Well, it is officially conference play of the ‘22-’23 men’s basketball season. The Flames concluded their non-conference stint 9-4, with standout wins against Bryant and a dramatic victory of Grambling State. The first couple months of the season have been a mix of ups and downs and Coach McKay and staff fought to find some consistency. The hard work paid off, however, as the Flames settled in the last couple weeks. 

As we look back on November and December, it can be easy to only see the critical. However, non-conference play for the Flames was primarily experimental, as the Flames are not going to receive an at-large bid competing in the ASUN with scheduling being so difficult this year. In this case, we have to look at the last couple of weeks as the real mark of what was accomplished in the last two months. By examining these past couple of weeks, we set our sights on proper expectations going into ASUN play.

With that in mind, here are three key takeaways I had in the past couple of weeks that I think bode well for conference play:

  1. The rotation is much more fluid. I would argue the most concerning aspect of the Flames early performances was the lack of fluidity and cohesion in the roster. Oftentimes it seemed that the wrong players were out there at weird times for their roles. As time has gone on, McKay has honed how the roster fits best and what rotations are excelling. Colin Porter and Brody Peebles’ roles seem to have solidified, with Brody splitting minutes with Colin, even while filling different roles. However, with Porter’s shooting percentage being as impressive as it is, he is able to supply playmaking and scoring when needed. Additionally, Isiah Warfield and Joseph Venzant are playing well, with Warfield supplementing the defensive intensity that Venzant supplies in the starting rotation. Venzant has been more aggressive offensively this year, and it is serving the Flames well. Lastly, Blake Preston has been instrumental in the frontcourt rotation, giving the Flames a consistent big-man presence even when starters rest.
  2. Growth, maturity, and composure. If we were to go back and watch the Flames play Alabama again, a few things would catch our eye. First, the Crimson Tide have been an exceptional team this year, consistently over-achieving and giving every reason for fans to believe they will be a top four team this year. Also, the Flames have grown tremendously in their confidence and chemistry since that matchup. While it would still be a very difficult game for the Flames to win, the matchup would look much different. Darius has settled into his scoring role and the rest of the team seems to understand their offensive roles, as well. This all culminates in a team that appears much more composed than they did at the beginning of the season. The declining turnovers per game evidences this, too. 
  3. Colin Porter will excel in conference play. I’m not a fan of absolute predictions, but I feel confident in the abilities of freshman point guard Colin Porter. As I have stated before, I expect him to fill into his role, much like Will Pruit at Lipscomb. ESPN color commentator Paul Nazigan stated on air one of the key components I believe will take Porter’s game to the next level: floater/mid-range scoring. As Colin gets more comfortable, and most likely will be needed for more scoring next season, that will continue to develop. As for now, look for Porter to continue to contribute in the assists and steals columns very readily and add points as needed. The Kentucky-born guard is shooting an impressive 48.8 percent from three. Look for him to blossom in the level of play the ASun provides. 

The best time of year is finally here. No, not just Christmas, but college basketball conference play. This time of the year simply means more. Every possession is crucial as each team fights to be at the top of the standings at the end of the regular season. The Flames seem to have found their stride, but look for them to compete each night to finish with the record they desire.