Bryon Allen, Johnny Williams and Sherrod Wright, who will be honored at Saturday's Senior Night game against Duquesne, hope they haven't yet experienced the highlight of their college careers. The trio, who have started a combined 204 games, scored 3,022 points and secured 1,071 rebounds, heading into the final regular season game, have high hopes for the post season.
A win Saturday would keep the Patriots out of the No.12-13 seed game March13 to open the Atlantic10 Championship Tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. If they could string together four or five wins there, they earn an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
“We've got a lot to play for,” Allen says. “From now on it's tough; every game is tough. With the win last night and a win Saturday, we can build some momentum going into the A-10 Tournament. From there we can get a streak going, start clicking.”
Says Wright, whose shoulder injury forced him to redshirt the 2010-11 season, the last time the Patriots reached the NCAA tournament: “To get to the tournament again, that would be the highlight of my whole career because of everything we've been through this year. To get to the tournament and prove everybody wrong would be the highlight of my career.”
To the players, winning the A-10 tourney wouldn't be an upset. “Even though we're like 4-11 in the league, I still believe we can win the A-10 Tournament,” Wright said. “That's how we have to take every game; that's how we have to take every practice.”
Says Williams, alluding to several close, agonizing losses this season, “Nobody wants to play us.”
The senior trio has left its mark on Mason basketball. Wright, a 6-4 guard, has scored more than 1,500 points and is 9th on the school's scoring list. He can score from anywhere and has hit two of the most spectacular shots during the coach Paul Hewitt era with three-point buzzer beaters to beat VCU two seasons ago and Richmond last season.
“There were a lot of different chapters to my career here,” he said. “I'm proud to see everything I've been through. I continue to work hard and continue to push myself to be one of the best players in this program.”
The 6-3 Allen recently surpassed the 1,000-point mark and is fifth on the career assist list with 375. He played both point guard and shooting guard until emphasizing the off guard role last year. He has gone from a self-described “non-shooter” early in his career to a strong three-point threat, who this year is shooting 38.6% from beyond the arc and has made more threes (39) than in his first three years combined (25). He has also become a smarter, more poised player with a 1.5:1 assist:turnover ratio.
The 6-8 Williams has battled shoulder problems that cost him the 2011-12 season and a concussion that cost him 18 games last season. He provides a steadying force inside with his scoring, rebounding and defense.
“I'm proud that I was able to show I handled adversity,” Williams said. “You can take five steps forward and take three steps back. You have to keep making those steps forward and keep staying positive.”
Besides all the points, rebounds and assists, the senior trio has helped the team keep a strong attitude in the wake of several difficult losses. That might be their enduring legacy.
“They helped provide a positive, enthusiastic atmosphere when we step out to practice,” Hewitt said. “Coaches strive for that all the time, but unless you have people in the locker room that are going to buy in that doesn't work.
“They're really quality kids, every one of the seniors. I've talked a lot about how much improvement Bryon has made on and off the court. Sherrod has been very consistent throughout his career with his scoring. He may have attempted the toughest major (Integrative Studies) in the program since I've been here. Johnny Williams is going to grad school.
“You couldn't ask for better kids who are making the most of the college experience both educationally and athletically. I think they've improved. I wish we had more wins to show for it, but we were close a lot this year. Obviously, the year's not over. I wish we had more Ws for their sake. They've been great. They've been model citizens.”
Now it's almost time for them to start new phases of their lives. As excited as the trio is about the future, they'll also miss their time at Mason. Earlier this season, Williams told Hewitt that he'd pay the school to be able to play another season.
“Yeah, you gotta love college,” said Williams, known as J2 to teammates. “This is the life. Nobody wants to leave this. Once you leave, that's when everything becomes real.”
