Hereafter

[Wayne23]

12/29: 10-2 Purdue is here to open Big 10 play. Their starting C is out with a broken arm so the injuries are similar. Soko is much better than the C though.

They're 2-2 vs. ranked teams. We think we're a lot better.

12/30: Slow start and it's back and forth until we heat up late; 44-28 at the half. 13, 3, 6 for Caro, 8 for Jaco. Blay has 3 fouls. We're running away with this game.

90-57 against what seems to be a good team.

21, 4, 10 for SG Juan Caro, 21, 4, 3 blocks for Abe Moli, 14, 10 for Moro, 10, 2, 3 for Jaco. Starting PG Roy Blay played only 12 minutes due to fouls.

8 TOs to 17. +14 on 2nd chances. Great shooting, 52.9%. Even better on threes, 13-23.

Abe Moli hurt his foot and will miss at least one game. We're getting really thin inside.

Lots of spooky incidents being reported. When we inquire there's nothing solid. Just “a feeling,” or “I felt something,” or “something was there.”

We have extra cameras in every public space, taking video from every possible angle. When a report comes in we check the video and nothing shows up.

The Committee isn't making any progress so far.

[Wayne23]

1/1/2050: At 4-6, 0-1 Rutgers. We're way better. They score 24 a game fewer than we do and they don't hit the boards. But it's a road game and we have our best player hurt and another starter who won't play much.

Still #1, NET #1.

1/2: We fall behind in the early going. 34-44 at halftime. D isn't there; they're shooting 66.7%, 8 threes. Their guards are killing us. Uh oh, we're falling farther behind.

63-84. Ugh! 12, 10 for Grat, 13, 6 for Moro. Our injuries were to the bigs but our guards let us down, 12 for our starters, 33 for theirs.

Not sure how much Moli will be able to play in our next game.

1/5: #5 Indiana, 13-0, 2-0, is here. They're excellent outside and pretty good inside.

Moli can play some but not a lot. Without him and Soko we're in trouble.

1/6: It's close early. We take a 10 point lead. Then it's 20. 57-31 at the half. Wow! Shooting 65.5%. 11 for Blay, 10 each for Grat and Caro. +8 RBs, +8 in the paint. It's a rout.

106-75. 24, 6, 4, 3 for Caro, 18, 3, 7 for Blay, 11, 4, 5 for Moro. +13 RBs.

Disaster. Our starting C, Josh Grat, breaks his leg. Out until early March. So both our starting inside guys, PF and C, are out.

Post Game Press Conference (Excerpts):

“Coach, word is that Josh Grat broke his leg.”

“Yes he did.”

“So where do you go from here?”

“Well, you have to play with the guys you have. We'll adjust and do the best we can.”

“Are they both out for the season?”

“Soko will be back in just about a month if things continue to go well. First reports are that Grat will be back for the post season.”

“What will this do to your #1 ranking in the polls?”

“It will blow it all to hell, I'm sure. That's the last thing I'm thinking about. The hope is that we can put together a lineup that will hold it's own and let us finish at or near the top of the Big 10. That won't be easy. Then in the post season we'll surprise a lot of people!”

[Wayne23]

1/10: At 10-3, 3-1 Minnesota. We're favored but I don't believe it. Let's see what happens.

1/11: Early lead. 36-27 at the half; we led by as many as 18. Moli has 3 fouls; given how short we are on big men this is not good. Sloppy game so far by both teams, 12 TOs to their 14. We get the lead to 20.

74-57. I didn't expect this but our D was great.

19, 11, 2, 3 for Troy Moro, 12, 10 for Abe Moli. A terrible 25 TOs but they had 26.

Nothing new regarding the “spooks.” LOTS of people are experiencing things but we have been unable to get anything on the video or audio recordings we're making. No one on the committee has experienced anything.

1/12: 9-6, 2-3 Illinois is here. They have a strong inside game which is not good for us. But they're 0-3 vs. ranked teams.

1/13: We take an early lead again. 46-36 at halftime. Our guards are hot, 13 for Blay, 11 for Caro. But Moli has 3 fouls again. I really let him have it for his lack of discipline. We're shooting 54.8%. The key is keeping our bigs in the game in the 2nd half; they're starting bigs have 28 to our 14. Up 12 with 10 to play. We get it to 20.

93-71. 24, 2, 9 for Blay, 13, 3, 4 for Caro, 14, 4, 3 for Jaco. +18 for the bench, +31 for starting guards; that made up for -27 up front.

1/15: #1, NET #1. 16-1, 4-1, the only Big 10 team with only 1 loss. BUT, our next 2 are against ranked teams.

[Wayne23]

1/17: At #8 Clemson, 14-3, 4-2. They're good inside AND their SG gets 17.8 a game. Once again, the key is keeping our big guys in the game.

1/18: Very slow start for both teams. 36-28 at the half. We're playing great D and shooting 59.1%. +12 in the paint but 14 TOs. Our guards are doing the scoring again, 20 for the starters. Big run to start the 2nd, up 16.

77-64. HUGE win! We beat a very good team on the road with 2 starters out!

24, 5, 5, 3 for Blay but 6 TOs. 14, 8, 2, 3 for Caro but 6 TOs. We're awful with the ball, 26 TOs. +12 RBs, +14 in the paint.

1/19: #24 Maryland, 13-4, 4-2, is here. They're a strong outside team with a very good C.

1/20: We take an early lead again. 37-24 at the break; very good D again. It's what's been saving us. +9 RBs, +10 down low. They're shooting 23.3%. We quickly get the lead to 20.

87-70. +18 for our starting bigs, and that was the difference- +34 in the paint, +10 RBs.

18, 3, 7 for Blay, 16, 9 for Moro, 19, 3, 4 for Moli.

Post Game Press Conference (Excerpts):

“Coach, tell me you expected to be 5-0 with your two big guys out with injuries.”

“... Let's just say I have been delighted by how well we've played under very difficult circumstances. People have really stepped up.”

"Can you win the Big 10 without those guys?”

“We're alone in first place and we only have one more ranked team on our schedule. I like our chances!”

“The Committee will report.”

“Madam Chair, we need more time. All we have is anecdotal evidence. 74 people have reported seeing, hearing, or feeling things they can't explain but we have no video or audio evidence to support any of the claims.”

[Wayne23]

1/24: 6-10, 1-5 Nebraska is here. 0-4 vs. Top 25 teams. This is one we should win.

1/25: It's close early. Then we take the lead; the guards are hitting shots. 47-29 at the half. Moro has 3 fouls. 17 for Blay, 11 for Caro. +8 RBs. We're running away with this one.

79-54. Solid D, as usual. 20, 3 for Blay, 16, 7, 3 for Caro, 10, 10, 3 for Moli. +15 RBs, +22 inside. Only 9 TOs!

7 of our last 12 are on the road.

Well, it happened to me... I had just left Water Reclamation and Distribution. I was alone in the hall. I felt a hand on my shoulder. I quickly turned around and the felling left; there was no one there. Eerie. I would swear under oath that someone had put a hand on my shoulder from behind me. It felt absolutely real.

1/26: At 10-8, 3-6 Wisconsin. Their starting SF just broke his nose in their last game. They score 59.7.

1/27: We take an immediate lead. Up 19 after 10. 32-21 at halftime. 12 for Moli, 9 for Caro. 5 TOs to 18, +16 inside.

65-45. Our D continues to be terrific.

16, 5 for Moli, 11, 5, 8, 8 for Caro. -9 RBs but +30 in the paint. 12 TOs to 33- I don't ever remember a team turning it over 33 times.

The injuries to big guys continue. Troy Moro hurt his right bicep. Out 2 weeks. Soko will be back in about a week. But for our next two games we will be without our starting SF, PF, and C.

We're 20-1, 8-1, #1, NET #!. Up 1 game over 2 teams, 2 games over 1 team.

I'm having nightmares about being touched from behind. Others who have seen, heard, and felt unexplained things have reported nightmares.

[Wayne23]

1/31: At 11-9, 4-6 Michigan. They're 1-3 vs. ranked teams. Our D seems much better than theirs. .

Let's see how we do with 3 starters out.

2/1: It's a battle! 50-45 at the end of a purely offensive 1st half. 14 for Blay. Marn has 3 fouls. We're doing great outside and not great inside so far. But +7 RBs. Still a war with 7 minutes left. Mini-run late!

84-79. Great road win! 20, 3 for PG Roy Blay, 15, 5 for sub F/C Aron Harp, 11, 6 for Moli. 11, 3 for little used F Marc Howe.

2/2: Only Minnesota, 16-4, 9-2, is one back in the loss column, and they're next! We won by 17 there. Still 3 guys out. They're stronger moutside than in, thankfully. But they're a good team. Our bigs can't afford foul trouble.

2/3: Very close until we take the lead late in the half. Then they come back. 36-34 at the end of the first 20. 10, 6 for Marn but his man has 13 and 3. We quickly manage a double digit lead, then get it to 20.

82-58. We played really well in the 2nd, 46-24. Moli had 16, 8, 3, 17, 3, 3, 4 for Caro, 10, 9, 3 with 7 blocks for Marn.

Hio Soko is back!

We're 2 up on 3 teams with 9 to play.

Still nothing definitive re the “sightings.” 97 people have now reported something or other.

[Wayne23]

2/5: At 13-10, 7-6 Ohio ST. Starting PF is out, starting C is questionable. So we're even re injuries. They're strong outside but they haven't lived up to expectations this season.

2/6: Close throughout the 1st, 44-44 at the end. 12, 5 for Moli, 10, 7 for Soko. +8 RBs. Still close with 10 left, down 2.

82-74. We were just a little better over the last few minutes.

23, 18 for Soko, 15, 7 for Moli, good guard play. +24 RBs.

Soko got hurt again, out a week.

2/9: 13-10, 5-7 Iowa is here. They have trouble scoring.

2/10: They take an early lead and stretch it out quickly. We fight to get back in the game and get there. Then they close strong. 39-47 at halftime. No D at all. 14 for Caro. We get back in it early on. It's a battle!

81-76. They were tough! 42-29 in the 2nd did it for us.

16, 3, 4, 3 for Caro. +10 for the bench.

Soko and Moro are back! Only starting C Josh Grat remains on the injured list.

Still up 2 over Indiana and Clemson with 7 to play.

[Wayne23]

2/12: 14-8, 7-6 Penn ST is here. Their starting SG and leading scorer is out for the season. 1-3 vs. ranked teams.

2/13: Early lead. 42-21 at the half. Excellent D again. 10, 7 for Soko, 9, 5, 3 for Moro. +12 in the paint. The bench will get lots of minutes tonight.

76-53. Our 12th win in a row. 22, 13 for Soko, who is really an exceptional player; too bad he's so fragile. 15, 12, 4, 3 blocks for Moro in his 1st game back. +17 RBs, +12 inside.

The ship is spooked. People have a tired look as though no one is sleeping well. I see people quickly turning around, regularly. We need to figure out what's going on and we don't have anything to go on.

2/16: At 13-10, 6-7 Illinois. We won by 22 at home. 0-6 vs. ranked teams. They have a very good C and they rebound very well.

2/17: They're staying with us early. A run puts us up 44-32 at the half. 13 for Blay, 11 for Caro. Our bigs are holding their own against theirs but really having to battle. They all have 2 fouls. They get it to 4 but we fight back and get the lead to 11.

84-78. They got it to 4 late but no closer.

Back up PF/C Aron Harp strains a calf muscle. Out 2 weeks. 23, 1, 3 for Blay, 15, 2, 4 for Caro, 13, 9 for Soko. The back court won it for us.

Only Indiana is 2 back with 5 to play.

The psychology staff are saying they're being worn to a frazzle. There have never been so many people in therapy.

[Wayne23]

2/19: 3 game week coming up and we're tired before it begins.

1st we're at 7-18, 2-13 Nebraska. We won by 25 at home. They're really having a poor season.

2/20: It's close. We finally take a 10 point lead late. 52-36 at the break. 11 each for Soko and Moli, 8 for Jaco. 3 TOs. The lead quickly goes to more than 20.

98-69. 6 in double figures , 14, 2, 6 for Blay, 10, 4, 10 for Jaco. 7 TOs.

2 up with 4 to play.

2/21: 8-18, 4-13 Rutgers is here. They're the only team to beat us all season and I can't figure out how or why. This is a team we should crush easily.

2/22: They score the first 8. Then we come back. We can't get ahead of them. We finally do in the last 2 minutes, 34-26 at the half. 10 for Moli, 9 for Blay.

We come out HOT to start the 2nd and the lead is quickly more than 20.

67-40. Excellent D! 13, 2, 7 for Blay, 16, 3 for Moli. +11 RBs, 9 fewer TOs.

Still up 2, with 3 to play.

The year of the injury! SF Ben Roll strains a knee. Out for maybe 2 weeks. Grat and Harp are still out so we're very thin inside.

2/23: At 17-11, 7-10 Purdue. We crushed them by 33 at our place.

Third game this week. We're tired. If we can overcome the fatigue we should be fine.

2/24: We take the lead but they're not far behind. 28-23 in a defensive 1st half. Blay is 0-10! They take the lead early on.

64-81. We just didn't have the legs tonight. 12, 9, 4, 6, 4 for Soko, 16, 4 for Caro, 13, 3, 4 for Moli.

We still have a two game lead with only 2 to play so the loss didn't really hurt us except that yes, another injury to a big man. Soko hurt his wrist.

[Wayne23]

2/28: 14-14, 7-11 Michigan is here. We won by 5 there. Even with 4 players hurt, all bigs, we're a big favorite. We'll see.

3/1: Back and forth. 31-26 at the half. 10 for Soko; hope I'm not playing him too much. We start the half with a run.

75-52 and the regular season Big 10 title.

17, 6 for Marn, 15, 9, 3 for Soko, 14, 2, 3 for Blay.

Soko and Harp are back to 100%. Grat and Roll will be back for the post season.

3/2: At 14-16, 6-13 Iowa to end the regular season. We're a big favorite.

3/3: We take the lead right away. 56-39 at halftime. Soko has a double double already, 16 and 10. +11 RBs.

99-77. 23, 17, 4, 6 blocks for Soko. 20, 6 for Moro, 17, 4, 5 for Blay, 15, 6, 4 for Caro. +21 RBs, +24 in the paint.

3/5: We end regular season play at 30-2, 18-2. #1, NET #1. We win the Big 10 by 2 over #3 Indiana.

+17 PPG, we're #1 in scoring. +6.9 RBs, -2.9 TOs, +6.3 assists.

Soko leads us with 14.8 and 8.8. 6 players score 9.8 or more. Grat gets 7.3 RBs.

2 frosh who had potential declare. I'm thrilled that none of our “stars” declared.

3/6: We're back at full strength for the first time in months.