Retirees Association

Chicago Tribune: Loudon Love realizes ‘how special it truly is’ to be playing basketball again at Wright State

Loudon Love during the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2018

Excerpt from the Chicago Tribune

Loudon Love is just grateful to be on the basketball court for Wright State.

The 6-foot-8 redshirt senior center and his teammates have navigated various coronavirus protocols for a 7-2 record heading into this weekend’s two-game set against Youngstown State.

After last season’s truncated NIT run and the first three games of this season being canceled, the Geneva graduate has developed a greater appreciation for his sport.

“It makes people more grateful to play the game,” Love said. “The games mean more. That’s why some of the games have been harder to win this year because people realize how special it is to be a part of it.

“You never wish it would have come to that, but it shows you how special it truly is.”

Love, the reigning Horizon League Player of the Year, has taken advantage of those opportunities. He’s averaging 15.4 points and 11.6 rebounds with five double-doubles this season for the Raiders.

In Saturday’s 81-71 loss at Oakland, Love moved past the 1,500-point mark for his career. He recently set the program record for career rebounds, a total that sits at 963 and counting.