DDSCB25: Superstar

[Wayne23]

3/12: #8 seed in the Big Dance. We play #9 Northern Iowa, 22-10. On paper we’re better and they’ve only played one ranked team. Their best rebounder is out with a broken arm.

3/16: 1-8 early and we’re behind by 10. Down 4 after 10. We’re still not making shots. 35-37 at halftime. We’re shooting 32.3% and we’ve missed 10 free throws. 11, 6 for Fitz.

Back and forth early. Up 4 with 10 to play. We’ve got the lead late.

87-80. 27, 9 for Sale, 16, 8 for Fitz. +15 RBs.

3/17: #1 seed, #2 ranked Oklahoma ST, 31, 4) in the 2nd round. They won by only 3 at our place. This will be a huge challenge.

3/18: It’s close early. Down only 1 after 10. They go on a late run. 30-45 at the break. Sale played only 9 minutes. 8, 5 for Whit.

Down 20 early. My guys are doing their best but it’s an uphill battle. Down 31 with 10 to go.

70-98. Rough night. 13, 7 for Feld, 12, 8 for Whit, 12, 3, 3 for Wilk. It was a mismatch.

[Wayne23]

3/26: We get the guard. #14 recruit in the country! We’re losing Feld and Whit.

4/3: #11 Purdue wins it all.

4/4: Awards: We get shut out. I thought Sale had a shot at 2nd team.

4/9: We’re not going anywhere.

4/23: I ask for a facilities upgrade.

No.

We finished 21-11, 12-8. I’m disappointed because I feel like there were a half dozen games we should have won.

Overall, I’m 131-42, .757 for 5 seasons.

“I’m retiring.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t need to work. Selling the businesses will put me in excellent financial shape with all of my investments. I’ll concentrate on golf and bowling.”

“Bowling isn’t so easy anymore.”

“No. So many bowling lanes have shut down. Oh well.”

“I think you should come coach with me. We could work out your schedule so you could play golf every day except when we’re on the road, and probably even then sometimes.”

“I’m not moving to Kansas.”

“Okay. Maybe when I get my next job.”

[Wayne23]

5/1: #13 recruiting class.

5/22: We lose 4, 3 of them at my suggestion and no starters or important subs. We’ll be looking for a guard and 3 bigs.

5/26: I offer to 4 guys.

5/29: 0-4. I offer to 4 more.

6/2: We get a C who will likely start.

We offer to 3.

6/5: We get a guard.

We offer to an SF.

6/9: No. We offer to the SF again.

6/12: No. We’re done. It would have been nice to get one more big man.

6/25: We’re going to Indy and all the regional camps.

6/26: First day of recruiting. We need 1 guard and 5 bigs.

7/17: We offer to a guard and 5 bigs.

7/16: Recruiting is ongoing. It’s a lot of work and a lot of rejection but we’re doing okay.

9/11: We lose a C.

9/18: We get a guard and 2 PFs, lose 3 bigs.

Somewhat challenging schedule.

9/25: We get a C, lose 2.

10/2: 1st day of practice. We’re better than we were last year.

10/9: We get a C to fill the last scholarship but he may not hit our SAT score.

11/14: Season starts tomorrow. Here’s the lineup:

Junior Dave Wilk is back at the Point.

Frosh Tray Witt starts at SG but senior Neil Fitz will get equal time.

Soph Kev Seal is next and he doesn’t hurt us. Finally there’s frosh Nat Bass who’s not quite ready but has potential.

Senior Otis Mill, a transfer from Fordham, is at SF.

Senior Art Sale moves from C to PF. He may be our best player.

Frosh Rado Khoh is at C.

Senior Del Lenc is again first big off the bench. Frosh Mike Burk is next and he’s eventually going to be a good one. Frosh Jon Sims is shaky.

[Wayne23]

11/14: We open at home with Rutgers. I have a good feeling about this season.

11/15: Fast start. Up 10 in no time. Up 20 after 10. 43-26 at halftime. Transfer Otis Mill has 18 and 5. 10 for #3 guard Nat Fitz, 8 for Sale. +22 in the paint.

The lead is 21 early. Up 20 with 10 to play.

85-62. Great D! 23, 9 for Mill, 18, 5, 5, 3 for Witt, 15, 5, 4 for Fitz, 13, 3 for Sale, 13 RBs for Khoh. +16 RBs, +32 in the paint.

11/17: We’re at 0-1 East Carolina. This is a team we should beat.

11/18: Early lead. They come back. Down 1 after 10. 42-40 at the half. 14, 5 for Sale.

We lead early but we can’t shake these guys. Up 4 with 10 to go. Close late.

96-87. We scored the last 7 points. 17, 10, 3 blocks for Khoh, 18, 7 for Sale, 14 for Witt. Good bench play. +22 in the paint.

Kip has been out to visit twice since he retired. He was here for the first week of practice and again for our first game. He was a huge help at practice. My assistants even said so.

[Wayne23]

11/21: 2-1 Wright St is in town. Their SG is playing hurt.

11/22: Close early. Then we’re up 10.Up 14 after 10. 40-37 at the break. 13, 4 for Mill, 11 for Witt, 9, 3 for Sale. Khoh is a good C. He’s a solid defender and a glass eater.

Holding our lead early. We get it to 20. Up 24 with 10 to play.

97-73. 29, 11, 3 blocks for Sale who seems to like playing at PF rather than C. 19, 5 for Mill, 16 for Witt. Only 6 TOs. +24 in the paint.

11/24: At 1-1 Hofstra. They have a very good backcourt.

11/25: Close early. Down 5 after 10. It’s a battle. 45-47 at halftime. Too many whistles, mostly against us. -8 from the line. 13, 3 for Fitz, 8, 5 for Sale. +24 in the paint. Their backcourt can definitely play.

Down 2 with 10 to play.

103-97. It was a real war. 20, 2, 3 for Witt, 18, 7, 3 blocks for Sale, 18, 4 for Fitz, 15, 9 for Khoh, 15, 3 for Lenc, 10, 10 for Mill. +20 for the bench. +14 RBs, +34 in the paint.

Art Sale has bronchitis. He’s day to day.

[Wayne23]

11/28: 2-2 Akron is here. They have a very good SG.

We’re playing well. I think we’re a big man short but we’re solid and deep in the backcourt.

11/29: Early lead. Up 9 after 10. Mill is hot. The lead goes to 20. 54-32. Great 1st half! 23, 5 for Mill. +12 RBs. +20 in the paint.

Holding out lead early. Up 17 with 10 to go.

96-69. Their highly touted SG was not a factor; we held him to 4. 27, 8 for Mill, 17, 4, 4 for Fitz, 13, 2, 4, 3 for Witt, 11, 12 for Sale. We owned the paint.

12/1: At 0-4 East Carolina. This should be a walkover.

12/2: Early lead. Up 15 after 10. 51-37 at halftime. 13, 4 for Witt, 9, 8 for Sale.

Big early lead. Up 21 with 10 to play.

99-82. 25, 4 for Witt, 19, 7 for Mill, 15, 13 for Sale, 14, 10, 3, 3 for Khoh. +15 RBs.

[Wayne23]

12/5: 5-1 Providence is here. They’re good, especially outside.

12/6: They start fast. Then we catch up. Up 7 after 10. Sale is hot. 50-39 at the half. 15, 7 for Sale, 9 for Wilk.

The lead goes to 20. Up 26 with 10 to play.

97-71. I expected a tougher game. 30, 15 for Sale, 12, 1, 10 for Wilk, 11, 8 for Mill. Good bench play. Only 7 TOs. +21 RBs.

I’m not dating. I haven’t met anyone and I’m really too busy anyway. By the time I get to bed it’s usually after midnight and I’m up at 7:00. And that’s every day.

12/12: 5-2 Grand Canyon is here. They’ve got a couple of injuries.

12/13: Close early. Up 1 after 10; they’re tougher than expected so far. 45-40 at halftime. 19 for Witt, 13, 4 for Mill. The other 3 starters sat for a long time with foul trouble. Only 2 TOs.

We lead early. Lots of foul trouble and I’m all over the refs. Up 14 with 10 to go. Witt is hot. Big lead late.

99-76. 28 for Witt, 20, 5 for Mill, 12, 10 for Khoh, 14, 4 for Sale. Only 6 TOs. +16 inside.

We’re #1 in the nation in PPG.

[Wayne23]

12/19: 7-5 Louisiana Tech is in. This should be a win.

12/20: They take the lead early. Down 5 after 10. We catch up and take the lead. Back and forth. 41-48 at the half. 10 each for Sale and Mill.

“Play some damn D!”

We catch up early. Down 8 with 10 left. We trail late but it’s close.

94-92. Wilk drops a 17 footer at the buzzer. 22 lead changes, 11 ties. 22, 6, 4 steals, 3 blocks for Mill, 21, 7 for Sale, 13, 1, 7 for Wilk. +26 in the paint.

“Dan Fran, EPSN. Coach, this was a close one.”

“We were lucky to escape. We got caught looking ahead.”

“To Baylor?”

“Yeah. They’re up next and they’re the best team we’ve faced all year.”

“But you pulled out the victory, 9-0.”

“We did. We found a way. Dave Wilk is a pure shooter and a very good one. He’s who we wanted to take that last shot and he knew what to do.”

12/25: Our last pre-conf game is with #16 ranked Baylor, 9-2, here. This should be a battle.

12/26: We miss our first 12 shots and fall way behind early. We come back and trail by 4 after 10. Back and forth late. Tied at the half. 10, 5 for Mill.

Close early. Up 1 with 10 to play. They go on a late run.

OT! 85-89. 19, 3, 4, 4 for Witt, 19, 7 for Mill, 14, 1, 8 for Wilk, 13, 9 for Sale. Their starting forwards combined for 36.

We end pre-conf play at 9-1.

18.2, 8.8 for Sale, 17.9, 7.3 for Mill, 17.1 for Witt, 11.7 RBs for Khoh, 7.6 assists for Wilk.

+15.3 PPG, #1 in PPG. +8.9 RBs, -5.1 TOs, a terrific 9.6.

[Wayne23]

12/29: We start Big 12 play at 10-2, 0-1 West VA. They play very good D.

12/30: We take an early lead. Up 3 after 10. Back and forth late. 45-40 at halftime. 11, 2, 3 for Wilk. +13 RBs.

We get the lead to 11. Up 15 with 10 to go.

91-76. 15, 4, 5 for Wilk, 14, 8, 3, 3 blocks for Mill, 14, 4, 3 for Witt, 14, 3 for Sale. +18 in the paint.

1/3/2031: AT #9 Oklahoma ST, 12-1, 2-0. They’re very strong inside.

1/4: Early lead. They catch up. Up 7 after 10. Close late. 41-41 at the half. 10 for Witt, 8, 6 for Khoh.

They take an early lead. Up 7 with 10 to play. Close late.

91-81. We finished very strong. Great road win! 15, 8 for Mill, 17, 2, 3 for Witt, 13, 12 for Khoh, 13, 6 for Sale, 16, 9 for Fitz. +21 RBs.

1/5: #7 Cincinnati, 13-1, 3-0, is here. They play excellent D.

1/6: Close early. Down 8 after 10. We come back. 36-30 at halftime. 8, 4 for Mill. It’s a defensive game, lots of turnovers.

Early lead. Up 14 with 10 to go.

80-72. 26, 10 for Sale, 11 each for Wilk and Witt.

We just beat 2 very good teams back to back!

1/9: Ranked! #20.

[Wayne23]

1/8: 8-5, 3-1 Arizona ST is here. They’re good outside.

1/9: Early lead. Up 17 after 10. 45-24 at the half. Great D! 14 for Witt. We own the paint.

Big lead early. Then we slump a little. Up 12 with 10 to go.

86-68. 27, 5, 3 for Witt, 14, 4, 5 for Wilk, 11, 12 for Mill, 11, 6 for Sale. Only 5 TOs. +18 inside.

1/12: At #18 Arizona, 11-4, 2-3. They’re struggling in the conference.

1/13: Back and forth early. Down 3 after 10. They take the lead. 37-53. We didn’t play D.

They’re holding their lead early. Down 15 with 10 to play.

70-94. An off night. We were never in it. 15, 0, 7 for Witt, 11, 16 for Khoh.

Little used forward Jon Sims hurts his leg. Not serious.