Washington, DC---When Howard University head men's basketball coach talked in the pre-season about the upcoming season, he talked time and time again about leaning on each other as a team.  Little did the coach know that it would be tested and then some.
 
As the Bison (3-8) prepare for their next two games at Old Dominion and at VCU, the team is being put to the test.  Senior guard Kofi Andoh lost his mother to cancer recently and he and the team will attend her burial ceremony on Tuesday.  It is not the only test that the team has faced.  Two years ago, senior forward Prince Okoroh, a member of the team, who is due back in January after missing the past two years, tragically lost his father.
 
If that is not enough, consider the injury epidemic that has plagued the team that past three seasons and it can be overwhelming.
 
"The goals of this team has shifted dramatically," admitted the coach of the pre-season prediction that has the Bison picked to win the conference.  "When you have things like Kofi losing his mother, Prince losing his father and all the injuries we suffered, you are now not dealing with wins and losses, you are dealing with real life and death situations.  These are life events and adversities that puts things into the proper perspective.  We are learning to lean on each other and stay together as one."
 
Nickelberry says that he can already see the early results of the team buying in.  It was no more evident than during a recent game against Central Penn.  The Bison built a 17-point second half lead but the Knights took advantage of some lax play by Howard and rallied to tie the game, forcing a timeout by Nickelberry.
 
"I was getting ready to go into a tirade, but before I could, Marcel (Boyd) gathered the team and said 'we have been in much tougher situations; let's stay together.'  Following that, the Bison went on an 11-2 run to close out the game and get the victory.
 
Howard is slowly but surely getting the complement of key players back from injuries.  Boyd, who injured a foot against Georgetown and missed three games, is now back and contributing.  Damon Collins, who rolled an ankle, missed two games, but returned to record a double double against Central Penn.
 
James "J-Byrd" Daniel, III, the pre-season player of the year and the nation's leading scorer in 2015-16, suffered a high ankle sprain, has yet to play this season, but he is expected to be ready by the Harvard game on December 30.
 
James "JT" Miller, who missed most of last season but returned and was having an outstanding season and leading the team in scoring with back-to-back 30-point games until he suffered a broken hand that required surgery and will force him out another three weeks.
 
"No one wants to win as much as I do," Nickelberry explained.  "But at this point, we are not concerned about wins and losses as much as we are about leaning on each other, staying together and getting healthy again."
 
On a lighter note, the Howard team will travel to Hampton, VA following the funeral to help Daniel celebrate the retirement of his jersey during a ceremony at Phoebus High School, his alma mater.  Daniel was the state of Virginia Tri-Player of the Year.
 
As for the game, Howard will take on Old Dominion on Thursday at 7 pm in Norfolk, VA.  Following that game, the Bison will have a break and then travel to Richmond, VA to take on VCU on December 27 at 7 pm.

GAME NOTES: /documents/2016/12/22//MBBALL_12.pdf?id=490