Hereafter

[Wayne23]

12/27: At 6-4, 1-0 Xavier. They've had a rough season so far after being very good last year. They only beat teams by 3 points. We just need to beat their home court advantage.

12/28: Close early then we catch fire. Up 11 after 10. Up 21 at halftime. 13 for Webb, 10 for Craw. 2 TOs, +20 in the paint. +22.4% shooting. Up 17 with 10 to go.

85-61. This was a romp! 20, 9 for Craw, 20, 3 for Webb, 3 guys had 10. 11 TOs, +28 in the paint.

[Wayne23]

12/29: We continue the road trip at 6-4, 0-1 Georgetown. Four starters graduated and they didn't have much luck with recruiting or transfers. It's a rebuilding year for them.

They beat other teams, when they do, by a small margin, and they're 0-2 vs. ranked teams. We think we can turn them over.

12/30: They're hanging tough early. Down 3 after 10 and I go to man-to-man full time. 49-50 at the half. I can't believe we gave up 50 points and I am NOT happy about it. WAY too many whistles, most of them against us. We're -8 at the line and I'm chirping at the three blind mice. -6 for the bench. +10 in the paint.

“You need to play D!”

Mini-run to start the 2nd! Up 11 with 10 left.

99-93. They got it to 1 with 2 ½ left, and to 2 with 22 seconds left. We made our free throws late.

We let them shoot 50% for the game; outrageous! +24 in the paint and only 7 TOs saved us, but barely. Our starters all had between 12 and 15. -16 for the bench.

12/31: “Madam Chair, the holo instructors are all in place and we're ready for adults to take the courses and opt for more danger in their holo adventures.”

After another long debate the Council voted 7-5 to proceed, and to allow people to add risk to their holo programs. There were mandatory, detailed warnings that had to be viewed and heard before an adventure could start. These could neither be muted nor skipped over.

“Madam Chair, I know we've voted to approve this but I want to be on record as saying this can only lead to trouble. Families and friends of people who are injured and yes, even killed, are going to be coming after the Council for allowing this.”

“Noted, Amal.”

New Year's Eve. Nobody on board makes a big deal of this. Wine and beer are allowed on board, but few people abuse it, and all the bar tenders are robotic and keep track. They shut people off WAY before they can get drunk; and the same applies as to purchase of wine and beer for home use. It is quite limited. It is possible to abuse alcohol on board, but it isn't easy...

Hali and I were asleep well before midnight.

[Wayne23]

1/1/2044: Finally back home after 2 on the road. We play the Provocation College Fryers, 7-4, 1-1. Their starting Sf is out with a fractured hand. We score 17 more a game and their average point diff is 1.7. They don't rebound and they turn it over.

1/2: Close early, as usual. Up 5 after 10. Up only 2 after a very sloppy first half. We had 13 TOs, they had 11. Both teams are hot but neither is getting many shots because of the TOs.

“Take care of the freakin' BALL!”

A mini-run puts us up 13 with 10 to go. Then we go on a big run.

93-67. They kept turning it over ((24), we didn't (17, only 4 in the 2nd half). +8 RBs, 7 fewer TOs, +20 in the paint.

For the 2nd game in a row all of our starters were in double figures, 13-16 each. 16, 9, 3 for Dunk.

Only 4 games in we're in a 3 way tie for 1st with everyone else at least 2 back. It's looking like a 3 team race with us, 'Nova, and Creighton.

First major injury in the holo. A skier lost control on a slope that was probably beyond his skill level. He's paralyzed from the waist down. Our robotic surgeons may be able to restore the use of his legs but it's not certain yet. As expected, his family has already addressed a written complaint to the Council.

[Wayne23]

1/5: At #11 Villanova, 12-1, 4-0. Starting SF, starting C both out with injuries. They're 3-0 vs. Top 25 teams so they can play.

1/6: Slow start for both teams. Up 4 after 10. 49-40 at the half. 13 for both Webb and Craw, 12 for Buck. +11 from the line. Up Up 15 with 10 to go. We go on a run and take total command.

95-60. 28, 17 for Craw, 21, 11 for Dunk, 18, 2, 3 for Buck, 13, 2, 7 for Webb.

We beat up another high ranked team!

A pretty serious argument in a dining hall. Someone couldn't get in, which still happens now and then, and the guy pitched a fit at the hostess. He became a bit violent, shoving her. She was not hurt but security arrested the man and he will go to trial. We treat this sort of thing seriously. He's confined in a “cell” pending trial.

[Wayne23]

1/8: At 8-7, 2-3 DePaul. Their starting PG has a sprained wrist. He'll play, but how long and how well? We score 15 more a game and give up 8 less. They're 0-3 vs. ranked teams, all blowouts.

1/9: We're flat. Up 7 after 10. 51-31 at the half; we woke up! 16 for Craw, 15 for Buck. But both Craw and Dunk have 3 fouls. +13 RBs, 5 TOs. Up 14 with 10 to play.

97-70. 17, 7 for Wall, 18, 2, 3 for Buck, 16, 4 for Craw. 12 each for subs Rafe Bray and Deon Sund. +15 RBs, 11 TOs.

Still tied with Creighton for 1st. 3 teams are 2 back. We're 17-1, 6-0.

1/10: The trial for the man who pushed the hostess was today. The Council Chair was the judge. I was on the jury. He was belligerent and uncooperative. His wife testified that he is physically abusive to her.

We found him guilty, sentenced him to indefinite time in the cell where he is being held and mandated counselling. The counsellor will determine when he is ready to return to his work and his family.

“Wait! You mean I could be in here forever!”

“You will be in there until the court appointed counsellor determines that you are no longer violent, however long that takes.”

At that point he tried to attack the judge. Fortunately security was ready and they subdued him. Ugly scene.

[Wayne23]

1/12: #16 Creighton, 14-1, 6-0, is here in the early battle for 1st place. Their starting PF broke his ankle a few weeks ago. He'll be out for another few weeks. They have 4 starters who can score, and they rebound well. We think we're better and we've played a much stronger schedule.

1/13: Back and forth early. They're up 8 after 10 so I go to full time man-to-man. Up 4 at the half. The man D energizes us. You need to be active to play that D and it often translates to being more active on O. Craw has 3 fouls, as does his man. Other stats are very close. We heat up! Up 21 with 10 to play.

93-67 and we blow out yet another ranked team!

22, 2, 6 for Buck. 13 each for Craw and Webb, 12 for Dunk. +22 in the paint.

We're alone in 1st in the Big East.

Jan Wall hurt his wrist. He'll miss a game. Rafe Brai will start.

“I think about going to a really small school and seeing how far I can take them.”

“But you can win championships here.”

“Oh I'll stay until I win at least one, but I think I'd like a different kind of challenge, at least for awhile- NJIT, Boston U., someplace in the Midwest, a small school in California...”

[Wayne23]

1/15: 12-5, 3-3 Butler is here. Their starting SG and first big off the bench are both hurt. Seems like most of the teams we're playing have had injuries. They have an excellent Center.

1/16: Quick lead. Up 17 after 10. 44-27 at the half. 13, 10 for Dunk, 12, 7 for Craw. +11 RBs, 3 TOs. Looks like another butt kicking in progress. Up 10 with 10 to play.

85-68. 28, 12, 3 for Craw, 19, 14, 4 blocks for Dunk, 13, 2, 4 for Deon Sund. +22 in the paint, +11 RBs, 11 TOs.

Arno Welch, the violent man we have in prison, broke out. The security man who brought his dinner was not as attentive as he should have been. Welch punched him in the jaw, knocking him out, then Welch made his escape. Fortunately the security man woke fairly quickly and sent an alarm. Other security personnel took Welch's wife and young daughter into protective custody.

We haven't found him yet but there are not a lot of places to hide on a space ship. Both robotic and human security personnel are on the hunt, and everyone on board is on the alert.

[Wayne23]

1/17: At 7-9, 1-6 Seton Hall. They are 0-3 vs. ranked teams, none of the games close. Their numbers look good but they've played mostly weak teams, at least before conference play started.

1/18: We're not focused early. Down 3 after 10. Down 2 at the half. 14, 4 for Craw, who has been on fire lately. No one else is doing much. I give them the silent treatment, just go into the coach's office and stay there. My assistant leads them back out and I go to the bench just a few seconds before the 2nd half starts. I don't say a word. Let's see if they got the message. Down 5 with 10 to go. Only Craw is playing hard. I pull my other 4 starters.

80-78. I put my starters back in after a few minutes and they woke up just barely enough to get a win we didn't deserve.

28, 10, 3 for Craw, who was excellent. +34 in the paint, mostly due to Craw and Dar Dunk, who wasn't bad.

Welch has been located but he has a hostage, a 17 year old young woman. We're guessing he sweet talked her into hiding him. We became suspicious since her whole affect seemed to change. Security followed her to her living quarters. They shouldn't have let her go in but they did. When they attempted to follow, Welch had a knife to her throat. No telling where he got a knife. So it's a stand off.

The security agent who Welch overpowered is on administrative leave. That should never have happened. The two agents who let the 17 year old enter her quarters are also on administrative leave. The Council is furious about these two occurrences. They show a real breakdown in security and we can't have that.

There will be a thorough investigation as soon as we resolve the hostage crisis.

[Wayne23]

1/19: At 6-10, 1-6 ST Johns. Their #3 guard is out with a broken arm. This is a team we should beat easily. Let's see if my guys are awake tonight!

1/20: We come out flat again. I pull my starters and the subs are down 2 after 10. I put the starters back in and we're getting hammered. Down 12 at the half. I raise all the hell I can find at halftime. Down 4 with 10 to play. I don't get it...

62-69. We just lost to maybe the worst team in the conference...

Never mind the numbers, we just lost to the worst team in the conference...

At the halfway point in Big East play we remain alone in 1st, despite the loss. We're one up on Creighton, 2 up on 3 teams.

20-2, 9-1, #1 (but that doesn't take the loss into account), NET #1. My bench coach just pointed out that we played 3 games in 5 days. Okay, we're tired. We have a few days off until our next game and I won't make the practices too physical. This is why people need assistant coaches.

Hostage crisis resolved, but it wasn't easy. We starved him out.

He kept saying, “She'll die before I do!”

And she would have. Eventually, we told him we would place food next to the door. In his weakened mental and physical state, he had her open the door to get the food. We grabbed her and pulled her to safety, stormed the room, and captured him.

His second trial is in a few days. Sadly, we're probably going to need to execute him. We simply don't have the resources to take care of someone this dangerous.

[Wayne23]

1/24: 9-10, 3-6 DePaul is here. Their starting C has an ankle injury. Not sure whether he'll play or how much. They score 6.3 less than they give up.

1/25: Up 6 after 10; we're still not playing the way we should be. Up 11 at the half. 11 for Webb, 8 for Buck. Big guys are quiet but playing solid D. Craw has 3 fouls. Up 22 with 10 left, as we catch fire, finally; it's all guards.

80-52. 21, 5, 7 for Webb, 15, 7, 3 for Buck. +14 RBs, +18 inside, 11 TOs.

1/26: “The Council will now take up the matter of the two security breaches.”

The chief of security tried to make excuses for his department's serious failures, but his arguments were weak. After a long meeting, aren't they all, he was fired. His deputy was put in charge and will immediately put a training program into effect. She's very competent, and I'm sure she will do a great job.

I knew the old chief was a slacker. I don't understand why the Captain and the Chair of the Council either didn't know it, or didn't act on it. There's only one incompetent division chief still in place. Hopefully the people in charge here will figure that out and replace her soon.