The list was hard to make, at least on the spur of the moment.
But UNC-Wilmington senior Aaron Coombs rubbed his chin a couple of times Tuesday afternoon before compiling his top five moments at Trask Coliseum. After all, Senior Night was just more than 24 hours away and Coombs was feeling a bit sentimental.
So he flipped through the memories like they were inserts in a dust-covered scrapbook as he tried to catalog a significant portion of his life:
n A Stewart Hare dunk on the former Seahawks? own Senior Night three years ago.
n The deafening moment when Brett Blizzard broke the school?s scoring record and the ear-splitting play Tim Burnette turned in moments later with a steal and a dunk.
n Playing a summer pick-up game in an empty gym while workers hung up the 2002 NCAA Tournament banner.
That was cool, Coombs said, even if none of the UNCW faithful were around to witness it. He thought perhaps that made it even more special, because he could share it with the handful of teammates that were there to see it.
He finally relented. There are just too many for the 6-foot-11 center to compact into one short list.
?It?s been a long run,? Coombs said. ?There have been a lot of great times in Trask. There?s just so much tradition at this school ? that?s one of the reasons why I came here. It?s going to (stink) to see it end. But I?ll definitely be back. I?m going to stay here as long as possible.?
Coombs will wear a white jersey on UNCW?s floor for the final time tonight when the Seahawks (17-8, 12-4 Colonial Athletic Association) play host to Delaware. It will also be the last home game for Coombs? fellow seniors Joseph King, Halston Lane and Ed Spencer, a group that has seen good times and lean times while with the Seahawks. The end for them, however, can come on a high note.
A tonight over the Blue Hens (10-17, 7-9) would keep UNCW in sole possession of second place in the league standings, one game ahead of Virginia Commonwealth. Assuming William & Mary doesn?t beat the Rams tonight, Saturday?s game at VCU would decide the second seed in the upcoming league tournament.
The Seahawks beat Delaware last month, 62-59 at the Bob Carpenter Center. UNCW limited Blue Hens forward Harding Nana, the CAA?s leading scorer and rebounder, to only eight points on 2-for-12 shooting. That defensive effort, which Seahawks coach Brad Brownell hope his squad repeats, ended Nana?s string of consecutive double-doubles at 11.
?That would be nice,? Brownell said. ?That was a significant part of the game. Obviously, he?s going to know that and coach Henderson is going to challenge him to change that. I?m sure he?s going to get plenty of touches. If he?s going to get points, we want to make sure he?s going to take shots to get them. At the same time, we?re not going to compromise our defense just to stop him. They have other guys.?
Coombs? parents will be on hand for the postgame ceremonies and some tears will likely be shed on the floor and in the stands. Maybe even a few by the affable Coombs.
?I probably will,? Coombs said. ?I go third, so if any of the guys before me cry then it?s over.?
But UNC-Wilmington senior Aaron Coombs rubbed his chin a couple of times Tuesday afternoon before compiling his top five moments at Trask Coliseum. After all, Senior Night was just more than 24 hours away and Coombs was feeling a bit sentimental.
So he flipped through the memories like they were inserts in a dust-covered scrapbook as he tried to catalog a significant portion of his life:
n A Stewart Hare dunk on the former Seahawks? own Senior Night three years ago.
n The deafening moment when Brett Blizzard broke the school?s scoring record and the ear-splitting play Tim Burnette turned in moments later with a steal and a dunk.
n Playing a summer pick-up game in an empty gym while workers hung up the 2002 NCAA Tournament banner.
That was cool, Coombs said, even if none of the UNCW faithful were around to witness it. He thought perhaps that made it even more special, because he could share it with the handful of teammates that were there to see it.
He finally relented. There are just too many for the 6-foot-11 center to compact into one short list.
?It?s been a long run,? Coombs said. ?There have been a lot of great times in Trask. There?s just so much tradition at this school ? that?s one of the reasons why I came here. It?s going to (stink) to see it end. But I?ll definitely be back. I?m going to stay here as long as possible.?
Coombs will wear a white jersey on UNCW?s floor for the final time tonight when the Seahawks (17-8, 12-4 Colonial Athletic Association) play host to Delaware. It will also be the last home game for Coombs? fellow seniors Joseph King, Halston Lane and Ed Spencer, a group that has seen good times and lean times while with the Seahawks. The end for them, however, can come on a high note.
A tonight over the Blue Hens (10-17, 7-9) would keep UNCW in sole possession of second place in the league standings, one game ahead of Virginia Commonwealth. Assuming William & Mary doesn?t beat the Rams tonight, Saturday?s game at VCU would decide the second seed in the upcoming league tournament.
The Seahawks beat Delaware last month, 62-59 at the Bob Carpenter Center. UNCW limited Blue Hens forward Harding Nana, the CAA?s leading scorer and rebounder, to only eight points on 2-for-12 shooting. That defensive effort, which Seahawks coach Brad Brownell hope his squad repeats, ended Nana?s string of consecutive double-doubles at 11.
?That would be nice,? Brownell said. ?That was a significant part of the game. Obviously, he?s going to know that and coach Henderson is going to challenge him to change that. I?m sure he?s going to get plenty of touches. If he?s going to get points, we want to make sure he?s going to take shots to get them. At the same time, we?re not going to compromise our defense just to stop him. They have other guys.?
Coombs? parents will be on hand for the postgame ceremonies and some tears will likely be shed on the floor and in the stands. Maybe even a few by the affable Coombs.
?I probably will,? Coombs said. ?I go third, so if any of the guys before me cry then it?s over.?
