3/5: Starting PG Al Gure goes pro.
3/7: We play #8 seed Illinois. 15-14, 8-10, first.
3/8: 97-80. 28, 5, 3 for SG Mike John, 20, 9, 3 for Boro.
#5 seed, #16 ranked Ohio ST, 23-7, 13-5, in the semis. Beat them by 9 there, then by 34 at home.
3/9: 68-60. 18 for Al Gure, 16, 13 for PF Nick Roll, 8, 15 for Boro. +18 RBs.
Our sometime nemesis, #6 Michigan ST, 24-5, 15-3, for the title. We won by 6 there a couple weeks ago. They’re very strong inside.
3/10: 79-87. They do it to us again. It has to be at least partially psychological. They’re starting C and PF combined for 50 and 23; and held Roll and Baro to 4 and 6.
Awful. -17 RBs. Hope we don’t meet them in the NCAAs.
28-5, #1, RPI #3. We’ll be a #1 somewhere.
3/12: #1 overall. I’m surprised but delighted. We would potentially meet Michigan ST in the national semifinal if we both get that far. We play #16, Anal Roberts, 18-13, first.
3/16: 84-55. 22, 11, 4 for Baro, 25, 4, 4, 4 for John.
#8 seed Clemson, 21-11, in the 2nd round.
3/18: 106-78. 30, 10 for Baro.
#4 seed, #15 ranked Texas-El Paso, 28-6, in the Sweet Sixteen. They can score outside.
3/23: 88-67. Easy win. 28, 4, 7 for John, 20, 8 for Baro, 12, 13 for Roll.
Our nemesis, Michigan ST is out, upset by UCLA.
#3 seed, #10 ranked Indiana, 28-6, in the Elite Eight. They beat us by 1 at our place but we’re heavily favored. They’re a good team. We need to play well.
3/25: 82-67, and back to the Final Four. 26, 13 for Baro, 18, 19 for Roll. +24 RBs.
#2 seed, #3 ranked Fresno ST, 33-3, in the national semifinal. They’re very solid inside and that kind of a team can give us trouble, but we’re heavily favored.
4/1: 81-73. 25 lead changes, 11 ties. Then with 2:53 left we started a 9-1 run. 19, 5, 3 for SF Sam Wite, 17, 7, 3, 4, 3 for Baro, 3 others with 10 or more. -5 on the boards but +17 TOs, and that was the difference.
#4 ranked Seton Hall, 34-3, for the title. On paper it’s a win for us but they have a very good SG, and they can play inside. Going for our 5th national title.
4/3: 82-73 and we’re the champs! We opened up with an 11-0 run and we never trailed. The only tie was 0-0. We led by 17 at the half. 16, 9 for Baro, 16 for John. +8 TOs.
It was an up and down season but we were there at the end.
4/4: Awards: Waha Baro is Final Four MOP. I am National COY. In the Big Ten, Forward Nick Roll is Frosh OY, Waha Baro is Def. POY. Baro and soph guard Mike John make the 1st team. Roll and Sam Wite make the 2nd team.
Michigan ST fires their coach and they really want me. So does UCLA. I’m not going anywhere.
4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade. No, but we just asked to keep the rating where it is.
34-5 and the title. Overall, I’m 737-168, .814. I just turned 61 years old. I’d need to coach about another 10 years to get to 1000 wins. I have 5 national titles. Only legendary John Wooden has more. I’d love to get #6 to stand 2nd. If I do I might call it a career at that point.