Philly U's Nick Schlitzer: 'Past Four Years Have Been Great'

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- It has been another fine season of basketball for the Division II Philadelphia University Rams. On Friday, Herb Magee's squad will take on a very talented University of the Sciences team in the semi-finals of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference tournament at the Gallagher Center.

A big reason for the Rams success this season, and over the past four seasons, has been the consistent play of senior guard Nick Schlitzer.

A Pottsville native, Schlitzer is second on the Rams in scoring this season, pouring in 17.3 points per game while shooting 47.4% from the field and 36% from three.

"It's been great," Schlitzer tells KYW Newsradio. "The past four years have been great, especially this year. Got to be part of the milestone with Coach (Herb Magee winning 1,000th game) and we're (22-7). So that's a pretty productive year. We would've liked to finish with a little higher seed for the (CACC) playoffs, but we're here now in the final four and ready to go."

Listen to the entire interview with Philadelphia University's Nick Schlitzer

Schlitzer has scored 1,644 points in his career, good for 15th on the Philadelphia University all-time list. He's been an outstanding perimeter shooter since the day he stepped on campus, but as his career has gone on, his game has expanded. He's become more adept at creating his own shot and getting to the basket. In addition, he's averaging 5 rebounds a game this season and has dished out a career high 80 assists.

"Coming in, I had the ability to shoot the ball and you just want to pick your spots, play within yourself," Schlitzer says. "But every offseason I go in with stuff to work on. I think my strengths help me, improving my ball handling, just be able to do more things than just catch and shoot. I think that was important going into the last three offseasons, being able to develop that."

Schlitzer has scored in double figures in 26 of 29 games this season. That night of Coach Magee's 1,000th win on February 7th (80-60 win over Post at the Gallagher Center), the senior was big, scoring 18 points, pulling down 5 rebounds and dishing out 6 assists.

"It was really neat," Schlitzer says. "The atmosphere was awesome. But I think the neatest thing was just seeing all the old players come back. You got to talk to them, talk about their days and it was just neat feeling that we're all a part of this and we're all just a little piece in Coach's big milestone."

Schlitzer is hoping this senior season lasts as long as possible. But once his college career is in the rear-view mirror he hopes to eventually try his hand at coaching.

"I'm thinking about trying to play (after college) if I can," Schlitzer says. "I'm in grad school right now, so just got to figure some things out. Then eventually, yeah, I do want to get into coaching."

Philadelphia University and University of the Sciences will tip-off in the semifinals of the CACC Tournament at 5:00pm on Friday.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.