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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
HONORING THE NORTHWESTERN WILDCATS ON THEIR EXCEPTIONAL SEASON
WHEREAS, the Northwestern Wildcats have been playing basketball since 1904. The NCAA men’s basketball tournament has existed, in some form or another, since 1939 when NU hosted the first NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball tournament in Patten Gymnasium; and
WHEREAS this year the Northwestern University Wildcats made their first NCAA tournament appearance in school history; and
WHEREAS, Northwestern has a one of the best coaches in the NCAA. Chris Collins is a former Duke guard and Duke assistant who came to Evanston in 2013. In his fourth year he won twenty four games, which is more than any other NU team in history. Collins currently has a .549 career winning percentage and that is the first ever for a coach who has spent more than two years at Northwestern and was named one of four finalists for Naismith Men’s Coach of the Year; and
WHEREAS, Coach Chris Collins is a past Mr. Illinois Basketball 1992. Each year the Illinois Mr. Basketball award is given to the person chosen as the best high school basketball player in state of Illinois and is the highest honor to be achieved by a high school player in the state of Illinois. He played the final game of his high school career at Welsh Ryan Arena, the same arena where he currently coaches his winning team; and
WHEREAS the Northwestern University Wildcats earned the team’s first NCAA tournament win with a 68-66 victory over Vanderbilt in the first round; and
WHEREAS the Northwestern University Wildcats won six consecutive Big Ten games for the first time since the 1932-33 season; and
WHEREAS the Northwestern University Wildcats advanced to the semifinals of the Big Ten tournament for the first time in program history; and
WHEREAS the Northwestern University Wildcats have three players who earned All-Big Ten recognition. Junior guard Bryant McIntosh was a consensus second-team all-league pick, while Scottie Lindsey was named by the league’s head coaches to the third team and honorable mention by the media. In addition, redshirt sophomore Vic Law was selected by the coaches to the five-member All-Defensive Team; and
WHEREAS the Northwestern University Wildcats earned a top-25 ranking in the Associated Press poll for first time since the 2009-10 season; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Commissioners of Cook County, on behalf of the 5.2 million residents of Cook County takes great pleasure in honoring and celebrating the winning season of the Northwestern University Wildcats; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this Resolution be spread upon the official proceedings of this Honorable Body and that an official copy of the same be tendered to the Northwestern University Wildcats.end