Interview
>>A hoops record falls, and Reich sets his sights on next year's Final Four

On January 20 third-year forward Derek Reich became the all-time leading scorer in Chicago's 99-year men's basketball history, scoring a game-high 26 points and leading the Maroons to a 71-49 win over New York University. Reich, 6 '7", also holds the school record for most free throws made (354) and is the team's top rebounder. Averaging 22.9 points a game, he ranks 13th in NCAA Division III scoring. Reich ended the season with 1,618 Maroon points, surpassing the previous mark of 1,406 held by Jerry Clark, AB'74, MBA'76.

When did you realize you had a shot at the record? Did that focus your efforts in the game?

I knew I needed 24 points to break the scoring record coming into the NYU game. I wasn't trying particularly hard to score more points than I normally do. It was funny because after halftime one of the NYU players came up to me and told me I only needed ten points to break the record.

Was this the biggest accomplishment of your basketball career?

Yes. I also broke the scoring record at my high school, Niles [IL] West.

You could be in the record books for quite a while, since you have another year to play. What are your goals for the year ahead?

I am always setting higher standards for myself. I want to improve every time I step on the court. My only goals right now are team oriented. I would like to make it at least to the Final Four next year, and I believe we could do it.

What are your goals off the basketball court?

My academic concentration is history, and I plan on attending law school when I graduate.