After Saturday’s victory over Kennesaw State, the Flames have officially wrapped up their regular season. I am left with all kinds of nostalgia as I look back on this past season. We have had our ups and downs as fans, but so much of what makes being a fan great is the experiences in the journey. I want to take a short moment to recap three of my favorite moments from this season as we begin to build the hype for a competitive post-season.
1. The arrival of Joseph Venzant.
JV, or “Jo,” as he is often called has brought a unique persona to the program. I am a personal fan of incredible defenders. Before injuries set in, Iman Shumpert was my favorite professional to watch because of his absolutely stifling on-ball defending (check out this video for one of the best on-ball defensive games of all time). JV’s quiet and unassuming demeanor, partnered with his never-back-down mentality, fills me with excitement for the future and deep appreciation for the hustle and effort that he has given already. I will reference this further but Joseph’s game-saving steal on Saturday against Kennesaw State is just a small glimpse into what I believe is an incredibly successful career ahead. I should also mention he finally got to throw down that emphatic dunk we all were waiting on).
2. The Flames take on the Carolinas.
A particularly marked win for the Flames this season was their defeat over East Carolina University. The Flames had started the season slower than expected and were trying to regain their confidence. After an early loss to LSU but an early win over Missouri, ECU was a confidence boost on the road. It served as a breakout game for Kyle Rode and one of the many 20-plus games for Darius. I can’t help but mention another reason for the special nature of that game was tied up in the fact that I got to compete in the halftime three-point competition and sit courtside for some of the first half. That’s an experience that is hard to forget!
3. The cinematic nature of Darius McGhee.
If I told you that on (what is likely) Darius’ last regular season game in Liberty Arena, he would reset the scoring record for the arena after it had been broken one game ago and win a game in overtime by scoring one away from his individual scoring record, you would think that I just dropped an overly dramatic movie plot on you. But, what do you know, that is exactly what Darius did on Saturday. I believe, like Coach McKay, that Darius is arguably the greatest Flame to play in school history. This means we all got to witness greatness and cheer on one of the most humble and talented kids in the NCAA. Whether it was witnessing him score 48 points, takeover games, soar for unlikely blocks, or just make solid basketball plays, to be a part of his story and success has been a gift for all of us.
Of course, this article does not serve as a farewell for the Flames ‘21-‘22 season. I am every bit hopeful and optimistic we are just getting started. I look forward to an intense ASUN tournament and hopefully a little dancing in March.
