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GAME DAY BLIZZARD vs. Xavier 3/5/2011 Chaifetz Arena
SLU Billikens vs. No. 25 Xavier Musketeers Eckerle excels on and off the hardwood Players to Watch By CHAD CARSON Staff Writer
Dwayne Evans, Freshman, F
R
SAINT LOUIS
63.1
Vs. PPG
XAVIER
73.2
62.4
OPPONENT’S PPG
65.4
.437
FG%
.464
.318
3 PT%
.336
.652
FT%
.751
31.6
RPG
35.3
13.5
APG
13.4
13.2
Turnovers
11.8
Ryan Giacomino / Photographer
“me,I don’t like Paul. I love Paul. To Paul is the epitome of a student-
athlete. He plays on heart. He’s inspirational.
”
Rick Majerus, head coach of Saint Louis — Billikens on RS junior Paul Eckerle
After tearing his ACL and MCL prior to the start of the 2009-2010 basketball season, Paul Eckerle played an active role in supporting his team off the court. In addition to his successes on the court, Eckerle has achieved a nearly 4.0 GPA studying Biology and taking pre-med classes. But what matters to Eckerle is basketball, in which his goal is “to contribute in the most complete way possible to helping our team achieve its ultimate goal.” Following the injury and taking a medical redshirt for his junior year, Eckerle underwent a month of preoperative rehab before having surgery in August of 2009. After surgery, Eckerle participated in daily rehab and started to resume upper body weight training a month after surgery. While Eckerle participated in rehab, he played an active role on the team off the court. “I felt like I was still active and helping the guys out as much as I could,” Eckerle said. Present at preseason practices, Eckerle eventually dedicated himself to knowing each of his teammates’ tendencies on the court and said he believes that “the true value of a teammate is not seen on the court during the game, but rather it’s the value that you can contribute every day at practice.” “Even with his injury, Paul was one of the most positive guys to be around last year,” teammate Christian Salecich said. “We had a tough stretch, and he kept us positive the whole way. Paul’s been around forever; he’s like the old wise man. He knows anything and everything from the game itself to keeping us focused.” During the season, he studied the opposing teams’ plays in order to call them out from the bench and remained focused on his rehab. This past summer, Eckerle returned to the court for the first time in a controlled scrimmage. Because of his injury, Eckerle is currently a junior in terms of athletic eligibility but a senior in terms of academic eligibility, with more than 150 credit hours. In fact, he had the opportunity to graduate after three years with a degree in Biology but decided to try to play one more year. In order to stretch out his time at SLU, Eckerle also earned a certificate in business. He considered remaining for another year in order to play basketball, but “there’s not much left to do academically without being totally unproductive,” Eckerle said. The Washington, Mo., native has already applied to SLU, the University of Missouri at Columbia, and Washington University in St. Louis for medi-
The reigning Atlantic 10 freshman of the week has been a machine on the glass, posting three straight double-doubles before ending the streak in a win at Dayton.
Tu Holloway, Junior, G, Xavier Despite an uncharacteristically poor showing against Charlotte on March 2, Holloway has been dominating the A-10. The front-runner for the conference player of the year, Holloway averages 20.5 PPG.
Mike McCall, Freshman, G McCall had a career night in the Billikens upset bid of Dayton on March 2, dropping 17 points on 3 of 5 shooting from long range. McCall leads SLU in scoring at 10 PPG.
Kenny Frease, Junior, C, Xavier Frease has been a nightmare for opponents in the paint all year, averaging nearly 12 points and 7 rebounds per contest. Frease is also tied for the team lead in blocks, averaging 1 per game.
Ryan Giacomino / Photographer
Paul Eckerle will be the lone player not returning to the team next year. Instead of using his fourth year of eligibility, Eckerle will begin medical school. The long-time heart and soul of the Billikens, Eckerle and his exploits on the court as well as off of it have endeared him to Billiken faithful.
cal school. efficiently.” So far, SLU has accepted him into “There may be some things that you their program, but Eckerle is waiting have to sacrifice, but the things that to hear from Washington University. I gave up far out“If I get into medweigh the opportuical school, that Paul’s been around forever; nity cost. It’s so would be a very difficult thing to turn he’s like the old wise man. He worth it in terms being able to down since it’s so knows anything and every- of achieve the things difficult to get in,” thing from the game itself to I have academically Eckerle said. keeping us focused. and athletically,” While at SLU, Eckerle said. Eckerle has estabIn the meantime, -Christian Salecich, teammate lished an impressive Eckerle is all about academic record, basketball and his which he credits to team. his time management skills. “The guys here are special, and we “People always ask how I find the have a really good bond that causes time, and the thing I have to say is me to want to win not only for myself, that the time is there,” Eckerle said. but also for them,” Eckerle said. “You just have to know how to use it
“
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Ryan Giacomino / Photographer
“we’re We’re playing great right now; hitting shots, and we’re de-
fending.You put that together, and we’re going to be a tough team to beat.
”
Kyle Cassity, junior guard of the Saint — Louis Billikens