DDSCB25: Superstar

[Wayne23]

3/7: We play #7 seed Monmouth, 14-16, 9-9, in the quarter finals. We won by 11 at home. This is a team we should beat, especially since we’re back at full strength,

3/8: “Don’t let that big Center beat you!”

Back and forth early. Down 2 after 10. We’re shooting poorly. Late lead. 37-35 at halftime. We shot 27.8% so I guess we’re lucky to be where we are. 13, 5, 3 for Oats, 8, 4 for Hall. Hill played 14 minutes due to Newn’s foul trouble. He was feeling his way. He’s not quite in game shape yet. All those minutes will help. Only 2 TOs.

Close early. Up 13 with 10 to go. Oats is carrying us. Big lead late.

89-74. 26, 11, 10 and the season’s 2nd triple double for Oats. 25, 3 for Redd. Only 6 TOs.

11 game winning streak!

All the favorites won so it’s #3 seed Hofstra, 18-12, 11-7, in the semis. We won by 17 at home. They can score and they can rebound. We’ll need to be sharp.

3/9: Campbell upset NC A & T in the first game. I’m using that as a motivator although it would have been nice to play the best.

They lead early. We catch up. Up 4 after 10. 10 point lead late.46-33 at halftime. 8, 2, 7, 3 for Oats, 9, 4 for hall, 9 for Swab, 7 for Hill, who seems like his old self tonight. 4 TOs. They have 2 guys with 3 fouls.

We hold our lead early. Up 11 with 10 to play. Big lead late.

90-75. 22, 3 for Newn, 14, 5, 17, 5 for Oats, 10, 9 for Hall, 13, 5 for Swab, 10, 7 for Wats, 10, 3 for Hill. It’s nice to have a bench with Hill back. 12 fewer TOs.

It’s #4 seed Campbell, 18-13, 10-8, in the title game. We won by 18 at home, lost by 8 there. We’ve only lost once since that game. They give up more points than they score but they’re hot right now.

3/10: My guys seem loose. I hope they aren’t overconfident. I can hear a lot of Boston people in the stands. It’s nice to have the support. Dad and Kip are here.

As we often do we start slow, 1-11. We tie the game after 7 minutes but we’re still shooting for crap. Tied after 10. We’re turning them over which is keeping us in it. 34-39 at the half. We shot 25.7%.
15,5 for Wats, the only guy who’s doing much. Only 1 TO to their 10.

“You gotta make shots guys!”

We take the lead early. Then it’s back and forth. Tied with 10 to play. It’s staying close. They go on a late run.

71-87. We fell apart in the last 2 ½ minutes. 17, 5, 7 for Oats, 15, 13 for Wats, 12 for Hi;;. Newn had a poor game, played only 20 minutes due to fouls, and that hurt us.

This loss will hurt our seeding. We were headed for about a #4 seed but it will be lower now.

[Wayne23]

3/12: #5 South. We play #12 Xavier, 21-11. They’re a pretty good team, especially at the 2 forward spots.

3/17: Early lead. We get it to 10. Up 11 after 10. Our guards are doing the scoring. They come back late. 41-46 as they hit a three at the buzzer. Oats committed his 2nd foul with 8 minutes left and we went down the drain, blowing a 14 point lead. 12, 1, 3, 3 for Newn, 11, 0, 3, 3 for oats, 11, 4 for Wats. -6 at the line. +10 in the paint.

We tie it quickly. Stays close. Down 8 with 10 to play. Down 12. We need a run! Not happening. The season ends here.

73-86. Lousy last 28 minutes. 22, 14 for Wats, 24, 1, 7, 4 for Oats, 12, 3, 5 for Newn.

-15 on the boards.

I’m sitting in the hotel with Kip.

“It’s time you moved on.”

“yeah, if the right job is there I’ll take it.”

“I wouldn’t be too fussy.”

3/19: We’re still chasing that PG. We think we’re close to landing him.

4/3: We get the PG.

#2 Wisconsin is the champ.

4/4: Awards: Mal Oats sweeps the CAA awards. Senior Dan Wats joins him on the 1st team. Newn and Redd make the 2nd team.

4/9: Here come the offers. Going on a road trip to Maryland and Kansas ST.

Going to K ST.

Lots of work to do!

My first call was to Kip.

“Hey Kip. I’m sure you heard.”

“Yep. Good move.”

“So what about you sell your businesses, retire, and come in as my bench coach?”

“Not gonna happen. I’m not ready to retire yet.”

“Damn!”

K ST will go with Princeton and Triangle and we’ll go strictly man to man on D. The O will not be too different for them but pressing will be. As I did at Northeastern we’ll press a little less than half the time.

My assistants are Dan Hatt, my recruiter, Ben Silk, the scouting coach, and Len Gerr, bench/practice coach.

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade. Our facilities are decent, B, but we don’t need money.

And I ask 3 guys to consider transferring out.

We don’t get the upgrade.

I made sure to personally say goodbye to all my players before I left Northeastern, and to my staff as well.
4 seasons at Northeastern. We went 110-31, .780. Not bad.

On to a new adventure.

[Wayne23]

5/1: #41 recruiting class.

We only have 4 guards so we’d like to pick one up in the Portal. Maybe more depending on who leaves.

I quickly found a condo to rent. It’s nice. Has 2 BRs, 2 baths, ranch, garage, deck. It’s right off campus so I can walk to work when the weather is decent.

Lots of meetings with staff and a couple with my new A. D., Ray Long, who played hoops here a few years ago.

Getting to know my players, too.

5/22: None of the guys I hinted at to leave did leave. Nobody left. That’s disappointing in that I had hoped to do some business in the Portal. Now I can only go after one guard.

5/26: We don’t make an offer.

5/29: We make an offer. No. We make another offer.

6/2: Got him! And he’ll start! We’re going to be solid in the backcourt but less so up front.

6/25: We’ll go to Indy and all 5 regional camps. We have the money so why not!

Getting to know everyone. Dan Hatt and I have been having long daily meetings about recruiting and it all starts tomorrow. We need 3 bigs. No senior guards.

6/26: We’re looking at lots of big guys.

7/7: Lots of phone calls and texts, and a lot of scouting. We’ve hosted 8 top prospects.

7/17: We offer to 3 guys. We have a shot with all 3. 2 are foreign players.

8/7: Nobody on the Norton list, as expected.

The women’s coach, Ally Reed, stopped by. Not sure what took her so long. We had a chat about schedules and I told her we should meet soon to work it out.

8/15: Working those recruits, those we offered to and some others.

9/11: We lose one. We visit 4 guys.

9/18: We lose another one.

I ask for an easy schedule because wins build recruit interest. Almost all home games, no tournament.

9/25: We land both of the foreign guys. They look like they can really play. We lose the other guy.

We set the lineup for our first practice.

10/2: First practice is today!

Looks like the backcourt is what it will be but there could be changes up front. Only the SF seems like a lock.

10/16: We get our 3rd recruit.

11/13: Season is ready to start. Here’s our lineup:

Junior Neil Fitz is at PG. He is a 3 year starter and knows how to play the Point.

Transfer soph Dave Wilk is at SG. He has looked great in practice.

#3 guard is frosh Mick Keys. He’s still having issues with ball handling but he’s got the rest of the game. Bri Seek, another frosh, is next. He’s still learning.

Senior Gar Feld is at SF. He’s a 4 year starter.

Senior Roy Whit is at PF. He started last year. Great rebounder but his D needs work.

Junior Art Sale is in the middle. Good rebounder, our best defender. Maybe our best scorer.

First big off the bench is junior Del Lenc. He’s a good sub. Senior Nate Dots has never lived up to expectations. Frosh Deek May is still learning but has a lot of potential. Frosh Bulu Ulus was probably a mistake. My predecessor shouldn’t have gone after him.

[Wayne23]

11/14: We open with Eastern Washington here.

11/15: We’ve got a good crowd but not a sellout. I’d say about 10,000. Capacity is 12,500.

They take an early lead. Up 1 after 10. It’s been back and forth. We get the lead to 10. 60-41. We had no trouble scoring, shooting 55%. 10, 4 for SF Gar Feld. +13 for the bench. Good 1st half!

We get it to 20 early. Up 17 with 10 to play. Solid lead late.

100-84. 15, 3 for PG Neil Fitz, 14 each for subs Lenc and May, 14, 9 for Whit, 13, 7 for Feld. Our SG, Dave Wilk, was the playmaker with 10 assists. +17 for the bench. +16 in the paint.

“Leah Roy, KKSU campus radio. Coach Wynn, good start!”

“Yes, I was pretty happy with our guys. We have some things to work on but all in all we did well.”

11/17: 1-0 Cal ST Northridge is here. Their PG had 44 points in his last game. Pretty scary!

11/18: I walked into the locker room a couple of hours before the game started and heard some guys ragging on Neil Fitz, who is guarding the guy who had 44 in his last game.

“He’ll prob’ly get 60 tonight with you on him.”

“Maybe 70.”

“He’s gonna have a field day.”

I went beet red and was about to explode at the guys when assistant Len Geer shouted at me.

“Coach, it’s not how it seems.”

“What do you mean it’s-”

“Give me a sec to explain.”

I shrugged.

“Early last season we were playing a guy who averaged about 20 a game and had hit for 28 in his last game. For some reason two of the guys good naturedly started teasing the guy who was guarding him. The guy was laughing and giving it back. It was ll in fun. Then, don’t you know he held the guy to 11 and got 18 himself. Well that started it. Whenever we played a big time scorer the teasing routine started. Strangely enough it almost always worked.

“I see the guys are staying with it this year.”

“And nobody minds?”

“We had a guy last year who didn’t like it so we didn’t do it to him. But he graduated. I think everybody’s on board this year.”

“Well, okay, I guess.”

We start off 1-9. Then we heat up a little. Up 3 after 10. We take a good lead late. 31-24 at the break. The big time scorer has 4. 9, 8 for Roy Whit. +9 RBs. Both teams are shooting poorly.

Double digit lead early. Up 20 with 10 to go. Big lead late.

74-61 but it wasn’t that close. The big time scorer got 11. 21, 20 for Sale, 16, 13, 4 blocks for Whit, 13, 8 for Feld. Only 6 TOs. +20 in the paint.

It’s different here in the Midwest. People aren’t as reserved as in New England. I’m kind of a loner so I kind of wish they’d back off sometimes but I don’t think that’s going to happen. They’re too friendly and get too close, as far as I’m concerned.

[PointGuard]

You're no longer outta Kansas, Alice...err...I mean Jess.

[Wayne23]

11/21: 1-1 Charlotte is here. They’re good outside but we’re way better inside.

2 recruits sign.

11/22: Our first sellout!

Close early. Up 2 after 10. A run puts us up 10. They come back. Down 7 at the half. We blew a 12 point lead. 17, 3 for Sale. +20 in the paint.

They’re holding their lead early. Down 6 with 10 to go. Then we take the lead. Late run ices it.

96-85. 28, 7 for C Art Sale; big game. 13, 2, 6, 3 for Fitz, 10, 4, 5 for Wilk, 11, 10, 3 for Whit, 15, 3 for Keys. +24 in the paint.

It’s nice to be at home.

11/24: 1-2 Bowling Green ST is here. They’re good at PG and C.

11/25: Early lead. Up 11 after 10. We’re playing good D. 43-25 at the break. 12, 6 for Whit, 10 for Wilk. Only 4 TOs.

We get the lead to 20 early. Up 22 with 10 to go.

79-59. Great D! 18, 12, 6 blocks for Whit, 16, 9, 3 blocks for Sale, 13, 6, 3 for Feld, 14, 3, 5 for Wilk. Only 7 TOs. +28 in the box.

We take a look at the lineup and decide to switch Fitz and Wilk. Wilk will go to the Point, Fitz to SG. Wilk has been the better playmaker and Fitz the better shooter.

[Wayne23]

11/28: On the road at 1-3 Idaho. This is a team we should beat but let’s see how we play on the road.

11/29: Early lead. Up 9 after 10. The lead is 20. 62-34 at halftime. 14 for Sale, 13 for Fitz, 12, 3 for May, 10 for Keys. +17 for the bench. Only 3 TOs. +16 in the paint.

Holding the lead early. Up 22 with 10 left. They close the gap some.

93-86 but it was never in doubt. 24, 3 for Sale, 16 for Fitz, 15, 3 for May, 10, 12, 3 for White, 13 assists for Wilk. We’re much better with the guard switch. +16 for the bench. +26 in the paint.

I guess we can play on the road!

12/1: Back home against 3-2 Fordham. They score a lot but give up even more.

12/2: Close early. Tied after 10. They can score. 46-42 at the half. Wilk and Whit both picked up 2 fouls fairly early. 13, 5 for Sale, 10, 4 for Lenc. +10 inside.

We get the lead to 10. Up 12 with 10 to play. The lead is 20 late.

94-69. 20, 10 for Sale, 12, 8, 4, 3 for Feld, 15, 3, 4, 3 for Fitz, 18, 7 for Lenc, 11, 2, 6 for Wilk. +28 in the paint.

“Dan Fran, EPSN, here with Coach Wynn after the game. You’re 6-0 in your new job Coach. What do you think?”

“Well, 5 of those 6 have been at home, which helps, but it’s great to get off to such a good start.”

“You just switched the positions of your starting guards. Tell us about that.”

“It occurred to us that Dave Wilk was doing more dishing and Neil Fitz had a better shot so it just made sense. So far it’s working great.”

[Wayne23]

12/5: 3-1 Montana is in town. They’re good outside.

12/6: Back and forth early. Down 3 after 10. 36-49 at halftime. We’re just not playing D. Whit has 10. Only 2 TOs. +16 in the paint.

We’re not making any progress early and still not playing D. Down 17 with 10 to play. No sign that we’re catching up.

80-100. We were awful. 14, 6, 7 for Wilk, 14, 7 for Whit, 11, 8, 3 for Feld.

12/12: A week off after that terrible loss. 4-5 Georgetown is here. They’re not having a good season.

12/13: Both teams start slow. We take the lead. Up 7 after 10. 40-30 at the half. 11, 0, 4 for Wilk. Only 4 TOs. +10 RBs. We’re playing good D.

Holding our lead early. Up 13 with 10 left.

80-75. They never quit and got it down to 1 late. 16, 2, 6 for Wilk who has been great at the Point. 14, 8 for Feld, 14, 5 for Sale, 12, 5 for Fitz, 10, 5 for Lenc. +12 RBs.

[Wayne23]

12/19: Our final pre-conf game is here with 7-5 Eastern Kentucky. They’re good outside.

12/20: Early lead. Up 13 after 10. The lead goes to 20. 52-28 at the break. 16, 4, 3 for Feld, 10, 8 for Whit. 2 TOs. +14 in the paint.

We’re winning easily.

93-80. 18, 21 for Whit, 16, 5, 5 for Feld, 18, 5 for Sale, 12 assists for Wilk. +18 RBs. +30 in the box.

We end pre-conf play at 8-1.

Art Sale leads in scoring with 17.6. He gets 7 RBs. Roy Whit gets 12.9 and a leading 11.7. 11.6, 6.3 for Gard Feld. 11.2 for Neil Fitz. 9.4 and 8 assists for Dave Wilk.

+10.0 PPG, +7.9 RBs, -4.2 TOs. An amazing 8.4. +4.6 assists.

I miss New England. I miss my family and friends and it’s just… different here.

[Wayne23]

12/25: We start Big 12 play with 4-5 Utah here. This is a tough conference and there won’t be many easy games.

“Think you can compete in the Big 12?”

“No idea. 6 ranked teams in the conference so it won’t be easy!”

12/26: Early lead. Up 11 after 10. 39-33 at the half. 16, 4 for Sale, 9, 3, 4, 3 for Fitz. 2 TOs. Solid inside play.

They’re staying close. We go on a run. Up 16 with 10 left. Big lead late.

87-71. We lead by as many as 26. 24, 8, 8, 4 for Fitz, 13, 7 for Sale, 12 for Lenc, 12 RBs for Whit. Only 5 TOs. +30 in the paint.

12/20: Our next game will probably tell us a lot about how we’ll do in the very competitive Big 12. We’re at 6th ranked Cincinnati, 11-1, 1-0. They’re very good, especially outside.

12/21: We’re holding our own early. Down 2 after 10. 43-40 at the break. 12, 8 for Sale, 12, 3 for Feld. +10 in the paint. We knew we’d need to do it inside and so far so good.

We lead by 10 early. Up 6 with 10 to go. Leading late but it’s close.

88-78. Tremendous win! 27, 12, 3 blocks for Sale, 16, 10 for Feld, 15, 4, 5, 5 for Fitz, 13, 4 for Whit. +16 in the paint.

“Kip, we just got us a hell of a win!”

“You sure did.”

“Our big guys owned them and our guards held their own.”