Jess Wynn, to do the impossible

[PointGuard]

He texted ME-E-E-E.

[Wayne23]

Um...
...
...
I ...
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He didn't exactly...
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I didn't...
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[CoachC]

Hmmph!

[Wayne23]

3-3 Oklahoma is in. Weak sched. and 3 bad losses. Strength is outside.

12/7: 65-45. This isn’t the usual Oklahoma team.

+8, +7, 38-28%, fouls 13-22.

19, 12, 2, 2 for Bass, 11, 8, 3 for Rich, 7, 7, 1 for Bosl, 7, 5, 5 for Brown.
Seldom used Ivin Dard sprained a toe. Out about a week.

At 4-3 Maryland. They’ve played a good sched. Strong inside but the guards are weak.

12/10: We led for the entire first half and for a good part of the second but we faded at the end. We got down by 5 and tried to come back but we just couldn’t quite get there, 56-58.

+3, -2, 38-42%. We really lost it at the foul line, hitting only 6-14 free throws. We missed our last 5, and that did us in.

11, 12, 1, 2, 4 for Bosl, 14, 4, 4 for Brown. We just haven’t jelled as a team yet. Two at home vs, ranked teams and then the JAG tourney so hopefully we’ll figure it out soon.

#13, 8-3 Gonzaga is in. Strong everywhere except at the Point where they have some real problems. We’ll put the pressure on and hope it’s enough.

12/13: We jumped out to a 12 point lead early and hung on. They got it close, but after the first few minutes they never quite caught us. 55-49 at the end. Great D.

+10, +3, 37-38%.

13, 7, 2, 2, 1 for Rich, 10, 11 for Bosl. A much needed win.

[Wayne23]

8-2 Ohio State is in. They just fell out of the top 25. Strong outside.

12/21: Yet another game that we could have and maybe should have won, 58-60. We led most of the way, by as much as 15, but at the end we faded. We missed our last 5 free throws again, as we did in our loss to Maryland, and we did not shoot well or defend well. It has been a very frustrating year so far.

+27, even, 31-46%, fouls were 11-17.

18, 13, 2, 1 for Bass, 9, 13 for Bosl.

We’re the #3 seed at the JAG Holiday Invitational. We start with 3-7 Clemson. They’ve struggled all year, no good wins and several bad losses.

12/23: An amazing first half, 34-9. We coasted home after that, 67-39.

+5, +10, 48-32%.

18, 6, 3, 1, 1 for Rayn, 14, 3, 4 for Asby, 10, 8 for Rich. There’s no figuring this team out.

#2 seed Marquette, 7-3, in the semis. They lost their first three against cupcakes then won their last 7 against weak teams. They haven’t been tested. No one stands out for them. They have balance and some depth but no real go to guy. We’d like a win here.

12/24: We put together two good games in a row, 72-56. We went up early again and never let them back in.

+9, +3, 51-40%, fouls were 10-20.

We played 7 guys and they all contributed.

#15, 9-3 Kentucky for the title. 3-3 vs. ranked teams so they’ve played a tough sched. Starting SG just broke his wrist, and their starting C just flunked off the team, effective today, so there are things working in our favor. They have a solid PG but they’re thin. Rebounding should be a problem for them. They still have weapons w=but we have an opportunity here.

12/25: The JAG was good to us, 68-61. This one was a battle but we led for most of the 2nd half and managed to hold on, not letting them get closer than 4 in the last 5-6 minutes.

+5, -2, 43-38%, fouls were 12-21. We were still awful from the line though, 14-25.

21, 3, 2, 1, 1 for Rayn, 13, 4, 5, 2, 2 for Brown, 14, 3, 1, 2 for Asby. The big guys were outplayed in many ways but they did rebound.

We’re up to 8-5 going into conf. play but there are 4 top 25 teams in our conf. and we’ll play 6 games against them.

[Wayne23]

At #6, 9-2 UCLA to open conf. play. This is a tough way to start. They’re tough at all 5 positions and they do everything well.

12/31: 64-71. We hung with them but at the end they were too strong.

-1, -6, 39-37%.

18, 4, 2 for Brown but he fouled out with 5 ½ left and that’s when it fell apart. 11, 8, 1 for Bass, 8, 8, 2, 2, 2 for Bosl and 14 RBs for Rich. All in all not a discouraging performance.

8-4 Utah is in. Starting SG flunked out. The SF is their scorer.

1/4: 67-49. We led most of the way, and all of the 2nd half.

+10, +9, 39-33%. Brown played 13 min. due to fouls but Park and Asby stepped up.

16, 3, 6, 2 for Park, 12, 6 for Rich, 6, 14, 1 for Bosl.

At #8, 11-4, 1-1 Arizona. This figures to be a very tough game. They were just shocked by USC which won’t make it any easier. On the other hand their very good starting PF just broke his ankle. This team has lots of weapons and very few weaknesses.

1/7: 63-70. Yet another game where we played well but got outlasted, fading at the end.

Even, -10, 47-38%. The PG and C did us in. We couldn’t stop either one.

17, 8, 1, 1 for Bass, 2, 3 for Rayn, 10, 6, 3, 1, 3 for Brown.

[Wayne23]

10-4, 2-1 USC is in. A great win vs. Arizona but 3 bad losses. They have trouble on the road.

1/11: Down 1 at the half but we grabbed the lead early in the 2nd and held it the rest of the way, 69-59 at the end.

+10, +2, 41-38%.

All 5 starters in doubles, 14 RBs for Bosl. This has been a difficult team to figure out. I think we’re getting better though. We’re hanging in with the tough teams.

At 8-7, 0-4 Washington State. We’re 3-5 on the road and this is the kind of game that can begin to turn that around. Their starting SG and back up PG both flunked off the team so pressure should work.

1/14: 63-42. Held them to 12 in the 1st half and they never led.

+8, +9, 42-29%.

15, 3, 4, 3 for Rayn, 13, 9 for Rich, 13, 8, 2, 2 for Bass.

Ranked! #24, RPI #17.

8-9, 2-3 California is in. No good wins and several bad losses.

1/18: 67-48. We’re playing really well right now.

+8, +7 (6 TOs), 45-33%, fouls 14-23.

14, 8, 2 for Bosl, 14, 6, 1, 2 for Bass. A solid team effort.

We’re in a 3 way tie for 2nd. 12-7, 4-2.

[Wayne23]

At 4-13, 3-3 Colorado. They’re having a tough season and they don’t play much D. They throw the ball away regularly.

1/21: 72-40.

+23, +8, 41-28%, fouls 2-15(!).

17, 1, 3, 1, 1 for Rayn, 10, 15, 2 for Rich, 13, 9, 1, 1, 2 for Bass, 6, 11, 2 for Bosl, 8, 5, 5 for Brown.

#22, RPI #18.

#19, 14-6, 5-2 Oregon is in. 2-4 vs. ranked teams. Very good backcourt but weak inside.

1/25: 56-41. We went down 0-5, then scored the next 14 and built the lead to 19 in the 1st half.

+4, +2, 39-30%. We held their guards in check and that won it for us.

12, 16, 1 for Bosl, 15, 6, 1, 2, 3 for Brown.

At 5-14, 1-7 Oregon State. Won their last after losing 9. Lots of holes.

1/28: 72-53.

+6, +1, 54-34%.

18, 1, 5, 2 for Rayn, 10, 12, 1 for Bosl, 14, 1, 3 for Brown.

#20, RPI #17. 6 wins in a row. In a 3 way tie for 2nd, 2 back of UCLA. 15-7, 7-2.

We're playing as well as we have all year but there are some tough games coming up. I think at least part of the problems we had early on were due to my being in a funk over dad's death. Not having him to call on, sometimes for advice, sometimes just to talk, was difficult. I think I'm making the adjustment now, difficult as it is, and believe me it is very difficult.

[Wayne23]

#17, 15-5, 7-2 Stanford is in. 3-5 vs. ranked teams. They are tough to score against. Their C is their best player but their starting guards are also very good. We’ll need to play well in this one.

2/1: We took an early lead and stretched it to as many as 14 early in the 2nd half. Then they made their move.

They got it down to 1 then hit a 3 to take a lead with 2:11 left, their only lead of the game.

We scored the next 9, and it wound up 52-48. We held their C down but their starting guards combined for 36, 13, 6, 4, and it was almost enough.

+2, +2, 34-36%.

10, 15, 1 for Bosl who played a great game against an All American. 16, 1, 2, 1 for Asby from the bench, 14, 5, 2, 3, 1 for Brown, 8, 1, 8, 1, 2 for Rayn. A big win.

We’re in a 2 way tie with Arizona for 2nd.

At 8-13, 3-7 Arizona State. 2-5 in their last 7. On paper they aren’t impressive but it’s a road game.

2/4: Close in the 1st half but we broke it open in the 2nd, 68-49. Great D.

+13, -1, 47-33%, fouls 9-19.

21, 3, 7, 2, 1 for Brown, 14, 15 for Bosl, 13, 1, 5, 2, 1 for Rayn.

#18, RPI #17.

#3, 20-2, 11-0 UCLA is in. They won by 7 there in a game where we played about as well as we can play. They are a very tough team, solid and more than solid at all 5 spots with a good bench.

2/8: I decided to pressure them and they pressured back. The result was a very sloppy game, 17 TOs for them and 18 for us, but it opened things up for us, and it made it difficult for them to run their O the way they wanted to.

I also sent all 5 to the defensive boards, and we wound up +3 in RBs. We got their very good PG in foul trouble and while he played 27 min., he fouled out with 3:07 left.

The game was tight all the way and we trailed by 5 when their PG fouled out. His replacement couldn’t defend Brown and Brown scored 6 and had 3 assists late.

We took a 4 point lead on his 3 with :14 left. They hit a buzzer beating 3 but it wasn’t enough, 59-58 for our biggest win of the season.

+3, -1, 41-33%. Good D.

16, 15 for Bosl, 14, 3, 5, 2, 5 for Brown, 11, 5, 4 for Rayn, 10, 7, 2, 1 for Bass. We got nothing from our bench but neither did they.

[Wayne23]

At 12-11, 5-7 Utah. We won by 18 at home. They’ve lost 3 of 4. Lost their starting SG to grades. They’re sloppy.

2/11: 70-44. My guys are really playing right now.

+8, +5, 40-26%, fouls 10-18. Terrific D.

23, 2, 4 for Brown, 12, 14, 1, 1, 1 for Bass, 13, 2, 4 for Rayn.

#17, RPI #15. 19-7, 11-2. 2 up on the 4th place team with 3 to play.

The battle for 2nd place. #8 Arizona, 21-5, 11-2 is in. They beat us by 7 there. They’ve won 9 straight and 10 of 11 and they simply are not giving up points. Starting PF and SF both out with broken bones but it hasn’t slowed them much. Their 2 is useless but they have great players at 1 and 5 and are very good inside, even with the injuries. Another real challenge.

2/15: 70-48. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect this blowout. They took an early 7 point lead but we turned it right around and were up 8 at the half. The 2nd was all ours. We locked up their C and PG.

+6, +5, 47-27%(!). We did all of this with Brown playing only 13 min. due to fouls; Asby and Park were terrific in his place.

13, 13, 2, 1, 1 for Bass, 11, 6, 2 for Rich, 12, 4, 1 for Asby, 8, 9, 2, 2, 2 for Bosl, 11, 6, 2 for Rich, but D was the story.

We’re alone in 2nd with 2 to play and we’d need to lose both to drop to 3rd.

Will Sims hurt his wrist, day to day.