Sammy the Shot

[Wayne23]

Life is very dif’rint here in Baton Rouge. Foist dey tawk funy an’ it is all I kin do ta unnerstan’ dem. 2nd dere is nuttin’ ta do here. Alla da t’ings dat made New Yawk interestin’ do not seam ta egzist here. It take about t’ree hours ta git ta Noo Orlins witch I will admit is a prity jumpin’ town, but dat is a long time ta travel for a busy man like my own self. Miss Rhonda an’ da kids are happy hear tho so dat counts for sumpt’in. I do miss my ol’ pals, dat is for shure.

3-3 Georgia from C is here. Dey have looked bad aginst louzy teams. Anudder team witch has got most a dere talint inside.

12/7: 66-55, but we were never realy in trubble.

+3, +2 (but 19 TOs), 51-42%.

18, 13, 1, 1, 4 for Weld, 17, 3, 2, 3 for Walk.

At #25, 4-1 Gonzaga from C. It will be are outside vs. dere inside. We need ta hole are own inside an’ presure da gaurds.

12/10: Anudder one we coulda but didn’t, 64-69. Gittin’ ta be a long season.

-10, even, 44-44%, fowls 23-17. Reed an’ Walk fowled out an’ John had 4 an’ played on’y 23 min.

17, 4, 2 for Mink, 16, 1, 3 for Reed.

4-3 Miami of Ohio from C is here. On paper dis is one we oughta win. We need ta. Their gaurds are reel week.

12/14: We went down by 11 early then come back an’ were down on’y 2 at the half. Den we went up by 14 an’ blue da hole lead.

Dey hit a 30 foot prayer at da buzzer ta send it ta OT.

Da OT was a mess. Dey scored in da foist minute an’ nobuddy scored agin until da las’ min., when we hit a 2 by Weld an’ den a t’ree by Mink ta win it 58-55. We tried ta kick dis one away an’ were lucky ta win it.

+4, -2, 32-35%.

20, 11, 2, 1 for Mink, 7, 10, 1, 1, 3 for Weld, 9, 7, 1 for Jess, an’ not much from da gaurds agin.

Mink hoit his shoulder a litel, day ta day.

[Wayne23]

At 6-2 California from C. They have not played nobuddy. Dere stren’th is outside. Dis is a team we should have a real good chancet aginst but we have not done much on da rode. Mink is not quiet 100% but I will play him.

12/17: 69-55, a very incurrijin’ rode win!

+8, +1, 43-38%, fowls 15-21.

18, 7, 1 for Weld, 17, 2, 2 1 for Walk, 10, 2, 3 for John but he fowled out agin an’ on’y played 15 min.

I daside ta play Walk a lot more. He will not staht but will git stahtahs minits.

At #13, 8-1 Arizona from A nex’. Dis could be ugly. Dey are very tough inside. Dere gaurds are week tho so we will need ta keep da presure on.

12/21: We coulda won dis one. Up by as many as 10 but we let dem back in an’ dey tide it up wit’ 4 secins lef’ an’ it went OT. In OT we took a 5 pernt lead an’ den t’rew it away an’ dey hit a t’ree at da buzzer ta win 66-69. Very frustratin’.

+7, -6 (23 TOs), 44-44%.

15, 2, 10, 2 for John but 7 TOs, 16, 4 for Mink, 13, 3, 1 for Reed, 7, 14 for Weld, 7, 9, 2, 1 for Jess, 5, 5, 2, 2 for Walk. Dere bench outscored ares by 10 an’ dat was da diff. I do not have enough playahs.

Marr straned a knee. Out about 2 weaks. He does not play much.

We are 6-5 wit’ a RPI a 14.

8-2 Michigan from A is here. Dey are are las’ pre-conf. game. Dey have not played a singel rankt team. Dey are very good at 3 an’ 4 an’ descent at da PG but dat is it.

12/28: We had it tagedder tonight, 61-51. Da D was egscelint.

+7, evan, 41-36%, fowls 11-19, an’ we were +12 at da line.

Jess, Weld an’ Reed all had 12, Weld wit’ 11 RBs an’ Jess wit’ 8. 7, 10, 2 for Mink. Walk has not done dat much sense I upped his minits.

7-5 for da pre-conf. season. Not dat bad. Sense are goal is ta stay in B an’ not slip ta C, I am hopin; we kin do dat, but 9 outta 16 games in conf. are aginst rankt teams so it will not be eazy.

[Wayne23]

At #24, 10-1 Boston College. We beat dem in da NIT ta opin da season an’ dey have not lost sense but dey have not played nobuddy. Dey are tough on D. Dey do a lot well an’ dis will nopt be eazy.

1/4: We got close a few times but nevah led, 63-73.

+4, -7, 47-51%, fowls 19-12. Our bigs played theres about evan. We lost it in da backcourt an’ on da bench.

My gaurds jist are not givin’ me what I need but I got no good alternatives.

8-5, 0-1 Georgia Tech is here. Dey loose ta da good teams. Dey are very good at PF an’ prity good at PG. Not much eltse. Dis is da kine a game we gotta win.

1/7: I cannot figger us out, 75-45. Da foist half was close altho we were mos’ly ahead. Den in da 2nd we broke it opin.

+19, evan, 48-37%. Gaurds in fowl trubble mosta da way as usuel but evan dey put up numbahs.

15, 7, 2, 1 for Walk from da bench. 12, 3,4 for John but he fowled out in 21 min. 10, 10 for Jess.

At #21 UConn, 9-4, 2-0. Dey have not played a tough sched. Realy good at 1 an’ 5 an’ good at da udder t’ree spots. Dis will not be eazy.

1/11: 70-73. We went up by 9 oily den t’rew it all away an’ were down 12 at da half, den came back an’ caught up, den- still anudder close lost.

-13, -2, 46-48%, fowls 19-7 witch was da diff. Jay John is totely useless ta me at PG. I got no udder choice so I gotta play him. Gonna dump his but nex’ year. He fowled out in 16 min.

26, 2, 2 for Mink, 21, 4 for Walk.

[Wayne23]

At #9, 14-2 Syracuse. Dis should be painfull.

1/14: Coulda, shoulda, woulda, 54-57. So many ways but we could not git it done, agin.

+11, -7, 37-47%.

18, 6 for Reed, 8, 10 for Weld.

7-9, 0-4 Illinois is here. Dey have lost 6 strait. We are a lot stronger inside so we gotta stop ‘em outside. Dis one we GOTTA win.

1/18: 77-55. We did not have no trubble wit’ dese guys.

+15, -3, 51-33%, fowls 16-27- to many wissles.16, 4, 2 for Walk, 12 each for Jess, Weld, Reed, 10 for Park.

At 7-9, 2-3 Tennessee. 2-9 in da las’ 11 games. Startin’ SF flunked out an’ 6th man is hoit. Dis is anudder one we gotta win. So many rankt teams we gotta beat da udder teams.

1/21: They broke out oily goin’ up 8. Den we come back an’ was up 1at da half. We bilt it ta 14 in da 2nd den dey came back but could not ketch us, 65-60.

Evan, +2, 47-49%, fowls 13-17 an’ we hit 13 free t’rows ta 6 for dem witch was da diff.

25, 2 for Walk witch has been hot latley, 14, 5, 3 for John, 10, 7 for Weld.

10-8, 3-3.

[Wayne23]

#5, 17-2, 5-1 Georgetown is here. Somehow BC just beat dem. Dere SF fluncked offa da team. He was one a dere bes’ playahs. Dey are still tough tho an’ dere C is scarry good. Dis is a chalinje- a BIG one.

1/25: Damn! Anudder one we coulda won, 57-58. We come all da way back from a 11 pernt defasit, take da lead an’ den give it up. Wit’ :11 lef’ we are down one wit’ da ball. We try ta set up Weld inside witch was a misteak now dat I t’ink about it, da udder C was to strong, shoulda went for Mink.

Anyways, Weld cannot git a shot so he t’rows it out ta Reed witch misses a 17 footer at da buzzer. I did not t’ink it t’rough all da way, an’ my assistents did not help. Dey should aspoke up. My fualt tho.

-6, -5, 42-36%. Dey made 19 free t’rows, we made 8.

13, 6, 2 for Mink, 10, 11 for Weld who done ok aginst dere bes’ playah, 10 each for Jess an’ Reed.

We have played 7 games dasidid by 5 pernts or less an’ lost 6 of dem.

13-6, 4-3 Providence is here. Dey have played a lotta tough teams an’ beat dere share. We need to presure da gaurds who kin be slopy. It is are on’y chancet.

1/28: We jumpt out to a huge lead an’ hung on. Dey got it ta 3 twicet an’ 1 oncet, but nevah took da lead or tide it up, 59-53.

+9, -6, 46-33%. Dey hit 7 more free t’rows but it was not enuff.

25, 1, 1, 1 for Walk witch has realy foun’ hisself. 12, 8, 3 for mink, 13 RBs for Weld.

Are big problem is ball handlin’ an’ guard play in generil. We are -2 in TOs for da year.

One of are recroots, a PF, did not hit da score but we egspectid it. We will save da scolership an’ hope ta lan’ a transfer.

Dere are 6 teams below us an’ t’ree tide wit’ us so are goal a stayin’ in B is definatley posibul. 5 rankt teams an’ da unrankt all on da rode tho so it will not be eazy.

At #11, 15-4, 4-4 Maryland. Dey are not great on da rode but have not lost at home. Dere SG, one a dere bes’ playahs is on’y at 75% do to a back injery. Dis will not be eazy tho.

2/1: Anudder one! 60-63. Dis is madening! -9, -2, 43-41%. Los’ it at da line agin, 7-14.

19, 2, 1, 1 for Reed, 15, 5 for Walk, 13, 7 for Mink.

Conferin’ wit’ da staff. Kin we change anyt’in’? I do not t’ink so… We look it ovah but dere is nuttin’ we kin do but wait ‘til nex’ year when we will have more talint. 7 games lef’ in da reg’ler season an’ we could loose all of dem, not a singel eazy one.

[Wayne23]

#8, 19-4, 5-4 Miami is here. They strugel on da rode. Tough inside.

2/4: 54-63. Dey were to good for us. -15(!), evan, 38-39%. 18, 4, 2 for Walk, the 5 stahtahs got between 5 an’ 9 each.

At 7-14, 2-8 Alabama. Dey have los’ da las’ 6. Startin’ C fluncked off da team an’ his replacemint is hoit. Not a good team so we need ta beat dem.

2/8: b. 13 lead changes but we were dere at da en’.

+7, -1, 45-52%.

20, 5, 1 for Walk, 17, 8, 2 for Mink, 16, 4 for Jess, 6, 12, 4, 1, 1 for Weld.

At 12-10, 3-8 New Mexico. Dey have los’ 4 of 5. Dey are bettah den da record shows.

2/11: 45-55. We were awefull.

-2, -4, 29-32%, fowls 17-10.

11, 6, 1 for Mink, 8, 13, 2 for Weld.

[Wayne23]

#14, 17-6, 9-3 Oklahoma State is here. Dey are a very good team but not as good on da rode. Strong at 1, 2, 5 but dat is about it, t’ree playahs.

2/15: Yet anudder one a dose! 66-68. Mos’ frustratin’ season a my life. Da lead went back an’ fourth a buncha times but at da en’ Reed had fowled out an’ we did not quiet have enuff. Fowls did us in, dey were 19 for 23 an’ we were 6 for 7. We stoped dere PG but da SG an’ C kilt us.

+2, -7, 40-40%, fowls 19-11 like I sed.

19, 7, 3 for Mink, 8, 10, 1, 1, 1 for Weld, 11, 9, 1 for Reed, 13, 5, 2, 2 for Walk.

T’ree lef’ ta play an’ we are above 4 teams but it will not be eazy ta stay dere.

#17, 18-6, 8-5 Boston College is here. We beat dem by 9 in da NIT, lost by 10 at dere place so it will prob’ly be anudder close game. Gotta stop da gaurds.

2/18: Finely won a close one, 72-71. Dis is a HUGE win four us! Now dere are 6 teams below us, 4 by 2 games or more. So we gotta win 1 outta 2 or hope a few a da udder teams loose one witch dey should.

We went out ta a BIG lead, 22 at da half. Den in da 2nd BC rored back, evan took da lead twice. But we did not quit an’ in da en’ we scored da las’ 7 pernts, a t’ree by Walk, a layup by Jess an’ a 12 footer at da horn by Mink for da win.

+4, -2, 50-43%, fowls was 11-22 so like ushuel da fowl line was da diff, 13-8.

20, 4, 3 for Walk, 18, 7, 1 for Jess, maybe his bes’ game four us, 17, 5, 3 for Mink, 6, 11, 3, 1, 2 for Weld.

[Wayne23]

At 12-14, 4-10 Georgia Tech. We won by 30 at are place but it is a rode game an’ dat makes it tough. Dere PF, who is da bes’ playah, has a bad anckle but he will play.

2/22: We will stay in B! 76-69 in OT so it was not eazy. Worse ofishuls a da season, Mink, Jess, John an’ Weld all in fowl trubble practic’ly all da way but dey were jist as bad ta Ga Tech, an’ we made are foul shots an’ dey did not (20-25 vs. 18-30).

What a game, 24 lead chanjis an’ 13 ties. At da en’ a regelashun we had ta hit back ta back t’rees ta tie it. Walk got both a dem.

Den in OT dere PG, who was in foul trubble all da way, fowled out in da foist minit an’ we were home free!

-8, +3, 39-44%, fowls 22-20.

Walk had 20, 13, 10, 2, 3 for Weld, 13, 2, 2, 2 for Jess, 12, 5, 2, 1 for Reed, 12, 2, 5 2 for John.

2 wins in close games back ta back. Are we loinin’ how ta win da close ones?

We finisch da reg’ler season wit’ #13, 19-7, 12-3 UConn here. Dey are foist in conf. an’ need ta win ta stay dere. Dis will not be eazy. Dey on’y won by t’ree at dere place. One t’ing dat gives me hope is dey are 4-6 on da rode.

An’ dere C, dere bes’ playah is on’y at 75% cuz of a bad rist. So dey got 3 very good healt’y playahs, one very good hoit playah, an’ dat is about it.

2/25: We are HOT HOT HOT, 62-55! Dere PG kilt us for mosta da game an’ da C did some damij but we compleatley stoped ev’rybuddy eltse.

We come back in da las’ 5 minits, da lead went back an’ fort’ an den we controlled da las’ 2 an’ a half minits for da win.

-6, +6, 33-39%. Fowls not a facter for oncet.

19, 8, 1, 1 for Walk, 19, 6, 1 for Reed, 14, 5 for Mink, an’ Joh n had 14 asists!

Da bad news is Walk an’ Jess are both hoit kinda bad, Jess wit’ a hammy, out for 10 days or so, Walk out about 10-11 wit’ a bad calf. I t’ink dey will be 100% for are nex’ game but dey will not practice much. If dese injuries had ta hapin dis was not da woist time.

Da udder good news is we will not finisch below .500 witch I was worried. We are 15-13, 8-8. We won are las’ t’ree for are on’y t’ree game win streek a da season.

[Wayne23]

We play 18-10, 9-7 Providence , da #7 sead. We won by 6 at are place. We t’ink we are bettah but we gotta play like we ben. Dey are 4-1 in da las’ 5. We will presure da gaurds.

Are guys are all 100% healt’y.

3/9: We nevah trale, 63-54. We bilt da lead ta 18 oily in da 2nd.

-3, +9 (latley are gaurds are doin’ so much bettah at BH!), 40-45%.

31, for Walk. He still does not staht but he plays stahtahs minits an’ is in dere when it mattahs. 12, 10 for Weld, 10, 4, 5 for Reed.

#2 sead, #10 rankt, 19-9, 12-4 Oregon in da 1/4 finels. We did not play dem dis year. 6 strait wins, 8 outta 9. Dey are terific at guard ( a litel slopy tho) but got no inside game. We will need ta controll da outside shootahs ta have a chance. Dis is a tough game for us.

3/10: We went out ta a big lead, 17 oily an’ 14 at da half, but we could not hole onta it. Dey got 51 in da 2nd half an’ won 60-69. I do not blame my guys, dey woiked hahd. Dey were ovahmatched, esp. outside.

+5, -13 (we wanted ta pressure dem, but dey did it ta us), 47-41%.

15, 9, 3 for Mink, 8, 11, 1 for Weld, 10 each for John an’ Walk but John had 9 TOs.

Weird as it souns we will be in da NCAA. Why? Are RPI is #22. Are record is 16-14.

Oregon beat MD for da tittle so we lost ta da champs.

[Wayne23]

Selecshun day: #7 East. We play #10 sead, 18-12, 10-6 Ohio State from C. 3rd in da conf., lost in da foist roun’. Dey kin score in an’ out but dey are slopy. If we play are game we kin beat dem.

3/14: New Mexico won in da foist roun’ a da NIT.

3/16: A tough foist roun’ game, 58-51.

-1, +2, 36-34%.

18, 6, 2 for Mink, 6, 12, 1, 1, 5 for Weld, 10, 3, 3 for Reed, 9, 4, 1, 1 for Walk, 7, 7, 1, 1 for Jess.

#15 sead New Joisey Tech, 21-10, 11-5, from R upset #2 Texas so dey are nex’. Dey won dere reg’ler season an’ toiney. 5 strait wins an’ 7 outta 8. Dis is a break for us an’ if we play we should beat dem.

3/18: Dis was a war an’ we bearly survived, 49-47.

+8, -3, 41-38%. Dey slowed it down an’ we had trubble wit’ dat. We evenchuely figgered it out but it was almos’ to late. Finely, we went ta Walk an’ for da las’ t’ree minits dey could not stop him, he got 11 pernts in dat time, an’ we outscored dem 13-5 in dat stretch for da win.

Dey scored a t’ree at da buzzer ta make it a litel closer den it realy was but it was close an’ we were a litel lucky.

22, 3, 1 for Walk but 9 TOs, on’y 1 in da las’ t’ree min. 11, 4, 1, 1 for Mink.

We got ta da Sweat 16!