Duane Notice sat forward in his chair as he reflected on what could have been his last time playing in Colonial Life Arena. His hands were clasped together on the table in front of him, and a smile crept across his face as he peered down at the media sitting beneath him.
“It was a surreal moment, something that you can’t take back. I wish we could stay on the court for forever, but that’s kinda just how we felt,” he said.
His teammate Sindarius Thornwell seemed relaxed and at peace with the way his senior night had ended.
“A couple of tears came up into my eyes, but I looked around and nobody else shed any tears so I had to hold mine in. But it felt good,” he said through a broad smile that South Carolina fans had grown to adore through his four seasons donning a garnet and black jersey.
Both seniors deserved to smile. After guiding their team to yet another victory in careers filled with similar performances and late game heroics, South Carolina’s seniors were allowed a minute to reflect on the game that had just transpired, and how it would likely be their last at home.
All game, South Carolina fans honored Thornwell, Notice and fellow senior Justin McKie.
During pregame senior ceremonies, the fans roared as the seniors walked to half court with their families. They remained standing for the entire ceremony, clapping the entire time in recognition for what these seniors had done for their program.
Throughout the game, the fans remained engaged and provided the home game atmosphere that these seniors had felt grow alongside them as they progressed through their career.
After the final horn, chants of "SEC MVP" rained down on Sindarius, and the entire court remained bordered with fans as they sought one more high five from their departing seniors.
In the end, the fans realized what these seniors had meant to this program. And they showed their thanks as best they could.
“I appreciate your guys' patience,” said coach Frank Martin to the media upon strutting into the press conference room much later than usual. “I was out there thanking fans for how good they are in the way they support our kids.”
This send-off was what the seniors deserved. These players, who had seen the program's conference wins grow in each of their four seasons, were instrumental in bringing Frank Martin’s program to its current standing. And they are the main reason this team rests on the verge of an NCAA tournament bid.
And in his last post game press conference in Columbia, Thornwell made one thing clear.
“I will always be a Gamecock,” he said confidently into the microphone.
His words hung in the air for a few seconds, and there was no doubting their truth. For the impact left by Thornwell and his fellow seniors on this basketball program will not be forgotten.