Editor’s note: Former Syracuse University player Demetris Nichols is playing for Boeheim’s Army in this year’s The Basketball Tournament. The coronavirus pandemic has forced the TBT to adjust its schedule and its field. The abbreviated 24-team event is being held in Columbus, Ohio. Players must pass multiple tests for Covid-19 and they are quarantined in one hotel.
Nichols will submit a daily diary to offer fans a window into a most unusual TBT.
Day 4, both on and off the court, was the best of all of the days so far. It started out with some solid French toast for breakfast and a bunch of negative Covid test results for everyone on the team. It was a big relief to know that everyone on our team is able to play.
Later in the morning, we had to take another Covid test. I’m beginning to feel like a pro at this. We’ve taken so many tests. Even though it’s boring, I’m grateful that TBT has taken all the right precautions to make sure everyone is safe.
After wishing my daughter a great birthday, I got in a workout in my hotel room. Then I had a salmon salad for lunch.
Because we wanted to watch the game between Heartfire and Men of Mackey; the winner is going to be our opponent on Tuesday opponent, at 7 o’clock on Sunday, we pushed practice up from 6:30 to 1:30.
The practice was the best yet. For one thing, we finally had everybody. John Gillon’s first Covid test didn’t come back, so he had to wait. But John got his results, which were negative and he was able to practice on Sunday. He probably had more energy than anybody because he’s been in his room for the past three days.
We played a lot of competitive 5-on-5 to get us ready for Tuesday. There are a lot of things we can improve on, which is normal for every team in the tournament at this point.
After practice, I took a nap before the game came on.
Before going into the players’ lounge to watch the game with the rest of the team, I stepped outside the hotel for the first time in four days to get some fresh air. But I didn’t know I had to show the security guard my credential and my past Covid test results before going out. After I looked at him like he was crazy, I went into my phone and showed the guard that I was Covid negative.
During the Heartfire-Men of Mackey game, we as a team talked about different matchups and strategies. In the beginning it seemed like Heartfire had the game, but Men of Mackey went on a crazy run to win the game. Now that we know who our opponent is we’ll talk more about strategy tomorrow in practice.
I’m looking forward to that.
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Mike Waters is a reporter for the Syracuse Post-Standard and syracuse.com. Got a comment or idea for a story? He can be reached via email at mwaters@syracuse.com.
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