The Blade

[Wayne23]

May 1

I have a good feeling about this season.

June 12

We grabbed a really good looking SF from the transfer pool. 4 stars.

June 26

3 scholarships. We need guards.

September 18

We beefed up the schedule. I think this team can handle it.

October 2

All three recruits committed. 2 PGs and a C.

First day of practice. I like what I see!

November 6

Exhibition games led to some answers but lots of questions. I’ll be giving 10 guys minutes, watching, and tweaking the lineup.

January 1, 1997

8-3 for the pre-conference season against very good competition. Only one bad loss, the other two were close. I’ll be surprised if we lose more than 1 or 2 in conference. We’re good and we’re deep.

Yes, I went home for XMas and got the usual speech about settling down.

Oh, the home season is sold out- every seat.

[Wayne23]

January 26

7-1 at the halfway point. Won the first 7 then lost badly on the road. Just didn’t play well. 1 up on 2 teams and everyone else is out of it.

February 19

One left to play, on the road. We’re 20-6, 12-3, tied with Weber State for 1st, 1 up on Eastern Washington (They play each other at E. Wash. in their last game.). It hasn’t been as easy as expected. RPI has been #8-15 for weeks but we’ve never been ranked. Weber State has been throughout.

February 25

We won ours. Weber State won by 2 so we’re the #1 seed, they’re the #2. I WANT this tournament title.

March 4

Idaho State in the quarters. 56-40.

All the favorites won so it’s #4 seed Sacramento State while Eastern Washington and Weber State beat each other’s brains out (I hope).

March 5

77-60. It will be #16 Weber State, 26-5, for the title. We’re wearing the whites, for whatever that’s worth. We beat them by 2 there, then 7 at our place, for whatever that’s worth. Our RPI is #10. Still never been ranked. It isn’t that it means anything really, but on the other hand it would be HUGE for the program. A win here would get that ranking. On paper there isn’t much to separate the two teams. But their starting SF is down with an injury. If he plays it won’t be much, and likely won’t be very effectively.

March 6

67-70. Damn! TOs- even. RBs- -1, Threes- 7 each. They got one more free throw and one more 2 pointer. They also scored the last 6 points. We missed two shots, and missed the front of two 1 and 1 opportunities in the last minute or so. In other words we gave it away. Pretty quiet locker room.

So we’re 23-7, 13-3 heading for Selection Sunday. RPI 10 for now but that will change once more.

March 12

RPI #13. Here goes! Not in the East. Not in the Midwest. Not in the South. #11 West. I am furious. #11! We play 20-9 LSU. Very tough match up.

March 17

Game day. I was pretty vocal about how we were screwed by the committee. I really want an upset here to vindicate us.

65-51. We kicked BUTT! We exploded out of the gate, scored the first 9 and never looked back. Got it to 22 at one point. +30 RBs.
Best feeling I’ve ever had as a coach.

March 19

Weber State is gone so we’re the last conference team playing. Of course it’s #3 seed Kentucky, 23-10, ranked #10. From what I see they’re better outside we’re better inside. I think we have a shot at this.

51-67. Their guards are terrific. Scot Wild held his own but our other two were over matched. No disgrace in losing to a better team.

This was my best season ever, easily. Very proud of my guys.

April 4

I went to the Final Four again. Had even more interesting and more pointed conversations. I’m hoping for some interesting job offers.
Arizona by 1 over the Tar Heels for the title. Great game.

Awards: Ike Green Defensive Player of the Year, and 1st team along with Cory Glow.

April 9

LOTS of offers. None fantastic but several that need a follow up. Washington State? No. Wright State? Visiting. UAB? Visiting. Bowling Green? No. Canisius? No. Georgia Southern? Visiting.

Going to Wright State, Dayton, Ohio. Horizon League. Not all that far from home. I really wanted out, despite the success. The climate was all wrong for me and nice as they were, I had nothing in common with the people. I have no doubt there will be a lot of rebuilding to do, but that’s fine. I’m young. I have time.

After 6 years as a head coach my numbers are: 122-62, .659. Off- 20, Def- 32, Recruit- 86, Scout- 40, Player Development- 26, Reputation 24, Team Prestige- 27.

Lots to do!

[PointGuard]

vacation coming up soon! I'll most likely finally get cb3 re-installed to this new computer if i can find my code. Probably won't be doing a dynasty any time soon. Will have my hands full just torturing PG, and getting caught up to all the forum posts here.

And I'm feeling the PAIN!!!

Coach...your Wolverine PM folders are FULL...can't send you anything.

[Wayne23]

May 1

A new beginning. I did all of the things I needed to do, an apartment, furniture, finding my way around, etc. On the job I quickly became extremely friendly with my #1, Bud Sneed. Bud was 66, and he’d been around the game his entire life. He never acted like he knew everything, but what a fount of knowledge, and what a terrific guy.

We bought the national Gold scouting report.

June 26

5 scholarships. Losing 4 bigs and a PG. We’re looking at lots of guys.

July 25

Bud gets the recruits to talk with him. He has a boatload of charm. That can’t hurt!

September 18

Bud Sneed continues to impress me. We find time to chat every day and I am learning a lot from him. We haven’t signed any recruits yet but we are close to some who are better than I thought we’d have a real chance with. Again, thanks to Bud.
We went with a mixed schedule, some easy games, some challenges. I want to see what I have here.

October 2

We have a couple of good recruits signed, a big and a PG, and we seem to be closing in on some others.

First day of practice at my new school. Starting 5 looks good but we are THIN. I’ll play 7, but unless things change #6 and #7 won’t help us. Still, weeks of practice and those two exhibitions will show us a lot. Hopefully some of it is good!

October 16

Picked first in the conference. Gulp.

November 13

Lots of questions. Frankly, we didn’t look all that good in the exhibitions. I like Cris Byde at the Point and Dave Dell at Center very much. After that it’s 8 guys fighting for time. Sometimes that works out after you take some early lumps. I’ve been around long enough not to panic.

Okay, I met somebody. Went to a place called Thai Garden just off campus for lunch. Huge buffet style place. I’d been there before. Great food, all kinds. Every kind of Asian and middle eastern food, all excellent. The waitress was Asian and stunning. I have no clue about how to flirt or try to have a conversation with someone I’m interested in but she recognized me and started the conversation. Turns out her family owns the place and she’s a first year grad student here at Wright State, in physics. That’s way beyond me, but she’s a basketball fanatic. The team was pretty mediocre during her four years, 2 games above .500. That makes her pretty dedicated.

I got there for lunch at about 1:30 so the place wasn't too crowded (but it's always busy) and we had the chance to talk quite a bit. Whatever I did she kept coming back to Wright State Raiders hoops. She knew all of the players, their strengths and weaknesses- she actually taught me a couple of things. She KNOWS the game. Turns out she has an older brother who played at Ohio State a few years ago. He had a cup of coffee with the Bulls but now he teaches high school biology and coaches the school team, over near Columbus. Anyway, about an hour and a half later, after I’d met her parents, it was time to go back to work. I was shy and uncomfortable about it but I HAD to ask her if I could see her.

“Of course! I’d love to! I was hoping you’d ask!”

D*mn! It doesn’t get any better than that. Anyway, that was early October; we’d only had one or two practices at that point. I guess that’s why (I HOPE that’s why!) she knew more than I did about my team. As the practices went by I could see that she was spot on with just about everything. We’ve been dating since then, October 7, to be precise.

It has moved quickly. We see each other just about every day. She stops into my office when she is on campus and finds the time.

Let me tell you about her (People have learned to run away when I say those words.). Mai’s family is Thai.

So they came from Thailand in 1978 when Mai is 3 years old. Why they settled in Dayton is a long story; I'll save it for another time. Oh, Mai. She’s 4’11”, weighs maybe 90 pounds. So we make an interesting looking couple. You may remember that I’m 6’11”.

Basketball is a big part of our relationship but that’s not all there is to it. She is, as well as being a genius in physics (undergrad was a totally free ride on scholarship, as is grad school), a voracious reader, as am I. We love to discuss books. She is a runner so we run together in the early morning. She’s a better runner than I am so she gets ahead then circles back from time to time. We both like the same kind of movies and we both love to eat out, eating foods from all over the world when we can get them which isn’t all that easy here. She cooks too, really well, and all sorts of things from all over Asia and the Middle East.

Her family has accepted me but they are very conservative. It’s okay when we go out but we are expected to be home early, and to spend time with them. They would not be happy if she were to visit me at my apartment. Whatever it takes.

Okay, I could go on forever but I’ll tell it over time. We had one exhibition game at home, She was there and she had lots to tell me after the game when we got together.

“Rash was tired at the end of the second half. You should have rested him- Byde too. That’s why they missed shots late. Oh, and you needed to switch back to man when their SG started hitting. You did, but not quickly enough. The pick and roll was working and you went away from it. Krib needs more minutes; Fray too. Your assistants do not tell you these things?”

And on and on. She was right about all of it. Some of it I knew, some I didn’t but she gave more detailed, accurate analysis than any of my guys except Bud did, and she was about at his level. At times he joins us in hoops conversations. I mostly listen and take mental notes. Mai will sit in the coach’s seats- I get two and could get more, and yes, they are very good seats! She usually comes with her younger brother, Dani. More about him later.

So here we are, ready to start the season. I sure did like my new “assistant coach!”

[Wayne23]

November 14

We started with a home game vs. Rice. On paper this could be a close game but I had no clue how my guys would be. There were about 5,500 fans so the place was half full. Not a lot of people shared Mai’s enthusiasm for the team. Average attendance last year was 3,875. Curiosity factor got the rest out, I’m guessing.

81-55. Talk about exceeding my expectations! 8 TOS, +4 RBs. SG Brad Rash hit for 20 and C Dave Dell had 18 and 4. 8 asists, 2 TOs for PG Cris Byde. The other starters played well and the two guys who I plan to bring in from the bench (We played everyone in this rout) did well enough.

Mai was thrilled. Couldn’t stop talking after the game. She mentioned a couple of my mistakes, but only a couple.

Unfortunately we now hit the road for 4 of 5 and 7 of 9. Awful.

We started at Gonzaga, ranked #17, and that’s what we lost by, 17.

November 28

Finally got home yesterday. 2-2. We played Nebraska today. Beat them to go 3-2. Nebraska is a decent team playing in a great conference. This is a very good win for the program. I have no illusions. With all of the road games we will be lucky to finish the pre-conference season at .500, but we need to win when we can.

As expected Dell and Byde are leading us but we’re getting more than I expected from Mark Sand at PF. Brad Rash at SG is also playing well. After that there isn’t much.

“You are terrible with the ball! 19 turnovers average. That is embarrassing!”

“Yes, Mai, I know.”

“Aren’t you working on it?”

“Every practice.”

We went on about that for a while. It is definitely our biggest problem. Mai had some ideas. Two of them were definitely worth trying in practice.

I really hate the road. Being away from Mai is awful. I know it’s too soon to feel this strongly but I do. 3 of the next 4 are on the road.

December 25

We wound up the pre-conference season 5-6. Lost one by 2, another in OT. Considering 7 of the 11 were on the road I guess I’ll take. Half of the rest are at home.

I saw Mai when I could but it wasn’t often enough. It would be a little better now, less road time
.
We were incredibly comfortable with each other. At this early stage I can’t imagine this is the norm. Okay, we were “in love” but we also liked each other. It’s not the same thing, as I was learning.

One of the most attractive things about Mai is her energy. She is constantly in motion, doing things, always doing them right, and doing them quickly and seemingly effortlessly. And she seems able to do absolutely anything.

One of the funniest stories happened fairly early on, maybe early in November. I asked her birthday.

“May 1, 1975.”

I laughed.

“Why is this funny?”

“My birthday is May 1, 1968.”

She refused to believe me. Eventually I showed her my driver’s license. Then she laughed as hard as I had.

XMas wasn’t a huge deal. For one thing we haven’t known each other long enough. For another, Mai and her family are Buddhist. They celebrate everything, every major religion’s happy days, every nation’s happy days. It’s a great philosophy. I am not even a tiny bit religious but Buddhism seems slightly less insane than lots of other religions. Of course they believe in reincarnation and all that, but whatever. When I marry this girl (Yeah, I know, but…) she can make our kids Buddhist, as long as they have choices about it. I didn’t when I was a kid which is probably why I’m down on religion. Well, there’s also the fact that the whole god thing makes no sense to me.

Mai has heard all of this. She sort of pats me on the head and ignores my nonsense. She’s good at that. She does it with my political philosophy too, even though she generally agrees with me in that area. I guess it’s my intensity that turns her off. None of that matters though. It’s about us. It’s about our absolute fascination with each other. I genuinely want to hear whatever she has to say. I genuinely want to know what makes her happy and what makes her happy, not as a game or as a way to control but rather as a way to make her happy. It is clear she feels the same way about me.

Oh, XMas. She made it clear that it was to be a SMALL celebration with only simple gifts. I got her a Wright State team shirt- no, not one you buy at the university shop, one that I got from the athletic department. One that was exactly the same as my guys wear. The smallest size we carry is miles too big for her but she doesn’t care. She says she’ll use it as a nightgown in warm weather. Having said that she wore it the rest of the night. I also got her some books that I thought she would like. I also bought little team related things for Dani, and team sweatshirts for her mom and dad.

Oh, her name. Then I’ll stop, promise. Thais normally have very long last names. Hers has 16 letters. Her first name has nine. Mai is an abbreviation.

Same with Dani. I worked hard to correctly pronounce the family name so I could call her parents Mr. and Mrs. Her dad insisted I call him “Joe,” his “American name.” His wife was "Li." They said the only words I needed to know were “Sawasdee krab.” The second “s” is silent. That is the greeting males use in Thailand. Women say, “Sawasdee kha.” This is accompanied by clasping the hands in a prayer like position and bowing. I do and say that whenever I meet Joe and Li, and Dani too since they want him to keep his Thai heritage.

Mai was still “assisting” me with coaching. The TOs were making her crazier than they were making me- 17.5 per game. Not much was helping. I began to think we should chase a second guard. We still had two recruits signed, offers out to three others. One of the signees was a guard but none of our transfers were, and we weren’t currently offering to any other guards. I discussed it with Bud. We decided to take a very close look and to consider withdrawing an offer and giving it to a good looking PG if we had one who showed interest.

Grades came out and everyone made dean’s list except for one senior and he was at 2.7.

I was looking forward to seeing how we would do in conference play which was coming right up.

[Wayne23]

January 1, 1998

Happy new year! It was. We won our first two and I got home in time to ring in the new year with Mai.

“It’s going to be a very special year for us, Mai.”

“Sh. Take your time. Just enjoy our time together. No hurry. All in good time.”

I was planning to propose at some point in this new year. Maybe at the end of the season.

I should have reported on my conversation with mom. In late November I called to tell her I’d met someone. There was a long silence when I go to the “she’s Thai” part. Mom recovered though, saying she didn’t know much about people from there and would do some homework. By the end of the conversation she seemed ready to accept. Mom is no bigot, it was just a surprise. She’ll be fine. I was hoping the folks would come down during the holiday season since this year’s schedule didn’t make a visit home possible. It didn’t happen. Hopeful I can get them here for a few days at some point. I have no doubt they will love Mai as much as I do.

January 24

12-7, 7-1 at the halfway point of conference play. A 2 game lead. TOs down to 15.8. Still not good but moving in the right direction. In truth we have two good players and two fairly good players. After that it’s improvise, scramble and trust to luck. But that seems to be enough in the Horizon conference, at least so far.

January 29

Everyone hit the SAT score but then it’s only 860.

February 7

Our 4 month anniversary. Mai doesn’t like me to make a big deal of these things but I do make a little deal out of them. We just are so comfortable with each other. She does come to my apartment now and then. We watch a lot of rented movies. She’ll crawl into my lap to watch and she’s so tiny it’s like having a cat in my lap. I call her my little kitten sometimes. She likes that.

She is very busy. The life of a doc student is always insanely busy, and she helps out at the restaurant. With my crazy schedule it’s difficult for us to spend a lot of time together but we manage to steal as much as we can. Often she’s doing school work and I’m doing coaching stuff, but at least we’re together. She, usually with Dani, comes to all the home games and there’s always a lengthy “coaching session” after a game. The Wright State community has figured out that we’re together. All in all they seem supportive.

We’re 16-7, 11-1, RPI #42, 3 game lead with 4 to play. TOs down to 15.3. So far, leaving Mai aside for a moment (which is impossible), this has been a very good move.

March 5

We won the conference by 2. 18-9, 13-3, RPI #33. The tournament is here. We play #5 seed Oakland in the round of 4 after getting two byes.

80-59. 30, 8, 4 for Byde. We didn’t do much wrong tonight.

March 6

UIC for the title. They beat us by 8 at their place last week. We didn’t play very well that night. I think we’re the better team and here’s our chance to prove it. We’re going to the NCAA tourney either way but a win would help with the seed.

69-59 and a title in my first year! Byde was in foul trouble all night long. He only played 18 minutes. Somehow we overcame that. The rest of the starters really stepped up.

I think Mai was more excited than I was.

“I can’t believe it! We always win half our games, finish in the middle. 20-9 and we win! It’s wonderful. You’re wonderful, Blade.”

Then she kissed me. Oh, she always calls me Blade, which I think is very cool. Love that woman! But you knew that.

Now we wait. The team will get together to watch the Selection Sunday show to see where we go and how high. Mai and Dani will join us since families and guests are welcome.

March 12

RPI #29 so we’re hopeful. Everyone is here waiting for the show to start. Mai is jumping out of her skin with excitement, holding my hand then just needing to get up and pace around.

Here we go! Not in the East. Not in the South. Not in the Midwest. #12 West. We play #5 seed, #18 ranked New Mexico, 22-8. I thought we’d be a #9 or a #10 but it is what it is. We’re just excited to be going.

Joe gave me permission to fly Mai and Dani out to Portland, Oregon for the game. I was a little surprised that he agreed but I guess he knew that Mai would have gone crazy if she hadn’t been able to go.

When I told Joe I would be happy to pay all expenses he said, “Alvin (He doesn’t call me Blade), I have much money. Own best restaurant in Bangkok. Brother take care of it. I go home every month to check everything and bring lots of money back here. I pay.”

That’s another long story. I may tell it some time.

March 17

UIC and Green Bay both lost in the NIT and the CHI so we’re the last team playing from our conference. This is a game where we have a shot. We need to bang it inside all night long. They aren’t strong or big inside. They’re good outside though. If the game is played inside we should win but if it’s played outside they probably will.

Hell of a game. 16 lead changes, 6 ties. We were never more than 8 points apart. Cris Byde was our good news and our bad news, 33 points, 10 TOs. Dave Dell owned the inside. Finally, 45 seconds left we’re down 2. They double Byde but he gets it to Dell who jams it. Tie game. Mark Sand steals a pass, gets it ahead to Byde for an easy lay up and we’re up 2 with 36 left. They come down, have trouble getting a good look but eventually get it to their SG who hits a 15 footer. Tie game, 14 left. Byde brings it down, throws it away. They come down the floor, get it to the SG again. He gets open off a double screen, hits a 12 footer with 2.5 left. Brad Rash takes a 22 footer that misses off the front rim and we lose 60-62.

Tough loss. Mai was devastated, probably took it worse than anyone else.

We were +8 on the boards but -11 with 19 TOs. That hurt us all year and it was the difference tonight.

It was a quiet flight back home but I’ll take this for my first season here.

April 4

I went to the final four again. It simply was a good idea. Hopefully beginning next year I would be taking Mai with me.
#5 ranked Kentucky won the title.

Awards: Dave Dell was POY and 1st team along with Cris Byde. Mark Sand made 2nd team.
April 9

Not interested in job offers. I’m not about to leave Mai.

April 30

We signed 3 PFs and 2 PGs. I ask for budget dollars. I get $10,000. I’ll take it.

My numbers: 142-73, .660. Off- 23, Def- 37, Recruit- 90, Scout- 41, Player Development- 30, Reputation 27. Team Prestige jumped to 33.

I proposed to Mai last night.

“Too soon. I’m not ready yet, Blade.”

“You’re saying no?”

“I’m saying ask me again after we know each other at least a year and maybe I say yes.”

Okay, not what I wanted but reason to hope. I’ll ask again in October.

[Wayne23]

May 1

A new season. We hope to dominate the conference again this year, and perhaps begin to get noticed nationally.

June 12

We got two transfers. One is a solid PF. The other, an SF, is a gamble.

June 26

Summer is no less busy for Mai and me. She is working on her doctoral program, mostly gathering info at this point, but busy. And of course she’s working in the family restaurant. Dani is being trained to take over the business after college. He is the only one of the three children who is interested but he is very interested.

For me there are never enough hours to do all of the things involved in being a head coach. Still, Mai and I manage to spend a lot of time together. Sometimes we’re each working on our own thing but at least we’re together. I spend most evenings at her parents’ house, with Mai. Sometimes I don’t get there until fairly late but both Mai and I are nighthawks, and we have been known to work until 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. Joe and Li leave us alone in the living room. They come in now and then, and Joe likes me and wants to talk with me. I like him, too. He is incredibly intelligent and well informed and he is a terrifically nice man. I always enjoy our chats.

Bud Sneed continues to be a fantastic mentor. He is amazing- tremendous knowledge in just about every area of coaching but he never acts as if he knows it all. He is a kind, patient teacher and every day he makes me a better coach.

Only two scholarships to fill. We need guards. Looking at a dozen kids for now.

August 28

School starts tomorrow. My kids have all been on campus for a few days.

September 18

We feel like we’re closing in on two guards.

The schedule is stronger than last year’s.

I’m waiting for the year with Mai to be completed so I can propose again. We’re together as often as possible and we belong together, no doubt in my mind.

October 2

I really liked what I saw in practice today. Everyone is in shape and everyone worked hard.

October 8

One year and one day with Mai. I proposed again tonight.

“You need to ask my father.”

“What?”
“You need to ask my father.”

“You didn’t say that last time I asked.”

“I was not ready to marry you then.”

“Does that mean you are now?”

“You need to ask my father.” She smiled a little when she said that.

“You are messing with my head, little kitten.”

She smiled again, a big smile.

“My father is very traditional about some things. Ask him.”

“Okay, but he’d better say yes.”

“He will.”

That was what I was waiting for. Joe was waiting in the next room so I went in and asked him.

“I am honored to say yes, Alvin. We are so happy that you will join our family.”

“You have made me very happy, Joe. I love your daughter very much.”

“I know this, Alvin. You will please call me ‘Papa Joe’ now, and my wife ‘Mama Li.’”

“Yes, Papa Joe, I am happy to do that. Do I need to ask you when we will be allowed to marry?”

“I think it would be wonderful if you marry on May 1. Since that is the birthday for both of you it seems like a lucky day for your wedding.”

“That’s fine.”

“Oh, I have bought the house next door (Joe lived in the house next to the restaurant. He was talking about the house next to his. This was a combined business and residential area.). You and Mai will live there so you can be close to us.”

“That is very generous, Papa Joe. Thank you. You do realize that we will only be here for a short time?”

“I did not know. Why is this, Alvin?”

“I am ambitious, Papa Joe. I wish to rise to the top of my profession. In order to do this I must move to where opportunity will bring me. We will very likely move two or three times until I am at a very good university that will support my efforts to make the best basketball program possible.”

“Wright State cannot do this?”

“No. It is a good place for me now but already I am outgrowing it. I will stay here until Mai finishes her Ph. D., and then if the opportunity is there we will move.”

“I understand. Is there a chance that you will end up near here?”

“I hope to coach in the Northeast or the Midwest- UConn, Ohio State, Michigan State, Indiana, so hopefully not too far away.”

“I understand. How many years will all of this take?”

"That's difficult to say. Certainly no less than six to eight, possibly as long as twelve or even fifteen."

"You are young, you have time."

"Yes."

"Perhaps when you arrive at your destination mama Li and I will go there and open another restaurant."

"I would like that very much."

Papa Joe then called mama Li, Mai, and Dani in and we had a celebration. Obviously they had expected all of this to happen this evening because the celebration had clearly been planned, and food prepared.

When Mai and I were finally alone together I let her know how happy I was.

“Me too, Blade. I very much want to be your wife. I want to work though. My work is important to me.”

“Of course. I would never prevent that.”

We discussed children, and all sorts of other things.

I have never been happier.

November 6

Lots of planning. Mai and mama Li are getting the house ready. Sure, it will be six months before we move in but there is a lot they want to do. I help a little now and then but I think I’m mostly in the way unless they have a specific task for me.

Exhibition games, as always, taught me a lot about my team. We made some changes in the rotation. As usual some spots are up for grabs, particularly SG.

Ready or not the season is here! I think we’re ready.

[Wayne23]

November 27

We started off 2-2, being very inconsistent. We knew we’d need to find our lineup over time and the process was proving difficult. Wright State managed a deal with the local public TV station to televise all of our away games (They wanted home games but would not get them until we started to consistently sell out). This meant that Mai saw all of our games (And recorded the away games on her VCR). She had lots to say about how the team was doing and what changes needed to be made.

Ball handling was great but rebounding was a definite issue. I didn’t wait to pull the trigger, making changes at SG and PF. This would likely not be the final solution but it was a start. Mai was happy with me for acting so quickly. I reminded her that we were playing some pretty good teams early on and that we would likely take some lumps, especially since our next four were on the road.

December 11

We split those four road games and I was satisfied with that. Mai wasn’t. Our problem was at SG, which both of us, as well as the entire staff knew. The problem was finding a solution.

“You need to try the freshman.”

“Hite?”

“Yes. When you put him in he scores points, and he does not turn the ball over.”

“I just don’t think he’s ready.”

“The three you use at SG now will never be ready.”

Oops! I told her I’d think it over, discuss it with staff, and put him in with the first unit from time to time at practice. That wasn’t quite good enough for her but she shrugged and went on to other topics. Hm… Hite…

When I brought it up with staff I was bombarded. It appears that they were all wondering what I’d been waiting for. Okay, okay. Hite will start at 2 in our next game. What do I know, I’m just the head coach.

December 18

Two wins. Okay, okay but they were both at home. Hite? 7, 4, 4, and 9, 6, 4 with a total of 3 TOs for the two games. I’m telling the press it was all my idea.

December 26

We proceeded to lose our last pre-conference game, at home. Hite played very well but our PG, Cris Byde was in foul trouble all night, and that’s what did us in. We need more than 18 minutes from him, especially 18 lousy minutes.

6-5, RPI #71. We played better teams than we’ll see in conference but 6-5 isn’t great.

Mam and dad came down for the holidays, just in time to see us lose that last game. It was more than time for them to meet Mai and her family. Things could not have gone better. It was a great XMas. My folks left on the 27th since I was heading out of town for a game.

January 1

Happy 1999, except not quite. We won our first conference game on the road then lost at home when we shot 29%. This season is getting to be a project. I’m frustrated and Mai is manic. She is NOT a good loser. Well, you know the old saying, “Show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser.”
Hite is miles better than anyone else at SG but we have no bench. When I sub in it all goes downhill. We need depth.

January 15

We lost one then won our last 3. Are we beginning to jell? I hope so, but we have a tough road game followed by a home game with the first place team so this week will tell us a lot.

January 22

Lost the road game by 1 then crushed the first place team. That loss really hurt.

At the halfway point we are 11-8, 5-3, in 4th but ½ game away from 1st.We need to go at least 6-2, hopefully 7-1 in the 2nd half.

January 29 Everyone hit our SAT score but we still haven’t landed that second guard.

We are now in a four way tie for 1st place. The stress is almost too much for Mai. I try to take all of this in stride.

February 5

Big road win and we held serve at home. Alone in 1st with 3 teams one game back. We’re finally playing well, 4 straight wins, 7 of 8. Win Hoop at C, Cris Byde at PG, and Hal Main at SF are leading us but Hite has made a huge difference since we put him in the starting lineup. Kemp is okay at PF but that’s still a spot I’d like to get more from.

February 12

My little kitten is all happy again. 2 more wins. Only Green Bay is 1 back, everyone else is 2 or more games behind us. 6 in a row, 9 of 10. Byde had a career high 32 in the road game this week.

“Papa Joe, how would you feel if I got an actual kitten for Mai?”

“This is a nice idea. I think she would like this very much. Why do you ask me this though?”

“Well, she is still living im your home and will be until we marry in May so I wanted to be sure it was okay for you to have a kitten in your home.”

“Ah. Yes, this is fine.”

February 19

Two more wins. Still 1 up. Green Bay is lurking. If we lose one they are right there.

Mai LOVED the kitten.

Bracket Breaker next, which is not something I love. You zoom in for the game and play with no rest or you zoom out after it and play the next game with no rest. This year caught a break, thankfully. Yesterday was at home and so is the bracket breaker, and we don’t play at Milwaukee for three days. With only a one game lead I do NOT want to play a conference game with my kids jet lagged and exhausted.

We won by 9. All five starters in double figures. One to play and we are 7-0 in the 2nd half. 9 straight wins, 12 of 13.

February 22

Mai came to Milwaukee with us. She really wanted to be at this game since it’s such a big one. Dani came to chaperone. Yep, Papa Joe is definitely old fashioned. Oh well, wedding will be here soon.

We won by 4 and Green Bay lost their last two so we win the conf. by 3 games and we’ll host the tournament. 20-8, 13-3, RPI #40. We have a week off. I’ll give the guys two days off to rest and to let little nagging injuries heal. Then it’s back to work.

[Wayne23]

March 5

It’s Detroit in the semi-finals after our two byes. Detroit finished last but got hot and pulled two upsets in the early rounds. We beat them by 5 both times so this is not an automatic win.

69-62. It took a long time but eventually we took control, building the lead to 13 with 3:33 to play. Byde, Hoop, and Main, as usual, led us but Hite and Kemp also played well.

March 6

It’s 2nd place Green Bay, 19-10, 10-6, for the title. They won by 15 there, then we won by 12 here. We’re definitely stronger inside so that’s where we’ll try to play the game.

64-56. Champs! Again, all 5 starters contributed. A big win for us.

We’ve won 12 in a row, 15 of 16. RPI is #31. 22-8.

March 12

Lots of excitement here. I don’t think a #7 or #8 is unrealistic with our RPI. Damn! #13 in the East. They did it to us again! We play #4 Creighton, 26-3. They have an edge outside but I think we have an edge inside. Again, we’ll try to play the game inside.

March 16

65-57! Hal Main had 20, and he seemed to hit a shot every time we needed one. We got 40 RBs (+15). All 5 starters did well and we actually got some bench help from Rash and John. Big win!

Now we get to play #5 seed, #10 ranked- how does a #10 ranked team wind up as a #5 seed- UConn, 23-10 against much stronger competition. They are the stronger team but I think we have a shot at this one. We need to play our best ball, though. Their starting SF is banged up. He’ll play but not at 100%.

March 18

50-55. We built an 8 point lead then. Byde got hurt early, played only 14 minutes. Then his sub got hurt. We hung tough but it was not to be. I couldn’t be prouder of my guys. Too bad that Cris Byde’s college career ended with an injury.

Great season! Mai cried for a long time after the game. Matter of fact she’s still crying off and on and it’s 3:00 a.m. Need to get her home to that rascally kitten of hers. He makes things better no matter what. Best idea I ever had.

March 25

That UConn team just beat #1 in the country Kentucky by 12. Makes us look pretty good!

April 1

Mai and I are here at the final 4- with Dani as chaperone. Highest ranked team is #5 (Oregon), followed by #8 (UConn), followed by 2 unranked teams. Interesting.

UConn won, but Oregon was upset by unranked Ohio State.

April 3

We lost to the champs, UConn by 5.

April 4

Lots of great conversations at the final four. Mai and Dani and I really enjoyed the trip.

“Someday we come here with one of your teams, Blade.”

“That’s the goal, Mai.”

Awards: Win Hoop, our Center, got POY, Defensive POY, and 1st team along with Hal Main. Cris Byde got 2nd team, should have been first. I got the Coach award, which made Mai very happy.

I’m not going anywhere but it will be interesting to see what sort of offers come this way.

April 9

A couple that might have tempted me some, but nothing spectacular. Next year we’ll be ready to move on so I need another good year here.
April 16

We finally signed that 2nd guard.
Bud informed today that he will retire after next season. That will probably work out since we hope to be out of here after next season but it’s hard to imagine doing this without him at my side. We hired two assistants. Bud and I agreed on both hires.

March 30

The end of another season. I ask for a facilities upgrade. Nope. Surprised, I thought I’d earned it, and we sure brought money in. We sold 98% of the available tickets for the season as well as bringing the tournament here. Oh well.

My numbers: 165-82, .668. Off- 27, Def- 43, Recruit- 90, Scout- 42, Player Development- 35. Reputation- 31.

Wedding is in two days and the place is buzzing with activity and excitement. Can’t wait!

[PointGuard]

*checks my mailbox yet again*...STILL no wedding invitation!!!!