Happy Holidays from the Freeman Center! I've been slacking since my last blog post. Like we tell the guys though, “no excuses”. Time to step my game up. Things are busy around here on campus, and the only constant is time continues to fly by. The fall semester is in its final days and our season is already a month old!
 
We've had what can only be described as a very solid start to the season. We currently stand at 5-1 overall (1-0 in conference play) and are ranked by D3hoops.com as the #20 team in the nation. Not too shabby, but there is still a long, long way to go in this young season.
 
Another constant to the college basketball season is that you're always going to have unique and unforgettable experiences. This year is no different, as we've already had our share of memorable moments. We began the regular season by defeating rival Randolph-Macon here in the Freeman Center – only the fourth time ever that CNU men's basketball has beaten the Yellow Jackets.  
 
We followed that up a week later by winning our annual post-Thanksgiving tournament – but it certainly wasn't easy. We first survived a four-overtime battle against Wesley College, which now stands as the longest game in CNU history. After that marathon we came right back the next day and beat a very good John Carroll team on a buzzer beater by sophomore Mike Cherry.  The dwindling hair follicles remaining on my scalp did not appreciate that weekend.
 
We also opened up USA South conference play on a positive note, making the ten-hour bus trek to Maryville, TN to defeat new conference member Maryville College. It was another one of those long, grueling road trips that all teams must go through at least once or twice during the season. Luckily the guys kept busy with the satellite TV provided on the sleeper bus we took, as well as the usual collection of horrendous DVD movies the kids like nowadays (No Citizen Kane sightings). As for me, I had hours of game film on the laptop and my old pal Bruce Springsteen on the iPod to get me through the trip. Yes, I am capable of listening to the Boss for ten straight hours. Who isn't?
 
Unfortunately, we went into the finals week break off of a clunker of a performance against St. Mary's College last Wednesday.  The Seahawks are certainly a very good team (currently ranked #17 in the polls) but we definitely didn't do enough on our end to get the job done. Those types of games happen at this point in the season; the key is to learn and really improve from it. Monday's home matchup against a hungry and talented Eastern Mennonite squad will certainly put us right back to the test again.
 
Before that though is the minor detail of finals week. Of course, by “minor detail” I mean huge deal! It can never be forgotten that our guys are students first. This week is the culmination of a long semester's work. It's a critical time, but as a coach you do feel more confident about it when you've seen the effort and dedication that the guys have put into their courses. Hopefully the results from this week back that up!
 
While the guys really delve in the books, there is no rest for the weary on the coaching side. This past week has featured lots of recruiting and travel to high school games (P.S. all I want for Christmas is a 6'9” skilled big man), film study, and opponent scouting – all while making sure the guys are best prepared for their final exams. There's a lot going on as usual, with the goal being to send the program and everyone in it into the holiday break and the second half of the season on a high note.
 
So there you go. That's a lot we just caught up on! Which of course benefits you the readers, since you've been saved from any philosophizing or further deviations into my mind during this blog post. Everybody wins!
 
Moving forward, get into the holiday spirit and come on out to the Freeman Center and support the Captains this Monday at 5:30pm. Anyone in a Santa suit gets free admission. See you out there!