by Wayne23 » Tue May 19, 2015 4:50 pm
March 5: As expected, Ric declare for the draft. We’re shocked that Jam didn’t!
Jam is still #2 on the Norton list.
March 6: We’ll face #9 seed Fordham, 13-15, in the round of 8.
March 7: 90-44 over Fordham in an immensely costly win. Ric Hemp broke his arm and he’ through for the season. Jam banged his head and only played 9 min. (but he’s fine and will be back for our next game), and Ric’s injury happened late in the first half. Shay Span at guard had 16, 5, 4, and Dave Mert, inside, had 17, 6, 3, 2. Those two, as well as B. J. Lenn, will get more minutes.
“I STILL think we can win the whole thing.”
#5 seed LaSalle, 16-13, 10-8, in the semis.
March 8: 75-53 over LaSalle. 23, 5, 3, 3 for Quin, 16, 10 for Jam. We never trailed.
#3 seed Dayton, 21-8, 12-6, for the title.
March 9: 71-60 over Dayton for the title. 17, 7, 4 for Jam, 14, 3, 4 for Quin, 12 and 12 for Dave. 14 and 39.
The big question is whether we’ll get the #1 seed. Sometimes they take a major injury into account.
“I don’t care. We gotta beat ‘em all anyways.”
March 12: #1 in the East!
March 14: We play Milwaukee, winner of the play in.
March 16: 73-54 over Milwaukee. 16, 8, 2, 1, 3 for Jam, 17, 2, 4, 2 for Quin, 14 for Shay, 9, 5, 2 for Jay.
#8 seed DePaul, 25-8, is next.
March 18: 89-66. 20 for Jam, 21 for Quin, 15 for Jay, 14 for Shay. We lose a guard and our RBs go down? All 4 games since Ric left.
#4 seed, #18 ranked UConn in the Sweet Sixteen. They’re the only team that beat us this season.
March 23: 67-57. It’s amazing. B.J. Lenn fell and broke his leg! 25, 3, 3 for Shay, 11, 8, 2 for Jam, 11, 5, 5, 3 for Quin. 14 and 30.
“Yeah, I guess ya could say we had our share a bad luck this post season. But I’ll tell ya what, an’ alla you write this down. Don’t count us out. We’re plannin’ ta defend our title! My boys are ready ta take what we’re dealt and move on.”
#3 seed, #3 ranked Charlotte, 33-2, 15-1, is up in the Elite Eight. How does the #3 team get a #3 seed?
March 25: 64-56 and we’re in the final four! 18, 15, 2, 2, 5 for Jam, 10, 11 for Dave, 11, 2, 6, 4 for Quin, 12, 3, 3 for Jay, 9, 7, 3, 4 for Ty Padd from the bench. 8 and 40.
“We gotta play together and we are!”
It’s #2 ranked Tennessee, 33-4 in the round of four. We beat them by only 4 to win the Coaches’ Classic. This won’t be easy!
Davey has been with us for the entire postseason and, of course, he’s here in Atlanta for the big games.
March 31: ST Louis won the NIT.
April 1: 89-70! We beat Tennessee and we play for the national title for the third straight year, looking to win it for the second! 26, 2, 5, 4 for POG Quin, 24 and great D for Jam, 12, 9 for ty from the bench. +5 TOs.
#4 Louisville, 33-5, for the title. We beat them by 18 when we were at full strength.
“If we win this d*mn thing people better say we earned it! Playin’ #2, 3, 4, right in a row, 2 guys out with injuries.”
April 3: 87-67! We never trailed! 24, 12, 4 blocks for Jam, 25, 3, 2, 2 for jay, 18, 4, 5, 3, 3 for Quin, 9, 9 for Dave, 5, 4, 9 for Shay who did all we asked after Ric went down, and 6, 9, 1, 3, 2 for Ty from the bench.
What a year, and especially, what a postseason! We lose Ric, Dave, Jay, and Clif Perl, but we have some great guys back and some really promising kids coming in. B.J. will be healthy and ready in plenty of time.
April 4: Awards: Jam got the Final Four MOP and 1st team. I’m absolutely shocked that Ric didn’t make All American, even 2nd team. Dave got national COY again. In conf., Jam was POY, frosh OY, Def. POY, 1st team with Ric and Quin. I thought Jay might get 2nd, but it didn’t happen.
“Any chance we move, Dave?”
“It would be tough. I’d love ta threepeat. Only Wooden ever did that.”
We stay. Dave said some very good schools called.
Bobby got a couple of offers. He very much wants to be a head coach but he didn’t think the schools that called were the right ones. He and I discussed it while he was thinking it over, and I agreed. No hurry.
April 23: We ask for a budget increase. Wow! $45,000 increase! I guess back to back titles counts for something! The A.D. says we’ve brought a lot of money and recognition to UMass. Dave and all of us also got raises.
We end with another title and with only a loss to UConn early, 38-1. Dave is now 612-223, .733. Reputation is 91.