2006-07 Titan Player Journals

Zach Freeman (6-7 Senior Forward, Bloomington, IL - Normal H.S.)

2005-06: 16.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 185-309 FG (.599), named to 2nd Team All-CCIW

2004-05: 14.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 107-194 FG (.552), named to 2nd Team All-CCIW

2003-04: 11.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 114-213 FG (.535), named to 3rd Team All-CCIW

High school: Lettered three years in basketball and was team's MVP as a senior when he averaged 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds for 24-4 squad… shot 62 per cent from field…Pantagraph All-area...1st Team all-Big 12 Conference.

Ron Rose: "A special talent…has all the tools to have an All-American type year….he scores inside in a variety of ways, he can hit the mid-range jumpshot, he rebounds, he is a great athlete, explosive jumper…now he is a team leader…going to get a lot of attention from opponents, but what they are going to find is that he's awfully tough to guard because he is active, can score over the top of you, but he also is a very good passer…the impressive thing about Zach is that, with all of his credentials, he has no ego…he is respected and well-liked by his teammates."

Entry #2 - January 16, 2007

TITAN Fans,

Seeing as though it is already mid-January, it is probably a good time for another entry. It was a relief to finish my student teaching at the end of December and I had time to focus on basketball for the holiday break.

One week ago today, I started the last semester of my college career. It is a very weird feeling knowing that I will never introduce myself or go over a syllabus on the first day of class. Senior year is a difficult year as a student because you are trying to put all of the pieces together for the rest of your life while also battling the grind of the CCIW. Everything associated with the university (professors, advisors, other students) are preparing you (the student) for graduating and life after college. I am asked numerous times daily what I am going to do after college? For a typical student, 99% of their focus, time, and energy is spent on doing what needs to be done to graduate. A student-athlete's focus senior year is much different. My focus has to be there every day in practice & games not to mention the life altering graduation and future questions.

Typical questions from the first three years of college are.. did a get the homework done? do I have a test? do I have to go to class? is that class easy?

Questions from senior year are… do I have the million different graduation requirements covered? do I know what I want to do with my life? it is possible to complete 14, 7 page papers and 2, 25 page papers all for one class?

Putting all of that in perspective, I am still enjoying every minute of college. Basketball has become a way of life for me. This year has been incredible, not to mention the most wide open CCIW race since I have been at IWU. Although we haven't shown what we can do yet (with the exception of Carthage), there is a lot of season left. I am really looking forward to playing every Wednesday and Saturday for the next month and a half. I don't want to overanalyze our start because we haven't played up to our potential. Basically what I am saying is don't count us out yet, we need your support!

Proud to be a TITAN,

Z #30

Entry #1 - November 15, 2006

TITANS Across the Country,

Last year was a great year to be a TITAN. A third-place finish in the country was a great way to end the season (though it should have been 1st). It is my job as captain (along with my brother), to not rebuild but to reload.

The first month has been a delight thus far. It is a refreshing experience getting the opportunity to see basketball from a different perspective. Practice has been going well and I think that we are ready for some real game action. The amazing thing is the amount of inexperience coming into this year. I love it! Being picked 5th is the best thing I've heard all pre-season. I love to prove people wrong and it starts November 17 at UW-Whitewater.

As for my education, I am currently student teaching at Washington elementary. This semester has definitely been the most rewarding experience thus far in college. I am working with Andy Jones (former TITAN basketball player). I have learned so much about myself as a person and have found that teaching is a true passion in my life. As far plans after college, who knows. I take like one day at a time.

Looking forward to the tournament Nov. 17 & 18, I am pumped. Being a senior, I have been all over the place. Florida, Texas, Ohio, Virginia, and Costa Rica to name a few. I will always remember UW-Whitewater because that is where we started our run last year. I have no doubt that last year's postseason success will give us a little extra confidence coming in.

That is about it. Thanks for taking the time to check out my journal. Until next time.

Z #30