ORLANDO, Fla. — When Max Abmas withdrew from the NBA draft last year to return to school, the dynamic guard wanted to go out on top with Oral Roberts and create a lasting buzz.
He and the Golden Eagles have a chance to do just that.
Oral Roberts will make its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday as the No. 12 seed in the East Region. It will face fifth-seeded Duke at Amway Center for the first meeting between the two schools.
The Golden Eagles (30-4, 18-0) arrive as the champions of the Summit League after finishing the season with a 17-game winning streak, the longest in the country. They were the only team to go undefeated in conference play.
“We know when you get a 12 seed, a lot of the time you have a champion. Oral Roberts, they’re the champion of their league, regular season and tournament,” Duke head coach Jon Scheyer said. “They haven’t lost since Jan. 9. They’re used to winning. Regardless of who you were going to play, but especially with them, we know how good they are and what a challenge it’s going to be.”
The team last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2021 when it advanced to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history (1974). As a 15th seed, the Golden Eagles upset Ohio State (2) and Florida (7) before falling to Arkansas (3).
Leading the way that year was Abmas.
Then a sophomore, Abmas led the country in scoring (24.5 points per game) and was named the Summit League Player of the Year. He became the first player since Stephen Curry in 2008 to score at least 25 points in each of his first three NCAA Tournament games.
That experience, Abmas said, will help Oral Roberts.
I think it definitely helps. Being here a couple of years ago, kind of understanding everything and what comes with it. The big thing for us is really staying in the moment, blocking the outside distractions and getting ready for the game tomorrow.
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Give it up for @ORUMBB's Max Abmas on being named a @USBWA All-American Honorable Mention honoree π#ReachTheSummit x #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/dwna3tmXpx
— The Summit League (@thesummitleague) March 15, 2023
Abmas was named the Summit League Player of the Year once again this season after averaging 22.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, four assists and 1.1 steals on 37.7% shooting from 3-point range. He was named to the AP All-American honorable mention team for the third time.
He was seventh nationally in scoring and sixth in 3s per game (3.5).
The 21-year-old drew high praise from head coach Paul Mills throughout the year. He is the guy that drives the team and does so with more than just his scoring. He understands that the team may need him to score at times or set up his teammates.
That ability, Mills said, is very impressive.
To know that a guy who can score at his level cares about sharing the basketball, it kind of speaks volumes about how ‘I’ll take away things that may bring more accolades in order to allow the team to win’ and be willing to do it.
To have a guy like that who’s so willing to put his ego aside — and the kid could have gone anywhere in the country if he would have wanted to — and say, ‘Man, how do I have value here, and what role do you need me to add value in?’ He consistently does that.
Abmas tested the NBA pre-draft process in each of the past two years. He participated in various scouting events, such as the G League Elite Camp in Chicago and had the opportunity to perform in front of executives and scouts.
The events gave him the opportunity to work on his game and receive feedback from teams on areas in which he could improve. He even spent some time training with Trae Young in Las Vegas learning the nuances of the game from a former All-Star.
With Abmas’ collegiate career likely winding down, a future playing basketball at the professional awaits him once the Golden Eagles’ season ends — either on Thursday or later.
He isn’t worrying about that right now.
“(I’m) just staying in the moment and really just enjoying every step of the way,” Abmas said. “I think that’s a big thing that I’ve kind of been doing the whole year is just trying to stay in the moment and not look too far ahead. I get a lot of questions about the future and everything, but the big thing is right now and doing what I can to prepare myself for the future.”
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