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03-10-2024, 01:09 AM
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#701 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 3, 2038
NCAA National Semifinal: the Final Four Code:
Zayden Calhoun releases the ball an instant before the buzzer sounds. He'll later say that he could tell he missed it when it left his fingers. Charlie Lambert, who inbounded the ball, sits in the center circle, his head in his hands. Charlie's Villanova career is now over. Sebastian Roberts pulls his jersey from his shorts and looks upward, closing his eyes. His collegiate career is without a doubt complete, too. Graham Sims shakes hands with, and embraces, assistants Greg Seward, Gregg Haddad, and Tom Caballero. Coach Sims has been to ten Final Fours. Only once before has he lost in the national semifinal game, with Lafayette in 2018. His record in the Final Four is 13-5. None of that matters to him right now; this loss is the one that matters. The first player Coach Sims speaks to is Erick Sullivan, the senior walk-on. Tears run down Erick's face as he whispers three words: "Thank you, Coach." "Thank you, Erick," Graham whispers back. "I have two rings," Sullivan observes later that evening. "I know most guys never get one. But I still wanted one more. I wanted my career to end that way." Erick plays 5 minutes in his final game, and he grabs a rebound. Charlie's swan song is lovely: 28 points, 11 rebounds, 2 blocked shots. In their locker room, they and their teammates console each other, but they all manage to find things to smile about together, too. The season may be over, and with it, their careers, but they have so very much to be proud of. Record: 36-3. |
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03-10-2024, 01:02 PM
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#702 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 4, 2038
The high school All American game gives Villanova fans an enticing peek at the future. Code:
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03-10-2024, 01:22 PM
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#703 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 5, 2038
Boston College defeats New Mexico, 65-62, in the national championship game. Big man Mark Plourde, a redshirt senior who began his career at USC, is named the PotG for his 18-point, 7-rebound, 6-block performance. The Eagles take only 6 three-point shots, making only one. Code:
Charlie Lambert joins some very select company, too. He and Mason Reynolds are Villanova's only first team All-Americans. The committee chooses Burton Brister's more explosive scoring over Sebastian Roberts' all-around excellence, and Seb earns a spot on the second team. Code:
Zayden is a natural choice for conference FOY, and I'm delighted to see Nick Spencer join him on the conference Freshman Team. Graham Sims receives a sixth Big East Coach of the Year award for his personal trophy case. |
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03-10-2024, 01:36 PM
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#704 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 5, 2038
Code:
The stats aren't quite as eye-popping as they are some years, but they reflect the personality of the teams we've created here. My Villanova teams play a fast pace; we ranked fifth in the nation in this category at 76.2. We attempted the most shots per game in the country (65.7), while still managing to shoot at a high percentage. Put that together, and we have an offense that led the nation in scoring by seven points. I guess that's more eye-popping than I thought. Our offensive efficiency (119.3) was also first in the nation. We placed 22nd in defensive efficiency (91.3). Louisville was first at 83.8, and the next team was at 87.8. Code:
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Some years we are very lucky when it comes to injuries and suspensions. This was one of those years. We could have started the same five players in every game, but I chose to honor Erick Sullivan with a start on his Senior Night. Jordi Ballester, David Lovett, and walk-on Gary Hinkley spent much of the season unhappy about their playing time. I won't be surprised if at least one of them chooses to transfer. I'd hate to lose Jordi, because I think he's got a bright future. David didn't look like the player we recruited, and he didn't work very hard in camp. |
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03-10-2024, 01:36 PM
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#705 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2037/38 Farewell
SEBASTIAN ROBERTS The recruitment of Sebastian Roberts was a classic case of "boy meets team." It was mutual love at first sight. I offered the New Jersey seven-footer a scholarship before I saw his ratings, and neither of us ever looked back. Code:
This year, he was the Big East's third leading scorer and its second leading rebounder. Despite playing only three seasons, Seb is the only player in Villanova history to claim over 1000 rebounds in his career. He even developed a very respectable outside shot, which forced defenses to pay attention to him when he moved behind the three-point line. While he distinguished himself on the court, he also excelled in the classroom. Sebastian would have easily been admitted to Villanova had he never touched a basketball. He intends to complete his degree in Classical Studies, and he tells people, without irony, that he'd like to teach high school Latin one day. Players with skill sets like Sebastian's play three years of college basketball and move into the professional game. At the beginning of the year, Seb was considered the best professional prospect in the game, and everything he's done this season reinforces that evaluation. I'll be surprised if he's not the first pick in the draft. That's the way I want this love story to end. Thanks for the memories, Sebastian. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-10-2024 at 01:53 PM. |
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03-10-2024, 02:24 PM
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#706 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2037/38 Senior Tribute
ERICK SULLIVAN I confess to being fairly ruthless with walk-ons in this game. I think it's cool that FBCB pulls them from the ranks of signable recruits, but I often cut them if (1) I can gain a scholarship to offer a player I like, (2) they aren't good students or (3) they won't play defense. When I first saw Erick Sullivan, I looked at his projected ratings and thought "Whoa, this guy is actually good!" I didn't think I'd ever seen a walk-on with Green potential. There was no way I was going to cut him. I handled and coached Erick almost the way I would a scholarship player. Erick lived up to my hopes...and then some. Code:
I say I coached Erick "almost the way I would a scholarship player" for only one reason. Based on his skill alone, Erick would have possibly started at center for us, and would have been, at the very least, the first big man off the bench. However, scholarship players don't develop well and/or become unhappy if they don't play. I moved Erick lower on the depth chart than he deserved to be so I could give the youngsters more playing time. Erick never complained once. Had Sebastian Roberts or Demetrius Reed gotten hurt this season, I would have moved Erick into the starting five without a moment's hesitation. His rebounding and defense were Big East quality, and he developed a sneaky-good ability to score. Erick also helped us recruit the point guard from his Delaware state champion high school team. The guard was a sophomore when Erick was a senior, and he was widely regarded as one of the best players in his class. It worked out well. Erick and Dane Barlow went on to win a national championship together, too. Erick will soon complete his degree in Africana Studies, with honors. He's accepted a teaching position at an elementary school that serves at-risk children in his home town of Wilmington. He'll also do some coaching at his high school alma mater. I've decided to honor Erick in a special way. I'm going to reserve Erick's jersey number, 35, for a walk-on who distinguishes himself as a student and a player. If there's a player who earns it, I'll award the 35 jersey to him at the conclusion of preseason camp. Thanks for the memories, Erick. |
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03-10-2024, 02:44 PM
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#707 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2037/38 Senior Farewell
CHARLIE LAMBERT If you don't like the way the story is going to end, write a new one. That's what Charlie Lambert did. Code:
Charlie's junior season started out even better. He led our team in scoring through the first 12 games. Then, his grades were released...and he was ruled academically ineligible. That floored me; players with 64 Intelligence almost never screw up academically. Charlie admitted he stopped caring about school once he was mentioned as a possible professional draft pick. Charlie watched his teammates win a second national championship without him. That was the final factor behind his decision to return to Villanova for his senior season. He got off to a blazing start that forced opponents to alter their game plans to stop him. And, when they did, players like Sebastian Roberts, Zayden Calhoun, and Dane Barlow found more room to operate. And Charlie still ended the year as the conference's second leading scorer. He didn't win another national championship, but Charlie became only the second first team All-American in school history. The 720 points he scored as a senior is the second-highest single season total on record, behind Mason Reynolds' luminous 858. His 1702 career points rank eighth all-time, and his 818 rebounds place him sixth. And he is the most prolific shot blocker in Villanova history, with a total of 298 rejections. He's had quite a career, hasn't he? Now Charlie is forecast as a lottery pick in this week's draft. He's also going to graduate in May with a degree in Business Analytics, after earning a 3.33 GPA in his senior year. That's the sort of ending Charlie and I were hoping for. Thanks for the memories, Charlie. |
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03-10-2024, 03:01 PM
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#708 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 10, 2038
Nobody is surprised when Sebastian Roberts is chosen first in the professional draft. He is the second Villanova player to be drafted #1 overall; Gerald Eubanks (2019) preceded him. Seb is the first player Graham Sims has ever coached to earn this honor. Charlie Lambert doesn't have to wait much longer to hear his name. He's chosen at #8. Other familiar players who will soon be joining pro teams are West Virginia's Jack Edwards (#3), Boston College's William Pittman (#16) and Taylor Murray (#21) and Georgetown's Ahmad Ashworth (#35) and Douglas Wilson (#53). Recruiting rankings come out today, too.  Code:
Pitt eventually won the Amir Kirk sweepstakes. I am not looking forward to playing against him for (at least) three years. Code:
Most Big East teams don't rebuild. They reload. If you don't bring in a top class, you pay for it down the line. |
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03-10-2024, 05:16 PM
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#709 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2038
Spring brings with it the retirements of several highly acclaimed veteran coaches. Perhaps the biggest name is Brooks Runyan, who's stepping down from the head coaching position at Kentucky that he's held since 2015. Coach Runyan, 61, retires with a career record of 732-215, the third winningest coach in history. He took his teams to five Final Fours, and won the 2022 national championship. Zack Lott, age 64, is retiring from his position at Stanford. His career record is 533-200, and he took the 2026/27 Cardinal to the Final Four. That's the closest Coach Lott, who also coached at Mississippi and Winthrop, came to a national title. Tennessee's Hans Gatewood surprises many people by stepping down at age 57. Coach Gatewood, 602-305 for his career, ranks 11th in all-time victories. He took two California teams to the Final Four before moving to the Volunteers for the 2030/31 season. Chris Box is also retiring, which means Vanderbilt and Charlie Sutton will have a new head coach next season. And the desirable job at Pittsburgh is open, with the retirement of Steven Bumgarner. All the aforementioned programs would gladly hire Graham Sims, but he's not leaving Villanova for another job. Kentucky lures Jonas Given away from New Mexico, where he's just taken two straight teams to the national championship game. Pitt turns to Scott Rickert, formerly of Wake Forest, a veteran with 503 career wins. Tennessee hires the peripatetic Joseph Owens, who's leaving West Virginia after eight successful seasons. You might remember Coach Owens from his days at Louisville and Wisconsin. He has a career record of 648-279 and the 2014/15 national championship to his credit. Vanderbilt surprises many by hiring 61-year-old Lyman Lamb, formerly of Texas Christian. Coach Lamb was hired at TCU in 2022, and most thought he'd retire from there. He brings with him a career record of 419-220. We need to replace our Recruiting Coordinator, bright young Tom Caballero, who is the new head coach at Western Kentucky. In his place, we hire Jeffrey Hairston, who's leaving the same position at Tennessee after Hans Gatewood's retirement. Coach Hairston, 51, was the head coach at Yale from 2022 to 2036, where he posted a 182-225 record. He's rated 100 for Recruiting, which is what matters to us. Welcome aboard, Coach. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-10-2024 at 05:17 PM. |
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03-10-2024, 05:34 PM
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#710 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2038
I'm a bit surprised when none of our disgruntled players elect to transfer. We have one scholarship available--the one Sebastian Roberts had--and we take a shot at luring former five-star SG Erasmo Martinez, lately of Kentucky. He chooses North Carolina instead. |
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03-10-2024, 06:18 PM
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#711 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2038
We currently have one senior player on scholarship: SF Luke Christensen. I can cut a walk-on and free up another roster spot, and I might do that. I have a feeling junior PG Dane Barlow might turn pro this spring, and there's an outside chance of C Demetrius Reed doing the same thing. I definitely need to recruit a wing player this year, preferably a long, athletic one who can play alongside Zayden Calhoun. After I look at the incoming class, I quickly cut a walk-on. The #2 and #3 players in the nation are both Pennsylvania guys, and they're both showing a lot of interest in playing for Villanova. Kai Smith is a point guard from Lansdale Catholic High, about half an hour from Villanova. Kai's listed height is 5'5", which he assures everyone is legit. Regardless, he's considered the top point guard in his class. Kai averages 9.8 assists and 1.3 turnovers per game--that's a 7.80:1 turnover ratio--and he makes almost five steals a game, too. Ranked right above him on the national lists is another area product, Tadgh Phelan, a 6'7" small forward from Wissahickon High in Ambler. Phelan, whose Irish given name is pronounced "Tige," doesn't put up huge numbers--17.0 PPG, 8.1 RPG, a .538 shooting percentage--but the experts must like his underlying skills. Here's our call list: Code:
I'm willing to offer Tadgh and Kai scholarships without seeing their ratings. I can always retract the offers if the ratings don't look good. |
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03-10-2024, 06:37 PM
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#712 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2038
I'm going to let Kai Smith and Tadgh Phelan keep those scholarship offers. I think they're both Villanova-style players. Code:
I figured Kai had to be quick, and he is. He's scary quick. He's also an unselfish player who loves to set up his teammates and a tenacious defender. Pitt and Wake Forest have also offered him, and we'll make an all-out effort to keep him excited about playing for Villanova. Code:
Tadgh's ratings look even better than his stats. I wasn't expecting to see him projected to be a top flight three-point shooter, but that's what our scouts think he'll become. He looks like he'll pay attention to his defensive abilities, and he's an exceptionally good student. The usual suspects are also recruiting him, with the addition of Michigan, who's made him an offer. We'll continue to recruit Tadgh as actively as possible. We might be in a bit of a jam if we don't land Kai and Tadgh. The other players we like a lot don't like us nearly as much. Code:
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03-10-2024, 06:49 PM
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#713 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2038
Good news: It looks like the rest of the field have conceded Kai Smith to us. Pitt and Wake Forest have apparently pulled their offers, and Kai has only Villanova on his list of top schools. Bad news: Tadgh Phelan has three schools on his list, and Georgetown is at the top. He has an offer from the Hoyas, too. More bad news: Phoenix Underwood is the player I'd like to sign if we can't get Phelan. He also has a Georgetown offer, along with one from UNC. He lists both the Hoyas and Heels ahead of us. Mea culpa: Somehow I forgot to invite Tadgh Phelan to visit campus last month! I quickly remedy that oversight. I hope that's the only reason why Tadgh says he prefers the Hoyas. I find a couple of players who don't have offers and clear spots on my call list for them. |
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03-10-2024, 06:58 PM
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#714 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2038
Kai Smith must have liked a post about North Carolina on one of his social media accounts. The Tar Heels are now on his list, but they haven't offered him a scholarship. I still feel good about our chances with him. I might have *expletive deleted* things up with Tadgh Phelan, however. Even after his campus visit, he still says Georgetown is his top choice. I know we've "stolen" guys from the Hoyas before; Mason Reynolds is the one who comes to mind immediately. I need another dose of Graham Sims magic. Perhaps he can bring all five of his NCAA championship rings with him when he visits the Phelan home this month. One of the guys I just evaluated would probably be the next man up now. He's Justin Chatham, a 6'5" wing from Tennessee whom the SEC schools haven't pursued avidly. He's Tennessee's Mr. Basketball, an All-State player who averages over 30 per game. I don't see a thing wrong with him, either. Texas Christian has offered him a scholarship. Decision Day approaches. Cross your fingers, Nova Nation... |
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03-10-2024, 07:20 PM
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#715 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2038
We begin the day with wonderful news: Kai Smith will play his college basketball at Villanova! Kai leads the nation's four- and five-star recruits in assists and steals per game. He knows when to make a dazzling pass, and when to keep it simple. Kai's quickness and cat-quick hands allow him to defend players who are nearly a foot taller than he is. He'll be a great fit for our program. We lose Tadgh Phelan to Georgetown. That means I'll have visible reminders of the absolute need to bring players to campus as soon as I can for the next three seasons, at minimum. The Hoyas sign Phoenix Underwood, too, and Justin Chatham takes the offer from TCU. Now it's time to look at players who haven't committed yet. The top player in the class, center Adam Webb, is among them. He holds an offer from Georgetown. Of course he does. I hope Pitt steals him, because I don't want to see the Hoyas sign the #1 and #2 players in this year's class. I don't think Adam is a reasonable target for us; too many things have to fall our way for him to pick the Wildcats. But there's another five-star player who hasn't received an offer. It's John Cannon, a 6'4" shooting guard from Alabama. He's the #11 player in the class. John averages 24.6 PPG and makes 44 percent of his three-point attempts. He's an All-State player, and he's Alabama's Mr. Basketball. He's a good student, too. At this stage in the recruiting season, throwing a Hail Mary looks like a good idea. I offer John a scholarship and hope we can swoop in to bring him home. |
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03-11-2024, 10:00 AM
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#716 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 7, 2038
Here are your 2038/39 Villanova Wildcats... Code:
Did they work hard in training camp? Let's find out. Code:
Coach Graham Sims returns for his 13th season at the helm. Since arriving at Villanova, his teams have posted a 415-44 record, 190-24 in Big East Conference play. Coach Sims began his coaching career at Lafayette, where he spent 15 seasons. Sometime during this season, he'll coach his 1000th college game. Coach Sims will have three returning starters at his disposal this year. Junior guard Dane Barlow averaged 12.4 points and 6.1 assists per game last season. He emerges from camp with an improved jumper, a more secure handle, and greater defensive tenacity. A former high school All American, Dane is poised to establish himself as the heir to a tradition of excellent point guard play at Villanova. He'll team in the backcourt with sophomore Zayden Calhoun. Last year's Big East and national Freshman of the Year and a second team All-Big East selection, Zayden scored 12.9 PPG and grabbed 4.6 RPG, and he revealed tantalizing glimpses of the game-changing player he can become. He, too, made big strides during camp. Center Demetrius Reed started 38 games last year as a sophomore. The 7'1", 288-pound strongman is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker. Demetrius seldom shoots, but he converts over half the shots he does take. Freshman Chris Wilson has the inside track to start beside Big D in the frontcourt. He was regarded as the best high school big man in the country, with the potential to develop into an elite inside scorer and post defender. Chris greatly improved his conditioning and took big steps to prepare himself for college ball. We have several options for the fifth starter. We can go small, which means calling on sophomore Nick Spencer, a classic point guard, and moving Calhoun to the three. Spencer's passing, ballhandling, and defense are all first-rate. We can go with experience, giving senior Luke Christensen his first opportunity as a starter. Luke's calling card is his ability to score. Or we can go big, with muscular 6'7" sophomore Tony Flaherty. All three of these players will see quite a bit of court time this season. Or, if we want to go even bigger, there's 6'10" freshman Zak Marshall, a strong rebounder and defender. Keep an eye on freshman DeAndre Brown, a 6'2" guard with a bright future. His classmate, big man Forrest Curl, will take a redshirt year. Forrest spent training camp preparing his body for Big East action. Sophomores Jordi Ballester and David Lovett round out the list of scholarship players. Jordi worked hard in camp, gaining more of the big man skills he'll need to earn playing time. David, unfortunately, doesn't seem to be improving much, making me wonder if he'll ever live up to the glowing reputation he had coming out of high school. Walk-on Gary Hinkley deserves mention here, too. The Alberta native spent much of last season unhappy, but he returned this season with a renewed commitment to the program. Gary will redshirt this year, and he'll have three years of eligibility remaining when he returns. Expectations are always high on the Main Line, and this year is no exception. The Wildcats begin the season ranked #1, but there are two other teams--Boston College and Connecticut--in the top five. And there's always Georgetown, with whom Graham's teams have battled since his arrival in the Big East. Pittsburgh, with their new coach, Scott Rickert, are ranked, too. We have a string of five consecutive Big East regular season championships on the line. The chances for a sixth depend on several factors. Will Zayden Calhoun and Dane Barlow take another step forward and establish themselves as main attractions? Is Chris Wilson already the real deal? How will the remaining spots in the rotation settle out? A very good basketball team will finish fifth in the Big East. |
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03-11-2024, 07:37 PM
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#717 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 13, 2038
Legends Invitational Semifinal (1) #1 Villanova 78, (4) Illinois State 69 It's our first trip to this four-team preseason tournament. We have a bit of trouble with Illinois State, who went 24-7 last season and made the NCAA tournament. Dane Barlow plays like a star, with 24 points and 8 assists. Luke Christensen scores 11 in his first collegiate start, and Chris Wilson (10p/6r/1b) looks good in his Villanova debut. So does Zak Marshall, who scores 6 points and grabs 6 rebounds. Demetrius Reed does his thing: 12 rebounds, 3 blocks. Zayden Calhoun has a rough night shooting, and finishes with 10 points. Record: 1-0. November 14, 2038 Legends Invitational Final (1) #1 Villanova 89, (2) Purdue 65 Senior Luke Christensen steals the show as we defeat the Boilermakers and earn another trophy. Operating mainly from 15 feet in, Luke scores 27 points, a new career high. He's amply supported by Zayden Calhoun (16p/9r/2s), Dane Barlow (12p/6a), and reserves Zak Marshall (13r) and DeAndre Brown (6p/3s in FOUR minutes). Record: 2-0.  November 20, 2038 @#1 Villanova 88, Davidson 50 Departing from our usual script, we take only 14 threes in a comfortable win over the North Carolina breed of Wildcats. Luke Christensen again leads the way with 22 points. Zayden Calhoun adds 17, and Chris Wilson contributes 16 more. Nick Spencer (8) and Dane Barlow (6) combine for 14 assists, and Demetrius Reed pulls down 13 rebounds and blocks 3 shots. Record: 3-0. November 26, 2038 Code:
Vanderbilt sharpshooter Charlie Sutton enters the game averaging 23 PPG, and he nearly reaches his average against us. Sutton is the real deal, and the key to beating the Commodores seems to be limiting the damage his teammates do. Fletcher Watkins and Justin Hui gash us a bit, but we counter with a big game from Zayden Calhoun and solid production from Luke Christensen. Demetrius Reed is showing more inclination to score this season. It's still early days, but he's nearly doubling his scoring average from last year. Now, who will we move into the starting lineup beside him? It'll probably be Zak Marshall or Jordi Ballester, and I'm not sure who's the better fit. Fortunately, we have several weeks of non-conference games to figure it out. Record: 4-0. |
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03-12-2024, 11:02 AM
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#718 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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So Sutton is a JR this season? Is he on the list to go pro after the season?
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
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03-13-2024, 02:49 PM
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#719 | |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Quote:
He's a redshirt sophomore. When the AI coach didn't give him any playing time his first year, I went into the editor and gave Charlie a redshirt year. If I'm not mistaken, the NCAA doesn't consider the redshirt "official" until the season ends. The game doesn't do this, and I consider that a bug, not a feature. I found a few other players across my college basketball universe who were affected this way. They were all players I remembered from their days as recruits, players I was curious about. The AI coaches usually play them in a few games, which burns their redshirt. It turns out that Charlie was one of the lucky ones. Charlie, therefore, won't be turning pro this spring. And you have to dig fairly deep on the lists of pro prospects to find him. Charlie's not listed among the top 50 prospects in the sophomore class. He's considered the #16 prospect among all players in the SEC, regardless of class. Unless things change--and his recent play suggests it might--he will be staying at Vanderbilt all four years. Thanks for stopping by! EDIT: I was wrong. He's a junior. See below for more on how his season is going! Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-17-2024 at 07:57 PM. |
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03-17-2024, 02:25 PM
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#720 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 1, 2038
Our eventful recruiting season ends with good news. Two bits of good news, in fact. The first is a message from John Cannon. He's coming to Villanova next year. We offered him a scholarship without fully scouting him, because we couldn't afford to wait that long. The second good news comes when we take a look at his ratings. Code:
John is definitely the kind of player I would have recruited anyway. His high three-point shooting percentage is supported by his ratings. He takes care of the ball, and he'll do his part defensively, as long as we don't ask him to guard a bigger player. John won't average six steals per game the way he does in high school, but opposing ballhandlers will constantly need to be on the lookout. I can understand why a boy from SEC country might have grown up wanting to play for Tennessee. I'm hoping John won't be too homesick playing almost 800 miles from his suburban Birmingham home. Welcome to the Wildcat family, John. |
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03-17-2024, 02:53 PM
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#721 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 1, 2038
@#1 Villanova 90, St. Mary's 44 We double the score on the Gaels, featuring a career-high 30 points from Luke Christensen. Dane Barlow adds 15 points and 5 assists, and Zayden Calhoun contributes 11 and 6. Demetrius Reed controls the paint with 7 points, 14 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots. Jordi Ballester starts, and he finishes with 2 points and 6 rebounds. Zak Marshall provides 7 points, 5 boards, and 2 blocks in reserve duty. Record: 5-0. December 5, 2038 #1 Villanova 88, @Penn State 76 This time it's Zayden Calhoun's time to shine, as he scores 25 points and grabs 11 rebounds in a road victory up in State College. Luke Christensen helps out with 20 points. Tony Flaherty adds 10 points and 6 rebounds off the bench. The Nittany Lions attempt only 4 three-pointers, making one of them. I don't think I've ever seen a team take that few threes. Record: 6-0. December 11, 2038 @#1 Villanova 85, Bucknell 63 Graham Sims' former Patriot League foe keeps things close for a half, before we pull away to a comfortable victory. Dane Barlow combines 14 points with 13 assists and 4 steals, while Zayden Calhoun and Jordi Ballester lead us with 20 points and 10 rebounds, respectively. Luke Christensen adds 15 points, and Calhoun grabs 9 rebounds. Record: 7-0. December 15, 2038 @#1 Villanova 81, #12 Stanford 53 I expected this game would be an exciting one when I scheduled it, but the Cardinal can't generate any offense in the face of a pesky, opportunistic Villanova defense. We record 15 steals, the second-most by a Sims-coached Villanova team, and hold the visitors to 18-for-55 shooting from the field. Meanwhile, we get solid performances from Zayden Calhoun (21p/4s), Dane Barlow (15p/9a/2s), and Luke Christensen (13p/6r/3s/2b) Zak Marshall scores 8 points and grabs 4 rebounds in his first career start. Jordi Ballester finishes with 5 points and 6 boards off the bench. Record: 8-0. |
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03-17-2024, 07:34 PM
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#722 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 19, 2038
@#1 Villanova 90, Marquette 55 An opponent from the "old" Big East gives us all we can handle for 20 minutes. It's 37-33 at the half. After the break, it's a completely different game. Zayden Calhoun remains hot, scoring 21 points, dishing out 5 assists, and making 2 steals. Luke Christensen, our leading scorer this season (19.6 PPG) hits his average with 20 and grabs 6 rebounds. Dane Barlow adds 18 points, 5 assists, and 2 steals. Nick Spencer has 5 assists and 7 points in 17 productive minutes. Record: 9-0. December 23, 2038 @#1 Villanova 72, William & Mary 55 The Tribe visit for an interesting pre-Christmas contest. The visitors shoot well from behind the arc, making 9 threes; they probably should have tried more than 17 of them. Meanwhile, we work the ball inside more than we usually do, too. That's where Luke Christensen likes to operate, and he leads us with 24 points. Zayden Calhoun scores 13 with 7 rebounds, and Nick Spencer adds 13 more off the bench. Dane Barlow scores only 4 points, but he has 7 assists. Chris Wilson returns to action, collecting 9 points and 5 rebounds. Record: 10-0. December 30, 2038 @Lehigh 81, #1 Villanova 73 The Mountain Hawks pull off one of the biggest upsets Graham Sims' teams have ever experienced. I'm sure many Lehigh fans particularly enjoy putting one over on their former Lafayette nemesis. We shoot often (72 field goal attempts) and terribly (28 field goals made). Dane Barlow is especially profligate, firing 26 shots--the second most in team history--and making only 9. He also ties our all-time record with 20 three-point tries, making 7. Dane finishes with 25 points. Zayden Calhoun is more efficient, hitting 5 of 10 triples and finishing with 23 points. Luke Christensen (10) is the only other Wildcat in double figures. Record: 10-1. January 1, 2039 I wondered how we would respond after the surprising loss to Lehigh. Code:
We tie our all-time record with 20 made three-pointers. Dane Barlow and Zayden Calhoun, who account for 15 of them, both achieve career highs in points. The first half resembles an all-star game; we lead 63-47 going into the intermission. More normal college basketball is played during the following twenty minutes. Record: 11-1. |
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03-17-2024, 07:56 PM
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#723 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 3, 2039
Code:
Sutton Watch: Guess who's leading the SEC in scoring? Code:
I realize I mis-posted earlier. Charlie Sutton is, indeed, a junior this year. This could be his final season at Vanderbilt, but pro scouts aren't crazy about him for some reason. He's not listed among the top 50 players in his class. Dane Barlow is--he's #36--and Dane is being told it would be a mistake for him to declare for the draft. I think it's likely we'll see Charlie back for his senior season. |
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03-17-2024, 10:03 PM
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#724 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 5, 2039
@#2 Villanova 77, Seton Hall 59 Chris Wilson plays the best game of his young collegiate career as we win our Big East opener. The freshman post player scores 14 points and pulls in a career-high 11 rebounds. Luke Christensen scores 23 points, Zayden Calhoun adds 16, and Dane Barlow has 10 and 8 assists. We don't shoot very well (.456/.263/.714), but we make up for it with sound defense. Record: 12-1 (1-0). January 8, 2039 Code:
We hold off a late charge from the Hoyas to win a big game on the road. Our lead is 11 points with 1:45 remaining, and Georgetown cuts that lead to 4 courtesy of a three-pointer from Josh Medley with 14 seconds left. After Luke Christensen converts a one-and-one, Gus Dean bangs in a three to cut our lead to 72-69. Zayden Calhoun once again shows up for a big game, and Dane Barlow runs the offense like an orchestra conductor. Young Chris Wilson holds his own against the Hoyas' tough James Sanders, Jr. and Joshua Lee, both of whom I tried hard to get into Villanova colors. Record: 13-1 (2-0). January 12, 2039 #4 Villanova 97, @Syracuse 50 Who says Luke Christensen can't shoot threes? The senior swingman goes 5-for-7 from long range and finds enough room for his trademark inside moves to score a career-high 33 points. He adds 7 rebounds and 2 blocked shots for good measure. Luke, who didn't have a secure handle on a starting job coming out of camp, is ever-present in the lineup now, and ranks third among Big East scorers at an even 19.0 per game. Dane Barlow (23p/7r/6a), Zayden Calhoun (9p/7r/6a), and Tony Flaherty (11p) are also big contributors. Record: 14-1 (3-0). January 17, 2039 Code:
We play as well as I've ever seen us, doing so many things so very well--and it happens against a tough opponent. The student section awards new nicknames to two of their favorites, holding signs that say Z-Money for Mr. Calhoun and the Force for Mr. Christensen. Those two gentlemen combine for 62 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 steals. We keep pace with a powerful Boston College team at the top of the Big East standings. Record: 15-1 (5-0). |
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03-17-2024, 10:39 PM
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#725 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 19, 2039
#2 Villanova 97, @Providence 63 The Friars are struggling in conference play, and we don't make things easier for them today. We rack up 24 "stocks" (steals + blocks), evenly divided. Luke Christensen (19p/6r/4s), Zayden Calhoun (19p), Tony Flaherty (14p/3s), Demetrius Reed (7p/12r/5b), and Chris Wilson (7p/10r) record at least 10 of something, and Dane Barlow finishes with 8 points and 6 helpers. Record: 16-1 (5-0). January 24, 2039 Game #1000 Code:
Tonight, all five of the men who started that game for Lafayette, over 27 years ago, are among those on hand to celebrate the 1000th game of Coach Sims' illustrious career. Graham is the first coach in NCAA history to reach this milestone. All in all, 83 players who suited up for Coach Sims at Lafayette or Villanova are at Wawa Arena tonight. So is the one man who played for him at both schools: his son, Duncan, who has recently drawn the curtain closed on an eight-year professional basketball career. Duncan isn't sure if he remembers his dad's first season; he was five years old at the time. Also on hand are retired coaches Brooks Runyan and Wallace Hastings, two of Graham's favorite opponents. Those venerable coaches have between them 1732 career victories, 20 conference titles, and three national championships. When this fact is pointed out to Coach Runyan, he smiles. "That's wonderful, but I think Graham has that many himself." The humble Kentuckian is correct in two cases; Graham has coached teams to 21 conference crowns and five national titles. The capacity crowd watches the current Wildcats roll to victory over a tough UConn team. The victory runs Coach Sims' career record to 860-140. How many lie ahead for the veteran coach, who is still trim and healthy at age 59? We shall see. Record: 17-1 (6-0). |
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03-18-2024, 11:08 AM
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#726 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 26, 2039
Another boxscore-worthy Big East battle. Code:
With Dane Barlow and Luke Christensen on the bench with five fouls, the stage is set for DeAndre Brown and Tony Flaherty to write their names in the story of this season. Both reserves coolly knock down both ends of one-and-ones to stall the Eagles' comeback attempt. Demetrius Reed has his hands full with BC's star pivot, David Getty. Big D makes 2 of the 3 shots he takes, grabs 10 rebounds, blocks 4 shots, and finds teammates for a career-high 5 assists. DeAndre has been unhappy lately. I hope his experience tonight helps reconvince him that Villanova is the place for him. Record: 18-1 (7-0). February 2, 2039 Code:
We go into the intermission trailing the Hoyas, 46-32. Joshua Lee is treating our big men like his little brothers. Josh Medley keeps getting open looks and keeps making them. We can't make a three-pointer for anything. But it's a different game in the second half. We start disrupting the Georgetown offense with steals. Young Chris Wilson starts locking down Lee. Luke Christensen and Wilson find room to score inside. Then, Nick Spencer takes over the game. There's 2:37 left to play, and the Hoyas lead, 80-74. Spencer is in the game giving a very tired Dane Barlow a breather. I plan on bringing Dane back at the next stoppage. Then Nick steals a lazy Joshua Lee pass, takes it all the way, and finishes with a resounding dunk that drives the crowd wild. Nick Spencer is 5'11" on a tall day, with a Jumping rating of 45. No wonder they're excited! The Hoyas inbound the ball, and we attack with a full-court press. Spencer swipes a Bernie Johnson pass. This time he settles for a layup. Georgetown 80, Villanova 78. The Hoyas call time out, and coach Clint Grams devises a way for his team to advance the ball into the frontcourt. They get it into the hands of Josh Medley, which is what they want. Medley tries to drive...and DeAndre Brown, who is in the game to make a defensive stop, steals the ball from Medley. The sound inside Wawa Arena is deafening as DeAndre cruises in for the layup that ties the score. Coach Sims calls off the press, but the Hoyas can't penetrate the Wildcat defense. Joshua Lee gets the ball inside, but Zak Marshall bodies him up and forces him to pass it back out. Bernie Johnson commits another turnover, flinging a wild pass into the stands. The clock reads 1:34 as we inbound the ball against the Hoyas' press. We break it successfully and get what would ordinarily be a good shot: an uncontested corner three from Zayden Calhoun. Tonight, that shot's not going in. But Demetrius Reed outworks James Sanders, Jr., claims the rebound, and puts it back in. 82-80, Villanova. Poor Sanders endures a nightmare of a game. The Villanova student section chant their belief that "Dad was better." Two Dane Barlow free throws put the game on ice. Record: 19-1 (8-0). February 5, 2039 #2 Villanova 65, @St. John's 62 Remember when I said that any Big East team could beat any other, on any given night? The Red Storm, 3-4 in conference play, nearly prove that this evening. We need a buzzer-beating three from Dane Barlow to keep this one from going into overtime, when literally anything can happen. Barlow finishes with 12 points and 7 assists. Zayden Calhoun has 14 points and 5 helpers. Tony Flaherty comes off the bench for 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks. Zak Marshall and Demetrius Reed also block 3 shots apiece. We lengthen our lead in the Big East race to three games; UConn and Boston College are tied for second with 6-3 records. Record: 20-1 (9-0). |
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03-18-2024, 11:08 AM
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#727 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Sutton Watch: Charlie Sutton's Vanderbilt Commodores are fourth in the SEC, with a 7-3 conference record. That says more about the SEC, the nation's third-toughest conference* according to RPI, than it does about Vanderbilt, a 15-7 team that should go dancing next month.
Georgia's Stephen Reynolds (21.1 PPG) has edged ahead of Charlie in the conference scoring race, but the junior sharpshooter is still enjoying a fantastic year. He averages 20.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game. He's one of the nation's most dangerous shooters, with a .508/.474/.833 slash line. Charlie has scored 1651 points in his collegiate career. He needs 25 more to become Vanderbilt's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Robert Mapes '33. * The Metro Conference and the Big East rank ahead of the SEC in conference RPI. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-18-2024 at 11:09 AM. |
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03-18-2024, 11:25 AM
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#728 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 8, 2039
Code:
Charlie Sutton becomes the leading scorer in Vanderbilt history, pouring in 28 points to help his Commodores upset #6 Kentucky at Rupp Arena. Charlie sinks 4 of his 5 three-point tries, all 6 of his free throw attempts, and 5 of his 8 two-point field goal attempts. The junior from Indianapolis has a career total of 1679 points. He's made 292 three-pointers, and with three more treys, he'll pass Maynard Tucker '23 and become Vanderbilt's all-time leader in that category, too. I'll point out here that Charlie has taken 613 threes in his career, and Maynard attempted 673. Congratulations, Mr. Sutton! |
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03-18-2024, 11:31 AM
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#729 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 12, 2039
#1 Villanova 76, @Seton Hall 67 The nation's new #1 team makes a short trip to Seton Hall and comes from behind to defeat the Pirates. Luke Christensen (24p/8r/3s) leads all scorers. Zayden Calhoun, who is enduring a slump, adds 11 on 3-for-14 shooting. Chris Wilson scores 10, Dane Barlow hands out 9 assists, and Demetrius Reed grabs 12 rebounds and blocks 2 shots. Our 3-for-19 shooting from three-point distance is concerning, as it follows a 2-for-17 performance against Georgetown. Nevertheless, a win is a win. Record: 21-1 (10-0). February 14, 2039 @#1 Villanova 92, Syracuse 60 Remember what I said about Zayden Calhoun being in a slump? Never mind. Z-Money scores a career-high 38 points in a big win over the Orange. He goes 5-for-6 outside the arc and 7-for-10 inside it. He also makes all 9 of his free throws. Oh, and he finds time to grab 7 rebounds. Zayden's total is the highest ever achieved by a Villanova player not named Mason Reynolds, who scored 52 and 38 on his best scoring nights. Luke Christensen (18p/5r/5s), Nick Spencer (12p/8a/6r), and Tony Flaherty (12p) join Zayden in double figures, and Demetrius Reed has 9 rebounds. Zayden is everybody's Valentine tonight. Record: 22-1 (11-0). February 16, 2039 #1 Villanova 89, @Pittsburgh 80 This Villanova-Pitt matchup is much more like the usual, as we withstand 33 points from Victor Goble to secure a competitive win. Dane Barlow (19p/8a) is the Player of the Game, although I might have honored Goble's efforts instead. Luke Christensen (17p/2s), Demetrius Reed (6p/12r/2b) and Zayden Calhoun (15p/5r) also make important contributions. Record: 23-1 (12-0). February 21, 2039 @#1 Villanova 100, Providence 72 Five Villanovans finish in double figures and a sixth scores 9 points to facilitate a victory over the Friars at Wawa Arena. Luke Christensen (22p/7r/3s) leads the way. He's followed by Chris Wilson (17p/2b/2s), Zayden Calhoun (16p/3s), Tony Flaherty (14p/8r), and Nick Spencer (13p/6a). Demetrius Reed (11p/5b) and Dane Barlow (9p/5a/2s) help, too. Record: 24-1 (13-0). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-18-2024 at 11:56 AM. |
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03-18-2024, 12:24 PM
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#730 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 23, 2039
@#10 Connecticut 76, #1 Villanova 60 We enter the day with a chance to clinch the Big East championship, but the Huskies make sure we don't do it at their house. Luke Christensen matches UConn star Morris Thiele with 19 points, but five Huskies score in double digits to our three. Zayden Calhoun (15p/7r) and Nick Spencer (10p) also reach that standard. Turnovers are our undoing. We commit 25 of them, which is the most ever by a Villanova team and one less than the record for a Graham Sims-coached team. Christensen is the most careless, with 8. Record: 24-2 (13-1). February 27, 2039 @#1 Villanova 88, Vermont 79 The pesky Catamounts give us a stern test in an out-of-conference interlude today. Zayden Calhoun leads us with 22 points and contributes 3 steals. Chris Wilson adds a career-high 19, with 6 rebounds. Luke Christensen and Demetrius Reed contribute 11 each; Dane Barlow finishes with 7 points and 10 assists. Record: 25-2 (13-1). March 2, 2039 Code:
The Force willingly shares the spotlight with Zayden Calhoun, whose 21 points give him an even 1000 for his Villanova career. Z is a sophomore; very few players reach this milestone so soon. And, best of all, we secure our sixth consecutive Big East conference championship in a row. Record: 26-2 (14-1). March 5, 2039 @#7 Boston College 85, #2 Villanova 75 Junior forward Michael Smyth scores 30 points to lead the Eagles to victory on the last day of the Big East regular season. David Getty scores 21 points, and Gary Fairfield dishes out 15 assists. We're led by Dane Barlow, who scores 21, and Luke Christensen, who combines 14 points with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Chris Wilson finishes with 12 points. Record: 26-3 (14-2). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-18-2024 at 12:26 PM. |
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03-18-2024, 12:46 PM
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#731 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 11, 2039
Syracuse wins the play-in game, and the Orange will face us next.  Big East Tournament Quarterfinals (1) #3 Villanova 77, Syracuse 69 We ride a career-best 30 points from junior guard Dane Barlow into the tournament semifinal. Great Dane hits 4 of his 7 threes, and also manages 4 assists. Luke Christensen adds 13 points, and Demetrius Reed secures 10 rebounds. Record: 27-3. March 12, 2039 Big East Tournament Semifinal (1) #3 Villanova 79, (4) #19 Georgetown 74 This time it's Zayden Calhoun at center stage, scoring 25 points as we eliminate the Hoyas and move to the final. Luke Christensen (10p/10r/4s), Dane Barlow (7p/8a/4s), and Chris Wilson (13p/6r) provide quality assistance. Record: 28-3. March 13, 2039 Big East Tournament Championship Code:
Guards and wings score 76 of our points, led by Zayden Calhoun's 30 and Luke Christensen's 21. Luke uses the Force to make 5 more steals; if he manages 3 more before his career ends, he'll break our single-season record in that category. The Wildcats lift the tournament trophy for the seventh time since Coach Sims arrived. Record: 29-3. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-18-2024 at 12:46 PM. |
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03-18-2024, 01:26 PM
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#732 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 14, 2039
The NCAA tournament committee awards us the top seed in the East Region. The other one seeds are North Carolina (West), Kansas State (Midwest), and Louisville (South). March 17, 2039 NCAA East Region, First Round (1) #2 Villanova 78, (16) Western Carolina 62 We run our record to 2-0 against teams with the Catamount mascot. Dane Barlow's 17 points lead a balanced attack; he also distributes 7 assists. And, in the process, Dane scores the 1000th point of his Villanova career. Zayden Calhoun and Chris Wilson score 14 each. Luke Christensen adds 12, Tony Flaherty 11. Demetrius Reed claims 12 rebounds. Record: 30-3. March 19, 2039 NCAA East Region, Second Round (1) #2 Villanova 78, (8) Butler 47 We have very little trouble with the Bulldogs, who try to slow the pace of the game down but fail to solve our half-court defense. Zayden Calhoun leads a balanced pack of scorers with 16 points. Chris Wilson (14p/10r) completes a nice double-double. Luke Christensen (14) and Dane Barlow (13) also reach double figures, and Demetrius Reed (10) does so in rebounds. Two steals by Luke Christensen are enough to break Brock Busse's single season record, set in 2024. Record: 31-3. March 24, 2039 NCAA East Regional Semifinal: the Sweet Sixteen (1) #2 Villanova 82, (5) #25 Florida 75 Teams that make long tournament runs often get outstanding play from experienced guards, like Dane Barlow. He scores 19 points, hands out 8 assists, and makes 4 steals as we defeat the Gators and advance to the regional final. Zayden Calhoun (15p/8r), Luke Christensen (15p), Chris Wilson (13p), and Demetrius Reed (10p/3b) also make solid contributions. Record: 32-3. March 26, 2039 NCAA East Region Championship: the Elite Eight Code:
We're ahead, 67-59, with 36 seconds remaining in regulation. Then, UK's Mark Rotz hits a three-pointer. Do you remember Mark Rotz? Dane Barlow does. Rotz has made two three-point field goals in his career. Both have come against Villanova. Both have been noteworthy. A steal and dunk by Jeffrey Cowley makes the score 67-64. Kentucky fouls Dane Barlow, a 71 percent free throw shooter who will now have two shots. He misses both of them. We get a defensive stop, and Kentucky fouls Chris Wilson with six seconds left on the clock. Chris misses both his shots, too. Kentucky's Terry Tharp, a freshman who is in the game for one reason, plays his role perfectly He buries a three from the left wing as the buzzer sounds, sending the game to overtime. We battle hard, but I think we're still reeling from the way the last 36 seconds of regulation time played out. Record: 32-4. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-18-2024 at 01:27 PM. |
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03-18-2024, 02:01 PM
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#733 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 4, 2039
The Final Four, the first in four years without Villanova, is a classic. Louisville beats North Carolina, 77-76, and Kentucky knocks off Kansas State, 113-110, in overtime. The all-Bluegrass State championship game goes to Louisville, who outlast the Wildcats, 59-55. And then, we're shocked by the news that Dane Barlow and Demetrius Reed are entering the professional draft. Dane is ranked #33 among draft prospects in his class. Demetrius isn't listed among the top 50 nationally, and he's #7 among juniors in the Big East (Dane is #6). Vanderbilt fans also have bittersweet feelings about the news that Charlie Sutton has decided to turn pro, too. He leaves Nashville as the Commodores' all-time leading scorer, and a first team All-SEC selection. Code:
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03-18-2024, 02:11 PM
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#734 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 4, 2039
Code:
The dynamic duo who carried us all season long are honored with All American nominations. Zayden Calhoun earns his second national honor, as he made last year's freshman team. Luke Christensen's award is a wonderful recognition for a player who stayed with us for four years. Code:
For Zayden, it's his second year as an honoree; for Luke, Dane, and freshman Chris, it's their first. Graham Sims has won six Big East Coach of the Year prizes, to go with the seven he won in the Patriot League. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 03-18-2024 at 02:12 PM. |
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03-18-2024, 02:25 PM
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#735 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 4, 2039
Code:
We repeat as the nation's highest-scoring team, even though we score about six points fewer per game than we did last season. As usual, we shoot well, even from the free throw line; those four misses at the end of the Kentucky game are still haunting me somewhat. Interestingly, Lafayette ranked #2 in points per game, with 81.9. Our offensive efficiency (112.8) ranked fifth in the nation. Our defensive efficiency (89.4) was eleventh. We were a bit better defensively than we have been in previous seasons. This wasn't a great Villanova team, but it was still a very good one. The bar is set very high on the Main Line. Code:
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Zayden and Luke finished fourth and fifth in the Big East in scoring. Luke was second in steals, Dane was second in assists, and Demetrius was fourth in rebounding and fifth in blocked shots. Next, two Farewells and a Tribute. |
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03-18-2024, 02:37 PM
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#736 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2038/39 Farewell
DEMETRIUS REED I wasn't expecting to write this one for another season. In his three years with us, Big D grew into a quintessential Blue Collar Man, a valuable member of a cast of players who won a lot of basketball games. Code:
We all thought Demetrius would return for his senior season. If he had, he almost certainly would have finished his career as our all-time leader in total rebounds; his total places him fourth as it stands. He was especially good on the offensive glass; he's third in that category, only 30 behind Avery Sullivan's record. And, with a 100-block season--not an impossible feat for a 7'1" center--he'd move up from 10th to first on that career list, too. If Demetrius isn't drafted, he might return to Villanova and complete his degree in History next fall. He's an excellent student who is interested in a career in law. Or, he might try his luck at professional basketball overseas. We wish him well, whatever he decides. Thanks for the memories, Demetrius. |
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03-18-2024, 02:49 PM
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#737 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2038/39 Farewell
DANE BARLOW Dane Barlow deserves a better final scene than the one that played out in our Elite Eight game against Kentucky. When the buzzer sounded, he stood with his hands atop his head for a long moment. Had he made the two free throws he attempted late in the second half, we might very well have won the game in regulation. In a perfect world, Dane returns to Villanova and leads us to a national championship. That's not the way this story will end. Code:
Dane leaves us as a 1000-point scorer, and the sixth-most prolific assist man in school history. Another year's worth of playmaking would have put him close to Eldon Castanon, who's third on the list. Instead, Great Dane is leaving a year of eligibility on the table and declaring for the draft. Like Demetrius Reed, he's only mildly regarded as a draft prospect. He may end up pursuing opportunities overseas, or returning to campus to complete his Business Analytics degree. Thanks for the memories, Dane. |
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03-18-2024, 03:05 PM
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#738 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2038/39 Senior Tribute
LUKE CHRISTENSEN Unlike the two players I just wrote about, Luke Christensen followed the four-year plan. His patience wore thin at times, but he stayed with us, and the story of his career followed a very pleasing arc. Code:
Luke complained a little about his playing time as a freshman, but he listened when his coach reminded him of the virtue of patience. He became a dynamic scorer, averaging in double figures as a junior while playing fewer than 15 minutes per game. Finally earning a chance to start as a senior, Luke responded well to the increased attention he received from opposing defenses. Always a solid defender, he became a true Force in that area, recording more steals in a single season than any player in Wildcat history. Luke will end his career as a 1000-point scorer, despite starting only 42 of 144 games. He'll also end it as an All-Big East first teamer, and a third team All-American. A Humanities major, he'll receive his degree in May, and he's already made arrangements to sign with a professional team in England. How's that for a happy ending? Thanks for the memories, Luke. |
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03-18-2024, 03:22 PM
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#739 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 9, 2039
The advice someone whispered in Dane Barlow's ear turned out to be good after all. Dane was chosen with the #47 pick. The news wasn't as good for Demetrius Reed, who went undrafted. So did Charlie Sutton, which surprised me quite a bit. They'll both look for a team who wants to sign them as free agents. To nobody's surprise, Connecticut star Morris Thiele was the #1 overall pick. Other draftees you might remember are Ethan DeLuca of North Carolina (#2), Michael Smyth of Boston College (#6), UConn's Jelani Obasie (#16), Lafayette's Jalen Christian (#26), and West Virginia's Eimantas Fetkevicius (#52). Code:
Code:
Our pair of five-star freshmen, Kai Smith and John Cannon, give us the #9 recruiting class in the nation and the #3 class in the Big East. Kai is a bit better than we thought he'd be, and Cannon is just about as good. Georgetown's trio--Adam Webb, Phoenix Underwood, and Tadgh Phelan--are considered the best incoming class in the nation. Tadgh looks even better than we thought he'd be. I hope that doesn't haunt us for the next three years. |
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03-18-2024, 04:31 PM
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#740 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2039
As another year begins, I'm excited to announce another change in my college basketball universe. In my version of NCAA basketball, Division I has been enlarged to include 27 more teams. These teams represent some of the most prestigious small colleges and universities in the nation. These 27 teams are arranged into three new conferences: Midwest Conference: Carleton, Case Western Reserve, Chicago, Denison, Grinnell, Kenyon, Macalester, St. Olaf, Washington-St. Louis New England Conference: Amherst, Bates, Brandeis, Bowdoin, Colby, Middlebury, Tufts, Wesleyan, Williams University Athletic Association: Carnegie Mellon, Emory, Hamilton, Haverford, Johns Hopkins, Rochester, Swarthmore, Vassar, Washington & Lee All three conferences are inspired by real Division III conferences, with a few changes. In my world, they're lowly Level 1 conferences, but they all get automatic bids to the NCAA tournament. And all the teams have low prestige; the highest are 25 or so. I chose colleges with which I'm more familiar, in parts of the country I know well. If this works out, I'll probably add a western small-school conference, too. And, if things go as planned, I'll begin the next story based on my college basketball world at one of these small programs. |
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03-18-2024, 05:07 PM
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#741 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2039
Today the college basketball world celebrates the career of Erwin Gadson, who is retiring from his position as the head coach at Boston College. Coach Gadson, 65, is one of the giants of his profession. The only head coach the Eagles have ever known, he retired with a career record of 778 wins and 210 losses. His teams won 11 conference championships, and cut the nets down as NCAA champions three times: in 2017, 2034, and 2038. Coach Gadson's victory total ranks second all-time, and he is one of only two coaches to win more than two NCAA titles. Graham Sims is the only coach to surpass Coach Gadson's achievements in those areas. Rather surprisingly, the Eagles choose a new head coach who is even older than Coach Gadson. He's Larry Ramirez, who shocks everyone by leaving the Miami job where he's been since 2011! Coach Ramirez is the third-winningest active coach, with 665 victories to his credit, but he's 68 years old. He'll be there for a good time, not for a long time. Youngstown State hires Villanova assistant Greg Haddad to fill its head coaching position. To replace Coach Haddad as our scouting director, we hire Dwight Worsham. Coach Worsham, a Level 8 coach, has over 500 games of head coaching experience, with a record of 246-262. He's also been an assistant for successful programs at Tennessee and Texas A&M. Welcome to Villanova, Coach. Coach Sims has never been known for the quality of his coaching tree. Most of his former assistants have struggled with head coaching positions of their own. The most successful has been Chris Kiger, who has posted a 258-194 record at five schools since 2023. Dario Ferreira has a career record of 243-183, but he recorded 86 wins as a head coach before he joined Graham's staff at Villanova. The most successful of the younger coaches who have apprenticed under Graham has been Daniel Bryant. At age 36, Coach Bryant has led Kennesaw State to a 132-116 record since 2031. |
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03-18-2024, 05:20 PM
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#742 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2039
We have two scholarships available to use on transfers this spring. As I look at the portal, there are two players who list us among their top five who are appealing: former Vanderbilt big man Tanner Merriweather and erstwhile Florida swingman Lamarcus Hare. I like both these players, and offer scholarships to both of them. Both players list us as their second choices, and both accept an offer from the program they like better. Tanner is off to Stanford, while Lamarcus will transfer to West Virginia. |
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03-18-2024, 06:00 PM
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#743 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2039
Although the only senior on our roster is walk-on Derek Lamb, we have only 12 scholarship players. That means we have one scholarship to offer to members of the class of 2040. I also cut a walk-on who isn't good and won't study; now we have two offers in hand. One of them is immediately going to Dan O'Halloran. He's the top player in the country, and he plays at Episcopal Academy, five miles from campus. Dan averages 26.4 points and 15.7 rebounds per game. Right now, he likes Boston College and North Carolina better than Villanova, but we'll try to change that in a hurry. As I project what our roster will look like over the next two years, we'll definitely need to recruit a big wing. I'm almost positive the player we'll want most is Israel Moody, a smooth 6'6" forward from Maryland. Here's our first call list: Code:
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03-18-2024, 06:16 PM
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#744 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2039
Dan O'Halloran is the real deal. Code:
Dan would possibly start for us if he were on campus right now. That's how good he already is. We have some work to persuade him, and if we don't make progress with him soon, I'll have to abandon the chase. But he's too impressive a prospect to pass by. Needless to say, Dan will be visiting campus this month.  So will Israel Moody. He's a baller, too. Code:
I know I need a strong Plan B in place for O'Halloran. As a possible sleeper, I like RJ Cannon quite a bit. Code:
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03-18-2024, 06:32 PM
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#745 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2039
Israel Moody holds offers from Villanova and Pitt, and he prefers ours. I feel good about our chances of signing him. We're still in the running for Dan O'Halloran, too. He's moved us up to second on his list, behind Boston College and ahead of North Carolina. It appears to be a three-team competition, as Pitt and Duke appear to be out of the running. What should I do? RJ Cannon has an offer from American, but he's still saying he'd like to play for us. What should I read into the fact that the other schools on RJ's list have prestige in the 60s? Is he not as good as we think he is? Charles Harder is another player I'm looking at closely. Code:
I'm going to stand pat for another month. I'd hate to pull O'Halloran's offer and wonder for the next three years what might have happened if I'd hung in there and fought. |
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03-18-2024, 06:38 PM
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#746 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2039
Israel Moody moves one step closer to putting on a Villanova cap on Decision Day next month. He's taken everyone else off his list. And Dan O'Halloran releases a new Top Schools list...with Villanova at the top! Coaches Sims and Hairston will try all their best recruiting moves with the O'Hallorans. Make sure to bring your championship rings, gentlemen. St. John's offers RJ Cannon a scholarship, and the Red Storm moves to the top of RJ's list as a result. The offer Charles Harder holds from American has the same effect. I don't blame either young man for those decisions. Decision Day approaches... |
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03-18-2024, 06:49 PM
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#747 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2039
We fill the biggest need in our recruiting class today when Israel Moody makes his commitment official. Israel isn't a big guy--6'5", and less than 200 pounds--but he plays a bigger man's game. He can slash to the hoop, score in transition, and do lots of damage with a smooth mid-range jumper. He's also very comfortable guarding bigger players. We can't wait to get you on campus, Israel! Dan O'Halloran hasn't made his decision yet, but we're still in first place on his list, with North Carolina behind us. If the Tar Heels make a successful, late push, we won't have RJ Cannon as a possibility anymore. He signs with St. John's today. Charles Harder, however, might remain a possibility. We'll have plenty of other things to think about, as the season is right around the corner. |
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03-18-2024, 07:22 PM
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#748 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 6, 2039
It's time to meet the 2039/40 Villanova Wildcats: Code:
And here's how training camp went: Code:
Coach Graham Sims celebrates his 60th birthday this year, as he leads his fourteenth Villanova team into a new season. This might be the deepest team Coach Sims has ever sent into action. All-American shooting guard Zayden Calhoun is the team's biggest star. He'll be the focal point of the Wildcats offense, and he's made himself even more dangerous by improving his passing skill. His ability to shoot and score have long been well-known. He'll be joined in the backcourt by redshirt junior point guard Nick Spencer. Nick has spent two seasons as a top reserve, and he's now ready to take the controls. He's a lockdown defender and a marvelous distributor. Junior Tony Flaherty will also move into the starting five this season. At 6'7" and nearly 240 pounds, Tony can handle the rough stuff near the hoop or step outside and make teams pay. The post will be occupied by junior Zak Marshall and sophomore Chris Wilson. Both are excellent defensive players with the potential to score at the rim. Marshall made particularly impressive progress in camp. Three talented young guards are available for reserve duty: freshman point guard Kai Smith, sophomore combo guard DeAndre Brown, and freshman shooter John Cannon. Smith, a 5'5" dynamo, was the team's most improved player during camp. All three will have to exercise some patience, but all will also see meaningful minutes. Forrest Curl, a redshirt sophomore, and junior Jordi Ballester will be the primary reserves in the front court. And David Lovett, who's still considered a possible draft prospect despite barely playing for two years, is available, too. Just for fun, keep an eye on freshman walk-on guard Nick O'Brien. He's from England, and he's an Orange/Green player. The Big East is once again the home of some of college basketball's elite programs. Georgetown's roster is loaded, and so is Boston College's. Connecticut and Pitt aren't far behind. Still, it's hard to imagine Graham Sims not being able to lead this team to another 30-victory season that ends no earlier than late March. |
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03-18-2024, 07:51 PM
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#749 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 12, 2039
@#1 Villanova 107, Swarthmore 44 Honestly, I should have stopped to think about how the new teams in my world would fill their rosters before I scheduled any of them. Poor Swarthmore comes into Wawa Arena with a team full of freshman walk-ons. The result is what you'd expect. Zayden Calhoun connects on 6 of 11 three-balls and finishes with 31 points. Chris Wilson adds 19, and reserves John Cannon and DeAndre Brown contribute 13 and 10, respectively. Brown adds 3 steals. Kai Smith dazzles in 21 minutes of court time, finishing with 8 points, 9 assists, and 3 steals. Tony Flaherty is in severe pain after the game, and he's diagnosed with a stress fracture. He'll be out of action for about a month. Perhaps that's karma getting us back for scheduling the Garnet. DeAndre Brown will fill Tony's spot in the starting lineup, with Z-Money shifting to the three. Record: 1-0. November 17, 2039 Maui Shootout, First Round (1) #1 Villanova 90, (8) Charlotte 66 A trip to the tropical shores of Hawai'i begins with a dominant performance from Chris Wilson, who finishes with 27 points as we dismantle the 49ers. Zayden Calhoun scores 12 points and grabs 6 rebounds, and John Cannon contributes another dozen off the bench. Nick Spencer finishes with 10 points and 6 assists, and new starter DeAndre Brown leads us with 7 helpers. Record: 2-0. November 18, 2039 Maui Shootout Semifinal (1) #1 Villanova 76, (5) San Diego State 58 We're not terribly sharp tonight, making only 6 of 21 three-point shots, but we play good defense and advance to the Shootout final. Zayden Calhoun (19p) makes 4 of those 6 threes. Zak Marshall (12p/7r/2b) and Chris Wilson (10p/5r) man the frontcourt capably. Hats off to Nick Spencer (9p/9a/3s) and Kai Smith (3 steals in 10 minutes). And props to David Lovett, who scores 7 points in 14 minutes. Record: 3-0. November 19, 2039 Maui Shootout Final (1) #1 Villanova 82, (2) Washington 71 We'll return to the Main Line with tans and a trophy, as we defeat the Huskies and capture the Maui Shootout. Zayden Calhoun's 23 points and Nick Spencer's 20 lead the scoring; Calhoun adds 6 rebounds and 6 assists, while Spencer contributes 3 steals. Chris Wilson scores 12 points with 5 rebounds and 4 blocks. Record: 4-0.  |
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03-18-2024, 08:29 PM
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#750 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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Really enjoying this still... we ready for another submission from me?
How about Wayne Bradhold, Elder HS in Cincinnati, OH. Blue Collar Man PF...
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
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