DDSCB23: Alone

[Wayne23]

3/9: We open Big East tournament play vs. #8 seed ST Johns18-12, 8-8. We beat them by 24 and 22.

3/10: 93-80. 17 lead changes, 5 ties, mostly in the 1st half. They led by 1 at the break. We finally woke up in the 2nd half. 21, 11, 4 steals for Thun, 16, 4, 6 for Morr, 14, 9 for Latt,
13, 6, 3, 4 for Harn. +17 RBs, They gave it all they had.

#5 seed Marquette, 22-11, 9-7. In the semifinals. They have a starter out and 2 others playing hurt. We won by 35 there.

3/11: 124-92. Most points scored by any team I’ve coached. The D was awful though. 65-48 at the half. 28, 11, 2, 3 for Thun, 25, 10 for Latt, 20, 1, 4 for Morr, 16, 7 for Sand, 14,
4, 4 for Harn, 12, 0, 11 for Newn. Big edge inside.

#12 ranked, #2 seed Creighton, 25-6, 11-5, in the title game. We won by 39 in Storrs.

3/12: 86-75. The D was better. 26 lead changes and 13 ties. Up only 1 at the break and it stayed close until the last few minutes.

29, 12 for tourney MOP Bri Thun. 12, 1, 11 for Morr.

#8 says 2-3 weeks and we can go down to the planet. Everything the we built on Mars was destroyed during the terraforming process so we’ll need to do some construction before the kids and I can actually go down there. I’ll go down with a 3d printer and a couple of robots. The printer will print everything needed for the construction as well as lots of robots to do the work. We’ll be on the ship for awhile longer.

[Wayne23]

#1 East, #1 overall. We start with #16 Old Dominion, 17-17.

3/16: 89-44. That was ugly. Great D though. 49-16 at the half. 16, 9, 5 blocks for Sand, 14, 7, 3 blocks for Beko, 12, 5, 4 for Newn, 13, 8 for Thun. +26 for the bench, which played a LOT.

#9 seed Iowa ST, 23-10, in round 2. Should be an easy game as long as we’re focused.

I head the ship back toward Mars orbit, which will take 12 days.

3/18: 93-57. Never a game. 53-35 at the break. 24, 5, 6 blocks for Thun, 17, 10 for Beko, 15, 3 for Harn. 52 RBs.

#13 ranked, #4 seed Florida, 26-10, in the Sweet Sixteen. We beat them by 20 at home in December. They have 2 starters out with injuries, their PG and thei C.

3/23: 95-76. 51-31 at the half. We led by as many as 27 in the 2nd. 18, 14, 3 for Thun, 20, 12 for Henk, 19, 2, 4, 3 blocks for Harn, 13, 2, 12 for Morr.

#4 ranked, #2 seed Arkansas, 30-6, in the Elite Eight. They play good D but can they stop us? They couldn’t in November when we scored 97 against them.

3/25: 77-58. They played pretty good D but ours was way better. They stayed with us for about 25 minutes. We were up only 1 at the half. 10, 16, 1, 3, 5 blocks for Thun, 16, 6 for Latt, 14, 0, 6, 3 for Morr. +22 RBs.

3/29: I pilot the shuttle down to Mars. What I see on the way down, and even more so once I land, is incredible. Mars looks like Earth- not exactly, but very close. I’m pretty nervous about getting out of the shuttle without a hazmat suit but I do, and immediately go back inside and 3d print a warm coat and a hat and gloves. It’s cold out there. Note to self, be sure to have the coat, hat, and gloves for each of the kids.

The robots move the 3d printer outside and it immediately begins printing 3 more 3d printers. After that it will start printing everything we need to build the central building and the apartment building. I stay for a couple of hours and then head back to the ship. The robots have very detailed instructions regarding what needs to be printed, so they can handle it. I’ll check back in every couple of days but it will be some time before everything is printed, and then built.

[Wayne23]

3/31: It’s #17 ranked, #4 seed Texas, 26-9, in the national semifinal. They gave up our closest game of the year, 7 points, in a game at their place. I hammer this home to my kids. This one is not guaranteed! They’re better outside than inside, but they can play!

4/1: 84-60. Much easier than last time we faced them. 41-29 at halftime and they never got close in the 2nd. 17, 8, 5 blocks for Latt, 14, 2, 7 for Morr, 16, 6 for Sand, 12, 5 for Henk. +17 RBs, +42 in the paint.

#2 ranked, #1 seed West Virginia, 33-5, in the national title game. We didn’t play them this season. They have a very strong starting five. Their PF is an All American. They outscore their opponents by
10.7, and outrebound them by 8.1.It could be a battle!

4/3: 95-76, national champs, and undefeated, for the first time ever! They started fast and built an 8 point lead. I called a time out, which I’ve rarely needed to do all season and I calmed everyone down and made a change on D. I also told my guys to do a better job of moving without the ball on O. We quickly turned things around and led 51-39 at the half. They never got closer than 7 in the 2nd, and trailed by double digits for the last 10 minutes.

22, 7, 3 for Thun, 14, 13 for Henk, 14, 4, 2, 4 for Harn, 17, 6, 3 blocks for Latt. +19 RBs, +34 in the lane.

I got back down to the surface of Mars and things are coming along everything that needed to be printed has been printed and the robots are just starting construction.

The kids are very curious about what’s going on and I’m talking to them about it, reporting news as I get it. The robots on the surface do communicate with me so we get news frequently, not just when I go down to the planet.

[Wayne23]

4/4: Awards: Bri Thun is Final Four MOP and 2nd team All American.

In the Big East, Thun repeats as POY. Rod Latt is Def. POY. Thun makes the 1st team, Morr, Latt and Henk make the 2nd. Once again I am both National and conf. COY.

4/9: TP goes from 98-100. Not leaving but some good teams called.

4/23: I ask for money again.

We get a huge budget increase to $500,000. Never need to ask for another one!

I go back down to the surface. The general building for meetings, gym activities, cafeteria… is almost finished. The apartment building is maybe half finished outside but nothing yet in the interior.

[Wayne23]

5/1: Moving to the ACC, a more competitive conference.

#1 preseason.

#3 recruiting class.

We exceed our Expected to Spend amount.

5/29: Paul Sand transfers out. He would have been our first big man off the bench. We already had a roster spot open so we’ll look for a big and a guard. With the new rules I can go for only 1 A or B rated player.

We contact several guys but don’t offer to anyone.

Only interior work left to do in the buildings. On the ship the printer has been going full time printing coats, hats, and gloves. Almost finished.

6/2: We offer to an SF and a PF. No guards worth offering to.

6/5: We get the two forwards, a B and a C.

6/25: We’ll go to Indy and to all of the regional camps again.

6/26: 3 scholarships. We want 2 guards.

Finishing touches are being put on the interior of the buildings. Almost time to move everyone down.

7/7: We’re moving down to the surface. It will take 10 shuttle trips to get everybody and everything we need down there.

7/11: Recruiting is going well.

We’re all on the surface. People are settling in their rooms. There are 65 rooms but for now we’re doubling the kids up. They like it that way.

7/31: We offer to 2 PGs and a PF.

Things are going well. The kids love playing outdoors even more than doing it in the holo. I guess it’s the reality of it. Not sure.

8/7: 5 Norton candidates:

Bri Thun is #12, Tod Morr #15, Gegi Beko #19, Rod Latt #28, Troy Gray #39.

9/4: The kids absolutely love being outside but the robots need to watch them carefully due to the cold and the winds that can blow really hard. Also, the kids need to be back inside well before dark as
the temps plummet after sundown.

9/11: Our #1, a PF, #16, commits! Still working on the 2 guards.

9/18: We get one, lose one. We get a PG, #26.

Going to the Paradise Invitational. Strong schedule.

9/25: We get a PG, #55.

10/2: 1st day of practice. We’re good enough to repeat.

I find it interesting that I’m the only one using the holo very much. The kids rarely use it unless the weather doesn’t allow them to go outside. Being nearly 4 they’re in preschool, but only 2 ½ hours a day, 4 days a week.

11/13: We start tomorrow vs. #22 Texas A & M here.

Here’s the lineup:

Senior Tod Morr is back at the Point. He’s excellent.

Frosh Shep Wace is at SG. He can do it all. VERY impressive in the preseason.

#3 guard is junior Wes Ando, who would start on a lot of teams. Frosh Josh Grow is good and will get better.

Junior Rod Latt is back at SF. He was very good last year and looks even better now.

Senior Gegi Beko is at PF. Exceptional defender and rebounder.

Senior Bri Thun is all everything, a genuine superstar.

1st big man off the bench is soph Troy Gray. His D could be better but everything else is good. Junior Adam Lake is a transfer from Michigan St where he started for the last 2 years. Frosh Key Eddy does a lot of things well. Soph Cory Feld transferred here from Oklahoma where he started.

Gravity is, of course, much lighter on Mars than it was on Earth. Not a factor for the kids, who were all born on Mars, but I need to remember not to move too quickly. It could be dangerous!

[Wayne23]

11/14: 95-73. We led all the way. 29, 11, 3 blocks for Thun, 21, 9 for Beko, 16, 6, 6 for Wace. +21 RBs, +26 in the paint.

Headed for the Paradise Invitational vs. 1-0 California. We’re the #1 seed, they’re #8.

11/18: 93-58. 56-22 at halftime. 26, 8, 4 blocks for Thun, 14, 8, 7 for Wace, 12, 7, 5 blocks for Latt. +33 RBs.

#4 seed Penn ST, 2-0, in the semis. All the favorites advanced.

11/19: 95-70. Close for awhile. Up only 6 at the break. 24, 13, 5 blocks for Thun, 22, 12, 1, 3 for Latt, 16, 6, 3, 4 for Wace. Big edge inside.

Latt hurt his wrist. He’ll play though.

A rematch with Texas A & M, who we beat by 22 in our opener, in the title game.

11/20: 94-63 and the title. 49-27 at halftime. Latt, Morr, and Wace had 17 each. We owned the paint.

[Wayne23]

11/21: 89-75 over #7 Xavier here. 52-34 at halftime. 16, 11, 10, 4, 3 blocks, a triple double for Shep Wace. 18, 3, 6, 3 blocks for Morr, 15, 7 for Thun, 13, 6 for Eddy. Total control inside.

11/24: 87-50 at Maryland. 23, 6, 3 for Wace, who is the real thing. 11, 8, 3 for Thun, 12, 8 for Beko. Big edge inside.

11/28: 105-84 over #24 UCLA. 68 1st half points! Up 26. 27, 4, 7, 4, 3 blocks for Wace.17, 9, 3 blocks for Thun, 19, 5 for Latt. Good bench play. +16 RBs, +16 on 2nd chances.

12/1: 85-81 at Michigan ST, our closest game in a couple of seasons. 17 lead changes, 8 ties. They led by 5 at the half. No one ver led by more than 9. 23, 7 for Thun, 15 for Wace.
+20 inside, where we won it.

8-0, #1 ranked, NET #1.

[Wayne23]

12/5: 118-70 at Illinois. 63-47 at halftime. 38, 5, 6, 3 for Wace, 20, 9, 5 blocks for Latt, 12, 4, 13 for Morr, 20, 8 for Eddy, 14, 5 for Thun. This was a rout.

12/10: Birthday #4 for the kids. Big bash in the mani building. There a room big enough to comfortably hold everyone and we used that then went outside.

12/12: 105-72 over #23 Arkansas here. Never a game. 28, 7, 8, 4 for Wace, 23, 3, 12 for Morr, 21, 6, 3 blocks for Latt, 13, 14 for Thun. We owned the paint.

12/19: 91-39 over Gonzaga. Terrific D! 44-14 at the break. 16, 9, 4, 3 blocks for Thun, 12, 7, 3 for Wace, 12, 6, 3 blocks for Latt. +31 RBs.

11-0 at the end of pre-conf play. #1, NET #1.

+29.3 PPG, #1 in PPGs, RBs, Blocks, #2 in assists. #1 overall NET Rating. +19.9 RBs, #1 in RB margin. +8 assists, -6.7 turnovers, an excellent 9.2 per game.

21.1, 6.4, 5.0 for Wace, 18.1, 9.1 for Thun, 14.5, 6.1 for Latt. 8.5 assists for Morr.

[Wayne23]

12/28: 106-66 over North Carolina here. 60-19 at the half. 23, 6, 5 for Wace, 21, 12, 3 blocks for Thun, 14, 4, 9 for Morr, 12, 9, 5 blocks for Latt. +27 RBs.

Huge cyclone hits the planet. Everything except the two buildings is blown away. There were swings and slides and other things for the kids to play on outside. They’re all gone. No doubt this will happen often given that cyclones happen often. Thankfully we have the early warning system so no will is likely to be hurt or killed.

12/30: 81-67 at Miami. They put up a fight early but we were up 15 by halftime. 29, 8, 2, 3, 3 blocks for Wace, 17, 8, 4 blocks for Thun. Big edge inside.

1/4/2234: 106-59 over Duke here. Never a game. 22, 8, 5, 3 for Wace, 17, 3, 7 for Morr. Huge advantage inside.

1/6: 106-75 over NC ST here. 58-45 at the half. 30, 9, 1, 3, 3 blocks for Wace, who has been our best player. 21, 6, 3 blocks for Latt, 15, 7, 6 blocks for Thun. We owned the paint again.

Post game press conference (excerpts): “Ruby Lynn, WHUS. Coach, the win streak is at 64. How long can you guys keep winning?”

“Good question. We’re hard to beat. But the new rules on recruiting and transfers will stop us if nothing else does. We can’t sign a top 10 recruit, can only sign one ranked 11-25, 1 ranked 26-50, and 2 ranked 51-75. Only can sign one A or B transfer. The aim is to level the playing field, which is probably good for the game.”

15-0, 4-0, #1, NET #1.

[Wayne23]

1/13: 104-82 at Duke. 26, 10, 3, 4 for Wace, 20, 11 for Eddy, 22 for Thun, 12 assists for Morr. +42 in the lane.

1/18: 93-79 at Virginia. Close for almost 30 minutes, Up only 2 at halftime. We finally went on a big run and broke it open. 32, 6 for Wace, 24, 7 for Thun.

1/20: 108-72 over #17 Pitt. 64-33 at the half. 27, 9 for Thun, 14, 12 for Beko, 17, 4, 6 for Wace, 13, 3, 5 for Morr.

1/23: 96-66 at Va. Tech. It was over by halftime. 30, 8, 7 for Wace, 12, 7, 3 blocks for Thun.

19-0, 8-0, In 1st by one game. #1, NET #1.

Lots of sick kids. When a cold, or a flu, or anything like that hits it seems to spread very quickly. Our medical robots handle things very well and we have never lost a kid due to any of these things but they can get really sick. I never seem to catch anything from the kids for some reason. No idea why.