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.

I was at the last game in Varsity with a guy named Cremins . Later we took down Joey Lumpkin to set up a trip to Nashville to meet Ohio State. Quite a ride …

“Now days everybody wants to talk like they got something to say but nothing comes out when you move your lips just a bunch of jibberish like the forgot about Rufus Leach down the middle of the lane for two!” - Stuart Scott

App by 11

T-Dog wrote: ↑

Mon Feb 26, 2024 10:31 am

As a player at UVA from 1978-82, he played in two NCAA tournaments and 2 NITs. When he graduated he was the all-time assist leader, a record since broken. He coached at UVA, American, and ODU for a total of 31 years. His teams played in 8 NCAAs (took UVA to the Elite 8) and 2 NITs (Champions with UVA). Twelve of his teams won 20+ games and he finishes with a career record of 562-427 (146-104 at UVA, 211-182 at AU, 205-140 at ODU).

Just caught the end of the radio interview on the Raleigh sports station with Coach Kerns. Good stuff. Adam Gold suggested a tee shirt

There's no place like Holmes

Attendance predictions?

5,100

That would be amazing.

BUTCH1991 wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 27, 2024 12:05 pm

5,100

That would be really good. I would expect there to be even more on Friday so if we hit 5500 for Wednesday we should have a lot more on Senior Night. I am expecting more like 3500-4000 though. Have we had over 5000 for a weekday game this year?

What's our largest crowd this season for a weeknight game? 5500 seems like a lot.

hapapp wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:31 pm

What's our largest crowd this season for a weeknight game? 5500 seems like a lot.

Something in 3,500 to 4,000 range for Wednesday seems reasonable.

It's GameDay!! Let's Go App. St.!!
Monarchs Part Deux

anybody know if Yosef club room will be open for Friday night game vs Ark St?

Has App ever had a season going undefeated at home?

9Steelman wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:18 am

anybody know if Yosef club room will be open for Friday night game vs Ark St?

Not trying to be snarky, but is it not open for every game?

I've been looking in to increasing my donation to be able to use it since I'm a season ticket holder (didn't know it existed until I joined this board), but not if it isn't open every game...

704App wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 28, 2024 9:47 am

9Steelman wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 28, 2024 8:18 am

anybody know if Yosef club room will be open for Friday night game vs Ark St?

Not trying to be snarky, but is it not open for every game?

I've been looking in to increasing my donation to be able to use it since I'm a season ticket holder (didn't know it existed until I joined this board), but not if it isn't open every game...

The email I saw only listed our home Saturday games. Don't think it's open Friday, but can't guarantee it.

The Yosef Club does a bad job of marketing the perks of the club related to basketball.

Saint3333 wrote: ↑

Wed Feb 28, 2024 10:50 am

The Yosef Club does a bad job of marketing the perks of the club related to basketball.

Almost like they didn’t want anybody to know.