 |
| Furman senior guard Jordan Lyons |
Over the past four years, Furman basketball has seen a substantial upgrade in many ways. A winning standard has been set and a culture put into place, and while two head coaches during that time frame—Niko Medved and current head coach Bob Richey—have played a major part, it’s been a player like senior guard Jordan Lyons that has put a stamp on the program that will be documented in Furman basketball media guides for years to come.
Lyons, a native of Peachtree City, GA, will play his final game in front of the Furman home crowd Saturday, as the Paladins host The Citadel at Timmons Arena for a 4:30 p.m. contest against the Bulldogs. He’ll leave the Paladin basketball program as the school’s all-time leader in wins (95) and three-point field goals made (285), while currently ranking 16th in the history of the Paladin basketball program in scoring (1,505 pts).
It seems like just yesterday I was in then assistant coach Bob Richey’s office doing an interview for an article I would write on the now Furman head coach, and we were discussing Lyons—a then wide-eyed 17-year old, who had already signed a national letter of intent to attend Furman.
Richey brimmed with excitement when I brought up his name. He knew what Furman was getting, and it had less to do with what Lyons could do as a shooter or as a scorer and more to do with his magnetic personality and what a difference he could make off the floor and in the locker room. Lyons had been highly sought after in the recruiting process. Wofford, Mercer and Chattanooga were all interested in acquiring his scoring ability.
As I think back, Richey said some words that day that have stuck with me asince then. I am paraphrasing here, however, he said you have to have kids that are used to win and that come from programs that win, but more than that, you have to have kids that can take a program to the next level. As great as the kids are that we have now—guys like Stephen Croone and Devin Sibley—they’re the foundation for what the next wave of winners is about to do and he told me he had no doubts that Lyons would leave Furman having taken Furman basketball to a different level by the time he has done. Those words have proven prophetic as I think back. Lyons, a product out of McIntosh High School, readies to play his final game.
So many of the memories that flood my mind have happened at Timmons Arena. The NCAA record-tying 15 three-pointers vs. North Greenville last year is the one that first comes to mind. Just this season his late three on a night Furman made only three triples vs. VMI helped will the Paladins to overtime in a game they looked like they had no business winning vs. the Keydets also comes to mind. Furman would go on to a 74-72 win. Lyons also went for 40 points on 11-of-15 shooting from the field in a Furman road win at VMI earlier this season. With that spectacular performance vs VMI, the senior guard became the first Furman player since Darrell Floyd (1952-56) to record two or more 40-point games in a career.
While all players who have ever suited up have been important to Furman basketball, Lyons came at a time when Furman desperately needed a Jordan Lyons. It needed his personality to push it to a new level—a high water mark. In my opinion, without the charisma, character and class this young man has exuded over the past four years, I am not sure Furman basketball is conversations it is in among the national media.
The past four years have seen a golden generation of Furman basketball going back to the 2016-17 season, with guys like senior Kris Acox. A year later with Devin Sibley, Daniel Fowler John Davis III and Geoff Beans.
Last year, it was the stoic, yet level-headedness of a guy like Matt Rafferty that seemed to personify the toughness and grit that has been required for Furman basketball to get to make the progress it has. Then this year. Lyons has worn the emotion and the character—a ‘never say die attitude’— that Furman has given Furman its own identity within the 2019-20 season.
Like the aforementioned pillars of this generation of Furman basketball players, Lyons has his own unique traits that have helped build the Furman basketball culture, infused with a personality only a person like he can provide. His signature stomp after hitting a big three against Loyola Chicago will always stick out. His personality is infectious so much that even if you have never met him, you kind of already like him.
In Furman’s hard-fought, 75-66, loss at East Tennessee State last week, Lyons did something that floored me although it really shouldn’t have. While ETSU head coach Steve Forbes and I were having a friendly conversation after the game, Lyons comes up and shakes coach's hand and thanks him and tells him it has been an honor to compete against a coach like him. All the while I am thinking what class and what humility. Coach Forbes replied "Well the season isn’t over yet" and chuckled. Both laughed and Forbes—taken aback a bit said—"It’s been a pleasure to coach against a player the caliber you are and one with such high character"… "Jordan Lyons you’re a class act and I appreciate that," Forbes added. "It ain’t easy coaching against you though," as the jovial coach laughed.
Those are the kind of moments that make you realize who Jordan Lyons really is. He loves the sport. He loves people and he is a major reason Furman basketball has an opportunity to do something it hasn’t in four decades next week in Asheville. You don’t find many like Jordan Lyons. He’s been a true diamond for Furman. When he exits for the final time Saturday to what will most assuredly be a standing ovation, I wonder what unique way of showing his love for the Furman basketball program will be. For Stephen Croone in 2015-16, he kissed the mid-court logo. I am sure Lyons has something up his sleeve.
For someone who covers mid-major basketball, guys like Jordan Lyons are what makes this so much fun to do. Writing about guys like that is priceless and I am thankful to tell a story like his. Thank you Jordan Lyons. Thank you.
Furman vs. The Citadel Notes
—Furman (24-6, 14-3 SoCon) and The Citadel (6-22, 0-17 SoCon) will be meeting for the 213th time on the college basketball hardwood, with Furman holding the commanding 125-87 edge, including a 78-54 win over the Bulldogs back in January.
—Furman has won 10 out of the last 11 meetings between the two in the series. Clay Mounce paced the Paladins with a team-high 22 points in the last meeting between the two.
—The Citadel enters the contest having lost 18-straight games and have yet to win in the 2020 calendar year. The Bulldogs have battled injuries to key players all season, contributing to the struggles.
— Both The Citadel and Furman already know their opposition next week in the Southern Conference Tournament. With Furman’s 81-67 win Wednesday night, the Paladins will open in Asheville as the No. 2 seed. The Paladins will face the winner of No. 7 Wofford and No. 10 The Citadel in the 6 p.m. quarterfinal on Saturday.
—With a win Saturday, Furman could tie last season’s school-record 25 wins and set a new program standard for Southern Conference wins in a campaign with 15. Furman has never totaled 25 in a regular-season in its history.
—The Citadel will be trying to avoid becoming the first team since the 1959-60 Davidson team go winless (0-10) in Southern Conference play.
Below are some YouTube clips chronicling Lyons' tremendous career at Furman .
No comments:
Post a Comment