Game #126 of 362 34% complete

I made the one and a half hour drive from Columbia to North Charleston in plenty of time for the 5:30PM start. The Buccaneer Field House with a capacity of 881 seats is the second smallest basketball Division 1 arena. The smallest is the G.B. Hodge Center in Spartanburg, SC with a capacity of 878 seats. This is the home of the University of South Carolina Upstate Spartans. I wonder if there was a competition between the two schools perhaps with the Spartans ripping out 5 seats to attain this honor.

I was sitting in the first row right in the middle of the court. An elderly gentlemen that was escorting an even older man sat next to me and quickly introduced himself. His name was Brooks and was a season ticket holder. He went to to Charleston Southern on a golf scholarship in 1965 so one can guess his age from that. We exchanged pleasantries and continued a running conversation throughout the game. He was well versed on every player of the Charleston Southern team. He was not afraid to yell at the refs and even at the UNC Asheville coach. He made my evening a memorable one. I prefer the small arenas and meeting up with folks like Brooks. I told him about my Operation 351 mission and he offered to put me up if I am ever in the Charlestown area to see other schools. This was Southern hospitality at its best.

The arena had a banner that said “EDIG”. It was on the players warmups as well. Brooks informed that it meant “Every Day is Game 7”.

Brooks said that most of the starters from last year entered the portal and are now with other schools. He said that the mid majors are turning into farm clubs for the power schools. He is sadly correct and makes me concerned about the future of college basketball. Will it turn into something like the major league baseball where the most money buys the best teams? I am in favor of the players be compensated for their name and likeness but the influence of big donors can not be good for the sport.

Buccaneer RJ Johnson led the his team with 23 points. He was a one man team keeping the Bucs in the game. Brooks lamented that he was probably gone after this year in the portal. Despite being double digit underdogs, the Buccaneers put up a valiant fight.

The player of the game was UNC Asheville player Drew Pember. This 6’10” center was lights on with his three point shooting and provided ample cushion when the Buccaneers tried to make a run. Pember was previously with the Tennessee Vols seeing little action in his first two seasons there. He found a home in the Big South earning Player of the Years honors last season.

That’s a wrap! Thanks to Breeze Airlines for providing a cheap direct flight between Hartford and Charleston.