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[Wayne23]

3/5: #8, NET #5.

3/9: #10 seed Providence beat #7 'Nova so we play Provocation College Fryers again. They're 12-18, 6-10. We won by 14 at our place. Their starting C and second best player is out with an elbow fracture. We're a heavy favorite.

3/10: We take a lead immediately. Up 5 after 10. Up only 6 at the half. 11 for Boyd, 8 for Meek. Suli has 3 fouls, but Meek is playing very well. They're shooting 60.9% but we've taken 7 more shots and are +7 from the line. 6 TOs to 13. +8 in the paint. The D is not there so far and i raise the roof about it. We go on a run. Up only 7 with 10 left as they come back.

84-77. We were in control at the end but we never did put them away solidly.

7 guys in double figures. 6 fewer TOs. +9 from the line.

[Wayne23]

3/11: #22 ranked, #6 seed Xavier, 21-10, 9-7, in the semifinals. Their starting C is out for the season. We beat them by 8 there; the C was out then, too. They're favored but I think we're better. They're 3-7 vs. Ranked teams.

UConn was upset in the quarters. We're the highest seed left, for whatever that's worth!

Game time: We take a quick lead. Up 7 after 10. They come back. Down 4 at the half. They're shooting 65.2%, but we've taken 9 more shots.

-5 from the line-8 from the bench; Meek has 3 fouls. We need to tighten up the D. Up 2 with 10 left. Our D is awful! We go on a run!

81-77 but they hit a 35 footer at the buzzer. We were not in danger at the end.

14, 1, 5, 4 steals for Cole, 16, 5 for Long. Good guard play brought it home.

Stats were very even.

[Wayne23]

3/12: It's #12 ranked, #4 seed Georgetown, 25-8, 10-6. We won by 10 at home then lost by 11 there. Their starting SF has been out since November with an MCL tear. They have an excellent back court and a very good PF. Stats are very even. This one is up for grabs! It would mean a #1 seed for us, I'm guessing.

Game time: They take a slight lead. Down 2 after 10. Down 2 at halftime. 14, 4 for Suli. 3 fouls for Boyd. +7 RBs but 11 TOs to their 5. We're out shooting them but they've taken 7 more shots. Up 5 with 10 left.

73-87. It was tied with 2 1/2 to play. We just completely fell apart at the end. 19, 7 for Suli, 19, 3, 3 for Hite. 6 threes and inside scoring did us in.

Seldom used F/C Boo Palm has a concussion. Out for at least a week and a half.

Hoping for a #2 seed.

[Wayne23]

WOW! #1 South! We play #16 Air Force. No idea how this happened but we'll take it. This is a team we should beat easily.

3/17: We take an early lead. Up 16 after 10. Up 21, 60-39, at halftime. 12 each for Long and Suli; it's a romp so far. Up 29 with 10 to go.

99-81. Very easy win. 21, 2, 3 for Hite, 18, 8 for Suli, 17, 6 for Long, 14, 1, 9 for Muer. +18 RBs.

I talk with Jess every night that I'm away now.

[Wayne23]

3/18: #9 seed Tennessee, 20-15, in the 2nd round. Their starting C and 1st big off the bench are hurt but will likely play. They only beat opponents by 1.6. 2-5 vs. ranked teams. Their forwards can play.

3/19: Early lead. Up 7 after 10. Up 15 at halftime. Balanced scoring. We're shooting 53.6% to 28.1%. +14 in the paint. Up 6 with 10 left; they're coming back.

84-74. 14, 5, 3 for Suli, 13, 7 for Long, 12 each for Hite, Muer, and Meek. A horrendous 25 TOs to their 20. +10 in the paint. We were +16.5% shooting. +13 from the line.

[Wayne23]

Back home for a couple of days before we head for Atlanta for the Sweet Sixteen against #18 ranked, #4 seed California, 27-6. This will be a challenge.

Their outside vs. our inside. We need to bring our best game with us.

"This is really exciting!"

"Ulcer producing, too."

"Yes, but you love it."

"I do!"

"Wish I could be there."

"I wish you could too."

3/24: They take a lead. Down 6 after 10. Not playing D. Down 1 at the half. They're shooting 60% but we took 6 more shots. Boyd has 3 fouls. -6 in bench
play.

"You need to tighten up the D, guys. Remember, win or go home."

Still back and forth. Up 7 with 10 to go. OT!

99-106. They romped in OT and sent us home. Well, lousy D sent us home, 58.9%. We took 18 more shots and lost. -7 at the line, -8 RBs, 10 fewer TOs.

17, 6 for Long, 18, 3 for Hite, 17, 3, 7 for Muer.

If guys don't transfer out I think we can contend for the title next season.

[Wayne23]

3/26: "Are you going to the Final Four?"

"Have to. It's like a national convention for college hoops. Everybody is there."

"Are you looking for offers to coach somewhere else?"

"I'd like to stay here. It would have to be a marquis school to even make me think about it."

"What about us?"

"That's a big part of any decision I make, and you and I would discuss it if there's anything to discuss. I expect to stay though."

4/3: #1 Kentucky beat Cal for the national title.

4/4: Awards: I get Conf. COY again; first time in the Big East though. Tare Suli made the first team. That's it, and as it should be. We were a team with no one but Suli standing out.

4/9: LOTS of very interesting conversations at the Final Four and the phone has been ringing nonstop.

TP goes up to 53.

Duke wants me. I say no. Couldn't take the heat.

Ohio St calls. Their A. D. Really wants me to at least come out for a visit.

After some thought I call back to say I'm not interested. I'm staying here.

"You said no to Duke!"

"I'd swelter in that heat. Couldn't stand it."

"Really? You prefer the snow and the cold here?"

"Actually, if that's the choice, yes. And besides, we need another year. If I move next year we'll either go together or it didn't work out. But I think it will work out and I want to be here to give it a chance."

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade. We need one. The locker rooms are high school and the seating capacity is pathetic.

No. I'm pissed but Ali says she just doesn't have the money. Maybe next year. Ali is a straight shooter and I like her a lot but I'm disappointed.

30-7, Sweet 16; great season. After 3 seasons I'm 84-24, .778. Not bad!

It was a tough year. I lost Dee in the Spring and I hope I never have to go through anything like that again. But we had a good season, and meeting Jess has turned my life around. The kittens help, too!

[Wayne23]

5/1: #27 recruiting class. We're a little thin at guard but LOADED inside if no one leaves.

I buy the East Premium. Hope it doesn't leave me short of recruiting dollars but only 2 seniors.

5/29: 2 guys transfer out. Palm would have played a little inside. Jack would have played a lot. I'll go for one big one guard.

6/5: Round one. A B guard in our top 5. We offer to him. We offer to an unrated C from Gonzaga. 0-2.

Round 2: We offer to the same B guard who is still in our Top 5, and to the same C from Gonzaga. We get the B guard. He'll start. Didn't get the big guy.

Round 3: We offer to a PF from Cal; he's a C. Got him. He'll either start or be first big off the bench.

6/11: A very sad day. Dee died a year ago today.

6/14: I needed a few days to myself so I haven't seen Jess, except at work. We went to dinner tonight then back to my place. She was very understanding.

"I'll never forget Dee, or stop loving her, but I'm ready to turn the page, and be with you. I hope that makes sense."

"It makes perfect sense. Let's build something together, Mack."

6/25: Going to the East Coast Jam.

6/26: 2 scholarships. I need 2 bigs.

[Wayne23]

7/11: Recruiting is slogging along. Some interest from a couple of guys. We only have 2 slots to fill.

I'm thinking about asking Jess to move in. It seems a little soon be we really get along very well.

7/15: "Do it. Yes, it's a little soon but from everything you've told me in these sessions it seems like a good idea. Jess is more laid back, less intense than Dee was. They are very different people. With a woman like Dee I'd say wait, but with a woman like Jess, when you feel ready, do it."

"I'm going to think about it a little while longer."

7/25: I asked her. She agreed. Her lease ends on 8/31, so good timing!

8/7: 2 on the Norton list! The two transfers, SG Earl Thom, #24, and PF Lon Brad, #33.

8/21: We offer to a Brazilian and a German, both Centers.

8/30: Jess moved in today. That's always a difficult job but we got through it. We have never had an argument. Dee and I, much as we loved each other, bickered regularly. It didn't seem to hurt the relationship though. We were both Type A, we were very ambitious, we were both control freaks...

Jess is much more laid back, "go with the flow." She's not passive, and she's not a pushover. It's not like, "I'm the boss." But she's relaxed in her approach, even when we don't agree. She doesn't necessarily give in, I give in as much as she does, but she's not aggressive about it.

We've talked about what happens if I take a job somewhere else. I've made it clear we'd both be involved in the decision.

She definitely is a career woman but she wants children. I think we should wait a year, in order to develop the relationship with just the two of us, and she's okay with that.

[Wayne23]

9/6: The kittens like having two people living here. Jess and I are settling in very comfortably.

9/11: Visited 4 families. Two were abroad. Busy week!

9/18: We get a C, #92. We lose the other guy and offer to another C, a really good one.

We ramped up the schedule this year. Going to the Caribbean Challenge again, vs. New Mexico. Definitely a challenging schedule.

9/25: We get the C, #61.

10/2: 2=1st day of practice. We look like we're going to be very good this year and we're deep.

10/11: Jess likes to cook so when I'm home we eat at home, which is much healthier.

"Cooking relaxes me, and I like that it can be really creative. On the weekends it's fun to try new recipes."

"Sounds good to me!"

"I don't want to cook every single night, but a lot of nights I do."

"That's fine. No pressure."

The kittens are growing out of the kitten stage. They are so much bigger!

11/12: The season starts in two days. Here's our lineup:

Junior Marc Cole is back at the Point.

Earl Thom, a soph transfer from Georgia and a Norton candidate, is at SG.

#3 guard is Ad Muer, who would start at lots of schools. He's a soph. #4 is frosh Jon Shan, who need work on his D. #5 is frosh Trav Sila, who also needs work on his D.

Senior Dave Boyd moves from PF to SF. He didn't live up to expectations last year but had a good +/-, and he's an excellent defender.

Junior Lon Brad, a transfer from California and another Norton candidate, is at PF.

Junior Tare Suli is back in the middle.

Frosh Kam Savo is first big off the bench. He looks really good and should get lots of minutes. #2 is senior Cris Fier, who was never quite good enough to get many minutes here. Finally there's soph Gem Hill, who isn't very good.

We do lack depth inside and a major injury there would hurt; Savo would be fine starting but then the bench would be short and weak.