by Wayne23 » Mon May 01, 2023 3:57 pm
11/15: We fall behind early so we press. Down 6 after 10. 39-40 at halftime. We were down 13 at one point. 13, 3 for Irri. 3 fouls for Caes but they have 3 starters with 3 fouls each.
“I need more from my guards.”
Back and forth early. Then we go on a run. Up only 3 with 10 to go as they come back. Close late!
88-91. Syle missed an open three at the end. 26, 12 for Irri but he fouled out, 16, 6 for Hinn, 15, 6 for Hix, 10, 6 for Prin. 13 assists for Smik.
“Bobbi Sue Barker, WNOU, with the postgame show. Tough way to start, Coach.”
“It’s never good to lose at home but I need to ask the fans to be patient with us. We’re playing much tougher teams and it’s going to take some time for our lineup to jell. We’ll get there though.”
“You did your usual good job inside, Coach, but the guards were outplayed.”
“Well, first, their SG is a monster, 33 points, and second, again, we need time to learn to play well together,”
“This is the first one possession game the team has been involved in since you got here-”
“And I am NOT happy that we lost it! You have to win the close ones.”
“Were you disappointed in transfer Leon Nate?”
“Not at all. He’s still getting used to the system and the other players. Before long he’s going to be one of our best.”
“Thanks Coach.”
Headed for the Hawaiian Shootout. We’re the #5 seed and we play #4 South Alabama, 1-0. They were very good outside in their opener.
11/18: We score the first 11. Big early lead. Up 22 after 10. 54-36 at the half. 13, 6 for Nate, 10 each for Harp and Caes. Irri has 3 fouls, only played 6 minutes, but the bench stepped up. We’re killing them inside and beating them outside.
Up 29 with 10 to play. Subs will be in early.
114-68. 19, 10 for frosh sub Marq Harp, 19, 4, 3 for sub Coy Prin, 17, 11 for sub Mike Hinn, all 3 are big guys. 13, 6 for Nate. Worst game ever for Vic Irri, played 9 minutes before fouling out. 78 in the paint.
Sub guard Ben Wyte hurt his calf. He won’t play much, if at all for a few days.
#1 seed, #18 ranked Virginia, 2-0, in the semifinals. They have an All American at PF and they hit the boards HARD.
11/19: Close early. They’re tough. Up 3 after 10. 54-53 at the break. Irri has 20 and 6. 15, 2, 3 for Caes. We held their PF to 10. We’re outplaying them inside.
“These guys can play. Let’s show ‘em how much we want it! We’ll press some”
We take the lead early. A run puts us up 21 with 10 left.
107-83. 32, 12, 4 blocks for Irri; great game! 27, 4, 4 for Ces. +32 inside, +16 RBs. We held their star to 13 and 4.
“Bobbi Sue Barker, WNOU, here with the postgame show. Coach, this was an impressive win against a ranked team. I guess your guys are coming together.”
“You know, Bobbie Sue, the staff and I felt that in our last game, and even more tonight. It happened quicker than I expected it to. There’ll be some bumps in the road with our tough schedule but we definitely look like a team out there.”
“Nice to see Vic Irri come back fro a rare poor game.”
“I wasn’t worried about Vic. He’s the real deal.”
It’s #7 seed Illinois ST, 3-0, in the title game. We feel like we should beat this team but they’ve been winning.
11/20: Close early. Up 6 after 10. We start to press late in the half and they can’t handle it. 62-45 at halftime. Balanced scoring led by Leon Nate’s 11 and 6. Total dominance inside.
Up 26 with 10 to go. Subs in early.
105-81 and the Hawaiian Shootout title. 21, 6, 3 blocks for Irri, 20, 5 for Hinn, 17, 9 for Nate, 14, 5 for Prin. 82 in the paint.
On the long plane ride the staff and I talk about the lineup and discuss changes, if any. We decide to keep things as they are for now. We’re getting great play from 6 big men so finding PT for everybody is a problem.
At 1-1 Hofstra next. Their C can play.
11/22: Close early. Up 2 after 10. We go to the press. 41-45. Balanced scoring.
“I need a lot more from my guards.”
Still trailing early. Down 7 with 10 left.
85-81. Syle hit a three with .7 left and was fouled; he completed the 4 point play for the win!
17, 11 for Hinn, 10, 8 for Irri.
“Bobbi Sue Barker, WNOU. Coach that was one heck of a finish.”
“It sure was. We trailed for the entire second half, finally tied it very late and then Syle hit the winner. Wow!”
“You can’t be happy with the way your team played.”
“I’m happy with the fact that they never quit and that they gutted out a win in a really tough game, but no, we weren’t at our best tonight. But sometimes that happens and when you can win in spite of it, that’s pretty good!”
4-1 after 5 games. NET #84. #1 in PPG and in RBs.
Irri leads us in points and RBs. Smik gets 10.6 assists per game, #1 in the nation.
At 3-1 Nebraska next. They’re good outside.