Ben Prescott, sports editor 

The Berry College Men’s Basketball Team has already had their fair share of adversity this season with two games being cancelled due to the spread of the COVID- 19 virus. While the cancellations have put a pause on the impressive run from the team, including a 11-2 record and an impressive win over No. 6 ranked Wheaton, they have decided to stay positive and look forward, one game at a time. 

What helps the team stay positive is knowing the cancellations do not have any impact on a postseason run, according to Interim Head Coach Trevor Lydic. Games are automatically ruled as a “no contest” if the team does not have eight players available to play, which is what occurred for the two games that the Vikings missed. If the team does have eight players and chooses not to play, then the game is considered a forfeit. The Southern Athletic Association (SAA) also allows all of its teams to compete in the championship tournament, with exception to the 2021 COVID-19 season. Tournament seeding becomes a factor based on the team’s record, but Lydic mentioned that the team will not let their record factor into the team’s view on their season. 

The game cancellations are hard on the whole team because it takes away the one thing they works toward each week, competing in games. According to Lydic, the recent cancellations are especially difficult because of how well the team was playing. 

“We were playing pretty good at the time,” Lydic said. “2-1 in conference, 11-2 overall with the top 10 win over Wheaton over the Christmas break. I feel we were in a good place and to have something like this stop us, it’s really not under our control. That was hard. It’s been hard on the coaches, it’s been hard on the players cause everybody wants to compete.” 

Lydic spoke about the challenges that the team will face after the cancellations, the biggest one being their conditioning. The coach does not want these challenges to defeat the team as the season resumes. “I think the biggest challenge for us now is to get back in shape,” Lydic said. “As far as our talent goes, nothing in my opinion has changed. I think that we can still compete at a pretty high level with whoever we put out there.” 

This also goes for the rhythm the team was playing with before the cancellations. As the team finds their rhythm again and has some people playing out of position, Lydic does not want to make any excuses for the team since they have the talent and depth to still play competitive basketball. 

With some of the players still in “return-to-play” protocols, the process that reacclimates athletes into playing their sport after COVID-19 infection, Lydic wants to see how some of the inexperienced players step into new roles. According to him, the situation is not ideal, but he acknowledges that the team can grow from it and become closer as a unit. 

Despite missing the last two games, the men’s basketball team has still earned national Top 25 votes from D3Hoops.com. This is a weekly poll that nationally ranks college basketball teams by a panel of 25 coaches, sports information directors and members of the media from around the country. While the coach acknowledges that any national recognition is a privilege for the team and the school, he wants the team to focus on being their best for every game. In fact, the team does not even discuss about receiving the votes or any future championship. 

“Our goal is not to receive Top 25 votes,” Lydic said. “Basically, every game is to go out there and compete and give our very best. If we feel like we do that, typically, everything will fall in place for us.”

The Vikings did just that, giving their best in their first game back against Birmingham-Southern. Senior guard Michael Johnson scored 17 points and 10 rebounds in the 77-74 win. Sophomore guard and forward Chase Ellis also had 13 points with five assists and Braxton Benham recording three steals during the game. The Vikings also made 10 of their 28 shots from the three point line. 

The Vikings will be back at home against Birmingham Southern College on Friday, Jan. 28th with tip off at 8 p.m.