by Wayne23 » Sun Apr 09, 2023 1:48 pm
11/16: “Okay guys. This is what we been waiting for. Let’s go out there and play some hoops!”
We’re playing hard early but it’s close. We lead by 4 after 10 minutes. Looking good. Strong finish to the first half and we lead 65-55. 22, 3, 4, 4 for SG Jan Culu. We expected him to be a scorer.
We’re playing well inside.
“I’m real happy with the offense but we gotta play more D.”
Not pressing much as we start the 2nd half. We will if we need to. Up 12 with 10 to go. I like what I’m seeing, mostly. We’re a scoring machine!
120-92. Amazing offense! 28, 8, 7, 6, 3 for Culu, great game! 20, 10, 4 for C Gary Ball. 20, 7 for PF Wade Mark. 14, 5 for sub F/C Mike Bron, 12, 2, 3 for sub guard Ed Fier. +30 in the paint, +25 RBs.
“Bubba Burk, WNOL, here with coach Ally Cash after the Privateers first game. Coach, your reaction?”
“I told you we were gonna be amazing. 120 points! If that’s not amazing I don’t know what is!”
“What about Jan Culu?”
“We had high expectations for Jan and he sure lived up to them.”
“Any concerns about the D? You gave up 92.”
“I’m a defensive guy but it’s gonna take 2-3 years for me to get my team together. For now we’ll work hard on D at every practice but we might just need to outscore the other guys.”
Off on a 6 game road trip. We start with 1-1 Coppin ST.
After one game as a head coach I gotta say I love it. Very exciting. Let’s see how I feel when I lose one!
11/19: It’s different on the road, with the crowd behind the other team but we’re up 8 after 10! We’re extending the lead! 65-43 at halftime. We are a scoring machine! 17, 4, 6 for Culu. 16, 5 for 6th man Mike Bron. 15 for PG Ty Will. We’re being outscored inside but +18 RBs, and +26 in the paint. We’re shooting 68.3%.
“The D’s a little better. Keep getting open for good shots. You’re doing awesome at that! Great inside play.”
Still not pressing much. We will if we need to but we’re not that great on D. They’re trying to come back. Up 14 with 10 to play. Looking good late!
109-90. A terrific 33, 7, 9 for Culu. 24, 10 for Bron, 14, 10 for Mark, 18, 3 for Will. +32 down low, +23 RBs.
“I love what I’m seeing on O, boys!”
3 minor injuries to subs. They’re all day to day.
At 2-0 UC-San Diego next.
11/23: They look like a good team, and they jump out to a big lead. We come back some and we’re down 7 after 10. 36-45 at the half. First time we’ve been challenged. 13 for Culu but no one else is doing much. We’re shooting 39%, and not dominating inside.
“Okay guys. You need to work harder to get open and you need to do more in the paint. Let’s show ‘em how we can play!”
Pressing more but it’s not helping much. Down 6 with 10 to play.
81-79! We made some tough shots late and they missed an open three at the end. We really had to work for this one after trailing almost all the way. Feels good!
18, 6, 3 for Culu, who was doubled for most of the game. 14, 11 for Gary Ball, 16, 5 for Bron. +10 in the paint, all in the 2nd half.
“I couldn’t be happier with the way you played in the 2nd half. You refused to lose!”
“This is Billie Sue Baker, here with the WNOU post game show. I have coach Ally Cash with me. Coach, the student station is lucky enough to travel with the team and it sure has been fun. Talk about tonight’s game.”
“We just wouldn’t give up. They led by as many as 16 in the 2nd half but we kept working, kept digging in.”
“They didn’t give you the shots you wanted.”
“They doubled Culu most of the night and really filled the lanes well. We had to go to our 2nd and 3rd options often but those guys came through.”
“This was your best defensive game so far.”
“We’re working really hard on D and it’s nice to see it pay off against a good team on the road.”
At 2-1 Chicago ST.
“They can hit the outside shot. Perimeter D is gonna be important tonight. And own the paint!”
11/26: We start fast! Up 20 after 10. We’re on fire! We get it to 30. 67-37 at the half. We’re smokin’! 14, 6 for Culu, 11, 7 for Will, 12, 4 for Bron. +28 for the bench, +26 in the lane.
“Keep pushin’ the ball on O, guys!”
We’re up by 42 with 10 minutes to play.
107-74. 22, 3, 9 for Culu, 22, 5 for Bron, 17, 4, 7 for Will, 14, 4 fo9r Mark.
“Bubba Burk, WNOL, on the phone with coach Ally Cash. Coach, you guys are really playing well.”
“I told ev’rybody. We’re great!”
“How did you turn this team around so quickly? They only won 6 games all of last season?”
“We worked on confidence first, then solid fundamental basketball. We demanded their best effort at all times and we got them to buy in to all of that.”
We’re 4-0, winning by more than 20 a game. #1 in the country in PPG.
Jan Culu is getting 25.3 a game, with 6 rebounds and 7 assists. He’s a superstar! Sub Mike Bron, who will get more minutes, is getting 19 a game with 6.3 rebounds.
Still on the road, with 3-1 Central Arkansas.