WASHINGTON 鈥� There鈥檚 no fancy digital board, no spotlights circling a darkened arena for the introduction of the starting lineup. There are no network cameras or television broadcasters at the scorer鈥檚 table. But for the rowdy, raucous home crowd on Senior Night at Burr Gymnasium on the campus of Howard University, there鈥檚 plenty at stake.
Of the four Division I programs in D.C., three of them 鈥� Georgetown, George Washington and American 鈥� made the NCAA Tournament last season. Howard, meanwhile, hasn鈥檛 been dancing since 1992, and hasn鈥檛 had a winning record since 2001-02, losing 20 or more games each year until this season. But on Senior Night last week, they found themselves with a chance to change things.
Coming in at 15-14, a win would guarantee the first winning season in 13 years and just the second in 23 years. It would also mean securing a legacy for the three seniors, each of whom faced his own set of trials and tribulations to be on the floor that night.
James Carlton, the team鈥檚 leading scorer and rebounder, was a transfer from the College of Charleston and had to sit out two entire seasons because Howard鈥檚 rigorous academic requirements wouldn鈥檛 allow much of his coursework to apply.
Theo Boyomo was the highest-ranked recruit in recent memory to choose Howard, after turning down offers from five power six conference schools. Two knee surgeries later, he never reached his athletic potential, but led the team in GPA for three years and already has his undergraduate degree. He’s now enrolled as a first-year engineering grad student.
Jared Norsworthy played on the club team for two seasons, then was impressive enough in an open tryout as a junior that he was put on the practice squad. Finally, as a senior, he made the travel squad, pitching in better than four points and two rebounds a game off the bench.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e just humble kids,鈥� said Bison head coach Kevin Nickelberry of his seniors. 鈥淭he best formula for winning is with kids who can play, kids with great character, and kids who believe in your plan.鈥�
The dream of winning on Senior Night looked like more of a nightmare early. Boyomo checked out after a couple minutes, and Carlton quickly followed, as he battled foul trouble all night. The trio combined for just six points and eight rebounds on the night, but their team picked them up, forcing a physical, hard-fought game into overtime.
Down two points in overtime, with the shot clock off, Nickelberry and his seniors handed control of the game to their star sophomore point guard, James Daniel. The 5-foot-11-inch firecracker asked for the ball in the huddle and delivered a buzzer-beating, game-winning three pointer. The team stormed the court to mob Daniel, with the seniors leading the way.
鈥淔or those guys to be the first guys to jump out and pick up that little sophomore means everything to me,鈥� said Nickleberry.
For the seniors who each battled through his own unique adversity to be on that floor and watch that final shot go in, it鈥檚 the moment that made it all worth it.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like the pinnacle of our career,鈥� said Norsworthy. 鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing better than getting your last win at home, especially in this fashion.鈥�
With talent like Daniel around for a couple more years, Howard has a chance to build on this success. And considering the struggles the Bison have had before this year, this year鈥檚 showing could be a crucial building block for a more prosperous future.
鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to be a part of history here,鈥� said Carlton. 鈥淲e might not realize it now, but a few years down the line, they鈥檒l look back on this team and we鈥檒l be known as one of the great Howard teams in school history.鈥�
But Howard isn鈥檛 done quite yet in 2015. The Bison are seeded fourth in the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference Tournament, where they will square off with fifth-seeded Delaware State Thursday night in Norfolk. They face an uphill battle, needing three more wins to make the NCAA Tournament, but that challenge is nothing new.
鈥淥ur backs have been against the wall all year, so it鈥檚 nothing new for us,鈥� said Carlton. 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to use wins like this to motivate us and losses like the Hampton game to motivate us. With those two games in particular, it鈥檚 a lot of lessons we can learn going into the tournament.鈥�
Coach Nickelberry knows better than to doubt his team鈥檚 resolve.
鈥淭hey already know what鈥檚 in front of them,鈥� said Nickelberry. 鈥淭hey already know what they want.鈥�
Four of Howard鈥檚 six conference losses came by four points or less. They鈥檝e hung tough, even in their losses. If they can put together a run, a truly special season could be in store.
鈥淎s (Carlton) said in the huddle right when the game was over, 鈥楲et鈥檚 be remembered,鈥欌�� said Nickelberry. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 want to just play; they want to be remembered.鈥�
