The Phenom

[Wayne23]

11/25: 65-67. Back and forth through the 1st. Down 4 at the break. They went on a big run midway through the 2nd, led by 14. We came back, took the lead with 2.2 seconds left. They got it in and their SG hit a 25 footer at the buzzer. I thought it was after the buzzer and the refs took a very long look. They eventually decided against us. ESPN disagreed, and it sure seemed to me that the red light was on before the shot was released.

Cevi led us with 16 and 3, Sulu played only 14 minutes. He was in foul trouble all night. He held his man down while he was in there, but we need him in the game. They beat us at the line despite only being 12-24; we were 5-8. Tough loss.

We need to stop turning it over; 20 tonight. That bother me more than the loss does.

2-2 Villanova is here. They're the first unranked team we've faced this season but they're good. We feel like their SG, SF, and PF can really play. We feel like we can turn them over and control the boards, but we'll see.

We haven't resolved anything yet between Cevi and Jonn, or between Palt and Beck. They're all playing well, and i don't want to mess with this for now.

[Wayne23]

11/29: 89-77, but there was no doubt in the 2nd half. They're staying close. Up 12 at the half; late run.

BIG game for Sulu, 24, 17, 6, 3 steals, 3 blocks. 19, 8, 3 for Palt. 14, 5 for Mosh, 10, 3, 3 for Moss.

+17 RBs; we're #1 in the nation in RBs, 5.3 more than anyone else. 15 TOs, better but still too many. The goal is always 12 or fewer. +34 in the paint.

18-0 on 2nd chances.

Most points we've scored all season and the most we've given up.

At 4-1 Marquette next. They're not ranked but playing very well. PG is their best player but we think we can turn him over and we should dominate inside again.

[Wayne23]

12/2: 73-79. Close early. Down 6 at the half. We just couldn't catch up in the 2nd. For most of it they led by double figures. The bench was the difference, 34, 11, 8 for them, 18, 6, 3 for us. And 15 TOs again. We need to change some things.

23, 11 for Sulu, who outplayed his man easily. 12, 10 for Beck. 12, 7 for Palt. The guards didn't do much though, our top 3 had only 8, 2, 3 with 5 TOs.

Beck will now play SF and Palt PF. They were alternating until now. I still can't resolve the situation at guard.

#1, #3, #15 , #5 in 4 of our next 5 games.

#1 Duke, 8-0, is here next. We're going to have our hands full. Their starting guards get 40 a game, and they're pretty solid inside.

The women are 7-0, having beaten some powerhouses, Oklahoma by 14, LSU by 13, and UConn by 9.

[Wayne23]

12/6: 79-92. We fall behind early and their lead widens. Down 9 at the half. We got it to a single possession 3 times in the 2nd half but couldn't get there, and then they went on a late run.

20, 5 for Sulu, 16, 9 for Palt9, 9, 3 for Beck. But they out shot us on threes, 7-13, and they took 40 from the line while we took 16, and those two stats tell the story. +7 RBs, 15 TOs again.

I don't remember the last time one of my teams lost 2 in a row and the next one is not going to be any easier.

New #1 Texas, 10-1, is here next. This won't be easy. They are tough inside and they take care of the ball. We're going to need to play a lot better than we've been playing to have a chance.

We're starting Josh Jonn at PG. Nash simply isn't getting it done. We lose a little on D but we need more O. Also, Car Mosh gets all of the sub minutes at SF, PF, and C.

[Wayne23]

12/13: 74-66! GREAT win! We're holding our own early. Down 4 at the break. We never quit; we were down 12 with 14 minutes to play.

Our guards did the job. Josh Jonn showed he wants the starting PG job, and at least for now, it's his. He led us with 16, 1, 8. Cevi added another 16, with 3 RBs. 11, 7 for Palt. Our bench, especially the big guys, came up big.

A season best 9 TOs. +20 in the paint.

Sulu was out played, which is rare for him, but the Texas C is one tough player. We NEEDED this win. We've dropped to #23. This should lift us up a few spots.

6 days off then #14 Tennessee, 8-2, is here. Their PG is their #1 scorer, but we think we can turn him over. Their PF is a solid player, too. They don't rebound. We need to play the game as close to the hoop as possible, and all night long.

[Wayne23]

12/20: 85-82! They take an early lead. Then it's back and forth. Up 8 at the half. We won it on a buzzer beating three by Jonn. This one was a war all night long.

Sulu led us with a season high 32, and 9 RBs. Jonn had 13, 1, 8, including the winner. 12, 6 for Palt, 14 for Cevi.

41-14 in the paint, +15 on 2nd chances, so our inside game got this one for us.

We're headed to the JAG Holiday and a cupcake, 5-5 Winthrop. We need an easy game and if we play well this should be it.

[Wayne23]

12/23: 93-73. They stayed with us until late in the 1st. Up 14 at the break. They faded eventually. We had too much talent.

Saud Cevi led us with 26, 2, 3 and 4 steals. 16, 5 for Mosh, 10, 8, 4 for Palt, 14, 4 for Beck.

+9 RBs. We had 13 TOs, they had 23. We had a big edge at the line.

+18 in the paint.

All the favorites advanced. We play #4 seed North Carolina ST, 7-2, in the semis. They take good care of the ball but we should have a big edge on the boards. They don't have a big time scorer. They play very tight D.

[Wayne23]

2/24: 84-61. We took an early lead, got it to 15 quickly. Up 20 at the half. I expected more of a challenge but I'll take it.

Sulu had a huge game, 32 and 13. 16, 4, 4 for Beck.

+7 RBs, 11 TOs to their 19. We took 22 more shots and made 17, shooting 50% to their 35.7%.

#2 seed, #13 ranked Purdue, 10-0, in the title game. This is a very good team. Their scorers and best players are their PG and PF. WE think we're better at the other 3 spots, and our bench is better. The biggest problem is their stingy D, they are #2 in fewest points allowed.

[Wayne23]

12/25: 90-75. We take an early lead and get it to 10 in 9 minutes, but we're in foul trouble. Up 13 at the half. They kept it close for about 35 minutes. We scored effortlessly against a very good D.

Rico Beck led us with 18, 6, and 4 steals. 22 for Sulu, 23, 3 for Cevi.

17 TOs. We're just not taking care of the ball. They had 19.

We shot 56.4% to their 44.6%.

The pressure stays on as #3Oklahoma State, 13-1, comes to town for our last pre-conference game. Their C averages 18.4 and 13.6. Sulu will need to play well and stay out of foul trouble. We think we're equal or better everywhere else, including the bench and they've only played 2 ranked teams, going 1-1 against #21 and #25. But a long plane ride and it will be our 4th game in 4 days.

I would have loved to have spent the holiday at home with Lu but it didn't happen. She's back on the road. We'll celebrate when she gets back. We're both home for a few days at the end of this month, beginning of next.

[Wayne23]

12/26: 70-65. Close early. Down 8 at the half. Their C is the difference. We trailed for most of the 2nd half then went on a late run, taking our first 2nd half lead with less than 3 minutes to play. Great win!

Cevi led us with 25, 3, 3 and 3 steals. 12, 8 for Beck, 10, 11 for Palt, 11, 2, 6 for Jonn. Sulu was in foul trouble all night and played only 12 minutes in all before fouling out. But we put Palt in the middle and he held their C to 7 2nd half points, after he had gotten 15 in the 1st.

+12 RBs. We took 19 more shots and made 10 of them. That overcame their +16 at the line.

+14 in the paint.

We've won our last 6, against #1, 3, 13, and 14. I think we've found our rhythm. At present only USC, #9, is ranked, among the PAC 12 teams. We play them in the last regular season game.

#7, NET #2, 10-3. #6 in RBs, #7 in PPG, but only #56 in Overall NET. We give up way too many points, #243.

+8.3 PPG, +9.8 RBs, -2.0 TOs but an awful 14.9.

Sulu leads us with 20.3 PPG and 9.7 RBs, but he needs to foul less. Cevi gets 13.2. The next 4 get between 10.5 and 7.6. Palt gets 7.6 RBs.

The two areas where we need to improve are team D and turnovers.

At 6-5 California next. We feel like this is a team we should beat but the road is never easy.

The women are 12-0, #1 in the nation.