This week in college basketball is an emotional one. You'l hear a lot about certain guys showing courage and guts, and a lot of players will pound their chests to show their heart. Compared to Sam Ashaolu, they're all little girls.Ashaolu, who was shot in the back of the head on September 17th, has been cleared to return to on-court activity. No matter what happens, no matter how great anyone is, no matter what anyone accomplishes ... no team will have more reason to be emotional than the Duquesne Dukes. They're not celebrating a college basketball game triumph, they're celebrating life.
Just to stress this again... Sam Ashaolu had a bullet enter the back of his head. And he's coming back! I can't comprehend the size of the balls it takes to even think that's possible. I can't imagine the struggle he's gone through over the past few months. It had to have taken massive amounts of unwavering faith, courage, hope, and determination.
Now, Duquesne's going nowhere. This is not a very good team. They're 10-18 overall, and 6-10 in the Atlantic 10. Barring a miraculous run through the conference tourney, (which starts on Wednesday night against the favored St. Louis Billikens) they won't see a postseason tournament other than the A-10's.
But the fact that Sam Ashaulo (and that's not him pictured, by the way, but Duquesne pictures are rather scarce) can play basketball, the fact that he can go to classes, the very fact that he's alive ... it's the biggest victory anyone's had in college basketball all year long.
