Q&A With Gopher Men's Basketball Senior Class

Minnesota men's basketball concluded the 2021-22 home season by honoring its eight seniors. This group of Golden Gophers were the first senior class under head coach Ben Johnson. Each student-athlete was presented a framed jersey and white roses. They were joined on the court with their families as each senior spoke to the Williams Arena crowd. As we end the home season, hear from each of the eight seniors as they are set to finish their Golden Gopher careers. This feature originally ran during the Indiana digital program on Feb. 27, 2022.

You're closing out your career, who do you want to thank for their support?
Eric Curry: First I'd like to thank all the fans. Especially since I'm so far away from home and my mom not being here, they definitely gave me the support I needed. I want to thank all my family. The coaching staff and instilling a sense of motivation back into me. When I didn't believe in myself, they believed in me. These guys this year that I bonded with in such a short time I want to thank them as well as all my past teammates. Also want to thank both my athletic trainers, Ben Felz, Ryan Dotson as well as strength coach Steve Felde. With everything they did for me and help me with my body and recovery I thank them.
Charlie Daniels: I want to thank God, my family, coaching staff and my academic counselor Kyle Quagliana for all their support.
Joey Kern: I'd like to thank my parents for their constant support throughout my basketball career, tirelessly working to help me get to the places I wanted to go. I also want to thank my previous coaches, Coach O'Conner and Loeffler and all of their assistants for helping me improve as a player. Lastly, I want to thank all of my teammates, past and current, for making every experience worth the long hours.
Luke Loewe: My parents, brother, sister and my entire extended family because they have all supported me since I was a little kid around Wisconsin, then to Virginia and now Minnesota. I've had the best family support I've ever seen.
Danny Ogele: I would like to thank my family, close friends, and trainers for their support throughout my basketball career. They have been by my side through the ups and downs, and I just want to thank them for pushing me.
Eylijah Stephens: First and foremost God. He's the reason why I'm able to compete at this level. Getting to play college basketball is all because of him. My family second. They have been supporting me since I've been playing in fourth grade with my little sister and brothers running around AAU tournaments. All my previous coaches, at both high schools and my coach O'Hanlon at Lafayette. He was the only guy that gave me a chance out of college and had a big part of my college career. And finally coach Johnson for giving me the opportunity to play in the Big Ten.
Sean Sutherlin: My parents. They have always supported me in everything I've done on and off the court. All my former coaches, my AAU coaches from Minnesota Heat and Minnesota Phenom, Irondale, as well as here and all my family.
Payton Willis: Obviously my mom and dad and want to thank them for all the sacrifices they've done for me and being there for me my last six years. They pushed me and being in my corner.

What's been your favorite part about being a Gopher and why?
EC: Playing for this state. We were the only Division I in school for quite a while and have great support. Playing in front of these fans, there comes such pride wearing the Minnesota across your chest. It was definitely the best part and representing this state.
CD: The opportunity to play against some of the top competition in collegiate basketball.
JK: My favorite part about being a Gopher is the unconditional support we've been treated with from our fans. The fans are a major part of the game day environment and the whole team is very grateful for their love all season.
LL: Being a part of this team has been amazing for me. The family culture we have is great. I love playing at the Barn. The atmosphere here has been amazing.
DO: My favorite part about being a Gopher would be the experience and exposure I received from playing here. There are some things you can't get anywhere in the country, and I'm glad I was blessed enough to get them here.
ES: Definitely playing in Williams Arena. Like they say in the intro video, it's one of the most storied college basketball arenas. It's different than any other college basketball arena I've been to. It's really fun. You've got student dressing up in costumes of barnyard animals. Williams is my favorite part.
SS: Playing with my teammates and learning everything I have from my coaches. They do a great job of just teaching the game, both on and off the court. I'm learning so much from there.
PW: It's been the great bonds that I've developed over the past three years with my teammates. I know they will last a lifetime.

What's next for you after this year?
CD: Hopefully continue playing overseas professionally or the NBA.
JK: Next year I plan on working in the Phoenix area, yet my exact working plans aren't yet finalized.
DO: My goal after this year would be to continue playing basketball professionally. I also would like to finish my master's in cyber security.
ES: Hopefully play overseas or maybe even in the NBA G League. I'd love to get an agent and sign a contract and see where the game takes me and what God has planned for me. Definitely want to keep playing.
SS: Not sure yet, I haven't finalized anything quite yet.

What do you want to be remembered by when fans think of you?
EC: I just want fans to remember me as the guy who never gave up and always fell for the Maroon and Gold as much as he possibly could.
LL: Someone who plays hard every day and does anything he can to help his team win. Just gives everything he has every game.
ES: Someone that gave everything he had. Someone who left it all out there on the court, who valued winning every play want to be remembered as someone who never gave up.
SS: Someone that always worked hard. Someone who played as hard as he could when he got the opportunity to be on the court.
PW: I want people to remember me as someone who gave everything he had to the program. Played unselfishly and gave everything he had, down to the last second.

What advice do you have for future Gophers?
EC: Don't take this stuff for granted. It goes by very fast, maybe not in my case, but it goes by fast. You don't want to have any regrets so just leave it all out there every night that you play and represent wearing Minnesota across your chest.
CD: The standard of becoming a Golden Gopher starts when you're willing to play for the name on the front of the jersey.
LL: Take it all in and take advantage of every opportunity you have. It goes by fast. Always believe in yourself. When times get tough, never give up. Your career is a long career and things can turn around in a heartbeat. That's what happened to me. Just keep believing in yourself when times get tough and never give up.
JK: Put your best foot forward every day and enjoy the process of college, because it will be over before you know it.
DO: My advice to any future Gopher would be to keep working hard. Take advantage of your resources and continue to grind and stack days. Whether things go your way or not, the only thing you can control is how hard you work.
ES: Give everything you have and trust the staff. These guys know what they are doing and have helped me a lot this year in adjusting to the Big Ten. Coach Johnson is a very relatable coach having played here so just always keep working, never let anyone out work you and trust the staff.
PW: Be in the moment. Don't take any rep, any weight room lift, any day for granted. Just have fun with it.

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Players Mentioned

Eric Curry

Charlie Daniels

Joey Kern

Luke Loewe

Danny Ogele

Eylijah Stephens

Sean Sutherlin

Payton Willis