Tinghao Zhang, a graduating student in the Class of 2026, intends to major in Molecular Bioscience and serve as the captain of the basketball team.
Tinghao’s agile figure on the court
Q: If you had to use three words to describe the DKU Basketball Team in your heart, what would they be? (You can explain it briefly)
I would use three words: tough, resilient, and united.
Tough, because we have gone through many difficult games with a very short-handed roster, but we never gave up. Even when we had only seven players available against teams with fourteen or fifteen players, or when foul trouble left us with almost no room to rotate, we still fought until the very end.
Resilient, because in my first three years on the team, we lost far more games than we won. Some seasons were extremely hard, and sometimes even getting one win felt difficult. But no one ever stopped trying. No one ever lost faith. This year, we finally turned that persistence into results. We made history and won all four games across the two legs of the SFUC.
United, because through all the doubts, pressure, and outside criticism, we stayed together. We supported one another, trusted one another, and gradually became more than teammates. We became friends, brothers, and family. That unity is the reason we were able to prove people wrong.
Captain Tinghao and the DKU Basketball Team
Q:What was the moment (or reason) that made you join the basketball team, and what ultimately pushed you to take on the responsibility of being the captain?
I joined the basketball team because basketball has always been one of the most important passions in my life. When I came to DKU, I knew I wanted to continue playing, competing, and being part of a team environment. For me, basketball is not only about the game itself, but also about discipline, trust, and the sense of belonging that comes from fighting for the same goal with others.
As for becoming captain, it was not a decision based only on title or status. Over the years, after going through both losses and growth with the team, I gradually felt a stronger sense of responsibility. I wanted to help keep the team together, especially during difficult periods, and I wanted to be someone my teammates could rely on. Taking on the role of captain meant taking responsibility for the team’s culture, mindset, and direction, and I was willing to do that.
Tinghao’s official portrait
Q:Last week’s SFUC second leg in UNNC, your team won two consecutive games, which led to a four-game winning streak for this season. Is there anything you think contributed to your success?
I think our success came from preparation, team atmosphere, and mentality.
This year, the atmosphere within the team was especially strong. We were more connected, more supportive, and more united than before. In training and in games, everyone kept encouraging each other, stayed engaged, and was willing to fight for the team. That kind of atmosphere helped build trust and made us stronger in difficult moments.
At the same time, I think our mentality really changed. In previous years, we often stepped onto the court just hoping to compete well. But this season, we entered every game truly believing that we could win. That confidence did not come out of nowhere—it came from years of setbacks, persistence, and growth together as a team.
Of course, preparation also mattered. We trained with a clearer purpose, paid more attention to details, and had a better understanding of our roles. But in the end, I think the biggest difference was that we not only worked hard, but also built a team culture and mentality that allowed us to trust each other and believe in ourselves.
Team celebration after victory
Q:Sports always come with tough losses. Was there a particular loss that unexpectedly brought the team closer together? As a captain, how did you adjust your own mindset and help your teammates through it?
Yes, there was one particular loss that brought us closer together in my mind.
There was one game, we lost by just one point under some very unfavorable calls from the referees. It was an extremely painful loss because we all felt that we had fought so hard and were so close to winning, but things did not go our way in the end. At that moment, everyone was frustrated and emotional, because it felt like the result did not fully reflect our effort.
But looking back, I think that game actually made us more united. Instead of blaming each other or letting the frustration divide us, we stood even closer together. We all realized that in difficult situations, the only thing we could truly control was ourselves—our effort, our attitude, and how much we trusted one another. That loss made us stronger as a team and gave us even more motivation to prove ourselves later in the season.
As captain, I tried to remind myself first to stay calm. I knew that if I lost control of my emotions, it would affect the whole team. So I told my teammates that although we could not change the calls, we could decide how to respond. I wanted everyone to turn that frustration into motivation, and I think in the end, that game helped us grow mentally and become even more united.
Q:DKU has always encouraged students to pursue their passions beyond academics. As the basketball captain, how do you understand “sportsmanship”? What do you hope the team brings to campus?
To me, sportsmanship is not only about respecting the rules or respecting your opponents. It is also about how you carry yourself in both victory and defeat. It means staying disciplined, staying humble, competing with integrity, and always giving your full effort for something bigger than yourself.
As a basketball team, I hope we bring more than results to campus. I hope we bring energy, passion, and a sense of community. I hope people see in us the value of commitment, teamwork, and perseverance. Even for students who do not play sports, I hope our team can show that pursuing something seriously outside the classroom can be meaningful and inspiring. I want the team to be part of the spirit of DKU.
Group photo after the game
Q:As you just mentioned the atmosphere and culture of the team. In fact, people leave and new ones join every year. This year, you are about to graduate. Looking back, do you think you have left any mark on this team?
I hope I do.
More than any individual achievement, I hope the mark I leave is in the culture and mentality of the team. I hope I helped build a team that does not give up easily, that trusts one another, and that continues fighting even when the situation is difficult. I also hope I showed younger players what it means to stay committed over time, even when results do not come immediately.
Players will continue to come and go, and that is natural. But if the team keeps the spirit of toughness, resilience, and unity, then I think that will be the most meaningful mark I could leave behind.
Photo of the team encouraging each other
Q:Lastly, please say one sentence to the students who have always supported the basketball team (and to the future rookies)!
To everyone who has always supported us, and to the future rookies who will carry this team forward: thank you for believing in DKU basketball—keep showing up, keep fighting, and keep building something even greater!
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