Restricted Recruiting

[Wayne23]

5/1: #6 recruiting class. #3 preseason (again). National Gold, International Basic.

6/5: Room for a transfer. Nobody I want.

6/25: All the camps.

6/26: 3 scholarships. I’ll go 2 and 1 either way.

8/7: 6 on the Norton list: PG Mike Baer is #12, PG Sha Riva #15, SF Tom Hill #24, PG Marq Jenn #36, PF Kirk Simm #39, and C Walt Camm #49.

8/21: We offer to a PG, a PF, and a C. 2 or even all 3 of them may not hit our SAT score but interest in us is very low.

9/18: Got all three, now we have to hope they hit our SAT score. We got a C, #11, a PF, #20, and a PG, #33.

Preseason NIT vs. Georgia.

10/2: 1st day of practice. This may be my best team yet.

11/6: 6 man rotation. Very unusual:

Soph Mike Baer splits time at PG with soph Sha Riva. Riva starts at SG and Baer subs there.

Our only senior, Tom Hill, starts at SF, subs at SG.

Junior Rob Wood starts at PF, subs at SF. Junior Kirk Simm is at C.

Red shirt soph Walt Camm subs at PF and C.

Basically I’ll sub a guy in at every whistle.

[Wayne23]

11/13: We start at the NIT against Georgia. We’re the #5 seed, they’re #12.

11/14: 79-65. 20, 11 for Wood, 15, 12 for Simm, 19, 5, 4 for Baer. +13 RBs. All 6 guys looked good.

#4 seed, #12 ranked Big 12 rival Oklahoma in round 2.

11/16: 64-57. We led most of the way, by as many as 15. 20, 10 for Simm; he, Wood, and Camm are monsters on the boards. In our first 2 games we have pulled down 50 and 53.

#8 seed, #13 ranked Georgetown upset #1 seed, #7 ranked Duke. We meet them in the semis.

11/18: 77-55. 15, 16 for Simm, 13, 13 for Camm, 18 for Riva, 11, 7, 4 for Baer. 48 RBs, 7 TOs.

#7 seed, #15 ranked UConn for the title.

11/20: 77-65 and the title. 16, 11 for tourney MOP Kirk Simm, 14, 11 for Wood, 14, 7, 3 for Camm. +19 RBs. This team is the real thing!

We’re #2 in the new poll, before our win in the title game.

All 3 recruits sign. I’m shocked but delighted!

12/11: 10-0, #1, RPI #2. We are a machine! We play 6 guys about equal minutes and they average between 14.3 and 8. 9 PPG. We lead the nation in RBs and are 2nd in points
allowed. I think we have a real shot at the national title.

12/25: 12-0, #1, RPI #1. +15.3 PPG, +13.3 RBs, +4.6 TOs. Our 6 guys average between 13.4 and 11.1 PPG. Simm gets 11.2 RBs, Camm gets 10.5.

[Wayne23]

1/1/2030: 14-0, 2-0, #1, RPI #1.

1/15: 18-0, 6-0, #1, RPI #1. Still firing on all cylinders!

1/29: 22-0, 10-0, #1, RPI #1. We’re the only undefeated team in Div. I. +15.2 PPG, +13.0 RBs, +4.9 TOs. #1 in RBs, #1 in TOs, #2 in points allowed. 2 up on #20 Oklahoma, 5 or more on the rest. Our big 6 average between 13.4 and 11.3. Our 3 recruits all BARELY hit our SAT score, but they hit it!

2/12: Winning streak ended at 23. We lost by 15 at home to Texas Tech on a night where we just didn’t show up mentally, and didn’t play D. We gave up 21 threes. Awful.

25-1, 13-1, #1, RPI #2. 3 game lead in the Big 12 with 4 to play.

2/26: We end the regular season 29-1, 17-1, #1, RPI #1. We win the Big 12 by 4 games. +13.2 PPG, +12.5 RBs (#1), +4.8 TOs (#2). #2 in Points allowed. The big 6 get between 13.7 and 11.0, and play between 33.3 min. and 31.0 min. 11.6 RBs for Simm, 10.9 for Camm.

We’re playing for the title!

[Wayne23]

3/5: No one is leaving for the pros.

3/9: We play #9 seed West Virginia, 15-13, 6-12, in the quarters. Beat them by 25 and 14.

3/10: 84-56. 15, 16 for Camm. All 6 had 11 or more. 62 RBs (+33), 8 TOs.

#5 seed Iowa ST, 12-16, 8-10, in the semis. Beat them by only 10 and 7. We shouldn’t have that much trouble with them though.

3/11: 62-45. Great D! 20 for Baer, 11, 12 for Simm. 50 RBs (+20).

#3 seed Texas Tech, 22-8, 12-6, for the title. We won by 13 there, then they beat us by 15 at our place, the only team to beat us all season. My guys are really up for this one. I’m trying to settle them down.

3/12: 80-71. They led by 8 early. My guys were too hyped up. It took 2 time outs to settle them down. We were down 3 at the half but I had a good feeling. I made a couple of adjustments and we took control. I’m not big on playing on my team’s emotions. I want guys focused and ready, and NOT hyped up. 23, 7 for Wood, 17, 6, 8 for Baer.

I think we’re going to be #1 overall.

#1 East, #1 overall. Is this the year?

We start with play-in winner Youngstown ST, 16-15.

3/16: 98-62. 27, 11 for Camm, 25, 7 for Baer, 13, 18 for Simm. 57 RBs (+30), 5 TOs.

#9 seed Wisconsin, 18-11, in round 2. They have a great Center, but not much else.

3/18: 84-74. 25, 6, 6 for Baer, 12, 7, 8 for Riva. We didn’t have the energy I like to see.

#5 seed, #19 ranked NC ST, 24-8. We beat them by 33 in December.

3/23: 76-62. 24, 16 for Simm, 16, 7, 6 for Wood, 10, 10 for Camm. +12 RBs, +12 TOs.

#2 seed, #5 ranked Kentucky, 29-6, in the Elite Eight. No easy games from here on. They’re stronger inside than outside but their SF can hit threes.

3/25: 83-80. A real war. We led most of the way but they took the last shot and it rolled around before not falling in. Their Sg had 30, and he just missed that last shot. Tom Hill matched him with 30 of his own. We won it at the line. We were a little quicker and they had to foul often. No one fouled out but we went to the line 33 times and they went only 10.

We play #3 seed, #9 ranked Georgetown, 28-8, in the national semifinal. We beat them by 22 in the Preseason NIT. On paper we’re much better, but we need to execute.

In the other game it’s #4 UCLA, 32-2, vs. #6 Duke, 30-5.

4/1: 81-77. It went back and forth a few times, but the final margin was due to them hitting a three at the buzzer, so it wasn’t as close as the score indicates. 15, 17 for Camm, 19, 10 for Simm, 21, 4, 4 for Baer, 13, 6 for Wood. +13 RBs, +6 TOs.

It’s #4 ranked UCLA, 33-2, for the title. They are VERY good inside. We think we’re better outside, and our one man bench is better than their entire bench.

I’ve been here a couple of times. Is this the year I get over the hump?

4/3: 83-77 and the title! We took a 21 point lead early but they never quit. They actually took the lead several times in the 2nd half. But we took charge in the last 3 minutes or so. 24,15 for Simm, 16, 15 for Camm. +12 RBs. We thought our outside game would be the difference but it didn’t turn out that way. We had 19 TOs, a season high, and when we needed a basket it was the big guys who got it. Whatever, we’re the champs!

4/4: Awards: Kirk Simm was the Final Four MOP. Rob Wood was national Def. POY. I am national COY. In the Big 12, Simm is POY and 1st team, Wood is Def. POY and 1st team, along with Walt Camm and Mike Baer. Sha Riva and Tom Hill made the 2nd team, so all 6 were honored. I am conf. COY.

4/9: Some great offers but we’re only losing Tom Hill and I’m here to try to repeat!

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade. No.

38-1, national title. I’ll take it! Overall I’m 350-74, .825.

[Magic Bird]

Congratulations on finally getting over the hump!

[Wayne23]

5/1: #6 recruiting class. Preseason #1. The usual scouting reports.

6/5: No open spots for transfers.

6/25: We’ll go to all the camps.

6/26: 4 scholarships. We want 2 and 2.

8/7: 6 on the Norton list: PG Mike Baer is #10, C Walt Camm #12, PG Sha Riva #13, PG Marq Jenn #14, PF Rob Wood #15, PF Kirk Simm #32.

8/21: We offer to 2 PGs, an SF, and a PF.

9/18: Got 2, lost 2. Got an SF, #3, and a PF, #40. Now we need guards.

Preseason NIT vs. Georgia.

9/25: We get our PGs, #21 and #33. We should be finished recruiting.

10/2: 1st day of practice.

11/6: 8 man rotation:

Junior Mike Baer is at PG, senior Marq Jenn is at SG. Junior Sha Riva subs at PG and senior Joe Brad subs at SG.

Senior Rob Wood is at SF.

Red shirt junior Walt Camm starts at PF, subs at C. Frosh Jess Mill is at C.

Senior Kirk Simm subs at SF and PF.

[Wayne23]

11/13: We start at NIT vs. Georgia. We’re the #2 seed and they’re #15.

11/14: 79-52. 27, 15 for C Jess Mill, 16, 20 for PF Walt Camm, 16, 10 for SF Rob Wood, 12, 7, 5 for PG Mike Baer.

#10 seed Providence in round 2.

11/16: 79-70. We never trailed and it really wasn’t that close. 22, 13 for Mill, 14, 13 for Camm, 15, 5, 5 for SG Marq Jenn.

#11 seed Wisconsin in the semis.

11/18: 83-66. This one was close for about 25 minutes. 25, 16 for Camm, 22, 14 for Mill, 17 for Jenn. We’re averaging an astounding 57.3 RBs.

#1 seed, #4 ranked Florida for the title. This will be our first test of the season.

11/20: 90-74. 29, 14 for Mill, 27, 6, 11 for Jenn, 16, 7 for Camm.

All 4 recruits sign.

12/11: 10-0, #1, RPI #2. We’re beating people up. Jess Mill was not nominated for the Norton Award but he’s the best player in the country, averaging 24.5 and 14.5, with 10
straight double doubles and a game where he had 44 and 21.

12/25: 12-0, #1, RPI #1. +19.4 PPG, +16.9 RBs, +5.2 TOs. Mill’s string of double doubles ended at 11. He was in foul trouble all night in our last game. Still got 13 points, but only
5 RBs. He averages 23.0, 13.8. We’re going to be a tough team to beat.

[Wayne23]

1/1/2031: 14-0, 2-0. 2 more double doubles for Mills.

1/15: 18-0, 6-0. #1, RPI #1. 1 game lead on KS ST. Mill now has 6 double doubles in a row, 17 in 18 games.

1/29: 22-0, 10-0, #1, #1. 3 game lead in the Big 12. +18.9 PPG, +19.2 RBs (#1), +4.1 TOs (#1). C Walt Camm is #8, PG Marq Jenn #28, PF Rob Wood #29, and PG Mike Baer #30 on the Norton list. C Jess Mill now has 10 straight double doubles and 21 in 22 games. He averages 24.7 (#6) and 14.5 (#1). I say he’s the best player in the country.

2/12: 26-10, 14-0. Mill got to 13 straight double doubles then had a 7, 18 game in our last. So he’s now 24 of 26.

Walt Camm is #12 on the Norton list.

We have a game lead in the Big 12.

2/26: 30-0, 18-0, #1, #1 to end the regular season. We win the conf. by 8 games. +18..2 PPG, +19.8 RBs, +4.1 TOs. Mill ends the regular season with 28 double doubles in 30
games. He was ranked the #10 incoming freshman. I will be shocked if he doesn’t go pro.

3/5: Mill does NOT declare. Walt Camm does, and we’ll miss him, but a victory on balance.

[Wayne23]

3/9: #8 seed Texas Tech, 15-13, 6-12, in the quarters.

3/10: 82-59. 31, 13 for Mill, 10, 8, 9 for Baer. +28 RBs, 10 TOs.

#4 seed Iowa ST, 12-16, 9-9, in the semis. Beat them by 33 and 20.

3/11: 88-67. 19, 14 for Camm, 19, 11 for Mill, 11, 5, 6 for Baer.

#3 seed Texas, 19-10, 10-8 for the title. Beat them by 16 here and only 4 there, our closest game of the year. So we need to be on our toes.

3/12: 96-79. 20, 26 for tourney Mop Walt Camm. Mill failed to hit the double double- 21, 7. 14, 14 for Kirk Simm. +31 RBs.

#1 overall, #1 East. We play UMass Lowell, 16-15.

3/16: 76-53. 19, 14 for Mill, 17, 10 for Camm, 15 for Baer.

#8 seed ST. John’s 20-10, in round 2.

3/18: 80-59. 31, 16 for Mill. +22 RBs.

#4 seed, #7 ranked UCLA, 25-8, in the Sweet Sixteen.

3/23: 82-76. It wasn’t that close. We never trailed and we led by as many as 25. 22, 16 for Mill, 16, 20 for Camm, 19, 40 6 for Jenn. +31 RBs.

#2 seed, #2 ranked Maryland, 32-3, in the Elite Eight. How are we playing the #2 ranked team this early! Their Sg gets 25.5 a game and they are VERY strong inside.

3/25: 69-81. I’m stunned. 33.8% shooting, 2-15 on threes. That SG had 29, and they hit 17 threes. We didn’t stop the outside shot. Mill, Camm, and Rob Wood all had double doubles, but we got very little outside and nothing from our bench. Tough way to end the season.

4/3: Maryland wins the title.

4/4: Awards: I get national COY. In the Big 12 Mill is POY, Frosh OY, and 1st team. Rob Wood is Def. POY. Mill, Camm, and Baer make the 1st team. Wood and Marq Jenn make 2nd team. I get conf. COY.

I’m staying here.

4/23: I ask for $. I get $25,000.

36-1. Overall, 386-75, .837. A very disappointing season.

[PointGuard]

A very disappointing season.

36-1