WASHINGTON — There’s 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’s table. But for the rowdy, raucous home crowd on Senior Night at Burr Gymnasium on the campus of Howard University, there’s plenty at stake.
Of the four Division I programs in D.C., three of them — Georgetown, George Washington and American — made the NCAA Tournament last season. Howard, meanwhile, hasn’t been dancing since 1992, and hasn’t 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’s leading scorer and rebounder, was a transfer from the College of Charleston and had to sit out two entire seasons because Howard’s rigorous academic requirements wouldn’t 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.
“They’re just humble kids,” said Bison head coach Kevin Nickelberry of his seniors. “The best formula for winning is with kids who can play, kids with great character, and kids who believe in your plan.”
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.
“For those guys to be the first guys to jump out and pick up that little sophomore means everything to me,” 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’s the moment that made it all worth it.
“It’s like the pinnacle of our career,” said Norsworthy. “There’s nothing better than getting your last win at home, especially in this fashion.”
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’s showing could be a crucial building block for a more prosperous future.
“It’s exciting to be a part of history here,” said Carlton. “We might not realize it now, but a few years down the line, they’ll look back on this team and we’ll be known as one of the great Howard teams in school history.”
But Howard isn’t 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.
“Our backs have been against the wall all year, so it’s nothing new for us,” said Carlton. “We’re 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’s a lot of lessons we can learn going into the tournament.”
Coach Nickelberry knows better than to doubt his team’s resolve.
“They already know what’s in front of them,” said Nickelberry. “They already know what they want.”
Four of Howard’s six conference losses came by four points or less. They’ve hung tough, even in their losses. If they can put together a run, a truly special season could be in store.
“As (Carlton) said in the huddle right when the game was over, ‘Let’s be remembered,’” said Nickelberry. “They don’t want to just play; they want to be remembered.”
