Wulff
Most important lessons learned: “The hard work, the dedication and the commitment you have to put in to be successful. Basketball is life but everything involved in basketball are the things I’m gonna have to deal with the next 60 years of my life.”
Favorite memories with team: “All those times you spend with the guys — in the hotel, on the bus, on road trips after practice, joking around and just running out of that tunnel with 15,000 people here to see you play every night — that’s not something I’m gonna see again no matter where I play.”
On Naymick: “He’s had a heck of a senior year and has played his role to a T — whether it’s defending, getting putbacks, setting screens or being the glue guy. That’s what every team needs. He does things that don’t show up in the stat sheet, but he’s played a big role (in) a lot of our wins this year.”
Most important lessons learned: “If you think you’re doing one thing good or great in high school and then you get to a place like this, one of the top Division I programs, you find out really quickly there are a lot of other people like you. Something that can separate you is your ability to go through adversity and problems.”
Favorite memories with team: “Hanging out and being with the other guys after a good practice or a good game. They say the guys you train with or go to war with, that’s a bond between them that no one else will understand. Nobody dies when we screw up, but we do go through some difficult times and it brings us closer as a group.”
On Neitzel: “He’s a special player. Looking at him, you wouldn’t think basketball. But he’s a guy who’s worked his butt off and developed an incredible skill set and incredible work ethic and really a fire and a fight that’s at a level that some other guys don’t have.”
Last games with MSU and what she’s learned: “It’s obviously a moment I wish my dad was here for, but he will be here, and has been every day he has been away from this earth. It’s going to be an emotional time, but at the same time I’m happy with my time spent here at MSU. I don’t know a lot of kids that have lost their dad at age 21 or 22, and at the same time being away from home you just really learn how to grow as a person, and I have great support system at home and at MSU that have helped me along the way.”
Favorite memory: “I’ve made a lot of memories here, going to the Final Four, going to the NCAA on consecutive years, winning that Big Ten Tournament (in 2005). But honestly, the friendships that I’ve made have made my experience what it is and have made me who I am today.”
Head coach Suzy Merchant on Wulff: “She was the first one to really buy in (to the new coaching staff) and have a good attitude. She is very mature.”
What she has learned on the team: “I’m a pretty strong person. Being ineligible and having that Achilles tear — I know for a fact that a lot of people would have probably given up with a lot of the things that I went through. I just couldn’t become a quitter, and that is the most proud thing because I never thought I’d make it to senior night here at MSU.”
Favorite memory: “Every night I get to put on the Spartans uniform and get to go out with my team is a memory for me. Every game is just something special about going out and fighting with the people you love.”
Merchant on Davidson: “Courtney brings kind of that play-making spunk, she’s very outgoing and I do respect her spirit and her spunk and I told her that from day one. The bottom line is that she does have the spirit and focus to make things happen no matter what the situation. She’s come around and sees the light at the end of the tunnel and wants to finish strong.”
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