Way Back When

[Wayne23]

3/12: Ranked #17, NET #9. 3 seed? More likely a #4 or #5.

#4 East. We play #13 Wichita ST, 20-9. We won by 23 at our place. We're definitely the better team but we will need to play well.

3/16: Up 9 after 10. Big run puts us up 52-34 at the half. We're shooting 60.6%. +16 in the paint, only 3 TOs. Up 27 with 10 left.

90-60. It was never a game. 13, 8, 5 for Laws. 4 others had 11 or more. +38 in the paint. 7 turnovers.

[Wayne23]

3/17: #5 seed, #19 ranked Iowa, 21-11, in the 2nd round. We need to stop their outside game. It won't be easy, they're good.

3/18: We fall behind early. Down 9 after 10. 28-45 at the half. They're shooting 56.3% to our 37%. We have a dismal 14 turnovers. Deon Daws has 3 fouls. We are in deep trouble. Down 16 with 10 to play.

65-86. We were never really in it.

[Wayne23]

4/3: #1 Kentucky wins it all.

4/4: Awards: We are shut out. I am not surprised.

4/9: Team Prestige jumps from 39 to 46.

Will I move? I may. I don't believe Bryant can go any farther.

I am moving to UConn, which will slide from Conf. A to B, but they have a great deal of potential.

4/23: I ask for money.

No.

24-9. Ranked #17. For 9 seasons I am 247-48, .837. On to a new challenge!

[Wayne23]

4/26: I wrote to Emma's father to tell him I was moving to Storrs. I asked if there was any point speaking with or writing to Emma. He answered that there was not.

5/1: Preseason #11. Recruit class #6. We were NOT relegated. We are still in Conference A.

5/29: We lose 4 players. Guard Tom Dabb would have played a lot. Forward Adam Fuhs would have started. The other two would not have played.

Round 1: I offer to 2 As, a B, and an unrated. It's a very deep pool. 0-4.

Round 2: We offer to 2 As, 2 Bs. All have us in their Top 5. 4-4! 2 will start.

6/5: I got a letter from Emma. Huge surprise. After the greeting and all that it said,

“I am asking for a divorce. I have fallen deeply in love and I wish to marry.”

It went on for awhile. I was practically in a state of shock after reading it. What happened to terrified of bearing a child? What happened to not wanting to leave her parents' home. A slept on it and the next day told her that if she wanted a divorce she should file for it. I would not stand in her way and would sign any necessary papers. I suppose I shall never understand human beings.

6/25: We will go to the Indy Elite Camp.

6/26: 5 scholarships. I need 3 guards.

7/2: Emma and I have been exchanging letters. She wants me to file for and thus pay for the divorce. I refuse. She is the one who wants the divorce. Why should I pay for it!

She points out that I make $75 a week, a very handsome salary, while she makes $14. I respond that her boy friend should pay for it. She is highly insulted, then later in the letter mentions that he makes only $18 per week.

I don't care. I see no reason why I should pay for the divorce. I am quite vocal in saying that the marriage failed because she refused to be a wife to me, even refused to live with or see me. And now she, not I, wants a divorce. No. I am not budging on this.

7/11: Emma's father comes to visit. He is a good man. I like and respect him. He talks to me about Emma and how she is happy for the first time in ages.

He asks if I can possibly see my way clear to pay for the divorce.

“Mr. Smithfield, are you really asking me to pay for this divorce so that your daughter can rid herself of me to marry another man?”

“Jake, this is a terribly unfortunate situation. I agree that you are the injured party here. But I know you to be a good man. Can you soften your heart in this matter, please?”

I tell Mr. Smithfield I will consider it.

“I hope you will, Jake.”

“Tell her to stop writing. She's only hurting her cause.”

“May I write?”

“Of course you may, Mr. Smithfield.”

8/7: SF Jeb Burr is #6 on the Norton list and SG Ivan Brit is #23.

8/21: I offer to 3 PGs, an SF, and a PF. If I get 3 of them I'll be thrilled!

[Wayne23]

9/18: We get one, lose one. We get a PG. He's iffy on the SAT score though.

Going to the Caribbean Challenge vs. New Mexico ST. The better teams do not want to play us. We put together as challenging a schedule as we can, and almost every team we will play in Conference A is ranked.

9/25: We get 2, lose 2. We get an SF, #2 recruit in the nation, and a PG, #23. We still need a big and a guard.

10/2: Still trying to land 2 recruits but we're out of money.

First day of practice.

I give in. Emma's father and I have been exchanging letters. I will file for the divorce.

Halley's Comet made its appearance. As he predicted hw would, the writer Mark Twain passed away as the comet went by.

“Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?” is quite the lively tune!

10/14: I have filed for the divorce. It is an ugly process and blame must be placed. How unnecessary! Rather expensive as well, and it may take as long as a year. Why is the government in the marriage business?

11/12: Here's the lineup:

Senior Alex Camm, a transfer from Maryland, is a genuine superstar.

Soph Ivan Brit is at SG. He is a very solid player.

#3 guard is senior Tim Brax, who would start for most teams. Soph Rich Nash is a transfer from Michigan, and he can play. Senior Naim Shus is a very good ball handler. Frosh Sam Fero has great potential. Frosh Josh Craw, is not ready.

Frosh Jeb Burr, at SF, is another potential superstar.

At PF is junior Duja Vero, a transfer from Tennessee; he is a real glass eater.

Junior Dane Arms, another transfer from Tennessee, where he started last season and the year before, is an even better glass eater.

#1 big man off the bench is senior Mark Mell, who started for us last season. Senior Al Watt is a good player, and I do not fret when he is in the game. Junior
Clar Bush never developed. He won't see much action.

President Taft has not caught the public's imagination the way his predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt did, and most people are unimpressed with his “trickle down economics” theory. It has not led to a robust economy, and the poor and working class are, if anything, doing worse than during the previous administration. The wealthy, on the other hand, are doing VERY well!

[Wayne23]

11/27: 3-1 start to the season.

We pummeled Auburn here, 80-48. 15, 10 for SF Jeb Burr, 16, 11 for PF Duja Varo, 19, 1, 4 for PG Alex Camm. Huge edge inside.

76-46 over Stanford in Storrs. 15, 12, 6 for Burr, 20, 8, 3 for Varo, 16, 4, 10 for SG Ivan Brit. +16 RBs.

Then we lost here to #1 ranked Memphis, 69-76. ,They took a big early lead and we could never quite catch up. 24, 13 for Burr, 11, 4, 9 for Brit. But Varo fouled out and was ineffective, and we merely held our own inside.

We beat Kansas ST here, 71-57. They led by 5 at the half, got it to 7, and then we finally began to play well. 16, 11 for Burr, 13, 13 for C Dane Arms. +18 RBs.

We are still in the process of jelling as a team in my first year here. We will probably lose a few along the way.

I met with my attorney yet again regarding the divorce. It is a nasty business.

[Wayne23]

12/15: 3 wins.

74-54 over Oregon here. Up only 3 at the half. 19, 5 for PG Alex Camm, 16, 4, 3 for Brit, 12, 5, 4 for Burr. We forced 24 TOs.

77-52 over San Diego ST at home. Another slow start and we were up only 5 at the half. 17, 1, 3, 4 for Brit. 8 TOs and solid inside play.

We beat UCLA 71-49 here in a game we led all the way. 22, 5, 3, 3 for Brit, 1, 13, 6 for Varo, 14, 7 for Arms. 9 TO and we controlled the paint.

Headed to the Caribbean Challenge. We are the #1 seed.

[Wayne23]

12/16: We start the Challenge vs. #8 seed New Mexico ST, 1-6. They have a lot of trouble scoring and give up 16.5 more than they score.

Game time: Up only 3 after 10. 28-15 at the end of a very slow paced first half. +12 in the paint. Up 20 with 10 to go.

64-39. Amazing defense. 12, 16, 5 blocks for Arms, 17, 8 for Burr. Good guard play.

Little used Clar Bush sprains a finger.

[Wayne23]

12/17: #4 seed, Arizona ST, 7-2, in the semifinals. We're much better, especially inside.

Game time: Up 5 after 10. 35-23 at halftime. 10 for Arms, 8 for Burr. Only 4 turnovers. Up 24 with 10 left.

72-47. Outstanding defense again. 17, 10, 4 for Burr, 17, 7, 3 for Arms. 8 turnovers and dominance inside.

[Wayne23]

12/18: #2 seed, #21 ranked Ohio ST, 8-1, in the title game. This is a much better team than any we've faced in the tournament. They play outstanding defense and are strong inside. We will need to play well.

Game time: We take an early lead. Up 19 after 10; great defense again. They come back. 35-28 at the break. 6 fewer turnovers. Up 14 with 10 to play. We get the lead to 20.

68-45 and the title. Yet another excellent defensive performance. 15, 14, 5 blocks for Burr, 13, 11 for Arms, 10, 6, 7, 6 for Brit. +18 in the paint, +13 RBs.