The Justice

Media Credit: David Sheppard-Brick Fans paint their chests in support of the men's basketball team during a second-round NCAA Tournament contest.

This basketball season was about beginnings and endings. Our men's team started the year in beautiful Italy, where we spent 10 days touring the country and enjoying each other's company. It was a fun and exciting trip that we will remember for the rest of our lives. The same can be said for the season that followed our trip. The winningest season in school history began with a victory in our very own Tip-Off Tournament and took off from there, including a win over defending national champion Amherst College (which was ranked No. 1 at the time), our first win at the home of the eventual NCAA Division III champion Washington University in St. Louis, hosting the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament- and the list goes on.

But with every beginning, there is an ending. Almost in direct contrast to beginning the season in scenic Italy, we ended it in Plattsburgh, N.Y., which may as well be known as a pit stop on the way to Montreal. It's a place where there's a mall and pretty much nothing else, and it's where our historic season became, well, history. The end of our season was also the end of the collegiate careers of a few great seniors. I won't speak about those record breakers, those award recipients, those perfect examples of high character, because I don't have to-their incredible success speaks just fine for them. We will miss them very much.

Yet with every ending, there is also a beginning. The Brandeis basketball program has developed into one of the best in the country. We will be back next year, battle-tested and incredibly driven, with only one goal in mind: the Final Four. And we hope that you will be back next year, too. Coach Brian Meehan has called our fans "the best in New England," and you have proven that several times. The memories of this season are punctuated by the incredible support we got from you in staggering numbers. There were the 1,750 fans at the Amherst game in December, many of whom rushed the court and celebrated the victory with us. Thousands of fans participated in Student Athletics Advisory Committee-organized events this season, including the Beach Bash, the Blackout and Think Pink, which raised money and support for breast cancer awareness. There were the combined 3,500 fans who made hosting games in the NCAA Tournament everything we could have hoped for and the hundred or so who made the trek to Plattsburgh and brought us a home court advantage on the road. We can't thank you enough.

There are many things to look forward to next year, but I know that one thing that we are very much looking forward to is you, our fans, cheering us on. Thanks again for your support, and we'll see you in the fall.

Go Judges!

Gabe Marwell is the manager of the men's basketball team

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