The Effect of a Dinner Party

Panthers snap four-game losing streak with win over Charleston Southern

By: Megan Hovey

HIGH POINT, N.C.-It’s almost like this was set up by High Point University. A preconceived storyline, if you will.

“This” refers to the HPU (11-13, 3-9 Big South) men’s basketball teams’ win over Charleston Southern University (8-15, 4-8 Big South) 81-73 on Feb. 4, coincidentally during Family Weekend.

Over 6,000 guests packed inside the Qubein Arena, stuffing the building to its capacity and setting an attendance record.

Many students, families, staff and High Point residents had given up on hoping that HPU could make a turnaround in the second half of the season.

Before Saturday’s win, the Panthers were on a four-game losing streak. Prior to beating Presbyterian and Winthrop, the team had lost eight straight.

And let’s not forget that the last time HPU played the Bucs, the team was dealt a 106-69 loss. Yikes.

But maybe the fans were just what the team needed.

You know the song “Be Our Guest,” from “Beauty and the Beast”?

“Be our guest! Be our guest! Put our service to the test. Tie your napkin 'round your neck, cherie. And we'll provide the rest.”

Perhaps this should be the team’s new theme song. The game was marketed as a so-called dinner party for guests inside a $170 million facility (built on the desperation of attracting better recruits and more spectators). HPU wanted this moment to be the marquee event of the weekend. They wanted some of their biggest fans (the parents who foot the tuition bill) to feel righteous for sending their children to a school where sports programs were successful.

Gifts rained down from the rafters at the game. There was free food and alcohol everywhere. A live band and DJ played oldies for the parents and rap for their kids. It was almost impossible to have a bad experience, right?

But how about the actual dinner service? Would HPU actually be able to “provide the rest” for its guests with a win?

Seemingly so. Saturday’s team looked different. Almost shockingly different. There was an aggression that many fans had never seen before. It seemed like HPU actually wanted to win. The Panthers didn’t throw in the towel, even when the Bucs challenged them in the first half. HPU was able to stay neck-and-neck with them (Charleston Southern led 40-39 at halftime).

And the Panthers actually made their free throws-75% of them in the second half, to be exact! I know that looks exciting, but the team’s free throw percentage is still the worst in the conference at 62.1% (sorry to burst your bubble).

Even Panthers head coach G. G. Smith recognized that Family Weekend had an impact on his players.

“We're excited about the win, it's always good to get a home conference win,” he said. “I know it's been ugly the last few games but our guys, they keep believing and they keep fighting and that's something I have to give them credit for. It was great to see a lot of families and students in town, making it a sellout crowd and I thought that gave us a lot of energy to start the game.”

That being said, the rose-colored glasses have to come off-the blind can’t keep leading the blind. HPU is currently ranked ninth out of 10 teams in the Big South Conference (sorry, Presbyterian). The team hasn’t had a winning record since 2018-19. For reference, no undergraduate student (unless they’re on the seven-year plan) currently enrolled at HPU has experienced a time when the team turned in a winning record.

Let’s be real: no team in the Big South Conference will be selected for the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team. Only one week matters-tournament week.

The Big South Tournament is less than one month away. Sure, the Panthers still have to fight off Campbell, Longwood, Presbyterian, USC Upstate, Radford and Winthrop before the tournament begins. But who says that having more dinner parties inside the Qubein Arena wouldn’t get them through those games (and give them a push when they head on the road)?

The Panthers would only have to win four games in a row to win the Big South Tournament. They’ve done that once already this year.

So keep the lights on, the door propped open and the candles lit. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get invited back to some more dinner parties.