2006-07 Titan Player Journals

Andrew Freeman (6-6 Senior Forward, Bloomington, IL - Normal H.S.)

2005-06 Stats: 2.1 ppg, 1.7 rpg (7 min/game)

2004-05: 4.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg (12 min/game)

2003-04: Played JV

High school: Averaged 8.4 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as senior on 24-4 Normal team...Illinois High School Association scholar and Big 12 Scholar-Athlete.

Ron Rose: "We are really expecting and needing a breakout year from Andrew…he's slowly getting more and more confident and aggressive offensively, both looking for his shot as well as taking it to the basket….in our league, at 6-6 and athletic, he can pose mismatches….we're going to count on him to be a leader and to be a guy that produces on a nightly basis…for us to win games and be competitive, he is going to have to play and play well this year...will play a lot of 3 and 4, could be a game by game decision, based on the matchups."

Entry #1 - November 15, 2006

Hey Titan Fans,

It is exciting to get a fresh start for my fourth and final season of basketball at Illinois Wesleyan. This season has brought many new faces, most notably Coach Rose. Coach Rose has been a welcomed addition to the team this year and his organization, dedication, and cooperation from day one have made the transition smooth for everyone involved. The pre-season workouts and open gyms were competitive and attendance was great. This undoubtedly led to some surprisingly good practices early on in the season.

Since then, more and more learning has taken place and lots of kinks are being worked out. We've had our share of both good and bad practices, but in general we are continuing to improve. People are starting to understand their roles on the team and develop confidence to achieve those roles. I, for one, have adapted to a new role of team captain this year. It has helped me step out of my shell, be more vocal, and teach the team about the values and expectations of playing for theTitans.

After months of playing the same people it was great to finally play someone else when we matched up against St. Francis. In playing another opponent, we gained a little better perspective on what we needed to improve on. Since that time we have played Blackburn (@ Blackburn) and the alumni during practice. Both of these occasions showed our vulnerabilities as an inexperienced team. In order to be a great team this year, we really need to lay it on the line every second of every game.

With just a few days to go, I am very excited to step out on the floor and lay it on the line every second for the Titan fans, my teammates, and myself. Hope to see you all in Whitewater!

-Andrew "Abo" Freeman - #24