DDSCB25: Superstar

[Wayne23]

1/2/2030: 7-5, 0-2 Arizona is here. They’re struggling but an Arizona team is always good and always dangerous. As with Cincy we need to win this one inside.

1/3: Ice cold early. We miss our first 12 shots and trail 13-0. Down 9 after 10. We catch up late. 32-33 at the half. Great comeback. 11, 7 for Sale. 9, 3 for Lenc. As expected we ruled the paint and they beat us outside. We got good bench play.

Back and forth. Down 6 with 10 to play. Close late.

81-86. We couldn’t quite get there. 17, 8 for Sale, 15, 6, 3, 3 for Fitz, 14, 3 for sub Del Lenc, 11, 10 for Feld. Their starting guards had 34.

1/5: At 75-2-1 Texas Cretin. On paper we’re better. We’ll see.

1/6: Both teams start slow. Up 6 after 10. We’re playing decent ball. 46-44 at halftime. We led by as many as 12. 12, 4 for Sale. 2 TOs.

Back and forth. Down 2 with 10 to play.

92-90! Fitz made a back door lay up with 0.7 left. 23, 6, 2, 3 for Sale who has been a very consistent scorer. 13, 3, 3 for Lenc. 10, 5, 5, 3, 4 for Fitz including the winner. 8, 8, 13 for Wilk. Only 6 TOs.
+18 in the box.

Gar Feld bruised a thigh. He’s out for maybe 10 days. Del Lenc will start.

[Wayne23]

1/8: At #20 Baylor, 9-4, 1-3. The fact that they’re 1-3 says a lot about how tough this conference is. They’re really good, especially at C. And they play very solid D.

1/9: Early lead. Up 4 after 10. 38-40 after we led for most of the half. Sale picked up his 2nd foul early and played only 7 minutes. 4 TOs. -11 at the line and I’m on the refs.

Sale picks up #3 immediately. We can’t win with him on the bench. Down 8 with 10 to go.

72-79. 22, 5 for Sale but he was in foul trouble all night. His man had 23 and 18. 11, 6 for Keys. 9, 7 for Whit.

This is a TOUGH conference!

1/12: 6-8, 1-4 Central Florida is here. We need to win this one.

1/13: Slow start puts us behind early. We catch up. Up 1 after 10. 52-45 at the half. 10 each for Sale, Wilk, and Fitz.

Close early. We’re not playing good D. Up 2 with 10 to go. Our guards get hot.

99-87. We caught fire over the last few minutes. 20, 3, 5 for Fitz, 16, 6 for Sale, 14, 5 for Whit.

Feld is back to 100% or will be for our next game.

I’m sort of seeing someone. One of the office workers in the A. D.’s has been kind of flirty with me. I asked her out and we’ve seen each other a few times. We laugh a lot when we’re together. Doesn’t seem serious, or at least not yet.

[Wayne23]

1/7: #2 ranked Kansas, 15-3, 5-1, is in town. This is a VERY good team!

1/8: Both teams start slow then they take a lead. Down 11 after 10. 35-44. They’re tough! 10 for Sale.

We’re trailing and not catching up at all. Down 11 with 10 to play. We get it to 4.

71-74. We gave it all we had. 13, 7, 6 for Feld, 14, 2, 4 for Wilk, 13, 4 for Sale. We certainly didn’t embarrass ourselves.

I’m still seeing Lexy, the woman who works in the A. D.’s office.

1/22: At #14 Houston, 13-5, 4-3. Another really tough team.

1/23: We take the lead. Up 6 after 10. 40-31 despite a pathetic 6-15 from the line. 11, 5 for Sale, 9, 5 for Feld. +10 in the paint.

They’re catching up early. Up 6 with 10 to go. They take the lead late.

OT! 79-72. Great win. Sale fouled out late in regulation, but we found a way. 17, 8, 3 for Feld, 18, 3 for Fitz, 14, 7 for Sale, 11, 9 for Whit.

We’re 13-4, 5-3, tied for 3rd.

[Wayne23]

1/24: At 10-8, 3-5 Arizona. They won by 5 at our place. They’re especially tough outside.

1/25: They lead early. We’re 2-12. Down 11 after 10. We’re 4-22. 31-46 at halftime. We’re shooting 28.9%. 10, 11 for Sale.

We’re pecking away at the lead. Down 8 with 10 to play. Close late.

84-87. Wilk missed a three at the buzzer. 24, 18 for Sale, 18, 3, 4 for Wilk, 11, 8, 4 for Fitz.

1/26: 8-10, 3-6 TCU is here. We won by 2 there.

1/27: Early lead. We get it to 10. Up 11 after 10. 36-31. We led by as many as 15.

“You let them back in. You can’t DO that!”

9, 4, 4 for Wilk. Sale played only 6 minutes due to fouls. Whit played only 7.

They tie it early. Then it’s back and forth. Up 1 with 10 left.

77-74 as they hit a three at the buzzer. 20, 8 for Sale, 12, 4, 2, 3 for Fitz, 9, 6, 8, 3 for Wilk.

1/29: One of my recruits doesn’t hit our SAT score. After long deliberation we decide to offer to a guard. There are no bigs we want and this guard is really good.

We’re tied for 6th in conf at 14-5, 6-4.

[Wayne23]

1/31: At 6-13, 2-8 Utah. We won by 16 at home. We should beat this team.

2/1: Early lead and it gets to 10 quickly. They catch up. Up by 4 after 10. 51-48. We led by as many as 12.

“You can’t friggin’ let up late in the half!”

Once again, Sale gets in foul trouble; played 8 minutes.

Close early. They go on a run and lead by 10. Down 16 with 10 to play.

98-94. Fantastic comeback! We were down 21 with 6 ½ to play. Amazing! 24, 8 for Feld, 14, 11 for Whit, 12, 2, 11 for Wilk, 11, 7 for Sale, 15, 1, 3, 3 for Fitz. +14 in the paint.

2/5: #2 Oklahoma ST, 21-1, 10-1, is here. They’re leading the conf and they’re an outstanding team.

2/6: They take a quick lead. Down 8 after 10. We come back. 42-39 at the half. 11 for Sale, 9, 5 for Feld. We’re holding our own.

Close early. Down 4 with 10 to play. Tied with 5 to play.

85-88. Close all the way. I’m proud of my guys. 17, 4 for Sale, 16, 6, 3 blocks for Fitz, 12, 6 for Feld. We didn’t take care of the ball, a season high 20 TOs. But OK ST played really tough D. +14 RBs.

“Hi Kip, what’s up?”

“Great job last night.”

“Thanks.”

“You’re one or two players short but you’re really doing okay.”

“Yeah, losing that recruit because he couldn’t hit the SAT score hurt.”

[Wayne23]

2/7: At 11-11, 3-9 Brigham Young. They’re good in the backcourt. We’ll need to win this one inside.

2/8: Close early. Tied after 10. 42-38 after a tight first half. Balanced scoring.

“-12 in the paint? Come on, you can do better!”

Fast start and we’re up 11. Up 6 with 10 left. It’s close late.

OT! 98-92! 20, 9, 3, 3 for Sale, 19, 2, 5 for Wilk but 7 TOs, 14, 7, 3, 4 for Fitz, 11, 10 for Feld. We were much better in the paint, winding up down only 2.

2/9: #15 Houston, 17-7, 8-5, is here. There are no easy games in the Big 12! We won by 7 in OT there. On paper we’re evenly matched.

2/10: Early lead. Up 13 after 10. 52-34 at halftime. 15, 5 for Sale, 10, 6 for Whit. +14 in the paint.

We’re holding our big lead. Up 22 with 10 to go.

92-74. 30 and 12 for Sale, 21, 10 for Whit, 11, 0, 9 for Wilk. +20 in the paint.

Del Lenc strained a calf. Out for about 10 days. Nate Dots will get his minutes.

Lexie and I break up. It wasn’t going anywhere. I really am ready to settle down. I hope I find the right person.

[Wayne23]

2/14: 16-8, 8-6 Colorado is here. They can play.

2/15: They take an early lead. We catch up. Down 1 after 10. Late run! 34-24 at the break. Sale played only 6 minutes due to fouls. We did it all without him. Great D held them to 28.6%.

Holding our lead. Up 9 with 10 to play. Big lead late.

84-63. 15, 17, 3 blocks for Whit, 15, 5, 7 for Wilk, 14, 8, 3 steals for Feld, 13, 7, 3 for Fitz.

2/16: At 10-14, 4-11 Texas Tech. This is a team we should beat.

2/17: We fall behind early. Then we catch up and go ahead. Down 2 after 10. 27-35 at the half. We shot 30.6%. We were 2-10 from the line.

They’re holding their lead early. We’re still not making shots. We wake up and we’re down only 3 with 10 to play.

77-84. We played catch up all night and never got there. 20, 9 for Sale, 11,8 for Dots.

Lenc will be at 100% for our next game.

[Wayne23]

2/21: #17 Iowa ST, 19-8, 9-7, is here. This is a big game and should be a tough one.

2/22: They take an early lead. Down 2 after 10. 39-51 at halftime. 12, 3 for Sale. We’re not playing good D.

We’re not catching up early. Down 9 with 10 to go. It’s not happening.

71-81. We never really threatened them in the 2nd. 19, 10 for Sale, 17, 2, 6 for Wilk, 13, 3, 5 for Fitz.

2/23: At 14-13, 6-11 Arizona ST. We need to stop the bleeding.

2/24: Close early. Then we take the lead. Up 7 after 10. Tied at the half. We led by as many as 11. Sale played 11 minutes due to fouls.

10 point lead early. Up 17 with 10 to play.

97-82. We won this one outside. 20, 2, 10 for Wilk, 21, 6 for Fitz, 15, 4, 3 for Feld, 12 for Keys.

One week to go in regular season play. We’re tied for 6th in conf.

[Wayne23]

2/28: At 18-10, 10-8 Colorado. We won by 21 at home. We’re the better team but it’s a road game.

3/1: 1-9 early but it’s close. Down 2 after 10. They go on a run. 25-37 at the half. We shot 31.3%.

“Make some damn shots!”

We’re not gaining any ground. Down 7 with 10 to go. Close late.

OT! 82-84. Brian Seek missed a half court shot. 17, 11 for Whit, 15 for Feld, 10, 3, 5 for Wilk.

3/2: Last game of the regular season is at home vs. 20-8, 14-5 West VA. They can play!

3/3: Early lead. Up 12 after 10. They get close late. 53-47 at halftime. 12, 6 for Sale, 12 for Fitz, 10, 3 for Lenc. Sale has been in a late season slump. Hopefully he’s snapping out of it.

Close early. Up 7 with 10 to go. We go on a mini-run. Big lead late.

108-87. 36, 13, 3 blocks for Sale; huge game! 19, 4, 3, 6 for Fitz, 10, 7 for Lenc. +14 RBs. +30 in the paint.

3/5: We end the regular season at 20-9, 12-8, tied for 6th. #29 NET.

Sale leads in PPG with 18.4. He gets 7.8 RBs.

Fitz gets 13.2. Feld gets 10.8 and 5.9. 10.5, 7.2 assists for Wilk. 9.9, 9.4 for Whit.

+6.4 PPG, +5.5 RBs, -2.9 TOs, averaging 10.6, which is good.

[Wayne23]

3/8: We play #16 seed Utah, 8-22, 3-17, the last place team in the conf., in the play in round. We won by 16 at home but only by 4 at their place.

3/9: Close early. Down 1 after 10. 45-49. The D was awful. 13 for Sale in 8 minutes; fouls.

“You gotta play D!”

Close early. Tied with 10 to play. Close late.

86-92. A terrible loss. 30 and 8 for Sale, 16, 4, 4 steals for Feld.

“I’m disgusted, Kip.”

“You have a decent team but it’s not a good team. You have a lot of holes and not much depth. You knew this was a rebuilding job when you got here.”