Jess Wynn, to do the impossible

[Wayne23]

At 4-13, 1-5 Colorado. This is NOT a good team. We need a road win here.

1/20: 25-43 at the half.

We were just awful. I raise all kinds of hell at the half.

We fight back hard but don’t quite get there, 72-76. We dug a hole that was just too deep. I try to hide my anger and disappointment. Yelling at them right now won’t do any good. I just shut up.

-2, -7, 50-47%. Hart fouled out again.

17, 8, 1, 1 for Call. The offensive stats were fine for all 5 starters but we didn’t play D and we got almost nothing from the bench.

#11, 16-4, 5-2 Oregon is in. This is one tough team.

1/24: 44-31 at the half.

Great O. Refs are calling too many fouls but it’s hurting them as much as us. I tell the guys to slow it down in the 2nd.

We do and it works, 70-56. Biggest win of the season.

+3, even, 38-28%. Partly good D, partly they weren’t hitting but I’ll take it!
19, 4, 1, 2 for Call, 14, 9, 1 for Davis who got hurt late, 11, 6, 2 for Hart, 10, 5 for Gant.

Davis sprained a toe and is out for about 10 days. Not good. John will start and we’ll go small, not much choice.

At 7-12, 2-6 Oregon State. They’ve played lots of good teams and they’re better than their record.

1/27: 42-28 at the half.

Great first half. We hit 9 threes.

2nd half was dead even so it ended up 77-63. Battle of the threes, they had 8 and we had an amazing 16!

Even, +3, 47-40%.

23, 6, 4, 1 for Hart but 7 TOs, 16, 3, 5, 1 for Wolk. We got nothing inside on O but the bigs played great D. Good win!

[Wayne23]

#16, 15-7, 5-4 Stanford is in. This is the battle for 4th place. Glad we’re at home. They’re very up and down. They have some weaknesses but they have more talent than we do.

1/31: 32-21 at the half.

D is terrific and the guards are lighting it up again.

O dies due to TOs in the 2nd but the D keeps us in control, 57-47.

+9, -7 (21 TOs), 47-34%.

21, 5, 2 but 11 TOS for Hart and he fouled out. 13, 3, 2 for Wolk, 8, 6 for Call, 6, 5 for Gant. We’re managing somehow, just patching it together.

At 12-9, 5-5 Arizona State. 3-5 in their last 8 but they can play when they’re right. Starting SG wrecked a knee, which has hurt them.

2/3: 32-36 at the half.

They’re playing us tough.

62-71. Not tonight. We weren’t all that bad but they were the better team.

-11, -1, 41-43%. Fouls were 16-6, that and RBs were the difference.

28, 4, 6, 1 for Hart, 10, 13 for Call.

Davis is 100%.

Rematch, #11, 18-6, 10-1 UCLA is in. They won by 10 there. They’ve won their last 7 and 11 of 12. This is a very tough matchup for us.

2/7: 30-26 at halftime.

Too many TOs and they’re controlling the boards but we’re leading.

They come back and take control, 55-68. Just like last game we simply didn’t have the talent to stay with them.

-8, -4, 35-45%.

9, 10, 1, 3, 1 for Davis, 12, 1, 5 for Hart, 13, 1 for Call.

4 to play and we need to go 3-1 to do anything in the conf. Not sure we can. 15-8, 6-6.

[Wayne23]

At 7-16, 4-8 Utah. Beat them by 1 at home. They’re struggling. This is a team we can beat if we play well.

2/10: 36-24 at the half.

We’re doing lots of things well.

They chip and chip and chip, and almost steal it. 64-61 at the end. They never led or tied in the 2nd but they put up a three at the buzzer that would have meant OT if it had gone in.

+11, -10 (14 TOs and they had 4), 41-33%.

15, 8, 2 for Call, 12 each for Carr, Wolk and Hart, 7, 12, 1 for Davis, 5, 7 for John.

#3, 25-2, 12-1 Arizona is in. They won by 15 there. 11 straight wins, 18 of 19. They do it all. We’d need to play a perfect game and hope they were off.

2/14: 34-35 at the half.

We’re playing way over our heads and we’re right in it.

We couldn’t stay with them, 65-80. Simply outmanned.

-9., -2, 42-43%, fouls were 18-12.

16, 9, 2 for Davis, 14, 2 for Hart who fouled out in 20 min., 10, 5, 3, 1 for Carr, 9, 8 for Call, 8, 4, 4 for John.

Two to play. I’d sure like to win both of them.

16-9, 7-7, tied for fifth.

[Wayne23]

At 11-14, 6-8 USC. Beat them by 15 at home. 3-8 in their last 11 but much better at home. Best player flunked off the team. We can win if we play well.

2/17: 22-36 at the half.

Very frustrated. We can’t make a shot and the D isn’t getting it done.
No O at all, 42-55.

-1, -1, 29-43%.

10, 12, 3, 1, 1 for Davis, 11, 7 for Call. An awful night.

We need to win our last to finish at .500 in conf.

Washington State, 10-16, 3-12 is in. Lost 8 of 9. Strength is outside.
2/21: 33-31 at the half.

We’re moving the ball well and hitting shots but we gave up 6 threes.

We dominate the 2nd and win 74-55.

+11, +2, 47-38%.20, 5, 3, 1 for Hart but 6 TOs, 16, 14 for Davis, 12, 7, 3, 2 for John, 12, 6 for Call.

We finish tied for 5th, 6th technically. 17-10, 8-8, RPI #43. I think we have a shot at a post-season tourney but it would be nice to win at least one in the conf. tourney.

[Wayne23]

After a 16 day layoff it’s Washington State in the first round. Hoping for a repeat of our last game.

3/9: 29-26 at the half.

We’re flat. I try to wake the guys up at halftime.

Still flat, 66-66 at the end so it’s OT. We missed an 8 footer for the win.

We score the first 4, they score the next 12 and it’s over, 74-83. This is a game we should have won. I am not pleased.

-2, even, 37-48%, fouls were 18-13. Hart fouled out in the first minute of OT, and that was the final straw.

18, 3, 2, 1, 1 for Wolk, 15, 4, 4, 6 TOs for Hart, 11, 7, 1 for Davis, 12, 5, 2 for Carr, 8, 6, 1 for John. Now we wait to see if we get to keep playing.

[PointGuard]

Too bad about the quick exit from the tournament, but overall a pretty darned good first year. With your record and RPI you should get into a post-season tournament.

[Wayne23]

Thanks PG.

[Wayne23]

Stanford upsets Arizona for the conf. title.

3/12: #9 seed in the East. We play North Carolina, 18-11. Tough draw. UNC had a subpar season but they’re a good team. Their 2 gets 34.7 per game. We need to decide whether to try to stop him or whether to let him go and stop everyone else. I decide to let the SG go and try to stop everyone else.

3/16: So far so good, 38-30.

The SG is scoring but no one else is, and Hart is having the game of his life.

I am amazed at the team, 76-53. We played about as well as we can, better than I thought we could, especially on D.

+12, -5, 55-36%, fouls were 10-15.

21, 4, 11, 1 for Hart in the game of his life, only 3 TOs. 19, 7, 2 for Carr, 10, 8, 2 for Call, 11, 7 for Davis. Never expected this.

Our reward is to play #1 in the country, 33-0 Kentucky. The closest anyone has come is 13. I just hope we don’t get embarrassed.

3/18: 23-45 at the half.

These guys are simply too strong for us. I tell the guys to play good D and be careful with passes.

We win the 2nd half by 2 so the final is 61-81. Not bad considering.

-21, -2, 43-49%.

John had 12, 2, 1, 1, Wolk 11, 1, 1.

There will be huge changes next year and I truly believe we will be a national power, at least top 20, probably better. We have some great guys coming in and hopefully we’ll get a couple more.

[Wayne23]

3/26: Two recruits commit, Nate Qual, #32 PF, and Jerr Lowe, #53 PG. Chasing a couple more.

#1 KY vs. #8 Duke and #2 UCoon vs. #5 FL in the final four. I’ll be there.

4/1: #1 KY vs. #2 UConn. Go UConn!!! Dad and I sit with the UConn people, of course, and we will for the title game.

Sid Younger committed. We got some great people. Really looking forward to next year. Dad’s excited about our prospects, too.

4/3: No luck, KY blew us out.

Talked to lots of A. D.s. Not interested in moving but who knows what the future will bring. Making good contacts is always a good idea and thanks to dad I’m able to do that.

4/4: Awards: Expectations are low. John Davis made 2nd team in conf. I’ll take it.

4/9: No interesting offers.

4/16: No staff vacancies.

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade. Got a major upgrade!

My #’s are: Off. 36, Def. 53, Recruit 58, Scout 7 (My weak spot), Player Development 44, Reputation 39. 220-67, .767.
Heading for a new season. Can’t wait!

[Wayne23]

5/1: I buy the National Gold.

6/5: Lookin’ at 2 for the one open spot we have. No luck.

6/26: 3 to fill. Looking at 10, 4 PGs, 2 SGs, 1 PF, 3 C.

7/11: Kid camp opens.

7/25: Some really good young players. I am really excited about my team, LOTS of talent!

8/7: Three on the Norton List: PG Brad Tark is #2, SF John Asp is #26, SF Sid Young is #29.

8/21: I offer to 2 PGs and an SG.

9/11: I visit 4. We’ll see.

9/18: Got one, #25 PG Brian Brown.

We have a schedule. Finally invited to a tourney, the Coaches’ Classic. Tough schedule, which is what I wanted.

9/25: Still trying to land 2 recruits.

10/2: We get #52 PG Cass Dale.

First day of practice.

We are picked 2nd in the conf. behind UCLA. I think we can do that.

10/9: Will Walker #37 PF commits. We’re all set with recruiting.