December 5 Zak:
56-40 at USC. 17, 13 for Arte, 13 for Shoe. 6 other guys made offensive contributions. The D was terrific. We shot 50%, they shot 26.4%. +9 RBs.
USC is one of the teams that really wanted me during the off season. I just didn’t feel they were committed to doing what it takes to create a top of the pack program.
December 8 Earl:
67-80 at #9 Ohio ST. 2nd most points we’ve given up. They shot 47.5%, we shot 38.8%. It was close for almost 25 minutes. At that point we stopped hitting shots and, for a while, they didn’t miss many. 19, 2, 5 for King, 16, 7 for sub Mick Tigs. 8 and 8 for Arte. He and the guy opposite him banged heads all night and neutralized each other.
Zak:
Jamal is having a great year. The league he’s in is tougher than the one in R. I. was and he has stepped up his game to match it. I’ve seen three of his games. He has a scorer’s touch (Shoots like his father taught him!), knows how to move without the ball, and knows how to create. On D he understands the concept of playing D with your feet. He sticks like glue but doesn’t foul much because he’s sensible enough to let the guy go if he’s beaten. He does very well for just a sophomore. His coach knows what he’s doing, which is great!
Jamia was disappointed with our move because it meant she would not be going to an arts magnet school. She’s in 7th grade. We’re looking. There are high schools like that here, but nothing below high school.
Jamilia is in a Montessori school. There are no Renzulli Academies anywhere near us. It’s fine. Dawn is looking for private schools that cater to gifted kids.
December 12 Earl:
62-60 over Central Michigan here.-10 RBs which led to them taking 8 more shots. We led by 11 midway through the 1st half. It was 6 at the half, and it went back and forth in the 2nd half. At the end King made 2 free throws with 4.2 left so they had plenty of time to set up a good shot, but our D was solid, and they wound up throwing up an off balance three. 18, 5 for Arte, 12, 7, 2 for Shoe, 10, 5 for Antt, and good bench play.
December 15
57-54 over Chattanooga here. 15, 5, 2 for Tigs from the bench; we had lots of foul trouble from our bigs. 13, 2, 2 for King. 9, 2, 2 for Akins from the bench. 8 for Shoe.
Shoe Floyd hurt his back. Out for about 10 days. Akins and Tigs will share his minutes.
December 19 Zak:
70-69 at #14 UCLA. 25, 9 for Arte, who was the difference. On the final play of the game he shifted over to their PF, who was their biggest scorer, and anticipated the pass to him, stepped in, and stole it. He fired it up the court before he could be fouled and the clock ran out as the ball bounced toward the other basket. 14, 7 for Antt, 10, 3, 2 for Tom Holt, and 9 for King. We shot 51% to their 38.1%, so even though they took 14 more shots we won the game.
This team has surpassed my expectations by an enormous margin so far.
December 22 Earl:
44-52 at Ball ST. We shot 33.3%, 24% on threes, 44.4% on free throws. -9 RBs was probably a more telling stat though. That gave them 6 more shots. 14, 13 for Arte, 11, 2, 4, 2 for King. 17 TOs didn’t help.
Zak:
10-4, #22, RPI #27 as we head to SEC play. I never would have believed we would have played this well. 3-2 vs. ranked teams.
Otto Arte is #5 nationally in RBs, #2 in conf. He’s #4 in scoring in conf., #5 in FG%. John King is #3 in assists.
As a team +3.5 PPG, +0.8 RBPG, -0.8 TOPG, -1.8 assists PG, and -2.1 steals PG.
10 day break until the next game.