A New Tomorrow

[Wayne23]

11/13: We start vs. Milwaukee at the NIT tomorrow. We're the #1 seed, they're #16.

11/14: 74-50. Ryan Edds is our C this season. He gets 21, 11. 15, 13 for PF Fred Pell. +22 RBs. The D was great but the O needs work.

Explosion in a far corner of a little used building. Three dead bodies. Preliminary investigation seems to indicate that three people were making a bomb and it blew up on them. No ID of the bodies yet. They're a real mess.

#8 seed Arizona in round 2.

11/16: 78-71. They led by as many as 17 early and by 12 at the half. We made some adjustments. 19, 6, 4 for Oli Ross, an SG who starts at SF. We had to go small this year.
16, 8 for 6th man forward Jem More. +12 RBs.

#4 seed, #7 ranked New Mexico ST in the semis. We expect a challenge.

All 4 top seeds made it this far.

11/18: 97-91. We never trailed. They got it down to 3 twice late, once with the ball. 27, 7 for Edds, 22 for SG Josh Beck, 18, 7 for Pell, 17, 3, 3 for PG Ron Jenk.

The three dead would be bombers have been identified from dental records. They were all big in the "Let's leave Domus" movement. All in their early 20s.

#3 seed, #3 ranked LSU for the title. This looks like a battle.

11/20: 78-75. It was a battle. Ryan Edds, 25, 12, dunked, was fouled on the dunk, and hit the free throw in the last second. 13, 8, 5 for Beck.

11/23: 74-54 at California. Balanced scoring and good D but 23 TOs.

11/26: 77-51 over #2 Florida here. 50-19 at the half- against #2 in the nation! 6 players had between 10 and 16 points. 10 TOs.

7-0, #1, RPI #1.

Guards are posted everywhere, at least double the number we normally have. No more bombings or attaempting bombings discovered but we feel it's only a matter of time.

[Wayne23]

11/30: 86-73 over #12 Arkansas here. 30, 11 for Edds, 15, 7 for Jenk, 14, 7 for Pell.

12/3: 72-64 in a rematch with #9 New Mexico ST. We won by 6 in the NIT earlier. 30, 12, 3 with 7 steals for Edds, 12, 11, 5 for Jenk. +12 RBs.

12/7: 87-61 over #4 Illinois here. 28 for Beck, 12, 13 for Edds, 12, 7, 9 for Jenk. +16 RBs.

12/10: 90-57 over #14 UCLA here. 31, 13 for Edds, 12 assists for Jenk.

We are rolling over the best teams in the nation.

12/14: 74-63 at #13 Michigan ST. 23, 4, 3 for Jenk, 12, 14 for Pell. 7 TOs.

12/21: 83-64 over #5 LSU here in a rematch of the NIT final which we won by only 3. We're getting better and better as the season progresses. 18, 14 for Edds, 17, 10 for
Beck. 10 TOs.

We end the pre-conf season at 13-0, #1, RPI #1. +16.3 PPG, +9.6 RBs, +4.4 assists, -3.3 TOs. Edds leads us with 19.2 PPG, 10.0 RBs. Jenk gets 4.9 assists.

[Wayne23]

12/26: 57-39 over #15 Georgia Tech here to open ACC play. 40-17 at the half. We played subs from then on.

Huge explosion at the oat silos. This is where we store our oats and the explosion destroyed three silos and damaged 2 others. This will cause an oat shortage until the crop comes in. No doubt the "Let's leave Domus" extremists are responsible.

The police have undercover agents trying to infiltrate the movement.

12/28:89-74 at Virginia Tech. 30, 5, 4 for Beck. The other starters had between 11 and 16. 6 TOs.

And the rainy season has started.

1/4/2197: 91-62 over #6 North Carolina here. 63-29 at the half so we scored more in the 1st half than they did in the entire game. 6 players with 10 or more. +25 RBs.

1/6: 73-57 at Wake Forest. 20, 8 for Beck. +11 RBs, 12 TOs. Easy win.

No bugs. If they were coming they'd probably be here by now. That's great news, even though the scientists need to have them to develop a defense against them. It may be, very likely will be, several years before we see them again since it is clearly a cyclical thing.

1/11: 71-51 over #7 Duke here. 35-14 at the half. 20, 12, 3 for Edds, 20, 5, 4 for Ross, 16, 7, 5 for Beck. +17 RBs, 9 TOs.

Definitely no bugs. No more bombs but sadly, no bombers caught.

1/13: 87-71 over Pitt here. 23, 17 for Edds, 20, 6, 7 for Beck. 9 TOs.

1/18: 73-80 at Clemson and the win streak stops at 18. They took a big early lead and we never caught up. 33.3% shooting, 25% on threes, didn't help. 19, 14 for Edds, 23, 5 for Jenk.

1/19: In executive session the Council learned that two undercover police have infiltrated a fanatic "Let's leave Domus" group. They gave us names. We want to get more info and see if there are others involved before we round them up.

[Wayne23]

1/20: 89-60 over Florida ST here.23 for Ross, 14, 10 for Edds, 16, 7, 3 for Jenk.

19-1, 7-1, Tied for 1st in the ACC. #1, RPI #1.

1/25: 65-71 at Virginia. 2 turnovers in the last minute allowed them to score the last 6 points and win the game. I am not happy about that. We shot a terrible 33.3%, 4-26 on threes. There was a lot of really poor shot selection.

1/26: Our two undercover officers were tortured and brutally murdered, left to bleed to death in the forest behind the Southeast segment of the city. They had been missing for three days when we found them and we feared the worst. The police rounded up all known members of the "Let's leave Domus" group that had been infiltrated. They await trial for murder, treason, and acts of terrorism. The prosecution is asking for the death penalty for all 27 of the prisoners.

1/27: 72-55 at #4 Duke. A BIG road win and we needed it badly after 2 losses in conference. 16, 13, 3 for Edds, balanced scoring, great D, 11 TOs.

1/29: The anti-death penalty people are up in arms and demonstrating throughout Domus.

1/30: 87-47 over Louisville here. It's been a while since we had a real blowout. 54-18 at the half. Balanced scoring, +14 RBs.

Ryan Edds is #2 on the Norton list. Ron Jenk is #23, Josh Beck #24.

In a scheduling quirk 4 of our next 5 are on the road.

Despite what the protesters are saying the prisoners are being held under humane conditions. The Council is not happy with accusations to the contrary. There are reports that the prison workers are mistreating prisoners. Council members are dropping into the prisons at all hours of the day and night, unannounced, and we can find no evidence that any of that is happening. We have issued very clear orders that the jailers are to treat the prisoners humanely, and to leave justice in the hands of the courts.

Several of the prisoners are in their teens, ranging in age from 16-19. There is a lot of agitation to spare at least them from the death penalty. The Council is absolutely determined to provide a fair, jury trial, with an unbiased judge.

2/3: 91-76 at Boston College. 6 players with 11 or more. 9 TOs.

We're in a 2 way tie with #24 Pitt, 2 teams one back, with 8 to play.

2/6: 75-61 at Florida ST. 18, 6, 3 for Beck. D won this one for us.

The trial starts a week from today.

2/8: 70-47 over Clemson, here, the first team to beat us this season. 22, 11, 4 for Edds, 17 for Beck. An amazing 4 TOs.

2/11: The facility where the prisoners are being housed was bombed. 7 of them were killed, 11 are wounded. 4 prison guards are dead and 6 wounded.

Increased security all around the prison facility, both inside the building and outside.

The trial is postponed.

The Council met in emergency session. We believe that this was an attempt to silence the prisoners to protect members of "Let's leave Domus" who have not yet been discovered. No other explanation makes sense.

2/15: 58-75 at #15 North Carolina. We shot a ridiculous 25.4%. Embarrassing.

Ryan Edds is #3 on the Norton list.

No leads on the bombing of the prison facility. No additional deaths.

The rainy season has been a little milder than usual. Plenty of rain but no hurricanes and very little high wind.

2/17: 69-55 at #19 Georgia Tech. We needed this win. A big 1st half and then we held on in the 2nd. 21, 16 for Edds. +21 RBs (We had 50).

2/22: 88-63 over Syracuse here. 37, 6 for Edds. 8 TOs.

1 game up on North Carolina, 2 on Pitt and NC State. 3 to play.

2/24: 66-38 over Miami here. 21, 17 for Edds, 19, 3 for Beck. +20 RBs.

2 game lead over 3 teams with 2 to play.

3/1: 78-38 over Boston College. 18, 10 for Edds, 17, 12 for Pell. +21 RBs.

3 game lead so we've clinched the ACC.

3/3: 71-61 at Syracuse. 20, 7 for Beck.

29-3, 17-3. We win the ACC by 3 games over 3 teams. #1, RPI #1. +16.7 PPG, +10.6 RBs, +4.9 assists, -3.8 TOs. Edds leads us with 17.6 PPG, 9.9 RBs. Jenk gets 4.8 assists.

Edds is #2 on the Norton list.

[Wayne23]

3/6: Jury selection begins for the 20 accused.

Security in the courtroom, in the building, and all around the building is very, very tight, and very, very visible.

3/7: Opening arguments in the trial. The prosecution makes it clear that they will prove guilt and that they are asking for the death penalty.

The defense says guilt cannot be established. There's no proof as to who committed the murder of the two undercover officers.

3/8: The prosecution case continues.

3/9: We play #8 seed Louisville, 20-12, 10-10 in the quarters. We beat them by 40.

The prosecutor said he would wrap up the case tomorrow.

3/10: 89-72. They did a lot better this time. 8, 7 for Edds, 16, 6 for Beck. +16 RBs.

#5 seed, #20 ranked Georgia Tech, 24-10, 12-8, in the semis. We beat them by 18 and 14.

Blockbuster in the trial. Three of the defendants turned state's evidence. They said two of the prisoners who were killed and three who were on trial did the actual killing, and all of the other defendants, living and dead, had approved of the murders in an informal meeting held the morning when the murders took place.

Word is that the prosecutor offered the three life sentences rather than the death penalty.

3/11: 84-66. Up be 20 at the half. 29 for Beck, 15, 11 for Pell. +23 RBs, 8 TOs.

We play #6 seed, #14 ranked Duke, 25-9, 12-8, for the title. Beat them by 20 and 17.

3/12: 75-55. 19, 10 for Edds, 14, 12 for Pell. +12 RBs, 11 TOs.

#1 East, as expected. We play #16 VMI, 20-14.

3/13: Cross examination of the three who turned state's evidence doesn't shake their story in the slightest. The three have been isolated from the other defendants in the court, in being transported to and from court, and in the prison facility.

3/14: The Defense case begins.

[Wayne23]

3/16: 81-56. Balanced scoring, 7 players get between 7 and 14 points.

We play #9 seed Louisville, 21-13, for the 4th time this season, in round 2.

3/17: The defense rests. Summations on Monday.

3/18: 83-66. 21, 5, 4 for Beck, 15, 12 for Edds. 47 RBs, 5 TOs.

#4 seed, #22 ranked Arizona, 25-8, in the Sweet Sixteen. We won by only 7 back in November.

3/20: Summations by both the prosecution and the defense. The jury deliberates for 90 minutes after lunch and comes in with a guilty verdict for all 20 defendants. The judge will sentence on April 3.

3/23: 83-58. Easy win. 24, 8, 4 for Beck, 18, 5 for Edds, a near triple double for Jenk, 9, 8, 11.

# 2 seed, #4 ranked Florida, 31-6, in the Elite Eight. We hammered them by 26 in late November.

3/25: 80-63, and we're back in the Final Four. 42-25 at the half. 23, 8 for Edds, 15, 3, 4 for Beck, 10 assists for Jenk. +15 RBs.

We play #5 seed, #16 ranked Arkansas. On the other side it's #17 ranked Washington ST vs. #3 ranked LSU.

3/1: 77-56 and we're back in the title game. 19, 2, 6 for Beck, 18, 10 for Pell, 16, 9, 4 with 5 steals for Edds.

#3 ranked LSU, 34-6, for the title. We beat them by only 3 in the Preseason NIT title game. Looking for a battle.

4/3: 83-60. We were on fire tonight. 31, 7, 4 with 7 steals for Edds, 16, 5 for Beck, 13, 10 for Pell, 14, 2, 7 for Ross. My 4th title here in the last 5 years, 5th overall.

Death sentence for 17 defendants, life in prison with no possibility of parole for the three who turned state's evidence.

4/4: Awards: Ryan Edds is tourney MOP and 1st team All American. I am National COY. In the ACC Edds is POY, Def POY, and 1st team along with Josh Beck. Ron Jenk and Fred Pell make 2nd team.

4/9: The Hartford Gazette: Today's headline story was supposed to be about the great celebration and victory parade of the National Champion UConn Huskies. Instead it is a story of tragedy. As the Hartford parade hit Sigourney Street those watching the float carrying the Huskies entire team, coaches, and support personnel saw a projectile hurled toward the float. Just before landing dead center in the float it exploded. All aboard and several nearby were killed by the explosion and many others were injured...

Head Coach Jake Bender's career ends tragically after 20 successful seasons, the last six here at UConn. He had five national titles, four here, and sported a record of 637-107, .856. (More on P. 14)