Photo by Colby Suhula www.appstatesports.com
On Feb. 26, 2000, Appalachian State men's basketball bested Western Carolina 101-83 in Varsity Gym to clinch a share of the SoCon regular season title. App shared the title with College of Charleston at 13-3 and then bested the Cougars in the SoCon finals to go to the NCAAs. It was the last men's basketball game in Varsity Gym before the Holmes Center move.
After that dream season, we all know what happened. If you don't know, ask around. But the team was never the same and didn't get to those heights again.
There were some fun times. 2003, 2007, 2010 all culminated in SoCon North Division titles. But those seasons, the overall regular season title went to the SoCon South Division winner, who had the better conference record.
We know the painful loses that kept App State from regular season glory in those years. We know that two years ago, in 2022, App MBB lost three of its last five to fall out of the regular season title race versus Texas State.
All that means Feb. 26, 2000, in Varsity Gym was the last time App State men's basketball played a regular-season championship clinching game. That streak ends at 24 years and 2 days this Wednesday.
The scenario is simple. App State beats Old Dominion on Wednesday, App State is (at least a share of) Sun Belt regular season champs and the No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. If JMU loses at Georgia State along with App's win, that conference championship is undisputed. But JMU hasn't lost since Jan. 27 in Boone, so I doubt it.
But first thing's first, ODU on Wednesday.
The Monarchs played well last Thursday in Norfolk. They battled down low and early in the second half, made tough shots to keep the game close. But then a familiar script happened. The Apps stayed steady and bulldozed the Monarchs on a 19-2 run en route to a double-digit win.
To their credit, ODU, buoyed by sidelined coach Jeff Jones showing up on Senior Day, rallied on Saturday for a win over Coastal Carolina. That win keeps the Monarchs within a slimmer of a chance of not finishing last, but a loss in either of their last two games will finalize that.
App State's already won at the homes of all six Sun Belt East foes. Now it can go a perfect 12-0 versus the Sun Belt East home and away, plus cement its name on top of the standings.
This could be tricky, especially with one less day to prepare. And it could be a breeze, but don't bet on it. Regardless, it'll be historic, and it's worth celebrating if it happens.
If you can, show up and show out for the Apps. And then, because you want to, show up on Friday night for the last regular season home game.
