 |
02-08-2024, 12:24 PM
|
#601 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
February 17, 2035
@#2 Villanova 98, South Florida 59 Behind Savion Wells' 20 points and 11 rebounds, we roll to an easy victory at the Pavilion. Chris Woolstenhulme and Connor Baxter each score 14 points; Chris adds 8 rebounds and Connor 6 assists. Mason Reynolds and Eldon Castanon post matching 9-point, 7-rebound stat lines. Charlie Lambert contributes 12 points from the bench. Louisville finally loses (to Cincinnati), so we're now only a game behind them in the Big East race. Record: 24-3 (12-2). February 20, 2035 #2 Villanova 82, @DePaul 64 The Blue Demons defend their home court well for 20 minutes, and we lead by 35-33 at the break. As we often do, we take control of the game in the second half. Chris Woolstenhulme (14p/11r/3b) and Mason Reynolds (20p/8r/2s) are the headliners, and Eldon Castanon (12p/6r) and Connor Baxter (12p) provide quality support. It's an especially big night for Chris, as he scores his 1000th career point. Record: 25-3 (13-2). February 24, 2035 Code:
Savion Wells loses the scoring contest to Louisville's excellent senior center, Carl O'Neill, but he grabs a career-high 15 rebounds to decisively win that battle. And our backcourt pair, Eldon Castanon and Connor Baxter, clearly have the edge tonight. It gets no easier, as we host Georgetown on Senior Night next. Record: 26-3 (14-2). February 28, 2035 Code:
Mason Reynolds produces the kind of game that makes me think he's got a great chance of being named the Big East Player of the Year. Louisville's Carl O'Neill averages a double-double, so he is certainly in the running, too...but I love the many ways in which Mason can influence a game. Record: 27-3 (15-2). March 3, 2035 #2 Villanova 101, Providence 85 Take a bow, Connor Baxter. The sophomore point guard posts his first career double-double, scoring 23 points and handing out 11 assists as we secure Villanova's eighth Big East regular season championship. It's the fifth of the Graham Sims era. Chris Woolstenhulme (14p/11r) completes a double feature of his own. Savion Wells scores 19 points and grabs 7 rebounds. Mason Reynolds adds 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists. Providence's Grover Moore, a senior who has scored over 2200 points in his collegiate career, leads all scorers with 29. Record: 28-3 (16-2). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-08-2024 at 02:33 PM. |
|
|
|
02-08-2024, 02:45 PM
|
#602 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
March 8, 2035
The Big East tournament looks like this so far:  Big East Tournament, First Round (1) #1 Villanova 68, (8) #17 Pittsburgh 64 Every game in the Big East tournament is tough. The Panthers prove this, taking a 33-28 halftime lead and giving us every bit as much as we can handle. We survive double-doubles from Pitt guards John Warren and James Holler behind 17 points from Connor Baxter, 14 from Mason Reynolds, and 10 from Chris Woolstenhulme. Chris and Savion Wells both grab 9 rebounds. Mason Reynolds becomes the third Wildcat to score his 1000th career point this year. Record: 29-3. March 9, 2035 Big East Tournament Semifinal (4) #13 Georgetown 82, (1) #1 Villanova 66 The Hoyas cast another spell on us in the Big East tourney, eliminating us with relative ease. Freshman Brian Bishop, whom we recruited, lights us up for 22 points and 9 rebounds. For us, Savion Wells drops a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double, Eldon Castanon scores a career-best 21 points, Connor Baxter hands out 10 assists, and Mason Reynolds scores 10 points. We might have just cost ourselves a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament. Record: 29-4. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-08-2024 at 04:12 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-08-2024, 04:11 PM
|
#603 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
March 11, 2035
Georgetown defeated Louisville to win the Big East tournament yesterday. Despite our loss in the semifinals, we keep the #1 spot in the media poll and remain a top seed in the NCAA brackets. We're off to the South Region; the other one seeds will be Kentucky, Louisville, and Boston College. March 15, 2035 NCAA South Region, First Round (1) #1 Villanova 88, (16) Eastern Kentucky 85 The focus of the college basketball world turns to our game, where the winner of a play-in game leads the top team in the nation by five points at halftime and widens that lead to 12 by the 12:00 media timeout of the second half. We don't draw even until Connor Baxter is fouled attempting a three-pointer and drains all three shots to make the score 82-82...with 2:33 remaining. Mason Reynolds gives us our FIRST LEAD OF THE GAME shortly after, when he knocks down a triple. Reynolds finishes with 21 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Savion Wells scores 16, and Chris Woolstenhulme grabs 12 rebounds and scores 7 points. Record: 30-4. March 17, 2035 NCAA South Region, Second Round (1) #1 Villanova 85, (9) Louisiana State 67 The Tigers defeated Lafayette in the first round, but fail to knock off the other program associated with Coach Graham Sims in the second one. Mason Reynolds (22p/11r/2s) makes sure of that, with help from Chris Woolstenhulme (14p), Savion Wells (11p/6r), Connor Baxter (11p/6a), and Eldon Castanon (10p/6a). Record: 31-3. March 23, 2035 NCAA South Region Semifinal: the Sweet Sixteen (1) #1 Villanova 92, (5) #23 Georgia Tech 86 Code:
In 20 minutes of playing time, the freshman sixth man sinks 6 three-pointers and racks up 27 points. The Yellowjackets do a fine job of containing Mason Reynolds, but we simply find another way to win the game. Record: 32-3. March 25, 2035 NCAA South Region Final: the Elite Eight (6) Connecticut 75, (1) #1 Villanova 60 Back in January, we beat the Huskies 81-49. Tonight, they get their revenge, and then some. We never pose a serious threat to UConn's chances tonight. We simply don't play well, and they do. Chris Woolstenhulme (most likely) ends his Villanova career with a very typical performance: a solid 11 points and 11 rebounds. Savion Wells scores 12 points, grabs 6 rebounds, and blocks 2 shots in (probably) his last game as a Wildcat. Mason Reynolds will be back; he finishes the season with a 15-point, 6-rebound, 3-assist, 4-steal game. Connor Baxter (11p/4a/3s) and Eldon Castanon (7p/4s) acquit themselves well. Record: 32-5. |
|
|
|
|
02-08-2024, 04:36 PM
|
#604 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 1, 2035
Recruit Sebastian Roberts starts and scores 11 points for the victorious East team in their 114-106 victory over the West in the High School All-American Game. April 2, 2035 Pittsburgh brings the NCAA championship back to the Big East with a 72-48 romp over Memphis tonight. Congratulations to coach Blaine Boyd, a contemporary of Graham's, on his first national title. As we expected, Savion Wells and Chris Woolstenhulme will enter next month's professional draft. Savion is considered the best draft prospect in the Big East, and will almost certainly be a lottery pick. Chris, too, might hear his name called in the top half of the first round. Code:
Here's the list I was really looking forward to seeing. Code:
Way to go, Mason! I'm going to have to look back to see how many Villanova players have been named Big East Player of the Year. There haven't been many. Asher Wise never won it. And I'm thrilled to see Connor Baxter join Mason on the all-conference first team. Both players will be with us for at least one more year, too. Chris Woolstenhulme will end his Villanova career on a high note, with his second post-season honor. |
|
|
|
|
02-08-2024, 04:47 PM
|
#605 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 3, 2035
Code:
Offense: Outstanding. We could flat-out shoot the ball, and as I mentioned before, I loved the way we distributed it so unselfishly. Defense: Good. We did a good job of limiting our opponents' field goal percentages. We don't force a lot of turnovers, but our defense isn't set up to do that. Margins: Very, very good. We led the nation in offensive efficiency (116.1) and finished 15th in defensive efficiency (91.1). I'll be back with Farewells in a bit. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 12:05 PM
|
#606 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
2034/35 Farewell
CHRIS WOOLSTENHULME The decision to recruit Chris Woolstenhulme was an easy one. Harriton High School isn't two miles away from the Villanova campus. He grew up attending Villanova basketball camps and attending Villanova games. And he was good enough to be a high school All-American. We had high hopes for Chris, and he met them. Code:
Chris spent his first two years in a three-man frontcourt rotation with classmate Savion Wells and Zach Cohen, a pure center who was a year ahead of them. Chris was usually the "odd man out" as far as the starting five was concerned, mainly because he was versatile enough to pair effectively with either Savion or Zach. Most comfortable in the "scorer" role at first, Chris became strong and tough enough for the "dirtier" work of rebounding and defense. He was also an excellent free throw shooter, shooting nearly 80 percent for his career. Chris will almost certainly hear his name called in the first round of next month's pro draft, possibly among the lottery picks. He is well on his way to completing a degree in Biology, and he has talked about how important finishing that degree is to him. First, however, he's anticipating a successful professional career. Thanks for the memories, Chris. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 12:19 PM
|
#607 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
2034/35 Farewell
SAVION WELLS This seven-footer played high school ball for Loomis Chaffee, a boarding school in Connecticut. The top-rated center in his class, you would think Connecticut and Boston College would have recruited him heavily from the start, but neither New England powerhouse offered him a scholarship. Savion made his desire to play for one of those programs quite clear. I wonder if those coaches regret those decisions now? Code:
Savion Wells started 112 games in his three-year Villanova career. He played the four as a freshman and sophomore, before inheriting the center position after Zach Cohen left for pro basketball. A close look at Savion's career statistics reveals the steady improvement he made over the course of his career. He led the nation in field goal percentage as a freshman, but he also kept his percentage high after he became a more integral part of our offense, a player against whom opposing teams began to plan to stop. He would have been an All-Conference player in almost any league other than the Big East, where he's had to contend with players like Carl O'Neill and Ralph Pitzer. Savion is considered a better pro prospect than either of those two All-Americans. That says something to me. Most mock drafts have Savion coming off the board with the fifth pick. He'll certainly be chosen in the lottery, and a bright future awaits him as a pro. He's also been an exceptionally good student, majoring in Computer Science. Like his classmate and friend, Chris Woolstenhulme, Savion is determined to complete his degree. I'm glad he decided Villanova might not be so bad, after all. Thanks for the memories, Savion. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 02:45 PM
|
#608 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
2034/35 Senior Tribute
WILLIAM COLLINS William Collins played a total of eight minutes for Villanova over the last two seasons of his three-season career. His teammates unanimously decided that William should receive the same keepsakes for the Big East conference championships they won as everyone else. That tells me how highly they valued his contributions to their team. Code:
William joined us as a transfer from LSU. We identified in him the potential to become a plus-plus defender and rebounder, despite standing only 6'5". William appeared in 27 games as a redshirt sophomore and impressed us with his ability to crash the boards. Had William possessed a signature skill on offense, he would have carved out a more significant role in our program. However, he never seemed to develop that part of his game. Instead, he went at guys like Savion Wells and Chris Woolstenhulme every day in practice, defending them as well as anyone they would face in the Big East. William will graduate next month with a degree in Human Resource Management, and he's entering the management training program for a large corporation headquartered in Philadelphia. Thanks for the memories, William. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 03:19 PM
|
#609 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 7, 2035
Draft Night goes well for basketball fans in eastern Pennsylvania. Savion Wells is the first to hear his name called, chosen at #4. Four picks later, Chris Woolstenhulme comes off the board. Lafayette center Dani Geisler is chosen immediately after Chris. Then, at #19, another Leopard, guard Chris Willman is chosen. All four of these players are juniors; in fact, only one of the first 20 picks is used to draft a player who completed his eligibility. Code:
When your recruiting class numbers only two players, you can only rise so high in the national rankings. Both our incoming freshmen, SF Luke Christensen and C Sebastian Roberts, keep their five stars, but we fall behind programs who brought in more players. West Virginia combines quality and quantity in a fearsome recruiting class, fronted by wing Jack Edwards. He's a western PA kid I wish we could have convinced to move east. 2034 Recruiting Rankings Code:
A strong incoming class might have DePaul climbing the Big East standings in a year or two. Meanwhile, teams like Syracuse and Providence will have to hope for a sleeper or two to arise. Our Prestige remains at 100, and our budget holds at $800,000/year. The Facilities upgrade that was announced last year has raised our score to 90. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 03:44 PM
|
#610 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
May 1, 2035
Two notable coaches announce their retirements today. Louie Smith, most recently at Penn State, completes his career with a lifetime total of 458 wins. And Kansas coach Joshua Williams, whose 604 career victories place him sixth on the all-time list, is also hanging up his whistle. Eleven programs offer Graham Sims their head coaching jobs, including Penn State and Kansas, but he won't do more than open their emails. Kansas hires Graham's friend Blaine Boyd, who surprisingly leaves Pitt after 24 seasons there. Oklahoma surprises many by firing head coach Tracy Norton, a veteran with 587 wins to his credit. Also among those now looking for work is Gregg Woods, Graham's former Recruiting Coordinator at Lafayette. Albany fires Coach Woods after ten seasons, over which he posted a 148-198 record. Speaking of Recruiting Coordinators, we'll be looking for a new one. Tyler Twombly becomes the latest of Graham's lieutenants to get a chance at a head coaching job, hired by IPFW to replace the retiring William Foster. I decide to take a chance on an unproven, but superbly talented young coach to fill Coach Twombly's shoes. Tom Caballero is only 30 years old, and he's never worked at the Division I level. However, The Knight has a perfect 100 score for Recruiting, and he'll accept a three-year contract at $202,799/year. Coach Caballero is from Harbor Springs, Michigan, and he's a Michigan alumnus. Welcome to the team, Coach. We don't see anyone in the transfer portal we'd like to sign. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 04:37 PM
|
#611 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
July 1, 2035
We currently have two scholarships to offer this season. One will be vacated by graduating senior PG Trey Partridge, and I cut a disgruntled walk-on to open up a second. There are now only three big men among the scholarship players on our roster, so it would probably be a good idea to bring one in. We also need to find the heir apparent to point guard Connor Baxter, who is a junior. He's not likely to turn professional after this season, but his classmate, Mason Reynolds, probably will. Fortunately, there are two very good point guards playing their high school ball in our area, and both of them like Villanova a lot. Gary Fairfield, from Burlington, NJ, is the #9 player in his class, and the #3 point guard. His high school stat line indicates an elite playmaker; he averages 9.6 assists and 1.2 turnovers per game. Delaware's Mr. Basketball, Dane Barlow, is ranked right behind Fairfield: #10 overall, #4 at his position. Dane is an All-American who profiles as a lead guard, averaging over 21 points, nearly 7 assists, and nearly 5 rebounds per game. I'm going to take an extremely close look at both Gary and Dane. The most intriguing big men are Ohio PF John Turner and two Pennsylvania players, C Demetrius Reed and PF Jalen Christian. We probably have the best chance to land Reed, a Philly guy who averages 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds a game and makes nearly 53 percent of his shots. I can still cut another walk-on and make a third scholarship available, and I'm seriously considering that option. I'll make that decision after our staff has had a chance to establish contacts with the players on our call list and evaluate them. In the meantime, I think I'll make a "sight unseen" offer to Dane Barlow. Dane is also a fantastic student, which I admittedly like to see in our recruits. Here's our call list: Code:
It features recruits requested by my daughter and one of my friends. My daughter's creation, Jelani Obasie, isn't too excited about playing for Villanova. My friend's contribution, Eimantas Fetkevicius, is showing a bit more interest.  |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 06:32 PM
|
#612 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
August 1, 2035
After getting a look at Dane Barlow's scouting report, I'm glad I offered him a scholarship. Code:
Dane's interest in West Virginia is annoying me. Let's see if a full recruiting effort, including visits from Coaches Sims and Caballero and a visit to campus, will impress him. Our staff don't think Gary Fairfield is nearly as ready for college ball as Dane Barlow is. Still, it's easy to see why Gary is a top prospect. Code:
Like Dane, Gary lists a rival from whom he hasn't received an offer yet ahead of Villanova. Boston College just signed Taylor Murray, the best point guard in last year's senior class. They don't really need a playmaker this year. I like what I see in Demetrius Reed, too. Code:
He keeps it simple on offense, operating in the paint and making free throws when he's fouled. But when Demetrius's team doesn't have the basketball, he really shines. Do we really need a scoring wing who doesn't play a lot of defense? My answer is often "no," but Eimantas Fetkevicius appeals to me anyway. Code:
There are enough intriguing players in this year's class that I'm going to cut another walk-on and free up a third scholarship. With two in hand, I'm going to make an offer to Demetrius Reed. He'll naturally receive the full recruitment package. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 09:41 PM
|
#613 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
September 1, 2035
Dane Barlow must have enjoyed his visit to Villanova. He's moved us to the top of his list, which he's also narrowed to us and West Virginia. We'll continue to send Coaches Sims and Caballero to woo him this month. Demetrius Reed received an offer from Syracuse too, so he's moved the Orange up to the second spot on his list. We're still in the pole position, though. He also has an offer from Maryland to consider. Again, we'll recruit him as heavily as we can. An offer from West Virginia turned Eimantas Fetkevicius' head this month. The Mountaineers now top his list, and we've already invited him to campus. We're also trailing Tennessee for his affections. I was on the verge of offering him a scholarship, but now I'm not so sure. One big reason why is the love we continue to get from Gary Fairfield. Gary has offers from Boston College and Duke, but he still lists Villanova as his top choice. Do I dare offer scholarships to two point guards who are used to being the Alpha Dog? (or Cat, in the case of our program) Or, do I pursue this player, a three-star recruit who does a lot of the things Gary does, and just about as well? Code:
Nick holds offers from La Salle and Colgate. Villanova is, by far, the biggest program on his list. I have a good feeling about Nick, and I think I'm going to offer him a scholarship, along with all the recruiting I can do. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 09:48 PM
|
#614 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
October 1, 2035
This month's recruiting efforts went well. Dane Barlow and Demetrius Reed have both taken all the other schools who were pursuing them off their lists. I think we'll get good news from both young men in a month. Nick Spencer continues to consider La Salle and Colgate, but he seems to prefer his offer from Villanova more. Let's hope we get good news from Nick next month, too. |
|
|
|
|
02-09-2024, 10:15 PM
|
#615 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 1, 2035
Good news!! Dane Barlow and Demetrius Reed announce their commitments to Villanova basketball today! Dane is Delaware's Mr. Basketball and a high school All-American, and he's ranked fourth among point guards in his class. Demetrius is the #10 center in his class, and the third best in a region that has produced a bumper crop of big men this year. Even better, though, is the fact that both players look well-suited for roles I want them to play. Depending on who his backcourt partner is, Dane looks like he'll be able to serve as a facilitator or a scoring point guard. Demetrius and his Blue Collar Man vibe should be comfortable paired in the post with the offensively gifted Sebastian Roberts, who will be one year ahead of him. I'm excited to add both these players to our program! Meanwhile, Nick Spencer removed his other suitors from his list. It looks like he'll be joining us in a month. |
|
|
|
|
02-10-2024, 01:35 PM
|
#616 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 11, 2035
I think it's time to meet the 2035/36 Villanova Wildcats, defending champion of the Big East. Code:
Code:
This is a milestone year in our story for several reasons.
The Wildcats return three starters from last year's team, all of whom play on the perimeter. Among them is the reigning Big East Player of the Year, Mason Reynolds. The 6'4" junior led the team in scoring while rebounding like a player 6 inches taller and averaging over 4 assists per game. There's nothing Reynolds can't do on a basketball court. Point guard Connor Baxter is a junior now, too. He, like Reynolds, was a first team All-Big East player last season. Connor made great strides as a shooter last year, while retaining his ability to coordinate the offense. He worked hard on his shot during camp, so he should be an even more dangerous weapon. Baxter will team with Eldon Castanon in the backcourt. The Lafayette transfer started all 37 games last season, and he gives the Wildcats a third perimeter player who can score and distribute. Charlie Lambert, who did well as a sixth man as a freshman, will move into the starting five this season. He emerges from camp with a greater understanding of what Coach Sims wants him to do defensively, and he's demonstrated a greater ability to find opportunities to score. Highly-regarded freshman center Sebastian Roberts looks like he's ready to start right away. Right now, Sebastian's offensive game is ahead of his defense, but he's far from a liability as a defender, rebounder, and shot blocker. The Wildcats lack depth in the post. Kyle Gribble is the only other big man on scholarship, and while Erick Sullivan is actually decent for a walk-on, we could be in trouble if one of our bigs gets hurt. There's plenty of depth on the perimeter, though. Senior Trey Partridge is a traditional, pass-first point guard. Sophomores Max Bennett and Matt Valentine are good shooters and active defenders, and Bennett can run the offense if necessary. First-year Luke Christensen shows promise, but he might also have to show patience this year. We're ranked #1 in the first poll of the season, and if we can avoid injury and keep our best players on the court most of the time, we should be among the best teams in the nation again this year. Mason Reynolds is certainly talented enough to be the biggest star on a Final Four team. Veteran guards like Connor Baxter and Eldon Castanon can take a team a long way. It would be great to mark Graham Sims' silver jubilee with a season to remember. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-13-2024 at 08:08 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-10-2024, 01:58 PM
|
#617 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 11, 2035
Let's meet Vanderbilt's freshman guard, Charlie Sutton. Code:
Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-10-2024 at 02:00 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-10-2024, 05:53 PM
|
#618 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 15, 2035
Preseason NIT, First Round (1) #1 Villanova 94, (16) Savannah State 56 We have very little trouble in our opening game, as we advance with a win over Savannah State. Shooting 33-for-53 will lead to this kind of outcome. All five starters score in double figures, led by Mason Reynolds (18p/8a/7r), who picks up where he left off last year. Eldon Castanon (17p/4a/4r), Connor Baxter (17p/3a), and first-time starters Charlie Lambert (10p/9r/2b) and Sebastian Roberts (10p/6r) provide quality assistance. Record: 1-0. November 17, 2035 Preseason NIT, Quarterfinal (1) #1 Villanova 94, (8) Penn State 62 We continue to shoot the ball well, hitting 57% from three point range and 58% overall, and we move on to the semifinal. Connor Baxter leads the way with 26 points and 4 steals, while Mason Reynolds and Eldon Castanon provide 17 apiece. Baxter and Castanon each have 7 assists. Charlie Lambert blocks 3 shots, and Erick Sullivan ties for the team lead with 6 rebounds in 11 minutes of action. Record: 2-0. November 24, 2035 Preseason NIT Semifinal Code:
I like the way all our players are contributing: scoring, rebounding, making plays, defending. Charlie Lambert, for example, has developed into an excellent rim protector, especially considering he's a generous 6'9". And, while it's still early days, we're averaging over 21 assists a game again. Record: 3-0. November 26, 2035 Preseason NIT Final Code:
Mason shatters our school records for points in a game; the previous high was 37. He wipes out the records for field goals made and attempted; the old records were 14 and 24. He ties a record for threes made in a game that's held by several Wildcats. His 52 points is four short of the NCAA and Big East record, held by West Virginia's Daniel Kilby, who scored 56 one night in 2028. His 20 field goals made ties an NCAA mark that's held by five other players. He's certainly not the only player who plays well tonight, but this game is his. Record: 4-0.  |
|
|
|
|
02-10-2024, 08:15 PM
|
#619 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
December 1, 2035
A third piece of good news comes our way from the recruiting front, as Nick Spencer announces his commitment today. The experts aren't dazzled by Nick, whom they consider the #34 point guard in his class. He isn't tall, and he isn't dazzlingly quick, and he's not a great shooter or scorer. But he takes care of the ball like it's his most prized possession, and when you have it, he does his best to make sure you can't score. I think Nick will fill his role well, and he really wants to play for Villanova. I'll take guys like that any day. Welcome to Villanova basketball, Nick. |
|
|
|
|
02-11-2024, 12:24 AM
|
#620 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
December 1, 2035
@#1 Villanova 92, Lehigh 54 It's Sebastian Roberts' coming-out party tonight, as the freshman center scores 21 points and grabs 8 rebounds. We score 31 baskets and record 27 assists. I love that. I love the fact we have only 5 turnovers even more. Connor Baxter led us with 10 helpers, to go along with his 18 points. Mason Reynolds (15p/9r/5a) and Charlie Lambert (10p/7r/2b) also play well. Record: 5-0. December 5, 2035 @#1 Villanova 106, Canisius 79 If Mason Reynolds hadn't broken the Villanova single game scoring record earlier this year, he would have tied it today. He drops 37 points on the Golden Griffins at the Pavilion. Mason adds 10 rebounds and 4 assists. Connor Baxter posts his second straight game in double figures for assists, handing out 11 to go with 18 more points. Charlie Lambert scores 10 and rebounds 7. Record: 6-0. December 9, 2035 Code:
The last seconds of regulation play are very exciting. After Connor Baxter sinks two free throws to tie the game at 76, we press full-court, and Mason Reynolds steals a pass. Vandy's Otto Cain makes a fantastic play to deny Charlie Lambert at the rim and preserve the tie. You might notice Charlie Sutton doesn't appear in today's game. Commodores coach Chris Box hasn't seen enough of his freshman guard to give him any playing time yet, preferring to use sophomore Matthew Applegate with his second unit. If this continues, I'll keep an eye on Charlie's happiness level. Record: 6-1. December 13, 2035 @#5 Villanova 92, Gonzaga 72 The highest-scoring team in the nation falls five points shy of its season average, but we still put 92 on the board against a talented Gonzaga team. Four starters score in double figures, but oddly enough, the odd man out is Mason Reynolds (7p/7r). Eldon Castanon (15p/6a), Sebastian Roberts (13p/8r), Connor Baxter (12p/5r/4a), and Charlie Lambert (11p/2b) are joined by reserves Luke Christensen (13) and Kyle Gribble (13). Max Bennett hands out 5 assists. Record: 7-1. December 16, 2035 @#5 Villanova 106, Sacred Heart 59 The torrid offensive pace continues, as we break the 100-point barrier again. Mason Reynolds leads the way with 25. Eldon Castanon follows with 19, adding 7 assists. Connor Baxter (14p/6a), Sebastian Roberts (11p/12r), and reserves Luke Christensen (11p/5r) and Kyle Gribble (10p/5r) also hit double figures. Charlie Lambert hauls in 9 rebounds and blocks 4 shots. Fun fact: Our nine games this season include three of the ten highest-scoring games in Villanova history. Record: 8-1. December 22, 2035 Code:
We don't shoot as many three-pointers as usual tonight. We lead the nation with 29.8 triples per game, and we make 12.5 of them, which is also the highest. And we improve our nation's best .824 team free throw percentage, sinking in 38 of 43. Connor Baxter has been the best at this skill so far, missing only twice in 30 attempts. I deliberately look to recruit good free throw shooters. Record: 9-1. December 26, 2035 @#3 Villanova 104, Virginia 73 The six Wildcats with the most playing time all score in double figures as we top the 100-point mark again. Mason Reynolds goes 5-for-10 from behind the arc en route to 23 points. Charlie Lambert is right behind with 20. Max Bennett (14), Eldon Castanon (11), Sebastian Roberts (10) and Connor Baxter (10) are the others in double digits. We're now averaging a crazy-high 99.8 points per game. The highest single-season mark in our universe's history is 87.08, set by Kentucky last year. We're not likely to stay on our arcade game pace once the Big East season begins, but I wonder if we'll stay close enough to it to break the record? P.S. Our 86.38 mark from last year ranks third all-time. Record: 10-1. December 31, 2035 @#3 Villanova 87, Kent State 51 The Golden Flashes escape without allowing us to hit triple digits. One of the keys to their success was to avoid fouling us. We attempt only 9 free throws and make only 4 (!!). Mason Reynolds (19p/7r/5a/3s) wins the PotG award. Sebastian Roberts (10p/12r/3b) would have been a fine choice, too. Or, you might choose Charlie Lambert (12p/9r/5b). Connor Baxter finishes with 10 points and 4 assists. Record: 11-1. |
|
|
|
|
02-11-2024, 12:20 PM
|
#621 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
January 1, 2036
We ring in the New Year with some news from the academic front. Charles Peterman, who managed to get himself in trouble for bad grades despite a 62 Intelligence rating, has returned from suspension...but Trey Partridge's report card contains bad news. He's academically ineligible for second semester. Trey is a senior, so his college basketball career is over. The players we were recruiting have all committed now, so let's see where some of them will play their college ball:
Man, a lot of them are going to play in the Big East. I'd just as soon not have to see them quite so often. |
|
|
|
|
02-11-2024, 02:01 PM
|
#622 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
January 5, 2036
Code:
The bench squad lights it up tonight. Max Bennett does much of his damage from long range, but freshman Luke Christensen, the Player of the Game, misses the only three he takes. We're averaging 100.9 points per game. I've never seen anything like it. The Big East season begins soon. This has to end then...doesn't it? Record: 12-1. Here's how the teams in our conference have fared in early season play. Code:
January 9, 2036 #3 Villanova 74, @Marquette 46 Suddenly, when a Big East team comes to the Pavilion, we forget how to shoot the basketball. Our 8-for-35 performance from behind the arc would possibly have cost us the game if our defense hadn't shown up with a vengeance. Mason Reynolds and Connor Baxter lead us with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Reynolds also grabs 5 rebounds, and Baxter makes 5 steals. Luke Christensen continues to provide a spark off the bench. On a night when we don't shoot well, he's the exception, making 5 of 7 shots and scoring 11 points. Record: 13-1 (1-0). January 12, 2036 @Syracuse 80, #3 Villanova 79 We lose a squeaker at the Carrier Dome, as the shooting woes that plagued us in Milwaukee come east to New York with us. Mason Reynolds does fine, making 5 of 10 threes and finishing with 22 points. But Connor Baxter misses 6 of his 7 triples and only scores 17 points because he takes 15 shots. Eldon Castanon (11p/7a) is the only other Wildcat in double figures. Sebastian Roberts grabs 9 rebounds, and Charlie Lambert snares 8. Record: 13-2 (1-1). January 16, 2036 #3 Villanova 89, @South Florida 73 That's more like it! We still don't shoot well from three-point range (9-for-29), but we make up for it from inside the arc (26-for-45). Connor Baxter's performance is typical. He misses 4 of the 6 threes he tries, but he makes all 9 of his two-pointers and scores 24 points to lead all scorers. He adds 7 assists for good measure. Charlie Lambert pairs 14 points with 13 rebounds, and turns back a career-high 7 shots. Sebastian Roberts scores 12 and rebounds 9, and Matt Valentine hits for 11 off the bench. Mason Reynolds doesn't score much (6 points) but he contributes in other ways (7 assists, 5 rebounds). Record: 14-2 (2-1). |
|
|
|
|
02-12-2024, 11:28 AM
|
#623 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
January 19, 2036
#3 Villanova 90, @Notre Dame 83 We snap out of our three-point shooting slump, hitting 13 of 28 against the Fighting Irish in South Bend. We need those threes, too, because we allowed the Irish to drop 83 on us, seven points more than their season average. The hard work Connor Baxter put in this fall is paying off, as he's turned into a top-tier scorer (16.9 PPG for the season). His 25 points tonight include five threes and a perfect 6-for-6 at the line. Mason Reynolds scores 22, and Charlie Lambert adds 12, all of which come on his 4 three-balls in 4 tries. Baxter, Reynolds, and Eldon Castanon all hand out 6 assists. Record: 15-2 (3-1). January 23, 2036 @#3 Villanova 74, #23 St. John's 59 This one feels a bit more like the performance of a vintage Graham Sims-coached team, stingy on defense with just enough scoring. Mason Reynolds (14p/13r/4a) and sixth man Max Bennett (14p) share the team lead in scoring. Eldon Castanon (10p/7a) and Connor Baxter (10p/5a) join them in double figures. Sebastian Roberts grabs 11 rebounds, and Charlie Lambert rejects 3 shots. Record: 16-2 (4-1). January 26, 2036 @#3 Villanova 84, #20 Pittsburgh 66 We take another victory from a ranked visitor, breaking open a close game with an assertive second half. The main man is Mason Reynolds, who makes 9 of 11 shots, including 5 of 7 threes, and all 10 of his free throws to finish with 33 points. He also claims 11 rebounds and hands out 4 assists. The Big East's leading scorer (20.8 PPG), Mason also ranks in the top 10 in assists and steals, and in the top 15 in rebounds. Eldon Castanon finishes with 9 assists to go with his 7 points. The team's leading rebounder, Sebastian Roberts, grabs 8 tonight, right on his season average. And our top shot blocker, Charlie Lambert, nudges his 2.7 BPG up a bit by turning back 3 shots. Record: 17-2 (5-1). January 30, 2036 Code:
It's a big night for Connor Baxter, who scores the 1000th point of his Villanova career. Someone needs to beat Georgetown, who are a perfect 20-0. Syracuse and Louisville share second place in the Big East with us; we're all 6-1 in conference play. Our one-point loss at Syracuse puts us officially in third place. Record: 18-2 (6-1). On the last night of the month, Graham makes a trip to suburban Harrisburg, where he watches a Lower Dauphin High School team that features a talented junior big man named James Sanders, Jr. If you've been following this story for a while, you'll know James Jr's father. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-12-2024 at 11:31 AM. |
|
|
|
|
02-12-2024, 12:20 PM
|
#624 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
|
Did anyone else notice that Vandy has 4 players named Charles/Charlie? LOL
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
|
|
|
|
02-12-2024, 02:26 PM
|
#625 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
I'm going to step out of character to post some of my thoughts about the future of my story.
I got a direct message here from a reader who noticed that Graham Sims is no longer a young coach. He's completing his 25th season as a head coach, and he's now 56 years old. The reader wondered how long I planned to let Graham's career continue. I suppose it's possible to have a coach go on and on for decades, staying at their post until they're a century old, or older. I'm not going to do that. The game retires aging AI coaches at realistic points in their careers, and I'm going to handle Coach Sims' retirement realistically, too. Some of the most accomplished coaches in my universe were removed from active duty when they were fairly young. Wallace Hastings retired at 61. I don't think any of the big names were still active at 70. A peek into the editor shows me that the oldest head coach currently on the job in my universe is James Madison's Bill Rudd, who is 69 years old. Coach Rudd, however, spent eight years as an assistant before getting his first head coaching job, which he held for seven years before getting fired. Six more years as an assistant followed before JMU gave him another chance to run his own program. This is his fourth year in Harrisonburg. Coach Rudd has spent more time as an assistant than as a head coach. It turns out that the oldest active coach who has been a head coach continuously throughout my dynasty is Miami coach Larry Ramirez. Coach Ramirez is 64. He's also the oldest coach who has reached Level 10 or higher in his career. If we look only at the most accomplished coaches in our world--those who have hit Level 11 or higher--we see that the oldest among them are 61 years old now. That's the age of Erwin Gadson (Boston College, Level 15), Zack Lott (Stanford, Level 14), Benton Brimmer (North Carolina, Level 13), and Luther Kiely (Iowa State, Level 11). Gadson and Brimmer have been head coaches throughout our dynasty. I'll be paying attention to when these veterans decide to retire. So, the game seems to start making the most accomplished AI coaches start considering retirement when they hit their early 60s. Within a few years, the best of the best have been sent off to enjoy the rest of their lives. The game doesn't seem to reflect the mindset of most all-time great coaches in the real world, who usually stay active into their seventies. I'm planning to follow the customs of the game with Coach Sims. In a few years, I'll start taking stock of how things are going for him at the end of each season, and decide if it's a good time for him to hang his whistle up. However, I'm still having so much fun with my college basketball world. Once Graham Sims retires, I'll start a new coach's story, based in the same world. I already have some ideas about who that coach might be, and where he might want to begin his career. For now, however, Coach Sims is still excited to continue the legacy he's building at Villanova. -MG |
|
|
|
|
02-12-2024, 02:29 PM
|
#626 | |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
Quote:
I didn't notice that until you pointed it out! I wonder if the coach is keeping Charlie Sutton on the bench because, unlike his teammates, he refuses to be known as Charles? The Vanderbilt coach's name is Chris Box, and he has players named Cristopher and Chris on the roster. I'm sure they call Box "Coach." I hope they have nicknames for the name-alikes on the roster. Thanks for stopping by! P.S. Charlie Sutton still hasn't appeared in a game. His roster status is "Unhappy." If Charlie decides to transfer this spring and he's interested in playing for Villanova, I'll offer him a scholarship if I have one available. I'm thinking I will; I can't imagine Mason Reynolds will decide to return for his senior year. Of course, I'll be delighted if he does, but he's the #7 prospect among draft-eligible players. That's why I expect to have a scholarship available for an incoming transfer. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-12-2024 at 02:35 PM. |
|
|
|
|
|
02-12-2024, 04:06 PM
|
#627 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
February 2, 2036
@#3 Villanova 97, Providence 86 Mason Reynolds' double-double (23p/10r) sparks a victory over the Friars at the Wells Fargo Center. Mason also blocks 2 shots and hands out 4 assists. Freshman Luke Christensen comes off the bench to score 16 points, and fellow reserve Kyle Gribble adds 11 more. Charlie Lambert (11p/6r/2b) and Eldon Castanon (10p/6r/6a) also score in double digits. We set a new Villanova record by hoisting 40 three-pointers. Unfortunately only 13 of them go in, which is 31 percent. Louisville beats Georgetown today, so this is what the Big East standings look like now: Code:
Record: 19-2 (7-1). February 6, 2036 @#2 Villanova 105, South Florida 57 Remember when I told about our new school record for three-point attempts? Now, four days later, it's the old record. We launch 42 triples tonight, and 19 of them go in. That, by the way, is one short of our record. Mason Reynolds accounts for 11 of the attempts and 7 of the makes. He finishes with 35 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists, passing the 1500-point barrier in the process. He's the sixth Wildcat to reach 1500 for his career. Eldon Castanon (15p/8r/5a), Charlie Lambert (14p/6r/4b/3s), Sebastian Roberts (12p/9r) and Connor Baxter (8p/8a/5s) also play notably well. Syracuse stumbles at Cincinnati, so Louisville moves to the top of the Big East. Record: 20-2 (8-1). February 9, 2036 @#2 Villanova 101, Rutgers 65 It's a career night for Charlie Lambert, who scores 29 points as we unseat the Golden Knights. It's far from a one-man show, though; the rest of the starting five, plus Max Bennett, all score between 10 and 13 points. Mason Reynolds also contributes 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals. The game features the teams most likely to attempt a three-point shot in all of Division I basketball. We combine to hoist 63 of them (33 by Rutgers, 30 by us), which is very close to a typical output for us this season. Record: 21-2 (9-1). February 13, 2036 @#2 Villanova 74, Seton Hall 41 A combination of our good defense and their bad luck limits the Pirates to only 41 points at the Pavilion tonight. The visitors try 11 threes and miss every one. Meanwhile, Connor Baxter scores 19 points, Mason Reynolds adds 17, and Charlie Lambert pitches in 12 and blocks 4 shots. Sebastian Roberts pulls in 12 rebounds. All three Big East leaders win their 10th conference match of the season. Record: 22-2 (10-1). |
|
|
|
|
02-12-2024, 04:35 PM
|
#628 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
February 16, 2036
Code:
Nor does he miss the free throws he shot with one second left in overtime to provide the winning margin in one of the biggest regular season games in our history. We trail the Hoyas by eight points at halftime, but by the 12:00 media timeout of the second half, we pull even once again. Like skilled boxers, we trade punches for the remainder of the half. With 20 seconds left, Georgetown wing Brian Bishop drives to the hoop, and Mason Reynolds fouls him. Bishop makes both foul shots. Both teams miss chances to win the game in regulation time. Charlie Lambert's 16-point, 7-rebound, 6-block performance earns him the PotG. Our victory takes on even greater meaning when Connecticut defeats Louisville in Hartford, leaving us in first place in the Big East. Record: 23-2 (11-1). |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 08:51 AM
|
#629 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
Code:
February 20, 2036 @#1 Villanova 79, DePaul 69 Charlie Lambert defends our house emphatically tonight. He blocks 10 shots, which is the highest total ever recorded by a player coached by Graham Sims. Extra points for being a dynasty lore-master if you guess the previous record holder was Samuel Davis of Lafayette, who blocked 9 in an NCAA tournament game against Wisconsin in 2019. The Villanova record is 12, set by Larry Vanegas in 2021. Charlie completes a double-double with 16 points, falling 3 rebounds short of a triple-feature. Mason Reynolds (20p/10r) and Connor Baxter (20p/7a) lead us in scoring. Sebastian Roberts grabs 12 boards, and Eldon Castanon has 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Record: 24-2 (12-1). February 23, 2036 @#1 Villanova 108, Marquette 75 Another overwhelming offensive output buries the Golden Eagles. We set a new single-game record with 33 assists. Connor Baxter is our top playmaker, with 9; Eldon Castanon (8) is right behind him. Mason Reynolds and Max Bennett add 4 each, and eight players set up a teammate at least once. Mason leads us in scoring with 32 points. Charlie Lambert finishes with 22, and blocks 5 more shots. Baxter (15p) rounds out the double-digit scorers. Record: 25-2 (13-1). February 27, 2036 #1 Villanova 111, @Cincinnati 78 Led by Mason Reynolds and his 38 points, we drop 111 on the Bearcats in Cincinnati. Reynolds makes 6 of 12 three-pointers, 6 of 8 two-pointers, and 8 of 10 free throws. He also finishes with 7 rebounds and 7 steals. Jack Clary of Kentucky (24.7 PPG, 7.5 RPG) will probably repeat as National Player of the Year, but Mason (21.8 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.5 APG) has to be in the conversation. Three reserves score in double figures: Max Bennett (18), Luke Christensen (11), and Kyle Gribble (10). Connor Baxter pitches in 13, with 6 boards and 6 assists. Record: 26-2 (14-1). March 1, 2036 @#1 Villanova 101, #9 Louisville 76 Tonight, we play our final game at the Wells Fargo Center, as we'll move into our new on-campus home next season. Connor Baxter makes it one to remember. The junior guard goes 10-for-12 from three-point distance and finishes with 32 points. He adds 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals. Mason Reynolds also says goodbye in style: 19 points, a season-high 14 rebounds, and 7 assists. So does Charlie Lambert: 13 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks. Eldon Castanon contributes 6 assists. Record: 27-2 (15-1). March 5, 2036 @#1 Villanova 90, Syracuse 81 Our last game at Finneran Pavilion is an even more emotional occasion. The Finn has been the Wildcats' home for 50 years, and it's been the scene of countless memorable moments. Former players, young and not-so-young, are present to bid farewell to the arena they called home. It would be Senior Day, but the team's only senior is academically ineligible. The alumni watch Eldon Castanon score 20 points, dish out 5 assists, and make 2 steals. They enjoy a double-double from Sebastian Roberts: 11 points, 10 boards. They appreciate a 12-point, 7-assist performance by Connor Baxter. And they leave impressed with Mason Reynolds and his 14 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. So long, Finn. It's been a great 50 years. Record: 28-2 (16-1). March 8, 2036 #1 Villanova 62, @Connecticut 39 How strange is it that, in a season marked by record-setting offensive production, we end the Big East regular season with a shut-down defensive effort...and our worst shooting performance? The less that is said about our 3-for-30 "accuracy" from long range, the better. Connor Baxter finishes with 19 points, despite missing 9 of his 10 treys (he made 8 of 10 two-pointers). Mason Reynolds does Mason Reynolds things: 19 points, 9 assists, 7 rebounds, 3 steals. Charlie Lambert scores 8, rebounds 7, blocks 4. The defense forces 22 Huskies turnovers, which helps us hold them below 40 points. We'll enter the Big East tournament as its regular season champion; it's the sixth such championship of Graham Sims' Villanova career. Record: 29-2 (17-1). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-13-2024 at 10:15 AM. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 09:16 AM
|
#630 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
March 13, 2036
 We earn another double bye, and enter the tournament in the Quarterfinals. Big East Tournament Quarterfinal (1) #1 Villanova 84, (8) Providence 73 Tournament basketball just feels different. It's often edgier, grittier, more of a street fight. Tonight's game definitely feels that way. The Friars are within four points until the game's closing moments, when we put it away at the free throw line. Connor Baxter leads us with a 17p/10r double-double. Mason Reynolds scores 19 points, adding 8 rebounds. Sebastian Roberts (10) is our only other double-digit scorer, but three other Wildcats finish with 8 points. It's not pretty, but it's enough to put us through to the next round, and that's what matters. Record: 30-2. March 14, 2036 Big East Tournament Semifinal (1) #1 Villanova 96, (12) Rutgers 75 Rutgers is up next, a Cinderella who have already sent Pitt and Louisville home. We end their party with a classic '36 Villanova game: allow more points than I'm used to seeing us allow, but drop 90-something on them and take the win. A bout of foul trouble keeps Mason Reynolds on the bench for much of the game, and that allows Matt Valentine to shine. The sophomore swingman plays 28 minutes and scores 25 points, easily a career high. Connor Baxter supports him with 17 points, 9 assists, and 5 rebounds. Charlie Lambert finishes with 14 points and 6 boards, and in his 16 minutes of time, Mason manages to log 10 points and 7 rebounds. Once again, it will be Villanova vs. Georgetown for the tournament trophy. Record: 31-2. March 15, 2036 Big East Tournament Championship Code:
Ten players get into the game for us, and all ten of them attempt a three-point shot. Charlie Lambert, Mason Reynolds, and Connor Baxter make most of theirs. We score 34 baskets, and assists are recorded on 29 of them. I've mentioned before how much I love this. Eldon Castanon is especially generous and skillful today. He becomes the fourth player to earn a spot on the leader board for assists in a single game; most of the spots are taken by Justice Stafford and Severiano Tipaldo, with a single appearance by Duncan Sims. Mason Reynolds finishes the game with a season total of 714 points. That's enough to break the school record of exactly 700, held by Asher Wise. Record: 32-2. Now, it's time to get ready for the Big Dance. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-13-2024 at 10:15 AM. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 11:02 AM
|
#631 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
March 16, 2036
We're headed to the West Region this year, as its top seed. The other 1 seeds are Georgetown, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky. The Commodores could possibly face Lafayette in the round of 32 if both teams win their first games. March 20, 2036 NCAA West Region, First Round (1) #1 Villanova 92, (16) Presbyterian 48 The Blue Hose's season is a fun story. They entered the Big South tournament as the #8 seed in an eight-team seed. They upset top seeded Liberty, knocked off UNC-Asheville, and won the final by two points over two-seed Gardner Webb. Then, they edged out South Carolina State, 67-64, in the play-in game that landed them in the tournament field proper. Led by senior point guard Weldon Raynor and junior wing Terrence Ripley, the Blue Hose aren't here to sightsee. Still, Ripley admits, "About halfway through the first half, I think to myself that I'm guarding Mason Reynolds." Mason finishes with 21 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals, but he's put up far better numbers against players who were five-star recruits and are future professional standouts. Raynor battles Connor Baxter, and while Connor scores 15 points and dishes out 11 assists, Raynor hangs tough with 11 and 7, respectively. Charlie Lambert scores 15 points, but he can't manage to block a Blue Hose shot. Eldon Castanon (13), Kyle Gribble (11) and Matt Valentine (10) round out our double figure scorers. The final score makes it look like a rout, but it's a more interesting game than meets the eye. Record: 33-2. March 22, 2036 NCAA West Region, Second Round (1) #1 Villanova 95, (8) Colgate 68 If I went back through every post in the dynasty, I could figure out Graham Sims' career record against Colgate. I do know that Lafayette leads the all-time series, 48-11, and that quite a few of those wins are Graham's. The Red Raiders got here by defeating one of this universe's glamour teams: Southern California. Their season ends tonight, however, as Eldon Castanon and Mason Reynolds lead us to a victory that sends us to the Sweet Sixteen. Eldon scores 16 points, grabs 5 rebounds, hands out 7 assists, makes 2 steals, and doesn't turn the ball over once. Mason's 26 points and 8 rebounds lead all Wildcats. Charlie Lambert (12p/3b), Connor Baxter (11p/6r/3s), and Max Bennett (10p) also score in double figures. Record: 34-2. March 27, 2036 NCAA West Region Semifinal: the Sweet Sixteen Code:
We shoot .542/.808/.500 for the game. I'm happy to share that this level of accuracy from the line is actually lower than our season average. We're hitting 82.2 percent for the year. Kansas beats Utah, 63-62, in the other regional semifinal, so we'll face the bluest of blue bloods for a spot in the Final Four. Record: 35-2. March 29, 2036 NCAA West Region Final: the Elite Eight Code:
This is a clash of titans. Kansas has won the Big XII championship 17 times, and captured 8 conference tournaments. We've taken 10 Big East regular season titles, and 9 tournament championships. (Lafayette has 19 and 13, respectively). Kansas coach Blaine Boyd has been Graham Sims' friend for decades. Until this season, Coaches Boyd and Sims met frequently in the Big East; Coach Boyd spent over 20 seasons at Pitt. The coaches' combined records: 1385 wins, 384 losses. That's right; between them, they have over a thousand more victories than defeats. The game lives up to the hype. Code:
Seb Roberts and Charlie Lambert do a great job containing Dicken, who averages over 17 points per game. We have our hands full with Bible, but we can also take advantage of his rather cavalier attitude regarding defense. And, we have Mason Reynolds, and Kansas does not. So, we're off to the Final Four. Record: 36-2. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 11:57 AM
|
#632 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 5, 2036
NCAA National Semfinal: the Final Four Code:
It's a very good game. During the first half, we keep losing track of Vanderbilt's excellent big men,John Stevens and Otto Cain. I really wanted Stevens to be interested in us coming out of high school, but he never considered our program. We looked at Cain, too; like Stevens, he wanted to remain closer to his Georgia home. Their big men have 22 points between them in the first 20 minutes, and the Commodores lead, 45-43. After the break, our three-point shots begin to find the range. Connor Baxter hits 4 of the 5 triples he attempts in the second half. Otto Cain, who is a fine defender, gets in foul trouble, and reserve Kyle Gribble takes advantage of the Vandy man's absence. And we have Mason Reynolds, and Vanderbilt does not. Once again, Vanderbilt freshman Charlie Sutton watches the game from the bench. Charlie has, in effect, taken a redshirt year, but it's one he won't get back because he wasn't "officially" redshirted. I wonder if he's thinking about making a change? Coach Sims will make his seventh trip to the championship game. He's seeking his fourth victory. And guess who stands in his way? Georgetown. Record: 37-2. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 12:05 PM
|
#633 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 6, 2036
Today's High School All-American game is interesting. Several players we recruited, including one who signed with us, played on the East team. Code:
Three members of the East starting five--Jelani Obasie, Jalen Christian, and Dane Barlow--were on our recruiting short list. Dane, of course, will be a Villanova Wildcat next year. Had the East won, Dane might very well have been Player of the Game. Well done, Mr. Barlow. We'll see you on campus soon. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 03:24 PM
|
#634 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 7, 2036
NCAA Championship Game Code:
It's Coach Sims' fourth NCAA title: three at Villanova, one at Lafayette. They say it's hard to beat the same team three times in a season, and that's the task we faced against Georgetown this year. We turn the adage on its head, by widening our margin of victory from 2 to 20 to 34 points. We commit 20 turnovers today, but we mitigate their effects by forcing Georgetown into an equal number. And, as we've done all season long, we take and make a lot of three-pointers, while limiting our opponent's ability to do the same. The Hoyas do a very good job of controlling Mason Reynolds. It's obvious they don't want him to win the game for us. Georgetown holds him to 14 points, and he turns the ball over 5 times. But Mason can, and will, affect a basketball game in all kinds of ways besides scoring. Tonight, he does those things, while his teammates pick up the scoring slack. Mason's fellow juniors--Connor Baxter, Eldon Castanon, Kyle Gribble, and Charles Peterman--all distinguish themselves tonight. Connor is a deserving Player of the Game. In the midst of the post-game celebrations, Graham shares a quiet moment with each of these upperclassmen. He thanks them for their contributions to their common victory, but he deliberately doesn't talk about next season. Tonight, Graham and his players will celebrate this season instead. Record: 38-2. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 07:37 PM
|
#635 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 7, 2036
It's awards time! Code:
Sometime during the season, I must have switched Connor to SG in our depth chart. It worked out well for him, didn't it? The Big East awards are fun to see, too. Code:
Every member of our starting lineup earned All-Big East recognition at some level. I'm thinking Sebastian Roberts must have been a close runner-up for a spot on the Freshman All-American team, too. We also learn that Mason Reynolds will, to nobody's surprise, pass up his final season of college eligibility and enter the draft. I wondered if Connor Baxter might join him, but Connor has decided to come back for his senior season. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 08:12 PM
|
#636 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 7, 2036
Code:
I can't find the record for highest free throw percentage for a season, but the runner-up in this category this year shot .769. For that reason, I'm thinking our mark must be one of the best ever. Our margins look fantastic, too, largely driven by our high-powered offense. We led the nation in offensive efficiency (121.0) and finished 13th in defensive efficiency (90.3). Code:
Code:
Code:
I remember writing about how we could be one of the best teams in the nation if we could remain healthy. The same five players started all 40 games for us this year, and they, and their teammates, ended the season as national champions. Farewells follow. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 08:43 PM
|
#637 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
2035/36 Senior Tribute
TREY PARTRIDGE I wish Trey Partridge's story had a better ending. Code:
We recruited Trey out of upstate New York to fill a particular role: a backup point guard with good vision and handle, a player who could give us solid minutes in relief of our starter and understand that he would probably always be the understudy, not the star. Trey played that role very well, especially during his first two years. As a sophomore, he spent time as our sixth man while we went through a spate of injuries, and he handled that duty effectively. The arrival of transfer Eldon Castanon cost Trey some playing time, but he continued to play productive basketball when he got the chance. And, then, he received his grades for the first semester of his senior year, and that's where the story ends. Fortunately for Trey, his family has the money to finance the last semester of his Villanova education, so if his spring semester grades are up to par, he'll return next fall to complete his degree in Sociology. We wish him well. Thanks for the memories, Trey. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 09:51 PM
|
#638 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
2035/36 Farewell
MASON REYNOLDS St. Stephens & St. Agnes School in northern Virginia contains a much higher proportion of Villanova basketball fans than one would ever expect. The Saints come by their passion for Wildcat basketball honestly. Their school has produced two Villanova icons: a star player and his coach. Code:
Mason refused to let that happen. He played so well that we shifted him to small forward, and that became his home for the next three seasons. No player Graham has coached has done more different things to help a basketball team win games than Mason has. The 858 points he scored this season is the highest single season total in school history, and it's not even close. His 1913 career points are third highest, behind men who played four seasons. Mason is our fifth all-time leading assist man and our seventh all-time leading rebounder. And, although he has never been known as a great defensive player, he ranks fourth all-time in steals. I was tempted to simply let Mason's list of achievements stand alone. Take a look at them again. He's achieved every honor a college player can earn, including a National Player of the Year award and a national championship ring. Mason enjoys being a student, too, and he's been extremely good at it. His plans to complete his degree in Communication will be delayed while he pursues his professional basketball career. He probably won't be one of the first four or five players drafted this spring, but he'll certainly hear his name called quickly on Draft Night. The team who chooses him will be glad they did, because he'll undoubtedly represent them as well as he has Villanova University. Thanks for the memories, Mason. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 10:39 PM
|
#639 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
April 12, 2036
Mason Reynolds is selected with the #8 pick in tonight's pro draft. As expected, Kentucky's Jack Clary is the number one pick. Mason is the second Big East player to come off the board; Pitt center Charles Cunningham went immediately after Clary. Code:
Again this year, we bring in a recruiting class that I like better than the experts do. Dane Barlow turns out to be not quite as fully developed as we thought, but since Connor Baxter and Eldon Castanon are still here, we can be patient with Dane. Demetrius Reed is a better defender than we believed, and Nick Spencer has the potential to be a real lockdown guy. Code:
West Virginia ended up signing JUCO center Wendell Cairns. He's their second five-star player, and he's already a grown man. They also have Eimantas Fetkevicius, a high four-star recruit. UConn's top player, Morris Thiele, is the #7 player in the class. They've got Jelani Obasie, too, and he's going to be a star. Georgetown guard Isiah Cook is the top-ranked Big East recruit: #5 overall. Thiele is next, and then Dane Barlow. Our prestige (100) and budget ($800,000) remain unchanged. But our Facilities have maxed out at 100 now! Wawa Arena must be really something. |
|
|
|
|
02-13-2024, 11:03 PM
|
#640 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
May 1, 2036
Veteran coach Luther Kiely has retired from his position at Iowa State, at age 62. Coach Kiely is one of the talented veterans whose career decisions I'm following. Graham's former assistant, Donn McClinton, has been hired as the head coach at Morehead State. Coach McClinton spent the last four seasons as an assistant at Houston. He's been a head coach before, but not a successful one; his career record is 81-160. We'll have an opening on our staff this year, too. Our former Scouting Director, Jacob Bryant, is getting the opportunity to try his luck as a head coach again. He'll be the new boss at Navy. Replacing him will be the peripatetic Gregg Haddad. Coach Haddad was recently fired by Lipscomb after seven seasons as their head coach; he compiled a 89-122 record there. He's had significant success as a scouting specialist, however; he's worked at Duke and Georgia Tech, and in the Big East at Marquette and Providence. Coach Haddad is a Level 5 coach, but he's a top-tier, 100-rated scout. His three-year deal will pay him $188,435/year. Charlie Sutton surprises me by deciding to stay at Vanderbilt. I don't see a player in the transfer portal I'd like to sign. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-13-2024 at 11:08 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 09:08 AM
|
#641 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
|
Darn, was hoping he might be interested in a transfer...
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 10:03 AM
|
#642 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
July 1, 2036
Two things open today. First, the basketball offices and training facilities at the Wawa Arena.  The other is a recruiting season that shapes up to be a busy one. We have four seniors on scholarship this year: combo guards Connor Baxter and Eldon Castanon and power forwards Kyle Gribble and Charles Peterman. We brought in two point guards in this year's class; Dane Barlow shows enough potential as a scorer to be classified as a "combo" or "lead" guard, and Nick Spencer is more of a pure point guard. So, unless one of the nation's very best point guards begs us to give him a scholarship, we won't be recruiting a one this year. I usually think of centers and power forwards as being basically interchangeable. I've also been known to move a big player who's listed as a SF into the PF spot. So I usually recruit "big men" as a group, looking at players who are listed at PF and C. There's a tough, Blue Collar Man-type big, Demetrius Reed, in our freshman class. So, as I look at our projected depth chart for the next two seasons, I see a need for two wing players. Ideally, one will be a long, athletic natural "three," and the other will be a marksman, possibly a "two." We need at least one big man, the heir apparent to Sebastian Roberts, a player we will probably need to be a solid, Blue or Green starter by his sophomore year. The fourth player might be a swingman who can play "three" or "four." There's a big man in Pennsylvania whom I know we'll be looking at closely. He's James Sanders, Jr., the son and namesake of Lafayette legend James "Big Colonel" Sanders, class of 2016. James Junior isn't quite as big as his dad was; very few high school boys are 6'11" and 319 pounds. But he's a better prospect than his father was, a five-star power forward who averages almost 22 points and over 12 rebounds a game. And we have an early inside track on Zayden Calhoun, a high-scoring, 6'5" wing from New Jersey. Zayden is the top player at his position in the country, scoring over 27 points a game and doing his share as a rebounder and playmaker. Unless our evaluations reveal weaknesses we can't overlook, we'll be offering scholarships to James and Zayden in a month. Here's our call list as it stands today: Code:
Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-14-2024 at 03:54 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 10:11 AM
|
#643 | |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
Quote:
I was, too. I need a player like Charlie at Villanova now, in fact. I did break into the editor to give Charlie a chance. I know the AI coaches will sometimes make a logical change in a player's position in order to put a team's best players on the floor. I took a look at Vanderbilt's roster, and they are pathetically weak for a top-tier team at SF. Meanwhile, their three best players, all at least Green/Green guys are guards, and two are listed at SG, like Charlie. If Mr. Sutton moves to SF, he becomes the most talented option there, and by far the most promising. If I were coaching Vanderbilt, I'd make that change in a hot second. I'm willing to play Basketball Deity to give a bespoke player like Charlie a fighting chance. |
|
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 04:36 PM
|
#644 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
August 1, 2036
It turns out that James Sanders, Jr. is a similar player to his dad, perhaps a bit more talented. Here's a look back at our initial scouting report on James Sr. when we recruited him at Lafayette. Code:
And here's a look at James Jr. today: Code:
James Sr. turned out to be a slightly better defensive player and a slightly poorer shooter than we thought; our scout at Lafayette in 2012 wasn't as talented as our guy now. Senior was a three-star player, ranked #274 in his class. Junior is much more highly regarded, but I'm not convinced he's *that* much better than his dad was. He's also not as enamored of us as I hoped he would be. I'm going to offer him a scholarship and recruit him heavily, but I can envision myself withdrawing the offer if we can't convince him that we're a good fit...as much as I'd like to coach Big Colonel's son. (I created him for this purpose, after all.) I made a late decision to offer Zayden Calhoun before I advanced the game, and I'm glad I did. He's the real deal. Code:
Another wing we're looking at closely is this five-star player from New York City. Code:
The top player in the class is Chris Vogt, a shooting guard who would fill the "marksman" role as well as any player we've ever seen. He lists us third among his top schools, but he has an offer from Kentucky, one of the schools he prefers. We certainly won't forget about Chris yet, but we've identified a similar player who likes us better: David Lovett. Code:
I'm going to offer Flaherty and Lovett scholarships, too. They'll both visit campus, along with Sanders and Calhoun, and they'll get visits from as many coaches as we can send. We'll spend the rest of our cash wooing players we haven't featured yet. Perhaps one or more of them will rise to the top of our wish list. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-21-2024 at 10:31 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 05:17 PM
|
#645 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
September 1, 2036
Zayden Calhoun received an offer from Georgetown last month. He still likes us better, and he's narrowed his list to us, the Hoyas, and Kansas. I remain confident he'll be in Villanova blue next season. It seems that Tony Flaherty liked his visit to campus. Duke has made him an offer, but we remain at the top of his list. We're in a similar position with David Lovett; his third choice, Northwestern, has offered him, but we're his favorite right now. And then there's James Sanders, Jr. We're in a battle with Georgetown for his commitment, and the Hoyas are ahead right now. There is a part of me that never wants to concede a player to Georgetown, even if the Hoyas are the favorite. We've come from behind and landed a player or two that way. But is this the battle to fight? I have a nickname picked out for James Jr., but he can't have it if he signs with Georgetown.  But here's the problem. I don't have the inside track for any other big guys. David Getty, a five-star center, prefers Boston College, and he's got an offer from the Eagles. Would he flip to us if we offered him? Mark Rotz, another top center, seems pleased with an offer from Kentucky...but would he prefer one from us? When I'm stuck like this, I often check to see if there's a foreign player who likes us and could fit our needs. Oh, look! There is! His name is Jordi Ballester, and he's from Spain. He lists New Mexico as a favorite school; perhaps that's because they've contacted him. I cut someone from our call list and add Carlos, and prepare to evaluate him. Would you like to visit Spain this month, Coach Sims? I'm going to keep my offers in the hands of the same four players this month. If Jordi Ballester looks like a player and James Jr. keeps wearing Georgetown gear around his high school campus, that might change. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-23-2024 at 09:26 AM. |
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 05:53 PM
|
#646 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
October 1, 2036
The best news comes from the Flaherty household. Tony has one school on his list, and it's Villanova. Maybe he'll have even better news for us in a month. Zayden Calhoun and David Lovett have us in the "favorite" position, with one rival listed below us. For Z, it's Georgetown; for David, it's Kentucky. There's no reason to feel uneasy about these guys...yet. James Sanders, Jr. also has two programs on his list, but we're still listed behind the *expletive deleted* Hoyas. And now we know what kind of player we're looking at with Jordi Ballester. Code:
Perhaps Big Colonel's son wants to avoid the comparisons he might face if he plays for the coach who guided his dad back in the 'teens. Now he won't have that problem. I'm pulling his offer and giving it to the Catalan big man we've recently discovered. Coaches Sims and Caballero--and their lovely wives--are going to Barcelona this month. P.S. Sharp eyes who read the previous post as soon as it dropped might notice that Jordi Ballester was previously known as Juan Pablo Jimenez. When I looked up the player's home town, I discovered it's right outside Barcelona. I decided to give Jordi a classic Catalan name instead. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-20-2024 at 02:29 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-14-2024, 06:20 PM
|
#647 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 1, 2036
It's Decision Day for many of the nation's top young basketball players. We get three pieces of good news. The first comes from Zayden Calhoun. I'm sure Georgetown made a late push for him, but he remains true to his first love. The crush is mutual, too. He's the top player at his position in the nation, New Jersey's Mr. Basketball, and a high school All-American. Programs are built around recruits like Zayden. Then we learn David Lovett has picked Villanova, too. He and Zayden are both the highest-scoring high school player in their states. Will they be able to share the ball? I think they will; Zayden is a notably good passer, and David likes to drive and slash. I can envision them playing well together. I believe they'll be playing against each other in the high school All-American game first. And we also discover we'll be seeing Jordi Ballester on campus next year, too. Jordi is less polished than his American classmates, but we'll be able to play the long game with him. Sebastian Roberts will be a junior next year, and Demetrius Reed a sophomore. If Jordi can fill the role of "third big man" as a freshman, we'll be delighted with that. I thought Tony Flaherty was almost ready to commit to us, but he's taking another month to think. He's put Georgetown, Kansas, and Kentucky back on his list, but none of those programs have made him an offer. Tony would put the finishing touches on a recruiting class I really like a lot. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-20-2024 at 02:28 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-15-2024, 10:48 AM
|
#648 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 9, 2036
Here's the Villanova team that will inaugurate the brand-new Wawa Arena this season: Code:
A new, state-of-the-art training facility and one of the best coaching staffs in all of college hoops means preseason training will go well. #gains Code:
All but one player returns from the 35/36 team that won 38 games and a national championship. Yes, that player happens to be the National Player of the Year, but Graham Sims can still field a formidable team. The backcourt is in the hands of two seniors, both of whom have earned first team All-Big East recognition at least once. Connor Baxter averaged 16.1 points and 5.9 assists per game last season, earning his second consecutive first team berth. He was joined by Eldon Castanon (11.1 PPG, 5.7 APG, 4.1 RPG). Connor and Eldon are both able to swing between scoring and playmaking roles, and they're both very good defenders. They are perhaps the best backcourt duo in the nation. Junior Charlie Lambert, a second team All-Big East player, returns to the frontcourt after a fantastic training camp. He's a versatile player, a three-level scorer who hit 78 three-point shots last season. Charlie is also a formidable shot blocker. The fourth returning starter is sophomore center Sebastian Roberts, who was an All-Big East freshman team selection. The team's leading rebounder last season (7.9 RPG), Sebastian was our fifth option offensively--but he's capable of filling a much more essential role. He's an athletic seven-footer who is considered one of the top three pro prospects in all of college hoops. Kyle Gribble will get the first opportunity to fill out the starting five. He's earned it; he's a senior whose role has gradually expanded over the course of his career. Kyle can score with a variety of post moves, and his jump shot is becoming more and more of a weapon. He's also become a very good post defender. If Gribble doesn't start, Matt Valentine probably will. He's a 6'6" wing with a scorer's mentality. He's not a poor defender, but he offers less at that end of the floor than most of our players do. Max Bennett, a talented combo guard, and Luke Christensen, a wing who was one of our most productive players on a per-minute basis last year, will also be key members of the rotation. We can be patient with our three incoming freshmen: guards Dane Barlow and Nick Spencer, and big man Demetrius Reed. I hope they'll be patient too, because all three are exciting talents. Barlow is the most developed player of the group, a skilled facilitator with a sneaky-good shot. Spencer is a pure point guard whom we believe will develop into a lockdown defender. Reed, a very, very large man, is a fierce rim protector-in-training. Also available are senior Charles Peterman and junior Erick Sullivan, who is one of the best walk-ons I've ever seen. This year's team is loaded with veterans, fully developed players who are ready to shine. We can go ten-deep with Green guys, and the freshmen are potentially just as good as their older teammates. We'll miss Mason Reynolds. Any team would. However, the fans who make their way to the sparkling new Wawa Center should see one of the nation's top teams in action once again. Coach Sims enters the season with 768 career wins to his credit. I think there's a very good chance he will celebrate win #800 sometime in March. |
|
|
|
|
02-15-2024, 03:18 PM
|
#649 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
|
November 9, 2036
Coaches Invitational, First Round (1) #1 Villanova 95, (16) Idaho State 68 A commanding performance by Connor Baxter (17p/8r/8a) sets the tone for a victory in the first round of this highly-regarded preseason tournament. Matt Valentine scores 21 points off the bench. Charlie Lambert (17p/7r/5b), Kyle Gribble (14p/9r), and Max Bennett (10p/4a) also enjoy productive season debuts. Record: 1-0. November 10, 2036 Coaches Invitational Quarterfinal (1) #1 Villanova 92, (8) Penn State 84 Eldon Castanon makes all 7 of the three-pointers he attempts to lead us into the Coaches Invitational semifinal. Eldon's 28 points are a career high, and he adds 8 assists. Connor Baxter scores 11 points and hands out 10 assists. Sebastian Roberts also has a double-double: 13 points, 10 rebounds. Charlie Lambert finishes with 11 points. We've shot 25-for-50 from behind the arc so far. That won't last, but it sure is fun. Record: 2-0. November 16, 2036 Coaches Invitational Semifinal (1) #1 Villanova 86, (5) Fresno State 71 The Bulldogs battle us hard tonight, and we do just enough to secure the win and a spot in the tournament championship game. The biggest stars are Connor Baxter (18p/11r/6a) and Charlie Lambert (20p/8r/4b). Kyle Gribble also reaches double figures (10p), and Eldon Castanon fills his stat line (8p/7r/5a). Max Bennett contributes 4 assists and 3 steals in 14 minutes of action. New Mexico beats Memphis in the other semifinal, so we'll face the Lobos in the championship game. Record: 3-0. November 17, 2036 Coaches Invitational Championship Code:
Matt Valentine scores at least 20 points in a reserve role for the second time this young season. Charlie Lambert spices up his double-double with an extra helping of rejected shots. We don't shoot particularly well from distance, but we find other ways to win. Record: 4-0.  November 26, 2036 The Wildcats move into the Wawa Arena tonight, and a capacity crowd of 12,500 watches the 2035/36 NCAA championship banner descend from the rafters. Then, they watch their team defeat their visitors from Vermont. Here's the box score from the first game in the new home of Villanova basketball. Code:
I also love the high percentage of made baskets that are assisted--23 out of 29 this time--and the fact we went 17-for-17 from the free throw line. Record: 5-0. Sutton Watch: Charlie Sutton emerged from his second training camp at Vanderbilt an improved player. Here's how his attributes look as he heads into the season: Code:
After an incredibly frustrating season in which he didn't play a single minute, Charlie surprisingly returned to Vanderbilt. A position switch (from SG to SF) has worked wonders for the sharpshooting sophomore. Starting all six of Vandy's games, Charlie is leading the Commodores in scoring at 20.5 PPG. He's really heated up lately, too, scoring 26, 28, and 26 points in his last three contests, all Vanderbilt victories. Charlie is establishing himself as a deadly three-point shooter. He knocked down 19 of 27 triples over his three-game hot streak, and he's making 46 percent of his threes for the season. It's taken him a year, but Charlie has become a key player for coach Chris Box's team. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 02-15-2024 at 03:20 PM. |
|
|
|
|
02-16-2024, 03:15 PM
|
#650 |
|
High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
|
Wow... Sutton looks good....
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
|
|
|
 |
| Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 8 (0 members and 8 guests) | |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
