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[PointGuard]

Records of the 5 Coaches:

Here’s how the 5 Musketeers have done in their 11 seasons as head coaches:

Dontell Spencer, Georgia State Panthers—Overall Record: 196-97 (.669); Season records: 6-10, 9-7, 11-8, 25-6, 24-10, 21-10, 23-6, 24-6 while at Arkansas-Pine Bluff and 18-12, 14-13, 21-9 while at Georgia State; 6 NIT and 3 NCAA appearances with 1 advancement to NIT Semifinals and 1 to NIT Championship game; Ranked in Top 25 one season; 6 promotions to higher conferences while at Arkansas Pine Bluff and 2 promotions to a high conference and 1 relegation to a lower conference while at Georgia State; Conference Coach of the Year 4 times; Reputation: 38.

Ramon Montez, Southeast Louisiana Lions—Overall Record: 202-120 (.627); Season records: 8-7, 14-14, 14-16, 18-14, 24-7, 23-8. 21-9, 19-12 (while at Alcorn State) and 24-8, 19-13, 18-12 with 1 NIT and 1 CIT appearances (while at SE Louisiana); 1 CIT, 1 NIT, and 5 NCAA appearances, 6 promotions to higher conferences while at Alcorn State and 2 promotions to a high conference while at SE Louisiana; Conference Coach of the Year 2 times; Reputation: 22 (he sustained a greater than 10 point decrease after Alcorn State was placed on probation in 2038, but most of his skill ratings are in the 50s and 60s).

Mike McMillan, Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks—Overall Record: 178-127 (.584); Season records: 8-7, 6-9, 12-17, 12-17, 20-9, 21-10, 20-10, 21-10, 25-10, 17-14, 16-14; 2 CIT, 1 CBI, 1 NIT and 2 NCAA appearances with 1 Championship at CIT, 5 promotions to higher conferences; Conference Coach of the Year 3 times; Reputation: 34.

Terry Morillo, Western Illinois Leathernecks—Overall Record: 157-125 (.557); Season records: 4-11, 7-8, 4-11 at Dixie State and 13-16, 15-15, 16-12, 23-8, 17-12, 24-7, 22-9, 12-16 at Western Illinois; 1 CIT and 3 NCAA appearances; Ranked in Top 25 one season; 5 promotions to a higher conferences; Conference Coach of the Year 1 time; Reputation: 27.

Ken Yamoto, UC-San Diego Tritons—Overall Record: 160-125 (.561); Season records: 3-12, 2-13, 6-9 at Tarleton State and 10-17, 15-13, 20-11, 14-15, 24-6, 22-9, 24-8, 20-10 at UC-San Diego; 1 CBI, 3 NIT, and 1 NCAA appearances with advancement to 1 CBI Semifinal game and 1 NIT Semifinal game; 6 promotions to a higher conference; Conference Coach of the Year 3 times; Reputation: 31.

[PointGuard]

2041-2042 SEASON

Promotion/Relegation

Of the 5 coaches’ teams:
• Ken Yamoto’s UC San Diego Triton have been promoted to Conference Q.
• Dontell Spencer’s Georgia State Panthers have been promoted to Conference I.
• Maryland Eastern Shore remains in Conference R, Southeast Louisiana remains in Conference N, and Western Illinois remains in Conference Q.

Otherwise rather than going through all teams promoted and relegated, let’s just look at Conference A:
• Promoted to Conference A: Duke, Michigan State, Xavier, and Notre Dame.
• Relegated from Conference A: UCLA, Clemson, Texas Tech, Creighton.
Other 12 teams remaining in Conference A:
• Louisville, Syracuse, Georgetown, Illinois, Maryland, Kansas, San Diego State, Arizona, Florida, Kentucky, Gonzaga, Temple.

[PointGuard]

Transfer Portal

[Note: For the first time within this association, I’m letting each of the head coaches (well, OK, the AI) handle the Transfer Portal.

Here’s how each team did with respect to transfer players:

UC San Diego:

Players leaving the Tritons to go into the Transfer Portal: SF Dave Jackson (3.2 ppg last season) and PF Merv Dye (5.5 ppg last season).

Transfer players coming to the Tritons: C Lee Bradley, 6-9 Jr transferring from Colorado State where he played very little both years he was there. He’s a 1.5 star/2.5 star player.

Since they didn’t fill one scholarship, the team will have 3 walk-ons this season.

MD-Eastern Shore:

Players leaving the Hawks to go into the Transfer Portal: SG Andy Cummings (11.9 ppg last season) and SG Ken Gates (1.2 ppg last season). The team also had one other scholarship available so could have picked up 3 transfer players.

Transfer players coming to the Hawks: C Curtis Davis, 6-10 Soph transferring from Western Illinois where he was redshirted and then as a redshirt freshman, he didn’t play much. He’s a 1.5 star/3.5 star player.

Since they only filled one of the three available scholarships, the Hawks will have 4 walk-ons this season.

SE Louisiana:

Players leaving the Lions to go into the Transfer Portal: PG Tom Allen (5.8 ppg last season), SG Bill Allen (2.0 ppg last season), SG Bryan Fox (1.0 ppg last season), and PF Arlie McCray (1.6 ppg last season).

Transfer players coming to the Lions: PG Vashon Patterson (6-5 Soph transferring from Norfolk State where he played 13 mpg and scored 6.7 ppg with 1.7 apg as a freshman; 1.5 stars/2.0 stars), SF Rostislav Polyansky (6-7 Jr transferring from Miami (OH) where he redshirted and then started the next 2 seasons 7.8 ppg and 9.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg and 4.6 rpg; 2 stars/3 stars), PF Ricky Hein (6-7 Soph transferring from South Dakota State where he played 18.3 mpg and averaged 5.5 ppg and 3.5 rpg as a freshman; 1.5 stars/2.5 stars), and SG Ayinde Garner (6-2 Soph transferring from Presbyterian where he played little as a freshman; 1 star/2.5 stars).

Western Illinois:

Players leaving the Leathernecks to go into the Transfer Portal: PG Tony Henry (0.8 ppg last season) and C Curtis Davis (0.7 ppg last season).

Transfer players coming to the Leathernecks: None.

So there will be 4 walk-ons on the team this season.

Georgia State:

Players leaving the Panthers to go into the Transfer Portal: None.

Transfer players coming to the Panthers: None (no scholarships were available).

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Recruiting:

[As has been the case throughout this association, the coaches (the AI) handle recruiting.]

UC San Diego (3 scholarships to fill):
PG Lester Smith, 6-3 HS Sr, Great passer and ball handler and surprising good rebounder, ranked #1243.
SG Wesley Petty, 6-0 HS Sr, Very good outside shooter and good leader and a hard worker, ranked #878.
SG Brian Card, 6-6 HS Sr, Solid outside shooter and scorer, very good passer, and hard worker, ranked #1484.

MD-Eastern Shore (6 scholarships to fill):
None filled and recruiting budget totally depleted. Unless they can land some recruits this spring and some transfer players next summer, the Hawks will be in trouble.

SE Louisiana (1 scholarship to fill):
PF Chris Blackshear, 6-7 HS Sr, Good scorer from inside and outside, Good defensively, Ranked #1347.

Western Illinois (4 scholarships to fill):
SG Bucky Autry, 6-4 HS Sr, Excellent outside shooter, Good rebounder, passer and ball handler, Ranked #1102.
3 scholarships yet unfilled but has over $22K still in recruiting budget.

Georgia State (3 scholarships to fill):
PG Dan Holdan, 6-5 HS Sr, Good scorer from outside, Good defensively, passer and ball handler, Great leader and tremendous work ethic, Ranked #696.
PG Chris Randle, 6-1 HS Sr, Excellent outside shooter, Good scorer, passer, ball handler and defensively, Hard worker but has attitude issues, ranked #1568.
PF Brian Beck, 6-7 HS Sr, Excellent outside and inside shooter but needs to shoot more, Ranked #1679.

[Note: Overall the recruiting that was done this year was, at best, simply unimpressive.]

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How the 5 teams are expected to finish within their respective conferences:

Georgia State—picked to finish 4th in Conference I.
Southeast Lousiana—picked to finish 4th in Conference N.
Western Illinois—picked to finish 3rd in Conference Q.
UC San Diego—picked to finish 4th in Conference Q.
Maryland Eastern Shore—picked to finish 2nd in Conference R.

[PointGuard]

Hey Coach, who’s starting for you this season?

Coach Dontell Spencer, Georgia State Panthers:

PG—Ronald Johnson, Sr—Started for Bryant as a freshman, but transferred and has come off the bench the past 2 years…last year averaging 4.1 ppg and 1.8 ppg while playing just 9.5 mpg; good outside shooter.

SG—Curtis Lopez, Fr—Solid player but needs to work on defense, but will do a good job I think.

SF—Danny Williams, Sr—Transferred after playing JC ball, last season came in off bench and 3.0 ppg and 1.9 rpg while playing just 9.5 mpg; good rebounder.

PF—Jeremy Young, So—Started last season and averaged 12.9 ppg and 4.8 rpg; Solid across the board but very good defensively; Did well last year and expect him to improve this season.

C—Ron Waldman, Jr—Started as a freshman at UC Riverside (averaged 4.8 ppg and 6.3 rpg) then transferred to us and came in off the bench for us last year averaging 4.8 ppg and 2.9 rpg while playing 13.8 mpg; Shot well inside for us; Strong rebounder and defender; Will anchor us inside.

[PointGuard]

Hey Coach, who’s starting for you this season?

Ramon Montez, SE Louisiana Lions:

PG—Mike Bree, Jr—Started the past 2 years for us and averaged 12.2 ppg and 5.1 apg last season; Good court general and all-around solid player; Expect him to be a leader for us this season.

SG—Rostislav Polyansky, Jr—Transferred to us this past summer after starting 2 seasons for Miami (OH); averaged 9.8 ppg and 4.6 rpg last year; Good outside shooter but also can drive to the basket.

SF—Leroy Phillips, Sr—Came to us after playing ball at a JC and came in off the bench last season averaging 5.0 ppg and 1.4 rpg while playing 13.0 mpg; Likes to shoot from anywhere on the court and good across the board player.

PF—Tom McCrary, Jr—Started as a freshman at NC-Asheville where he averaged 9.0 ppg and 4.5 rpg then last season came in off the bench for us and averaged 7.1 ppg and 2.8 rpg while playing 13.6 mpg; Strong inside scorer and good attacking the boards.

C—Travis Dixon, So—Started all 14 games for us as a freshman before sustaining season-ending injury; Averaged 10.8 ppg and 6.2 rpg; Shot very well inside; solid rebounder, but needs to work on defense.

[PointGuard]

Hey Coach, who’s starting for you this season?

Terry Morillo, Western Illinois Leathernecks:

PG—Bill Shin, Sr—Started for us as a freshman and averaged 9.1 ppg, 2.0 apg and 3.0 rpg, but subbed for us the past 2 years; last season averaged 5.0 ppg and 2.0 apg while playing 12.4 mpg; Hits a high percentage of his shots; While not strong defensively can rebound well for a guard.

SG—Brandt Kennedy, Jr—Started the past 2 seasons for us and averaged 10.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg, and 2.6 apg last year; Likes to shoot from mid-range; Good rebounder; Needs to work on defense.

SF—Aloysius Worley, Jr—Started for us last season averaging 8.0 ppg and 5.4 rpg; Hit a good percentage of his shots; Strong rebounder; Expect him to possibly be one of our top scorers this year.

PF—Hunter Anderson, Sr—Came in off the bench for us last year after playing 2 years at a JC; averaged 4.8 ppg and 2.9 rpg while playing 14.9 mpg last year; Developing well since he’s a very hard worker; Strong rebounder, good shooter.

C—Walter Jackson, So—Started for us last season averaging 6.1 ppg and 3.7 rpg while dealing with several injuries; Still maturing and developing; Pretty good defensively but needs to work on rebounding.

[PointGuard]

Hey Coach, who’s starting for you this season?

Ken Yamoto, UC San Diego Tritons:

PG—Solomon Rayner, Sr—Starter at Siena as a freshman averaging 10.5 ppg and 4.1 apg, then transferred to us and subbed as a sophomore and then became a starter last season; Averaged 10.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, and 5.5 apg; good ball hander and passer and strong rebounder and defensively.

SG—Brandon Payne, Sr—Played for Tulane as a freshman then transferred and came in off the bench for us as a sophomore; Starter for us last season averaging 15.3 ppg, 3.8 apg, and 2.9 apg; hits a high pecentage of his shots from mid-range; good rebounder.

SF—Calvin Sears, Fr—Likes shooting from mid-range and long-distance; still developing but a reasonably good defender and rebounder.

PF—Bryce Stafford, Jr—Started the past 2 years and averaged 9.3 ppg and 3.7 rpg last season; very good defensively and solid on other parts of the game.

C—Mike Okotie, Fr—Good shooter but still working to improve his confidence offensively; Developing rebounding skills, but needs to work more on defense.

[PointGuard]

Hey Coach, who’s starting for you this season?

Mike McMillan, MD-Eastern Shore Hawks:

PG—Joseph Page, Sr—Transferred to us last year after playing 2 years at a JC; came in off the bench averaging 2.3 ppg and 1.9 apg while playing 7.8 mpg; Good at distributing the ball, strong rebounder, needs to work on defense.

SG—Renard Bell, Jr—After playing for Bucknell as a freshman, transferred to us but played very little for us last season; Has developed into a very good shooter, passer, ball-handler, and rebounder; Expect him to be a leader for us this season.

SF—Anthony Wilks, Sr—Transferred to us after playing for Niagara as a freshman; Started the past 2 season for us averaging 13.2 ppg and 3.8 rpg last season while hitting a high percentage of his shots from anywhere on the court; Strong defensively and as a rebounder.

PF—Zamiro Colter, Sr—Was a part-time starter at Southern Utah as a freshman, then transferred here and has come in off the bench the past 2 seasons; Averaged 6.2 ppg and 4.8 rpg last season while playing 18.5 mpg; Good shooter inside, strong on the boards.

C—Kyle Mader, Sr—Starter at Elon as a freshman and after transferring here, started as a sophomore averaging 8.9 ppg and 5.5; came in off the bench last season averaging 4.2 ppg and 2.2 rpg while playing 9.3 mpg; Strong rebounder and good scorer inside.