lakers. The basketball team's journey, marked by dedication, teamwork, and a commitment to excellence, has quickly established them as a force to be reckoned with in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The Lakers compete in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports, with 15 of their 17 sports within the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). Their home court is the Lillian and Larry Goodman Center, located at 501 S. Wabash Avenue.
Rebuilding a Program: The Foundation for Success
The resurgence of Roosevelt University's athletic program was not an overnight success. It was a carefully planned and executed endeavor, built on the foundation of strong leadership, dedicated coaches, and talented student-athletes. The New York Times highlighted this rebuilding program in a July 11, 2009 article, underscoring the significance of this revival for the university and its community.
The 2017-2018 Season: A Defining Moment
The 2017-18 season stands out as a monumental achievement in the Roosevelt University men’s basketball program's history. Under the guidance of head coach Joe Griffin and assistant coach Roy Ramos, the Lakers achieved unprecedented success, culminating in their first-ever appearance in the national tournament.
"Toughest Together": A Team's Identity
At the heart of the team's success was a unifying motto: "Toughest Together." This mantra, conceived in August 2017, encapsulated the team's values and aspirations. Coach Griffin emphasized that the motto wasn't just about winning but about fostering a commitment to each other as teammates and student-athletes. The coaching staff and five returning upperclassmen discussed not what they wanted to achieve, but who they wanted to be this year. Most teams and organizations all share the same outcome goals: wins, quotas, profits, etcetera. However, what we’ve been educating our guys about is that those are outcomes that result from our processes, and the greatest influence on attaining our goals was going to be a commitment to who we wanted to be as teammates and student-athletes.
Regular Season Dominance
The Lakers started the season on a high note, winning their first nine games. While they faced setbacks with losses to Saint Xavier and Governors State, they quickly rebounded with another nine-game winning streak, surpassing the 20-win mark for the first time in the program's history. By the end of the regular season, the Lakers had established themselves as a formidable force in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC). Standing at 12-4 on December 29, Roosevelt proceeded to go on another nine-game winning streak to surpass the 20-win mark for the first time. The Lakers finished with a school-record 26 wins to just eight defeats.
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Key Players and Their Contributions
The Lakers' success was a collective effort, with each player contributing their unique skills and talents to the team. Jake Ludwig, a junior point guard, emerged as a star player, earning recognition for his exceptional abilities and leadership on the court. "It’s an incredible honor and something I have only dreamed of," said Ludwig, courteous and respectful off the court but tenacious and competitive as soon as his Jordan sneakers hit the hardwood. "Ludwig really responded this year as a junior, as all of our opponents were not going to let him get away with anything after his CCAC Freshman of the Year campaign,” Griffin said of Ludwig, whose accomplishments seemed even more impressive with team game-planning for him as the Lakers’ top option. Adam Alexander and Joshua Dillingham, senior frontcourt players, provided size and experience, embodying the growth of the program.
Other key contributors included Kyle Bumbalough, Carson Hughes, and newcomer Grant Gibson, each playing vital roles in the team's success. Kyle Bumbalough, the 5-foot-9-inch Hoosier State product, helped Ludwig in the backcourt. Chicagoan Carson Hughes provided shooting and rebounding from the guard spot. Asquini was a three-point threat every time he reported into the game. Newcomer Grant Gibson was hustle personified.
CCAC Tournament and National Tournament Bid
The CCAC Tournament served as Roosevelt's closing argument for a first national postseason bid. With Governors State securing an automatic bid, the Lakers needed to win at least one game to be in good shape. In front of a raucous Goodman Center crowd on a Friday evening heavy with anticipation and energy, the Lakers jumped out to a big lead against the Cougars. The Lakers' journey culminated in a thrilling CCAC Tournament semifinal victory over Saint Xavier. This win not only avenged their regular-season losses to the Cougars but also secured the Lakers' first-ever bid to the NAIA National Tournament. “I think the most memorable moment of the year was beating Saint Xavier at home in the conference tournament semifinal,” Ludwig said. “It was such a great atmosphere in the Goodman Center and we were able to take down a team that had beaten us a few times already. In addition, after the game you could feel the electricity in the gym when Coach Griffin announced that we qualified for the first national tournament in school history. Although they fell short in the tournament final against Governors State, the Lakers' achievement had already been secured.
Lessons Beyond the Game
Coach Griffin emphasized that winning is not solely measured on wins and losses. "To us, winning games is simply a byproduct of doing several other things well," Griffin said. The program's four core values - toughness, communication, humility, and growth - guide everything they do. The mission is for every member of the program, be it a player, manager or coach, to be impacted and influenced to achieve personal success by the environment that we collectively create. For that to happen, we have to recruit the right student-athlete, create an environment that they want to stay in, and then guide them to graduation and employment. That is it.
Building for the Future
The 2017-2018 season was not just a flash in the pan but a testament to the program's long-term vision and commitment to development. Coach Griffin noted that the program has retained 24 out of 27 recruited student-athletes in the last five years, with all 24 expected to graduate within a 4-5 year time frame. “The basketball program has played a huge development in my growth these past three years,” Ludwig said. Back to Sioux Falls, where the Lakers played the Moundbuilders at a time most people are either in bed or watching late-night talk shows.
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Looking ahead, the Lakers are poised to continue their success, building on the foundation of their core values and commitment to excellence. “Our expectations remain the same, and that is to guide our program based on our values, and to remain committed to who we collectively want to be,” said Griffin, the 2017-18 CCAC Co-Coach of the Year. “We know that if we do this, we will be a tough team every year to play against.
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