Open Letter to Nick Hendra

Dear Nick Hendra,

You might be a little perturbed that I'm writing an open letter to you based on the past three open letters that I've written, the first of which was highly fanciful, the second of which was highly vitruolic, and the third of which was kind of bland. I'm intending to strike a fourth tack with this letter to you, however, Nick. A tack of genuineness and honest encouragement.

Before I commence the letter part of this, I'm inclined to recount to you briefly my history as a fan as it pertains to you. Your first year on the team was my first year as a fan. It may bemuse many of this blog's readers to know I am not a veteran fan of AU basketball. Hell, at 23 I am hardly a veteran of anything, including putting on my pants.

In any event, your first year in the league was my first year as a fan. I don't remember much about you because there wasn't much to remember (except for you EXCELLENT semi-final against Army). Without having the statistics in front of me (I'm writing this on my Blackberry), the only thing I remember is a rim-shattering dunk that I may be misattributing. If that's the case, congratulations in my mind your image is powerful enough to supercede whoever made that NBA Jam style slam that is burned, albeit incompletely, in my memory.

Your sophomore year is much more memorable. A solid, if in the process of maturing, sixth man last year, you came off the bench and at times provided a spark. You also at times provided me with reason to swear and cover my eyes with your frequent decisions to make the flashy play over the smart one. As burned into my brain as the image of you(?) dunking the ball your freshmen year is, I can still hear the clang of some of your dunks off of the back iron your sophomore year. A layup would have done, but no, not for you.

Which brings me to this year. This year with the Carrs and Gilmores and Mercers of the world departed, with a crop of young fresh faces brought onto the team, there was you. Hailed consistently as the most experienced member of the team, sometimes with a wry grin knowing how much experience that really comprised, there was you.

You were an X factor going into this season. Which Hendra would show up? A Hendra whose recklessness was tempered by Brian Gilmore call-outs who was ready to assume the mantle of leadership or the same Hendra eager to dazzle the crowd and oblige the frequent cries of "Dunk it, Hendraaaaaaa!" offered by the crowd? I hoped it would be the former, but now I'm not so sure if that was the right thing to hope for.

At the beginning of the season I asked Jeff Jones about whether you were ready to take over the leadership of this team. He said that the team needed you to mature and that we needed all of your basketball talents and passion without the "bonehead" moves of your sophomore year. Even Jeff Jones wasn't sure who would show up. Now I think he knows, and now I'm not so sure that's what he hoped for either.

This little stroll down my own personal memory lane brings us to the open letter portion of this post. Now, Nick, now I am not so sure which Hendra I hope we get. I say that because I think we have that tempered Hendra now, but I think it's gone too far; I'm not sure it's working as well as it could. It's working well, please don't mistake me. You've been the leading scorer in 6 or 7 games this season. You're the team's leader in assists. Its third leading scorer at about 10 a game. Its second leading rebounder (in terms of total rebounds). You've had great games when your team faltered around you (Georgetown, among others), and you've been at times able to provide the same spark you did last year (such as the back to back 3's last game).

But we don't see the same Hendra we used to. We see a Hendra who is more likely to be watching Simon McCormack or Danny Munoz drive into the lane than to take it in himself. We don't see the same cockiness or that desire to take over a game. We see focus, but not always confidence. Not always that same passion.

A lot of this is because of the refs. In the past couple of games you've been whistled for some ridiculously cheap fouls. In the Holy Cross game you were whistled for two very questionable travel calls. It's made your play tentative. Unsure of why those whistles were blown, you've become cautious in an effort not to have them blown again. You have to play your game. You can't play your game and the refs. There are always going to be terrible calls and bad refs (this is the Patriot League after all), but if you let them change the way you play, you've lost twice over.

So what's the point of all this? It's not to be critical, no. And if you've read to this point, it's possible you may think that. But no, Nick, I'm here writing to you to tell you that there is a middle ground. You are talented enough to, in the same game, make the right decisions with your passes and drive in the lane for the circus shots that used to make me wince. You may miss them, yes, and I will still swear, I promise, but I think you've stepped away from that part of the game and I think its wearing on you. The WaPo articles and the mantle of leadership and the pressure of a losing season aside, I think it's wearing on you.

Be that leader and be that spark. You can do both. When you realize that, when you BELIEVE that, then the scouting report for us won't be "Lock down Vlad and pray no one else has a fluke game." The scouting report will be, "We've got big problems, how the hell are we going to guard Vlad AND Hendra?"

Find that cocky part of your game again. Make those mistakes you used to (within reason, and at first) and find that attitude that you had. I exhort you today, Nick, in the same way that the Blue Crew does: "Dunk it, Hendraaaaaa!" You'll be happier when you do, and the fans and the team will be happier still.

All the best to you and the team and, as always, pro deo et patria and GO EAGLES!
Barechested Bender Bill