There are many worthy causes at DU including the beautiful new James C. Kennedy mountain campus, the Chancellor’s Priority Fund, the Learning Effectiveness Program, and Summer Internship Award Programs among others. When it comes to Denver Athletics this year, nearly every program is worthy of notice. Hockey is the shining star, boasting their ninth NCAA championship trophy and, oftentimes, we take for granted that they generally do not need our financial help. However, no DU athletic program is more worthy and needy than Denver Men’s Basketball.
Head Coach Jeff Wulbrun and his assistants, Brandon Dunston, Rob Williams and Rob Zewe, are already exceeding expectations after their first season while trying to earn what has seemed in the past nearly impossible – get Denver into the NCAA tournament. Wulbrun has brought in a top-notch staff, a host of foreign players, and high school prep stars to start what could be a thrilling fight for a conference title and NCAA berth in only their second season – but they need help.
This statement will be debated but really are building something in Denver. I don't think top half to maybe 3 seed ceiling is out of the question https://t.co/A0hwKrVZpa
— Reaching The Summit: College Basketball Podcast (@reachsummitpod) May 17, 2022
Skeptical Denver basketball fans have witnessed the past and can’t be blamed for believing the future will offer much of the same. Wulbrun will have none of it, though as he has been quickly identifying alumni, fans, and donors who share his optimism about the future. Two of those optimistic donors will even match 1DAY4DU donations to the program up to $10,000 each.
“I have been so thankful for the show of generosity that our donors have made to DU Men’s Basketball”, Coach Wulbrun told LetsGoDU. “Their generosity has allowed us to implement necessary components that make up a championship-level program. This year all donations made on 1DAY4DU will be assisting our program in funding our 2022 international trip to France in August. Both Michael Burg and Bob Ryan, loyal DU hoops supporters, have agreed to match donations up to $10,000 each. The trip will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our players and staff, a tremendous cultural experience, and a trip that has huge basketball significance. The trip will undoubtedly build tremendous chemistry and cohesiveness and pay tremendous basketball dividends. Our team will be allowed 10 additional practices this summer in addition to our normal workouts and we will play 3-4 games vs. professional teams in France. After our first season, we have laid a solid foundation for future success with the retention of our top young players, and we have added proven scorers, experience, and exciting young players with tremendous potential in this year’s recruiting class. I wholeheartedly believe we have put the program in a position to contend for a conference championship in just our 2nd season.”
Spend five minutes with Coach Wulbrun and you will find that he has an extraordinary level of commitment and passion for his players and the undying belief that DU can reach new heights. He is relentless in his belief that it can be done. He is shaking things up, battling history, disrupting a losing malaise, and challenging the status quo while inviting anyone who will listen to share his vision. Wulbrun is at the very heart of the revival of Denver men’s basketball and if you think this is the same old struggling basketball team of the past, you have not met Jeff Wulbrun.
If Denver men’s basketball is ever going to take the next step on the basketball court, this is the group that will do it and the time is now. They need our support to recruit and retain great student-athletes. Today, DU men’s basketball deserves your serious 1DAY4DU consideration – and don’t forget, your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $20,000.
Want to give to DU men’s basketball? Click here, enter a gift amount, under designation select OTHER, and below that enter “men’s basketball.”