| Following a hard-fought end to their historic season, head coach Nolan Smith made it clear he’s proud of Tennessee State and is ready to build a lasting legacy at the HBCU.Though the final score against Iowa State (108-74)wasn’t what they wanted, Smith made sure his players understood their historic impact. “I’m just extremely proud of my guys,” Smith said. “And I told them in the locker room that they’re legends, you know?” He emphasized that breaking a 32-year championship drought is a monumental achievement that will stand the test of time. “They’ll be forever be remembered in Nashville and in the TSU community,” he added. Nolan Smith played his college ball at Duke, where the NCAA Tournament is a birthright. But at his new HBCU home, it is a rarity. He admitted that establishing that winning culture wasn’t perfectly smooth from day one. “They didn’t really like me at first,” he joked. “I think I think we’re pretty close now, but, just so proud of them. This this group of guys they bought into the process of of becoming a champion. And that process has had bumps in it has challenges, has adversity, has everything. |
