You think we’ve forgotten about you? Not a chance. Some things seem strange these days, and one of them we can’t really wrap our arms around right now is college basketball.
And yet . . .
Don’t think we haven’t noticed you freshmen at JMU or Kiki Jefferson’s performance against Towson. We see you Hokies, Aisha Sheppard and Elizabeth Kitley. Ditto, Ashtyn Baker, reigning ASUN Player of the Week and averaging 20 ppg in your last four contests for Liberty (6-3). Not too shabby, either, Emily Lytle (and we hope your recovery from surgery is smooth, Carey Green).
We’re impressed, Vicki Morris (our feature on the ODU senior is coming this weekend). We saw you on ESPN, Tra’Dayja Smith. You and your Longwood Lancers are easily the most improved team in the state (5-6, 4-2 Big South).
We feel for you Radford; coach Mike McGuire had the virus, three games have been canceled and four postponed. Norfolk State, yikes! and in a similar boat, without a game on the schedule until Jan. 16. We know it’s already been a long season Hampton (1-5); good stuff from you, Wagner transfer Nas Nigatu (shooting .571 from 3). Tough times, we know, Virginia (0-5), which hasn’t played since Dec. 13 and had its Jan. 7 game against Syracuse postponed. (You’ve been super, freshman Carole Miller!)
Kudos on the line, Nyla Pollard. The William and Mary senior had a career-high 21 points along with 5 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 turnover in 39 minutes against Hofstra. We see you leading all freshmen in the NCAA with 21 blocks, Addie Budnik (the Spiders freshman stands just 6-2). Eight games in and no cancellations, VCU; #impressed. Dayton’s awaiting, George Mason. Glad. you guys are getting a lift from grad student Daijah Jefferson ( 8.9 ppg and 8.7 rpg.).
We miss seeing the games, players and coaches up close (we envy the cardboard cutouts at JPJ Arena). What we can’t seem to reconcile is whether there should be a season at all. Like all of you, we’re tired of the pandemic taking away so much of life away, including life itself for more than 340,000 in this country. We’re hopeful with two vaccines approved but also conflicted. We’re guessing many of the players actually find time on the court as a release; maybe for a few hours they can enjoy doing what they have trained for most of their lives. And yet, their coaches are talking to them with masks on. Nobody is in the stands. Nasal swabs are now as common in the locker room as ankle taping. Senior years and senior nights are in jeopardy.
Like everything else, we know this is the best we can hope for right now. We don’t want the new normal to become the normal because we long for the days when “postponed” or “cancelled” isn’t next to an opponent’s name on the schedule.
Stay safe, all. Let’s beat this thing so we can all be together again.