The smell of popcorn and floor wax hit me the moment I stepped into Devlin Fieldhouse. It was a quiet Tuesday afternoon, the kind where the only sounds are the squeak of sneakers from a lone player practicing free throws and the distant hum of the ventilation system. I’ve been coming here for twenty years, through the highs and the gut-wrenching lows, and that familiar scent always takes me back. I found my usual seat about ten rows up from the home bench, the vinyl cool against my legs, and watched as a young guard I didn’t recognize launched three-pointer after three-pointer, his form a little rushed, a little desperate. It got me thinking, not for the first time this preseason, about the question hanging over this entire program: Can Tulane Basketball Make a Comeback This Season?

I remember the last time there was this much cautious optimism, only for it to evaporate by mid-January. But this year feels… different. Maybe it’s the new coaching staff, or maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic for Green Wave hoops. Let’s be real, the last few seasons have been tough to watch. We’d show flashes of brilliance, only to collapse in the final ten minutes. Defense would disappear, offensive sets would become stagnant, and you could just feel the energy drain from the building. It was a pattern of promising starts and devastating finishes. But then I look at the data from their last major scrimmage, and I see something that makes me lean forward in my seat. The quarter-by-quarter breakdown tells a story I haven't seen in a long time: 21-11, 41-26, 66-41, 81-52. That’s not just a win; that’s a statement.

That first quarter, 21-11, shows me they’re coming out with defensive intensity from the jump. In years past, we’d often be playing from behind, digging ourselves out of an early hole. An 11-point lead after one quarter might not seem like much, but in the context of this team's recent history, it’s monumental. It means they’re prepared. It means the game plan is being executed. By halftime, stretching it to 41-26, you see the composure. They didn’t get complacent with the early lead; they built on it. That 15-point halftime cushion is the kind of psychological advantage this team has desperately needed. I can’t tell you how many games I’ve sat right here and watched a 5-point lead turn into a 7-point deficit in the blink of an eye. Seeing them not just hold the line, but push it forward, is the first real sign of maturity.

Then comes the third quarter, the period that has been our absolute Achilles' heel. The dreaded "third-quarter collapse" was practically a trademark for a while. But 66-41? That’s a 25-point lead. They didn’t just survive the first five minutes out of the locker room; they dominated. They won the third quarter 25-15. That’s the kind of second-half punch that separates good teams from mediocre ones. It tells me the coaching adjustments are working, and the players are maintaining their focus. It’s one thing to have a hot start; it’s another to step on an opponent's throat when you have them down. And finally, closing it out 81-52. They didn't take their foot off the gas. The bench got involved, the lead ballooned, and they secured a 29-point victory. That final score, 81-52, isn't just a number. It's a blueprint.

Now, I know it was just a scrimmage. I’m not naive. The competition in the American Athletic Conference will be a whole different beast. But you can’t fake that kind of consistent, four-quarter effort. The scoring distribution in those quarters—21, 41, 66, 81—shows a steady, relentless accumulation of points. It shows an offense that doesn’t go into prolonged slumps and a defense that, for at least that night, was smothering. My gut tells me this is the foundation they’ve been missing. They have a legitimate star in the making with Kevin Cross, and the backcourt looks deeper and more athletic than it has in a decade. If they can replicate even 80% of that scrimmage intensity against Memphis or Houston, they’ll be in every game.

So, can they make a comeback? I think they can. I really do. Will they win the conference? Probably not this year. But a winning season? A trip to the NIT, or dare I dream, the NCAAs? It’s no longer a fantasy. It’s a tangible, realistic goal. That scrimmage, with its clear, dominant quarters of 21-11, 41-26, 66-41, and 81-52, proved that the potential is there, simmering just below the surface. The pieces are in place. It’s now about consistency, health, and a little bit of that Devlin Fieldhouse magic. As I stood up to leave, the lone player finally missed a shot, the ball clanging loudly in the empty arena. He just chased it down and launched another one, without hesitation. And I thought, yeah, that’s the spirit. This team is ready to chase it down, too.