“We talk about having a next-play mentality… I thought we played some great possessions on defense, our guys just stayed strong, stayed level, they believe in each other, and just found a way,” Juckem remarked. 

In their season-opener against Swarthmore– a team that made it all the way to last year’s final four–the Bears wasted no time asserting their dominance, with juniors Hayden Doyle and Drake Kindsvater guiding the charge.

“One thing is I really want to win the UAA this year. Both years that I’ve been here we finished second,” he said. “The conference has been really, really good [and] is gonna be really good again this year. So, if we win the conference, we’ll be in a really good spot nationally.” 

In one of the most electric and competitive games the Francis Gymnasium has seen in the past 12 months, the No. 18 Washington University men’s basketball team lost to No. 19 North Park University in an agonizing and excoriating 72-69 defeat. 

With the win, the Bears ended their regular season with a record of 19-10 and a 10-4 record in UAA conference play. They finished the year as the 2nd best team in the UAA

“It’s not letting the circumstance be bigger than what it is,” Juckem said. “I want the guys to enjoy that and the reward of earning the right to play on their home floor [and] defend their home wood.”  

For the second weekend in a row, Washington University’s men’s and women’s basketball teams were untouchable against top conference opponents.

The Bears pulled out clutch wins against competitive conference opponents to emerge from the weekend with a collective four victory

After starting the season 9-2, the Bears’ 3-2 conference record reflects the challenges of conference play as they fight for a bid to continue playing into the postseason. 

Jacob is the oldest player on the court and has been dominant on the hardwood for the Bears. “When he gets in his mode, he’s basically unstoppable,” said freshman Yogi Oliff.