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[Wayne23]

11/13: Miami (FL) is here to start the season. We don't have a lot of info but we're a big favorite.

11/14: Slow start for both teams. We're up 5 after 10 in a very low scoring game. Down 4 at the half; the scoring all but exploded in the last 10 minutes, it's
36-40. 3 fouls for Brad but their C has 3. 12, 8 for Suli, 10 for Savo from the bench. -4 RBs but +14 in the paint. 5 fewer TOs. We clearly still don't function as a team. Down 6 with 10 to play.

84-82. We were down 10 with less than 5 minutes left. Savo, who was outstanding, hit a 14 footer with 17 left, and we didn't let them have a good shot.

21, 13 for Suli, 20, 5 for Savo in 23 minutes. +6 RBs, 7 fewer TOs, +26 in the paint, +11 from the line. Threes kept them in it, they made 11.

"You're a very different person once the season starts, really when practice starts. I need to work really hard to get your mind off work."

"It's a very intense, demanding job."

"And you love it."

"That's true."

"Well, don't forget about me completely."

"I would never do that. If it feels that way I'm doing something wrong. I'll work on it."

"It shouldn't be work."

"Oh believe me, it will be a pleasure to spend more time with you!"

[Wayne23]

11/16: 1-0 Ohio ST is here. We're a big favorite. They are strong inside.

11/17: We take an early lead. Up 10 after 10. They come back. Down 5 at the break. They shot 43.5%, we shot 24.3%, just couldn't make a shot in the last 10 minutes. 3 fouls for Boyd didn't help. 5 fewer TOs. All we need to do is make shots; everything else is fine. Tied with 10 left but we're shooting 28.6%.

79-70. Strong finish. 23, 3, 6 for Thom, who looked world class tonight. 9 TOs to 22. We shot only 32.9% for the game. We won't win many shooting that poorly. 10 threes helped.

[Wayne23]

11/20: Both recruits sign, which is great news!

We're ranked, #22.

At 2-0 Virginia. They play very good D and have one of the best PGs in the country. We have an edge inside and we're favored.

11/21: They can play! Down 3 after 10. Tied at the half. 14, 7 for Brad. +5 RBs, +14 in the paint. +5 at the line. They have 5 threes, we have none. Up 6 with
10 left. We go on a run!

72-57. Held them to 25 2nd half points. 19, 8 for Brad in his best game since he got here last season. 16, 4, 4, 4 steals for Thom. +9 for the bench. 10 fewer TOs, +22 in the paint. We shot better by 6% and took 15 more shots. We beat a good team at their place.

"I like it a lot better when you're home."

"I know, but road trips and tournaments are part of the job."

"And I REALLY like going to the games."

"I'm glad."

"I mean I've been going to most of our home games since long before I met you, but it means so much more now."

"Not to mention that you have much better seats!"

"Well, there's that."

[Wayne23]

11/23: At 2-1 Washington ST. We're heavily favored. They have really good people at PG and C but not much else. This is a team we should beat BUT they beat #5 Kansas by 9 so it's not "just show up."

11/24: Early lead. Up 4 after 10. Up only 1 at halftime; we led by as many as 9. Suli has 3 fouls which is NOT good, given their excellent Center; Suli has 10, 7. -12 for the bench. +5 RBs. They're shooting 54.2% to our 37.8% but we took 13 more shots. 11 fouls called on us to 4 on them. Bug run puts us up 17 with 10 to play.

72-56. Great 2nd half, especially on D. 22 for Thom, who is living up to the hype. 14, 10, 3 for Suli.

+6 RBs, 5 fewer TOs.

11/25: "You're finally home!"

"Great to see you, hun. I'm famished, let's get something to eat."

"Dinner's ready at home."

"Even better!"

[Wayne23]

11/27: #21 NC ST, 4-0, is here. Their excellent PF is hurt but will play. They are excellent inside. This could be a tough one.

We're #19.(Lockwood 67%, 11 days-)

11/28: We score the first 9. BIG lead. Up 21 after 10; didn't expect this. 55-32 at the half. PG Marc Cole has 3 fouls. Thom has 21, 5, 4, 3 steals. 15, 4, 3 for Suli. +6 RBs, 4 TOs, +8 in the paint. +16.3% shooting. Up 22 with 10 to go.

82-57. Great D! 25, 13, 3 for Suli, 25, 7, 5, 3 steals for Thom. +13 RBs.

The pre-game scouting report lied. Their injured PF didn't play at all.

"Wow! That was fun. You guys were unbelievable."

"Undefeated, ranked opponent. I expected a challenge. It never happened."

"But you're leaving me again."

"It's just one game."

"Yeah but the better part of 3 days."

[Wayne23]

11/30: At 5-2 Georgia Tech. We're a big favorite again. We have a big edge on D, and almost as big on the boards. But it's a road game...

12/1: Down 6 after 10. Down 3 at the half; we have yet to lead, and the only tie was 0-0. 16 for Thom. Too many whistles against us, they have 19 from the line, we have 9, and that's the difference, along with -9 for our bench. No one with 3 fouls though. VERY sloppy game, 24 TOs, 11 of them ours. Down 16 with 10 left; we're in trouble.

69-85. They ran away from us in the 2nd half. Our O wasn't much and our D was awful. 22, 4, 4 for Thom, but he didn't get much help. Boyd had 10 and 10, and that was about it.

+7 RBs but -12 in the paint. 27 TOs, which is inexcusable.

"Wow! Not a good night!"

"No. I'll probably wear out the hotel room floor pacing instead of sleeping."

"Let it go. You know what you need to work on. You weren't going to go undefeated."

"You're right, but I doubt I'll get much sleep."

"Hurry home."

"Be there tomorrow late afternoon."

[Wayne23]

12/4: 2 game home stand. First is 3-3 Kona. We're better at every position.

We fall to #22.

12/5: We're flat early. Up only 3 after 10; Thom is on fire. 51-27 after a huge run. Thom has 25, #3 guard Ad Muer has 12. +5 RBs, 5 TOs. Shooting 58.8% to 34.6%. Up 23 with 10 left.

79-51. A real blowout! 30 for Thom, 12 for Muer.

+7 RBs, 11 TOs. The refs had it in for us; probably trying to keep it close.

Marc Cole hurt his foot; out a week. He'll miss a game. Al Muer will get his minutes and Jon Shan will be 1st off the bench. Muer will be fine. We'll see about Shan!

"Too bad about Cole getting hurt."

"It's part of the game. You just hope you don't get a major injury, or get one at a crucial time. Nothing you can do about it."

"It's weird how philosophical you are about some things and NOT about some other things."

"Oh really!" That led to a poke and tickle session and then... well, never mind...

[Wayne23]

12/7: 3-4 Iowa ST is here. We're a big favorite again. They have a very good PG so Muer will be tested.

12/8: We come out of the gate quickly. Up 15 after 10; we're doing it inside. 42-29 at the break. 3 fouls for each of our starting guards; being that we're short at guard due to Cole's injury this is NOT good. 11, 5 for Brad, 10, 5 for Boyd. 4 TOs to 10. +6 from the line for once. +8 on 2nd chances. Up 13 with 10 to play.

87-69. Despite the foul trouble we were never challenged. 20, 1, 4, 4 steals for Thom. 20, 8 for Brad, 15, 14 for Suli, 12, 11, 4, 3 for Boyd.

+10 RBs, 12 TOs to 18. Another easy win.

"How do you know when to take someone out and who to put in?"

"Well, it's not hard to see fatigue, but you need to anticipate it and take guys out before they get too tired. And you rotate guys in and out so that you don't have your best players all tired at once. Ideally, you only have one or two subs in at a given time, and your starters are fresh for the final 2-3 minutes, especially if it's a close game."

"Sounds pretty complicated."

"I suppose. Focus on that next time you come to a game. Look at my substitution patterns. It might be fun for you."

"I will."

[Wayne23]

12/12: At 2-4 BU next. I thought I'd changed the home and home team but obviously I didn't. On my list.

This should be a walk over; they score 61.1 per game.

12/13: We take an early lead. Up only 3 after 10; not happy! Down 1 at the half and I'm fuming. After kicking butt I change to max D and make a slight adjustment on O. Suli has 3 fouls and our top 3 guards have 2 each. I kept Cole out except for a minute here and there; didn't think I'd need him. Given how poorly we're playing... Up 4 with 10 left; we can't shake them.

68-65 but they hit a last second three. We weren't in real danger late. But we played like crap tonight.-9 in RBs. 12 fewer TOs was a big help, as was taking 16 more shots. Practice won't be fun for the next few days. Heading for the Caribbean so that's nice.

[Wayne23]

12/14: Heading for the airport soon to take a night flight. Jess dropped me off at school, and we'll go to the airport by bus. Not a fan of bus trips but...

"I REALLY wish I could go."

"I know, but they only pay for wives on these trips."

"Hm..."

12/15: I cannot believe we're only the #4 seed in the Caribbean Challenge, We are obviously WAY better than anyone else in the field. We start against #5 seed New Mexico, 3-4. This should be a walk in the park.

12/16: Back and forth early. Up 2 after 10. A run puts us up 16 at halftime. 9, 3 for Boyd. We gave up only 21 points in the 1st half; they're shooting 33.3%. We took 17 more shots. +9 RBs, +10 in the paint, 3 TOs to 13. Up 26 with 10 left.

72-46. Excellent D! They shot 25%. 18, 8 for Suli, 14, 13 for Brad. +14 RBs, 6 TOs. +24 in the paint.