Archibald, Christon returning to play another season

Only four postseason teams walked off the basketball court for the final time this past season with a win.

Baylor. Memphis. Pepperdine. Louisiana Tech.

For Amorie Archibald and Exavian Christon, it could have been their final time ever to walk off in a Bulldog uniform.

The two senior captains could have ridden off into the sunset after helping the Bulldogs to an electrifying 76-74 victory over Colorado State in the NIT consolation game.

They could have experienced their last post-game “How ‘Bout Them Dogs” cheer. Their last team huddle in the locker room. Or their last ice cream stop after a road dub.

Any other season, this would have definitely been the final exit for Archibald and Christon. Their eligibility would have been wrapped up. But this was not any other season. Far from it.

“There were so many differences between this year and the other years,” said Christon, the fourth-year guard from Hot Springs, Arkansas. “Wearing masks all the time, all these different rules we had to follow.”

“There was mental taxation with all the different things we had to do,” said Conference USA Coach of the Year Eric Konkol. “We were fortunate to be able to stay away from COVID. We tried to do everything possible to put ourselves in the best position to practice and play.”

Aside from the two-game series at Middle Tennessee getting axed due to Snowmageddon, miraculously Tech played 32 times during the 2020-21 season.

The total number of games played ended up being normal. Nothing else really was, though. The average audience was about 1,100 people. Then there were the countless testing protocols, no team gatherings for meals, never using the team meeting room for film or post-game, playing back-to-back days against the same opponent and more.

Despite all of the abnormality, man, was it a fun basketball season.

“We did something a lot of teams have not accomplished,” said Archibald, the fourth-year guard from Deltona, Florida. “I am very proud of that. It was a great season.”

“Because we were so isolated as a team, I feel like we really ended up making the most out of our time together,” Christon said. “The bonds made everything that much funner. The emphasis this season was on having fun when we could. Whenever we got a chance to have fun, we did during the whole year.”

It began on Nov. 27 with a season-opening home win against UT Arlington. It included a C-USA West Division title. And it concluded with victories over Ole Miss, Western Kentucky and Colorado State in Frisco, Texas in the NIT.

Sadly, it did not include some traditions. Like the fans coming down onto Karl Malone Court to celebrate wins. No worries, though, as a new tradition started as a result.

“There was this disconnect with the fans this season,” said Konkol. “Here was another way to be connected. I just call it a dog call.”

“A few of our fans would be the first ones at the games and as soon as they came in, they would say, ‘woooo woooo woooo woooo!’ We picked up on it so we started saying it back to them,” said Christon.“It became our thing. To me, it was like our fight song.”

Before the season even tipped off, the NCAA’s Division I Council voted to give eligibility relief to wintersport athletes regardless of how many games they played during the 2020-21 year.

After a week or two to reflect on the season once it was over, all of the seniors, including Archibald and Christon, were faced with the decision on whether to come back for another year.

“I wanted to do what was best for me,” Archibald said. “Having a one-year old daughter, being close to her right now was a factor. Having another opportunity to improve on the court and try to make the NCAA Tournament. Also, graduating.”

“My main goal is to graduate,” said Christon. “I did not want to go anywhere without graduating first.”