Hereafter

[Wayne23]

9/1: The vote is set for 9/30. There is a great deal of agitation by both sides and feelings are running high.

9/11: Lost a recruit.

The campaign is extremely heated, one might even say nasty.

9/18: I get 4, lose 3. We get a PG, and SF, and 2 PFs. #17, 30, 34, 42. We get closer to a few recruits and work harder on several.

We start at the preseason NIT vs. Maryland. A challenging schedule.

9/25: We get a PG. Lose 3.

9/30: After a bitter, nasty campaign, the votes are coming in.

463-265 to defeat the proposal to dismiss the Captain, the Chief of Security, and the Chief Navigator, but we're a divided group.

10/2: We lose 2 more.

1st day of practice. We're not Michigan ST but I think we'll end the season ranked.

10/9: We lose 2 more recruits but seem to have a chance with 2 others.

The atmosphere on the ship is tense. I've had conversations with the three people whose jobs were threatened and all of the are considering retiring, as is the Council chair. I have urged all of them to stay on. They are all valuable members of the team, and all would be difficult to replace.

10/16: Lost both recruits. I'm giving up, at least until Spring. We're almost out of money.

11/12: Here's the lineup:

3 really good guards fighting for 2 starting spots so I'm giving them all about equal minutes to see who will step up.

Senior Jay Olin will start at PG. He didn't play much last year but has looked impressive in practice.

Senior Eric Dean started in all 3 previous seasons.

Soph John Akin, who started at Nebraska last season, is battling with the other two.

#4 guard is senior Rob Reed who started last year. #5 is soph Jam Sarn, who started at Indiana last year and who is pretty good.

All seniors in the front court.

Max Wolf starts at Sf for the 3rd year in a row.

Dan Henk is at PF. He started at West Virginia last year and the year before.

Our C is Kam Saul, who we think is ready to have a very good season.

First big off the bench is Bret Gran. He started last season but his D is weak. #2, Kyle Baron, hasn't played much up 'til now. #3, Ger Mich, isn't very good, and Al Mack will only play in blow outs.

We have very good guards, all 5 of them, but injuries up front will really hurt us.

[Wayne23]

11/13: We start at the NIT tomorrow vs. Maryland. They're the #7 seed and we're #10. Not much to go on but we saw their 2 exhibition games and we think we can play with them. It would be nice to start with a win!

11/14: They take the lead. We're down 9 after 10. 45-50 at the half in a real shoot out. 11 each for Wolf and Saul. PF Dan Henk has 3 fouls, as does his man. -12 for the bench. Down 3 with 10 left. Down to the wire! OT!

88-85 in OT! 1st half was all O, 2nd was all D, overtime back to O. Center Kam Saul led us with 25 and 11. 11, 2, 6, 7 for SG Eric Dean, 15,
4 for SF Max Wolf, 13, 1, 4 for PG Jay Olin. 9, 5 for sub F/C Bret Gran. +14 in the paint was a huge factor.

We're still in blue space, but out of the rock zone. There is no sign of planets or suns.

Tension on the ship remains very high.

[Wayne23]

11/15: #2 seed, #9 ranked Gonzaga in the 2nd round of the NIT. This is a real challenge. They beat the #15 seed by 2 points, 51-49, so they may have trouble scoring. Let's see what happens. We'll need to play better than we did yesterday to have a chance.

11/16: They definitely have trouble scoring early and we build a big lead. 12 after 10. 40-20 at the half. 8 each for Henk and Akin. We're really dominating inside so far. We're walking away with this one, up 29 with 10 to play.

85-53. Didn't expect this against the #9 ranked team! 15, 5, 4, 3 for #3 guard John Akin, 13, 9 for Saul, 11, 3, 7 for PG Jay Olin, 12, 4, 4, 3 for SG Eric Dean, so our guards were the difference. But 12 more RBs and +18 in the paint so we were solid inside, too.

[Wayne23]

11/17: A tournament of upsets. On the other side it's #4 seed vs. #8, and we're the #10 seed facing #11 UAB. They're much stronger outside than in, but so are we. They turn it over.

11/18: We take an early lead. They catch up some. Up 4 after 10. Then we go on a run. 52-33 at the half. 5 players with between 7 and 10 points. Henk has 3 fouls. +9 RBs, +12 in the paint. We're totally in control in the 2nd.

86-66 and we're in the NIT title game! 16, 13 for Saul, 12, 7 for PF Max Wolf, 12 for Dean. 13, 2, 4, 5 for #3 guard Akin. +19 for the bench.

+16 RBs, +18 inside.

Security Chief Marta Bankel resigned today.

“Screw it, Jed. I don't need all this crap. I'll just go back to working in security with no headaches and hassles.”

She will be missed. She has done a very good job.

[Wayne23]

11/19: #4 seed, #2 ranked Arizona for the title. We're #6 in the new poll, taken before the game. They're favored by 1 ½ points. We play MUCH better D than they do. They have an edge on the boards, but they turn it over. If we play our best game we have a chance.

11/20: “Okay, we got this far, let's win the damn championship!”

We start slow then catch up. Down 5 after 10. 33-37 at halftime. 8, 5 for Saul, but we're shooting only 35.7%. -6 from the line as the refs are doing us no favors. 3 fouls for Dean, and 3 for their C.

“You're right in it, guys. Go out there and show them what you've got!”

Down 10 with 10 to go.

66-81. They're a very good team. We're not quite ready for this level of competition. But we played hard.

Post Game Press Conference (Excerpts):

“Coach Clark, you were expected to lose in the first round, were underdogs in every game and yet you made it to the title game.”

“I'm very pleased about how we did in the Nit and very proud of my team.”

“Kam Saul seems to be your leader.”

“Kam defines senior leadership. He plays hard and well and he definitely is the leader on the floor.”

“What does the rest of the season look like?”

“I think we'll do well. These kids are mature, all seniors except for Akin, and they know how to play as a unit rather than just for themselves. I think it will be a fun year!”

[Wayne23]

11/22: 1-1 Florida is here next for our home opener. It looks like a rebuilding year for them; this is n ot the typical Florida team. We think we should beat them.

11/23: 12,414 seat Viejas Arena is full. Not an empty seat in the place.

We take the lead early. Up 15 after 10. We're looking good! 43-26 at the half. 11 for Akin, 7, 6 for F/C Bret Gran. +14 RBs. Saul picked mup 2 quick fouls and then when I out him back in he picked up #3. Up 15 with 10 left.

67-51. Easy win in a low scoring game. It's always great to beat Florida! 15, 11 for Gran, 12 for Akin, so great work by the bench, +16. 11, 6 for Wolf, 8, 12 for Henk. +20 RBs, +16 in the paint.

Council Chair Grace Santio resigned.

“Jed, I can't do it any more. You won't want to hear this but the only person on the ship who CAN do it is you.”

“That's almost the last job I want.”

“I know, Captain is dead last on your list. If you take this one you can't take on the Captain's job if she resigns.”

“That's true, but I still don't want to be Council Chair.”

“Think it over- quickly!”

Damn! I doubt that I'm going to be able to escape this one.
In the meantime I talk with both Captain Tong Wang and navigation Chief Lucy Bonnell. I got pretty much the same message from both.

“I will NOT be driven from the Captain's job. The only way they'll get rid of me is to vote me out. It would help a lot if you were Council Chair though, Jed.”

“I'm glad to hear that you won't resign. I'm trying to come up with someone who would make a good Chair so I don't-”

“There's no one else who is trusted by both sides, Jed. You know that perfectly well.”

Sadly, I do.

“I LIKE being Chief Navigator. I'm not leaving. It would help if you were the new Council Chair.”

11/25: 2 ranked teams in a row coming up, both at home.

#12 Villanova, 3-0 is here. They can play, and they're very good at SF and C. We think we can beat them if we stay out of foul trouble and control the boards.

These next two games will tell us a lot about how good we are, for better or for worse.

11/26: It's close. Down 4 after 10. All the calls are going against us. 27-31 at halftime. Henk has 3 fouls, as does his man. 9 for Saul, but no one else is doing much.

“I need more from the bench and you have GOT to move without the ball. 23.3% is ridiculous!”

Up 1 with 10 left. Neither team is making shots. A late mini-run puts us up.

65-58! A great win! 15, 6 for Saul, 13, 1, 5 for Olin, 9 each for Henk and Akin. The bench did much better in the 2nd, and the refs evened out the fouls.

Only 8 TOs to 16. +12 inside.

11/27: “Madam Acting Chair, I think we need to elect a new Chair as soon possible.”

“I absolutely agree and I will take nominations from the floor.”

“That's easy. I nominate Jed Clark.”

Seemed like everyone except me raised their hand to second the nomination.

“Jed, in the past you've refused this position. What are your feelings now?”

“Madam Acting Chair, I don't want the job, but I can see that it probably makes sense for me to take it. No one had any other nominations, and it seems that most Council members want me to do this. If the Council votes in my favor I will accept.”

They did, and I did.

[Wayne23]

11/29: Oklahoma ST, 3-1 is here next. They fell out of the top 25 in the latest poll as we rose to #4. #3 Michigan ST crushed them on their own court. They have very good guards but I think our 3 guards can handle them. They're not good on the boards.

11/30: Early lead but it's close. Up 5 after 10. 31-30 at halftime. 3 fouls for Henk again and 3 for their SG. 9, 8 for Saul, 8, 1, 4 for Olin. Only 3 TOs. We start the 2nd with a big run and take charge. Up 22 with 10 to go.

82-51. The D was great again! 15, 15 for Saul, 17, 7 for Akin, 10, 3, 11 for Olin, 11 for Dean. Our guards did a great job and totally shut down their guards.
+18 RBs, +26 down low. 8 TOs.

We're 6-1.

I've had the new job for only a few days and I already know I do NOT like it. People constantly contacting me about something, sometimes important, mostly not. Too often a complete waste of my time. Ugh!

12/2: 2-3 Tulsa is here. This is one we should win. They aren't very impressive.

12/3: Up 10 after 10. 45-24 at the half. I didn't really expect a challenge tonight, 16, 3 for Saul, 10, 4, 2, 3 for Dean. Henk has 3 fouls yet again; I am NOT happy with him! +9 RBs, 4 TOs, +16 inside.

80-61. It was never in doubt. 24, 6 for Saul, 17, 4, 4, 6 steals for Dean, 14, 4 for Wolf, 10 assists for Olin. +14 RBs, +22 in the paint.

Kam Saul: Gotta say it, Coach Clark is pretty much a genius. He's really got us playing better than any of us thought we could play! I'm loving this!

“Jed, I'm hoping I have your support on replacing the Captain and the Chief navigator.”

“You do not, Mick. I think both of them are doing a great job, and I can;t think of anyone on the ship who could replace them and do half as well.”

“But you have to agree that they endangered the ship when we were in with the space rocks.”

“That may be true, but I don't think it was a terrible error. I think they were slightly, and I emphasize, slightly, too daring. But our mission is to explore
and investigate, and that's what they were doing.”

“And 162 people died.”

“Tragically, that's true.”

“It's also negligence.”

“Mick, I wish you'd drop it. You're dividing the ship and it's hurting all of us. I want my happy ship back.”

“I want to be sure the next time we face danger we have people in charge who are making responsible decisions.”

“Look, you made it clear in Council what you're looking for and you got a resolution passed to redefine danger and how to approach it. Both the Captain and the Chief Navigator agreed to be governed by that in the future. You've won. Let it rest.”

“I'll think about it.”

[Wayne23]

12/6: 3-2 Oklahoma just dropped out of the Top 25. Their starting SF broke his finger last week; their 2nd leading scorer, 1st in assists. We'll need to play well but if we do we should be fine.

12/7: They take the lead right away. It takes awhile but we come back. Up 4 after 10. 38-39 at halftime. Gran has 3 fouls as do 2 of OK's starters. +12 in the paint, +8 from the line but they have 7 threes and we have none. Up 2 with 10 left; we can't shake them.

79-77. They missed a 10 footer with 2 seconds left and Gran got the rebound and threw it down the court as time expired. This was the kind of game that makes a team better. You need to learn how to win these.

18, 8 for Saul, 11, 4, 3 for Wolf, 13, 4 for Henk, 14 for Akin. Our bigs won this one for us. +9 RBs, +14 inside.

12/9:At 5-2 Mississippi ST. Their SG is playing hurt, bad back. This shapes up as a tough road game. We'll need to be sharp.

12/10: We start fast but then they catch up. 40-35 at the half. The bench is playing well. The starters are holding their own. Henk has 3 fouls again. +10 down low. Up 12 with 10 to go. Then we go on a run and ice it.

66-48. Great D again. 16, 9, 3 for Saul, 10, 14 for Wolf, 10, 4, 4, 5 for Akin. +14 for the bench. +24 in the paint.

Max Wolf: I came to college to play basketball and to chase women. So far, so good! Coach Clark is really a HUGE help with one of those two. Guess which one!

[Wayne23]

12/13: At 4-3 Northern Iowa. They can do some damage outside, but they haven't played anyone and they only score 0.7 more than they give up.

12/14: Up 6 after 10 but they're pesky. 40-36 at the half. 11 for Olin, 9 for Akin. We start the 2nd fast and get the lead to 20.

82-73. 21, 3, 7, 4 for olin, but 6 TOs. 17, 7 for Gran, 11, 6 for Henk. +18 in the paint.

3 more before conf. play starts. The next one is the toughest but they're all at home.

Dan Henk: I know Coach has been pissed at me for fouling so much so I really worked hard not to foul tonight. I think I played really good D, my guy had only 4 points, and I had only 1 foul! Coach complimented me after the game.

We're still travelling through blue space with no end in sight. We have seen no trace of a solar system and I doubt it would be possible in blue light. I mean what kind of light and heat could a pastel blue star provide? We do run into an occasional space rock, but only once in a while and not in bunches, so they are easily avoided.

12/16: #7, Wichita ST, 10-1, is here. We're a big favorite but I'm not so sure. They are very good outside, and they are #2 in the nation in points allowed. We definitely have an edge inside though.

12/17: Slow start for both teams. Up 1 after 10. Then we heat up a little, then a lot. 35-20 at halftime; stifling D! Wolf has 3 fouls. They're shooting 28.6%.
We get the lead to 20.

78-53. We romped in the 2nd. 13, 8, 2, 3 for Gran, 14, 4 for Henk. +11 for the bench. 10 TOs to 20 and +22 in the paint.

“Jed, something has to change. We're still a completely divided crew.”

“There's no easy solution, Hali.”

“Would it solve things if Tong and Lucy resigned.”

“Over my dead body! And theirs too!”

“Okay! Don't chew my head off!”

“Sorry... You know that I groomed Tong for the Captain's job for a long time. I think she's an excellent Captain. She has no intention of resigning, thankfully. And Lucy is good at what she does, very good. She may have been a little too... confident maybe, but she's been reprimanded, as she should have been. But no one can come close to doing that job as well as she does it.”

“But they've both lost the confidence of well over 200 people.”

“That's true. I'm hoping time will have an effect. Maybe if we just wait this out everything will settle down.”

“Maybe...”

My new job as Chair of the Council is really stressful. I find I'm going to the holo to play piano just about very day. It really helps.

[Wayne23]

12/20: 6-4 Memphis is here. They're in a rebuilding year. Not the team they usually are. They're an outside team.

We're up to #3. I don't think we're that good, frankly. We're good, but not that good.

12/21: Up 3 after 10; it's been close all the way so far. 39-34 at halftime. 10 for Saul, 9 for Henk. -7 RBs but only 4 TOs.

79-67 but they really made us work for it. 25, 8 for Saul. 13, 8, 4 blocks for Wolf, 14, 6 for Henk. +14 down low.

One more pre-conf game.

Eric Dean: Coach is doing a good job, I gotta say it. I wish I was getting more minutes but hey, I'm starting anyway.