Way Back When

[Wayne23]

3/5: We start the tournament vs. #8 seed NC-Central, who we beat by 10 there. They have some weapons but at least on paper we're much the better team.

3/6: After some back and forth we take the lead. Then they come back. 41-38 at the half. 11 for Davy Hank, 8 each for Krzy and Cary. We lead by 8 with 8 minutes left.

87-73. A late surge gives us the win. 20, 2, 3, 3 for Art Cary, 18, 3, 3 for Hank, 12, 4, 4 for Jack, 15, 5 for Krzy. 12 TOs to 22, +18 inside.

Fly York: I'm wondering if maybe transferring here was a mistake. I'm not getting much playing time and they recruited two bigs for next season. I may move again.

[Wayne23]

3/8: We play #2 seed NC A & T, 21-8, 12-4, for the Conf T title. We won by 11 there. They're a good team that does a lot of things well, particularly inside.

Game time: They take a lead. They're beating us inside early on. We come back midway through the half. 48-38 at halftime. 14 for Krzy who really took charge. 11 for Hank. 8 for Cary but he has 3 fouls.

"20 minutes to the title. Keep your focus and no dumb fouls!"

Up 12 with 10 to go. They make a run at us.

92-86. They got it to one possession 3 times late. 25, 4 for tourney MOP Romu Krzy, 19 fro Cary, 14, 6 for Hank, 11, 1, 7 for Hope.

Our NET is 43 so maybe a #10 seed in the tournament?

Romu Krzy: I really like playing here. People are very nice to me even though I do not speak the language very well.

[Wayne23]

3/12: #7 East. We play #10 seed Utah ST, 19-10. They score 18.5 fewer but give up 10 fewer than we do. They are good both inside and outside and we'll need to play well.

3/16: We take a lead after a few minutes. Up 5 after 10. 44-33 at the half. Balanced scoring. +12 in the paint. We get the lead to 20 with 11 minutes to go.

94-71. 19, 13 for Fisk, 20, 4, 7 for Cary, 14, 5 for Hank. +26 down low.

Ken Hope: As a senior I am really hoping we can keep this going, but the next one is going to be really tough. I've had a ball playing here!

[Wayne23]

3/17: #2 seed, #5 ranked Kentucky, 22-10, in round 2. This is the best team we've played all year, and we didn't do well vs. the two Conf. B teams we played early on. They're good both inside and out. It's going to take our very best effort and an off night by them, but we'll do our best and see what happens.

3/18: We take an early lead. Up 6 after 10. They catch us late. Down 1 at the half. 10 each for Krzy and Cary but Cary has 3 fouls.

"You're right in this game. Keep playing hard and no dumb fouls!"

Down 10 with 10 to play. It's not happening as they go on a big run.

61-84. They were just too good. We never quit though. 16, 6 for Krzy. -16 in the paint, and that was most of the difference.

I'm pondering skipping a few Conference levels. Maybe moving up to Conference P instead of just moving up to S. I'll discuss it with the staff and with A. D. Ted Baer before deciding.

Spring came to Rhode Island early and the weather is lovely. Of course it could snow next week. You never know around here.

Max Fisk: It's sad turning in my uniform for the last time. It's been great playing here at Bryant and it is something I will remember for the rest of my life.

[Wayne23]

3/25: We took the team to a musical concert in Providence this evening. It cost a little money since we went out to dinner in the city first, but this kind of thing is fun, and is a kind of reward after a great season. Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time. The Master of Ceremonies had a good sense of humor so it was quite a lively evening of entertainment.

We barely made the last trolley home. It would have been quite a little problem if we had missed it!

4/3: #3 Duke wins it all.

4/4: Awards: Romu Krzy is Conf T Frosh OY and I am COY. Art Cary makes the first team. I am very disappointed that we received so little recognition. We won the conference easily and people like Fisk and Hope should have been recognized. Nothing I can do, of course.

4/9: The phone is ringing but I have no interest in leaving.

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade again. We could use one!

Yes! A. D. Ted Baer found the money to approve an upgrade from C to B. That will be a great selling point with recruits and transfers.

27-5, Conference 10 regular season and tournament champs, 2nd round of the NCAAs. Another very good season! Overall I'm 55-10, .846.

[Wayne23]

5/1: Recruiting class #159. Not bad for such a small school.

We look at Conference P. It's a big jump but we're going for it!

We purchase this regions basic scouting report.

Now let's see who we lose to the transfer portal!

I've been making it a practice to go for a long walk every day that the weather permits. I find it is a great asset to my health. I feel stronger and i seem to have more energy. Occasionally the walk takes me into the wooded areas, of which there are many in and near Smithfield.

There are not yet enough automobiles to present a great deal of danger when I walk along the roadside, but their numbers are increasing. I understand that some of them are capable of travelling at speeds up to 10 miles per hour. Outrageous!

5/29: OUCH! We lose two starters, Romu Krzy, maybe our best player, and Ban Rich, a guard who was ready to start. We also lose John Joon but he wouldn't have played much. We can only hope to do very well with transfers.

Round 1: We offer to a B and 2 Cs. 0-3.

Round 2: We offer to a B and 2 Cs. We get a C, a guard who will get minutes.

Round 3: We offer to 2 Cs. 0-2.

Round 4: We offer to a B and a C. We get the B. He'll play and he may start. We need a guard.

Round 5: We get a guard.

We didn't make up for the players we lost.

Spring is lovely here in Smithfield. My walks are delightful.

"In the Sweet Bye and Bye" is a lovely song that you hear everywhere these days.

6/25: We'll go to the East Coast Jam and the Big Apple.

6/26: 4 scholarships.

7/1: I am already tired of writing letters and I have so many more to write. It is really the only way to communicate with players we are trying to recruit.

7/15: The heat of summer is upon us. Sleep is difficult in the heat. I find myself walking in the wooded areas. The shade makes it considerably less hot and humid, especially when I am able to walk early in the morning.

I occasionally meet other men walking.

7/22: I was at the haberdasher's today. I needed a dress shirt and two pairs of socks. While I darn my own socks, the two pair I own have become beyond repair. I purchased new ones.

I will not relate this to Mrs. O'Brien but i was somewhat taken by the sales clerk, Miss Alma Atwood. Miss Atwood was very pleasant to do business with. We engaged in conversation. When she discovered that i am the coach of the Bryant Bulldogs she became quitew animated.

"My brother Charles took me to several games last season. I thought your face was familiar and now i understand why."

"Did you enjoy the games?"

"Oh yes! They were quite exciting, and your young men play ever so well."

"When the season begins perhaps you and your brother would do me the honor of being my guests at a game. I will be happy to provide you with tickets."

"That is very kind of you, Mr. Last!"

I am not certain what I am getting myself into but Miss Atwood is quite charming.

7/23: "Alma Atwood is a perfectly lovely young lady, Mr. Last."

"I declare you have spies everywhere, Mrs. O'Brien."

(She laughs) "My friend Mrs. O'Malley happened to be in the shop and she noticed that you and Miss Atwood were having quite a long conversation."

"Yes, I'm sure she did."

"In any case I would be happy to arrange for you to be invited to the Atwood home for supper one of these evenings."

"That would violate our agreement, Mrs. O'Brien."

"Pish tush! You were quite clearly smitten according to Mrs. O'Malley."

"Let it be please, Mrs. O'Brien."

"I shall do nothing without your permission, Mr. Last, but you should seriously consider my offer."

It seems I AM considering the offer. Miss Atwood pops into my head all too frequently.

8/7: A few recruits are expressing at least a bit of interest in us. We have hosted a few.

8/15: "Miss Atwood is quite an attractive young lady. If you dither for too long some other young beau will put his oar in, Mr. Last."

"I would be most appreciative if you could arrange an invitation to dinner for me, Mrs. O'Brien."

"At last!"

8/20: I had a lovely evening with Alma Atwood and her brother, Arthur. Their parents are both deceased so they make their home together. Miss Atwood cooked a New England boiled dinner.

"Mrs. O'Brien told me it is your favorite."

"As it is, Miss Atwood. And you do a wonderful job of it!"

"Why thank you, Mr. Last."

We finished the meal with fresh baked apple pie.

It was a lovely evening. As I was preparing to leave I asked Miss Atwood if i might ask her brother's permission to call upon her again. She blushed.

Arthur Atwood said he would be pleased to have me call again.

8/21: We offer to 2 PGs and 2 PFs. We have hopes with all four.

[Wayne23]

9/3: Miss Atwood, Arthur, and I went for dinner at the hotel in town, and then went for a leisurely evening stroll. We discussed basketball some, but also discussed Arthur's work at the Smithfield bank and Trust, and Alma's job at the haberdashery. It was a very nice evening.

"Ted, I'm wondering if I might have a little chat with you."

"I'm your Athletic Director. We chat every day."

"This is of a personal nature."

"Ah. Certainly."

"Well... As you know I have no family... I need some advice."

"Sure. On a personal matter?"

"Yes... You may know that I've been courting Alma Atwood."

"Are you kidding? It's the talk of Smithfield. Everybody knows it."

"Great! The joys of living in a small town! Well, we have only been seeing each other for a short time but I'm assuming I need to make a decision very soon."

"About what?"

"Well, if I continue to court her the expectation will be that I will propose marriage."

"You are probably very close to that point already, if not there. Why? Are you not planning to do that?"

"That's the problem. Miss Atwood is a perfectly delightful young woman and she would make a wonderful wife, I am sure."

"But?"

"But, would it be fair to her? I work very long hours. I'm away on basketball business often. Could I give her the attention a wife expects?"

"Jake, the average man probably works at least 10 hours a day, and 5 hours on Saturday. His work is physically grueling. When he gets home from work he doesn't have the energy to give his wife much attention. Alma Atwood would be far better off with you than with those men."

"I don't see her marrying a working man. If I were not in the picture she would marry a business man."

"All right. And the business man would work at least as many hours. True, he would not be physically exhausted when he arrived at home, but he would likely be mentally exhausted. Miss Atwood has probably not given a single thought to worrying about how many hours you work or how often you're out of town. I would advise you to proceed with the relationship if you are interested in marrying her."

"Thank you, Ted. I appreciate the advice."

9/18: We get our #1, a PG, #90.

We have one or two challenges on the schedule but not many.

9/25: We lose all 3 recruits we had offered to.

10/2: No luck with recruits.

First day of practice.

11/12: Here's the lineup:

Senior Deon Jack is at PG. He's a third year starter.

Junior Art Cary is at SG. He's a 2nd year starter.

#3 guard is junior Time Eshe, a transfer from Merrimack. #4 is junior Curt Chad who was our #3 last season. #5 is Marc Mill, a senior transfer from UNLV where he started for the last 2 years. He was unimpressive in practice and in the exhibition games, which was disappointing.

Junior Fly York is at SF. He's really out of position here but he needs to start.

Junior Joel King, who started at George Washington last season, is at PF.

Cris Mack, a senior, started at Texas A & M for the last two seasons. He's in the middle, and may be our best player.

#1 big off the bench again this season is senior Davy Hank. He has embraced this role and is excellent at it. He led us in scoring last year, from the bench!

#2 big is junior Ted Good,. #3 is frosh Sam Turn, who has a lot of potential. #4 is junior Ezra Sims, and last is frosh Sid True.

I continue to see Alma, always chaperoned by either her brother or Mrs. O'Brien.

"Mrs. O'Brien, I know nothing of these things. I must ask you to hold this in the strictest confidence, but I am planning to ask Arthur Atwood for his sister's hand in marriage. Is there a particular time when this becomes appropriate? We have been courting for a few months now."

"Well I am simply overjoyed to hear this, Mr. Last. I would think Christmas time might be a wonderful occasion."

"Yes, I suppose so. And perhaps a June wedding?"

"June, or sometime in the summer, yes. I am so pleased!"

"And Mrs. O'Brien, I would be disappointed if the news got abroad before I ask."

"I shall not utter a word to anyone, Mr. Last."

"Thank you, Mrs. O'Brien."

11/5: Alma, Arthur, and I went to another musical concert in Providence this evening. It featured a local band playing an evening of John Phillip Souza. The music was quite invigorating!

[Wayne23]

11/13: Art Cary is hot but we trail by 7 after 10. 46-45 after a high scoring half. 21 for Cary, 15, 9 for Mack. They have 7 threes which is keeping them in it. +14 RBs, +10 inside. Up 8 with 10 to play.

86-75. 39 for Art Cary, 23, 14 for C Cris Mack. +13 RBs, +24 down low. Great way to start the season, especially on the road!

So many questions. I have no idea about this becoming engaged business. I'm asking married people I know and respect in hopes that I will not make a total mess of this. It is rather stressful.

[Wayne23]

11/16: 0-1 Central CT is here. They have a terrific SF but not much else.

11/17: We build a big lead quickly. 49-32 at the half. 12 for Cary, 10 each for Mack and Jack. But Cary has 3 fouls. We're shooting 55.9%.

84-69. 17, 3, 7 for PG Deon Jack, 14, 10 for Mack, 14, 2, 3, 3 for Cary. Bench was +16. +13 RBs, +18 in the paint.

Deon Jack: I'm really hoping to make my senior season something to remember. We have a pretty good team.

I guess they really are digging a ditch to get across Panama from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and ships will be able to go through. Seems impossible!

[Wayne23]

11/20: 0-1 Vanderbilt is here. They lost their 1st game by 15. Their SG looks pretty good.

11/21: We take the lead early. 52-35. We're having no trouble scoring. 18, 6, 5 for Cary against their star who has 11 and 3. 13, 5 for Mack.

86-78. We were flat in the 2nd half but they never got closer than 5. 20, 11 for Mack, 18, 7, 7 for Cary, 16, 9 for Hank. +16 RBs.

Cris Mack: Can't believe I'm a senior already. I want us to have a great season. We're playing easy teams right now but we jumped up a long way in conferences so the conf. schedule should be tough.

11/23: 2-1 Florida Gulf Coast is here. They give up fewer points than we do but they have trouble scoring and we're better rebounding. Their C scores a lot of points.

11/24: Back and forth. 41-46 at the half. Mack and Cary lead us in scoring but the men they're guarding are matching them in scoring. Our bench is +8. -7 from the foul line. This is the first time we've been challenged. We're up 3 with 10 to play. We go on a late run.

89-80. They gave us a battle for 32-33 minutes. Mack had 28, 4 against a very good C who had 31 and 7. 15, 2, 4, 3 for Cary whose man also had 15. +12 for the bench led by #3 guard Tim Eshe with 12, 0, 5, 4 steals. We had an edge in side and on fast breaks.

Alma and Arthur come to all of our home games. I am able to get them very good seats, of course.