USF Senior Men’s Basketball Farewell

Another basketball season is in the books, and that means the end of four great senior’s careers.  Bryan Kielpinski, Rob Goffney, Alex Robey, and Derek Brown have all shot their last shot in a USF uniform.  I sat down with them for one last interview.

Bryan: It’s just starting to sink in, that I’m done playing here at USF after my fourth year.  It’s kind of sad because you know you’re not going to play with the same group of guys that you’ve been playing with this year, and maybe even the past couple of years.

Rob:  Now that I’m done, it hasn’t really hit me yet because it’s only been a week, but I’m sad.  I miss the game; I’m going to miss it a lot.

Alex:  It’s definitely a little bittersweet right now.  I don’t really know what to do with my free time or anything like that, but you know, it feels good kind of letting the body recover a little bit.

Derek:  It’s weird.  It’s very weird.  To think that next year, I won’t be coming back for another season of Cougar basketball is mind-blowing to me.  After the last four years and what we’ve been through, it’s different.

Bryan:  The moment I’ll never forget is last year, playing Augustana at home.  First time ever playing them on our home court, and we beat ‘em at our place.

Alex:  There are so many moments on the court that they kind of get jumbled together, the thing I’ll miss the most are the offseason workouts with DB (Derek Brown) in the summer.  I can remember one time after Mathers’ workouts, he was all pumped that he made it through a Mathers workout, the whole workout without throwing up.  I was kind of walking away and then next thing you know I turn around and saw Derek puking in the bushes.   I was just like, man, this kid, every single time!  And just little things like that, I think, is what I am going to miss the most, and definitely some things I can remember.

Derek:  The one moment that will always be in my mind is walking off the floor the last time at the Stewart Center.  That will be engraved forever.  Looking at the fans, all my family was there, it was senior night, that will be a moment I will never forget.

Rob:  My best memory would probably be:  We’re up 4 against Winona, with about 1:20 left, and they started coming back.  They tightened up the lead a little bit, so the pressure was on and we had the ball.  I penetrated to the left-wing, kicked it to Stotts, and he knocked down a 3 to seal the deal.  It was a dagger and I’ll always remember that play.

Alex: I just want to say thanks to all the crowd for coming out to support us, and that goes for my family, they’re always at every game; aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, I mean, it has just been a great four years here now, and like I said before, it is bittersweet.  Thanks to everyone for always being there.

Bryan:  I would just like to thank my friends, family, coaches, everyone who was there to support me while I was here, thank you.

Rob: I want to thank USF, faculty, friends, and families, everyone whoever came out to support me and cheer for me, the coaches for giving me an opportunity to play here, and USF will always be #1 in my heart.

Derek:  I just want to start by thanking the coaches, they were huge, obviously, to my success over the last four years.  The teammates, each and every one of them, not only this year, but the last three years were huge.  And then my family, obviously I wouldn’t even have been here if it wasn’t for them.  And then coaches, and everybody else that has helped me over the last 22 years of my life to make me the person I am today.  I just want to thank everyone for being there for me.

It is tough to see these guys finished as basketball players, but they have made an impact that will last for many seasons to come.