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04-05-2024, 10:22 PM
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#801 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2041
Lately, it's been the case that one of Graham Sims' assistants gets the opportunity to head a program of his own every year. This time, it's recruiting coordinator Jeffrey Hairston, leaving for the Green Bay job. The most intriguing coaching change is taking place up at Syracuse. They've replaced the retiring James Robinett with Tom Caballero, who was Graham's recruiting assistant for three years before moving to the top job at Western Kentucky. Coach Caballero just led the Hilltoppers to a 27-5 record and a ticket to the Big Dance. Now he'll match wits with his former boss in the Big East. Our new Recruiting Coordinator is the talented Carroll Taylor. Coach Taylor comes to us from Cal State Fullerton, where he was relieved of his duties after four years and a 50-75 record. He previously enjoyed success as an assistant at Utah, helping the Utes to a berth in the 2037 Final Four. Coach Taylor is 42, a Level 6 coach with a 100 Recruiting rating. He'll earn a bit more than $202,000/year on a three-year contract. Welcome to the Main Line, Coach. Coach Taylor gets to work quickly, because for the first time in several years, there's a player in the transfer portal who interests us. James Largent was a three-star recruit in the Class of 2040. He's a 6'8" post player from Petaluma, CA, who spent a year at San Jose State without seeing any action. Code:
Welcome to the Wildcat basketball family, James! |
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04-06-2024, 12:08 AM
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#802 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2041
We have two scholarships available, and when I look at our projected depth chart for the next two years, I can't identify an obvious "must recruit now" position. The closest thing to an urgent need is a point guard, in case Kai Smith doesn't stay four years. The nation's top point guard is Aaron Scott, an Ohio product who doesn't list us among his top five schools. That's a shame, because Aaron is a baller. We'll have a much better chance to sign Jesse Gill. He's the #1 player in the class, a high-scoring, 6'7" wing from New Jersey. Jesse lists North Carolina and Boston College ahead of us right now. The best player in Pennsylvania is Roman Holloway, a 7'0" center. He goes to high school only 14 miles away from the Villanova campus, but he also lists BC and UNC ahead of us, in that order. The most intriguing player who lists Villanova as his favorite school is Joel Campbell. He's a four-star player, a 6'6" shooter from nearby Royersford, PA. Gill and Campbell are similar players, and I don't know whether I want to pursue the longer shot or the surer thing. I won't offer either of them a scholarship until we've had a chance to evaluate them. I'll go ahead and offer one to Holloway, based on his stats. Here's our initial call list: Code:
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04-06-2024, 12:21 PM
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#803 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2041
Roman Holloway passed the eye test last month, and now we see that his evaluation backs up his stats. Code:
We'll invite him to campus this month, and Coaches Sims and Taylor will make the short journey to his home. Perhaps some individualized recruiting efforts will convince him to stay on our side of the Keystone State. Let's take a look at Joel Campbell next. Code:
Jesse Gill's interest in playing for us seems to be cooling. Code:
I'm so tempted to pursue Gill. He's that good. But North Carolina likes him too, they've made him an offer, and he prefers the Tar Heels and Boston College. I'll bring both Jesse and Joel to campus, but I'm going to offer the scholarship to Joel...at least for now. |
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04-06-2024, 12:31 PM
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#804 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2041
Joel Campbell received scholarship offers from Lafayette and Temple this month, too. We're at the top of Joel's list, and I'm feeling good about our chances to sign him in a couple months. The Roman Holloway sweepstakes seems to be a two-way contest between Pitt and Villanova. We're the only two schools on his list, and he ranks us behind the Panthers. Jesse Gill got an offer from Boston College, and now he lists the Eagles as his top school. If he doesn't attend Villanova, I hope he goes to North Carolina. I'd prefer not to have him as a Big East opponent. I'm taking closer looks at two players who might become part of Plan B. Armando Anderson is a four-star center from New Jersey who averages 34 PPG. Point guard Everett Huffman, who's averaging almost 26 points and 13 assists per game, might become the first junior college player I've ever signed. We'll see if their evaluations match up with their gaudy stats. For now, my offers will remain unchanged. |
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04-06-2024, 12:54 PM
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#805 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2041
Lafayette and Temple appear to have retired from the field, so it looks like Joel Campbell is on his way to Villanova...unless a late challenger emerges. There's no change in Roman Holloway's recruiting preferences. Is the prospect of backing up Dan O'Halloran for a year causing Roman to prefer Pitt's offer? The Panthers have a young big man, Chris Vice, who was a five-star player too, but he's no O'Halloran. I'm now thinking very seriously about passing on Holloway and making an offer to Armando Anderson. Code:
He's a similar player to Weston Wagner. I wonder if a team can use two guys who are so similar? Everett Huffman is an appealing player, too. Code:
I have a lot to think about here. Decision Day is approaching fast. I'm going to take a chance that Armando won't receive an offer he's willing to take this month, and give Roman one more month's worth of recruiting. I might miss out on both of them, but if I do, who says I won't receive a "consolation prize" like Immanuel Bahr? Let's roll the dice... |
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04-06-2024, 01:11 PM
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#806 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2041
Decision Day We receive some good, if unsurprising, news from Joel Campbell, who announces today his commitment to playing basketball at Villanova. A versatile player who can do lots of things well, I envision him as a "bit of everything" wing with an extra helping of mid-range shooting. And we might have him for all four years. It will be great to have you here, Joel! Roman Holloway and his family are still thinking. I wonder if there's a chance... Armando Anderson received an offer from Temple last month, but he still lists Villanova as his number one choice. Now that the season is about to begin, I have other tasks besides recruiting to think about. I have time to ponder my options. Jesse Gill commits to North Carolina today. Aaron Scott is off to Tennessee. Everett Huffman picks Purdue. |
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04-06-2024, 07:35 PM
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#807 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 12, 2041
Here are your 2041/42 Villanova Wildcats! Code:
And here's how their training camp went: Code:
This season is Graham Sims' 16th as the head coach at Villanova, after 15 more as the head man at Lafayette. His Wildcats begin the season with three men who started last season's NCAA championship game available for action, and a fourth player--who certainly would have started--hoping to return by Christmas. Dan O'Halloran lived up to his billing in his first season, earning a spot on the Big East first team and winning its Freshman of the Year award. Dan didn't rest on his laurels; he worked as hard as anyone in camp and became even better at the things he was already good at. Dan might be the best big man in college basketball right now. Starting beside him in the post will be redshirt junior Forrest Curl. Forrest is an effective secondary offensive option, an active defender, and a tough rebounder. The small forward spot will belong to Israel Moody when he completes his recovery from a ruptured Achilles. Israel averaged 13.6 PPG as a freshman, demonstrating the ability to get to the rim and score with mid-range jumpers and floaters. While Moody mends, freshman Asaad Richardson will have the opportunity to start and demonstrate what he can do. Asaad arrives with a reputation as a shooter, and he improved his skill significantly during camp. John Cannon moved into the starting five when Moody went down, and he'll begin the season as a starter this year. He's a bit small for a wing at 6'4"; he'd prefer to guard the perimeter, where he can lock down opponents with his fundamental skills and wreak havoc with his steals. Junior point guard Kai Smith is a fan favorite. He's 5'5", and quick as a kitten. Kai led the Big East in assists last season, combining reliability and flash in equal measure. He is a tremendous defender who creates many turnovers, and he's improved his shot quite a bit since last season. The reserve corps will be led by a quartet of freshmen. Richardson will be among them once Moody is back. The others are guard Tyson Lien, who improved his handle and passing enough to add "point guard" to his profile; Immanuel Bahr, a powerful post from Germany; and Weston Wagner, a smooth forward who can operate in the post or on the wing. Walk-on guard Nick O'Brien is talented enough to be more than a novelty act at the end of lopsided games. Nick's presence allows us to give guard Scott McMasters a redshirt year. There's a bit more uncertainty about this year's team than there has been in recent seasons. Is Forrest Curl ready to make the transition from 10-minute-per-game reserve to starting forward? Will the Four Freshmen be overmatched by the veteran stars of the Big East, or will they be man enough to hold their own? Will Dan O'Halloran build on his freshman successes and become a premier player, with every opponent we face making him the focus of their defensive efforts? If the answer to each of these questions is "yes," we can be playing in April. If it's not, our off-season will be longer than usual. |
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04-06-2024, 07:45 PM
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#808 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Let's take a trip to Knoxville, where Tennessee's highly-touted freshman Wayne Bradhold has just completed his first training camp.
Code:
The "creation dice" were hot for Mr. Bradhold, who emerges as a god tier version of the Blue Collar Man. He's already a fearsome rebounder and a strong presence on defense. The Vols don't have a very good center on their roster, so Wayne might begin the season at the five. @Chas: If you'd rather Wayne wear another uniform number, let me know, and I'll change it. |
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04-06-2024, 08:09 PM
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#809 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Here's a look at Graham Sims' history at Villanova.
Code:
We've maintained a 100 Prestige score for 15 seasons. That made me wonder about the other members of the 100 Club. Right now, Kentucky and Louisville are the only other teams with 100 Prestige. Kentucky has maintained that level for the past eight seasons, and had a run of five 100 seasons in the 20s. Louisville's super-elite status has been in place for three years. North Carolina's Prestige is currently 99, but the Tar Heels have spent quite a bit of time at 100. They were there in 2038/39, and for 12 seasons from 2021 to 2033. Georgetown's Prestige is 99 now, too. The Hoyas reeled off 12 straight seasons with a perfect score beginning in 2026. Boston College, also at 99 now, has had three different 100-level runs: a single season at that level back in 2016/17, a four-year run in the 2020s, and a recent seven-year stretch that ended in 2040. Although Vanderbilt's star has faded a bit recently--their Prestige is in the 80s now--veteran fans will remember when the Commodores were among the nation's true elite. They began a run of 12 seasons at the very top with a national championship in 2018/19. Their glory years roughly coincided with those of Southern California, who posted seven straight 100s from 2020/21 through 2026/27. As great as all these programs have been, none can match the consistent excellence of Kansas. The Jayhawks' Prestige is currently 92, which is the lowest it's ever been. They reached 100 for the first time in our universe's second season, winning the 2012/13 national title. They dropped to 99 in 2019/20, when they lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament, but returned to 100 the next season as the national runners-up. There the Jayhawks remained until 2036/37, when they once again exited in the first round. That makes 24 seasons for the Jayhawks at the pinnacle of the college game. |
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04-06-2024, 08:58 PM
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#810 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 17, 2041
@#1 Villanova 91, Princeton 61 Welcome to NCAA basketball, Asaad Richardson! The freshman sunk 5 threes in 7 attempts and scored 25 points in his first collegiate game. Dan O'Halloran added 18 with 9 rebounds; Forrest Curl scored 14; John Cannon posted 12; Kai Smith supplemented 8 points with career bests of 14 assists and 6 steals. We pull away to a 52-18 halftime score and coast home. Record: 1-0. November 21, 2041 Maui Shootout, First Round Code:
His son, Tyson, looks just like Joe when he releases his jumper, and tonight it went in at a rate that would make Dad proud. Joe says Tyson is a much better defender than he ever was; honestly, that wouldn't take much. Tyson's classmates, Assad Richardson and Weston Wagner, also shoot well form long range. Our defense forces the Minutemen into 32 turnovers. It's a great start for our trip to sunny Hawai'i. Record: 2-0. November 22, 2041 Maui Shootout Semifinal Code:
I'm letting the guys shoot more threes again, because we've got some sharpshooters again. So far, the results have been positive. Record: 3-0. November 23, 2041 Maui Shootout Championship Code:
We don't look like the defensive juggernaut we've been the past two or three years. We let Paolo Bolling gash us for 27 points, scoring inside and outside without much interference. But we seem to be able to score enough to win even when our defense isn't clicking like we want. It's our second victory in this fun tournament in the Sunshine State. Record: 4-0.  Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 04-07-2024 at 12:39 PM. |
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04-12-2024, 09:37 AM
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#811 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 24, 2041
Code:
Accurate three-point shooting and a big game from Dan O'Halloran save us. Record: 5-0. November 30, 2041 @#1 Villanova 82, Green Bay 40 Kai Smith is the biggest star today, recording 13 points, 11 assists, and 3 steals. We assist on 24 of our 26 made baskets, which makes me very happy. Other top performers include Asaad Richardson (22p), John Cannon (16p), Forrest Curl (14r/3b/2s), and Dan O'Halloran (16p/9r/2b). Freshman Immanuel Bahr snags 11 rebounds in 16 minutes. Record: 6-0. |
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04-12-2024, 09:49 AM
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#812 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 1, 2041
Persistence pays off! Today, Roman Holloway announces his commitment to play his college ball at Villanova. Roman has soft hands and good footwork, which combine with his seven-foot stature to enable him to score a lot of points on post moves. He's comfortable with the ball in his hands, able to find open teammates when opponents try to double him. He has good potential as a rebounder and shot blocker. We won't need Roman to be a superstar his first year, because we'll still have Dan O'Halloran. Roman looks like he'll be a worthy successor, however. And, it's a lot of fun to snatch Pennsylvania's Mr. Basketball away from Pitt. Welcome to Villanova basketball, Roman! Some of the other players we recruited pick their schools today, too. Dennis Olszewski picks Purdue over Kansas. Armando Anderson chooses Temple. It looks like Antoine McClain, a rugged forward we like a lot, is going to South Carolina. |
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04-12-2024, 11:42 AM
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#813 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 4, 2041
@#1 Villanova 72, Virginia 55 The Hoos tend to be a step forward, step back kind of program. They'll win 20 games for a couple years in a row, and follow them up with a stinker of a season. Right now, their Prestige is as high as it's been since the first year of our universe (67). They fall apart in the second half against us, turning what was a five-point game into a comfortable Wildcat victory. The Hoos take only 38 shots, which is as few as I remember from a power conference team. Dan O'Halloran leads us with 20 points. Asaad Richardson and John Cannon contribute matching 17-point performances; Asaad grabs 6 rebounds, too. Kai Smith, the second leading assist man in the nation, hands out 9 assists, which is just below his season average. Record: 7-0. December 7, 2041 Code:
I still use a game against one of the newbie teams as a chance to give some meaningful playing time to the reserves, but this year, the Blue Jays hang with our bench guys quite well. They can't handle John Cannon when he comes off the bench with guns blazing, and Dan O'Halloran pushes them around, but John and Dan have been schooling more seasoned players this fall, too. Nick O'Brien demonstrates that things won't fall completely apart if he runs the point for us. And Tyson Lien continues to show us that he's more than Joe Lien's son. Record: 8-0. December 11, 2041 @#1 Villanova 88, William & Mary 46 The Tribe has no answer for Dan O'Halloran, who creates a 24-point, 15-rebound, 5-block, 3-steal masterpiece at Wawa Arena today. All four of those totals are career highs for the 6'10" sophomore. First-year forward Asaad Richardson scores 25 points with 7 rebounds. John Cannon combines 15 points with 5 steals. Kai Smith contributes 7 points, 10 assists, and 4 steals. Altogether, the Wildcats steal the ball 18 times. William & Mary shoot only 28 percent and miss all but 1 of their 13 threes. Record: 9-0. |
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04-15-2024, 12:10 PM
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#814 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 15, 2041
@#1 Villanova 68, Penn State 54 We win this one with our defense, and by taking care of the basketball. The Nittany Lions try to slow the game down and do a good job of it, but we hold them to only 22 made baskets and win the turnover battle, 12-20. Dan O'Halloran scores 17 points, grabs 10 rebounds, blocks 2 shots, and holds their center, Steven Butler, to a single point. John Cannon adds 13 points, and Kai Smith contributes 6 assists. Record: 10-0. December 18, 2041 Code:
Veteran point guards Kai Smith and Tim Jones put on a clinic, combining for 25 points, 26 assists, and 7 steals. The two guards with common surnames rank second and fourth in the nation in assists, respectively. This year's top freshman big man, Wayne Bradhold, clashes with this year's top sophomore big man, Dan O'Halloran. The younger buck, a natural four who is playing center in order to accommodate another star freshman, Dane Taylor, holds his own. Wayne's 6 blocked shots include two of Dan's. We force the Vols into 24 turnovers, and that makes a big difference. Record: 11-0. December 22, 2041 @#1 Villanova 81, Creighton 61 Dan O'Halloran leads a group of five 'Cats in double figures with 20 points, as we end calendar year 2041 with a victory. Dan finishes with 11 rebounds, and Immanuel Bahr (11p/10r) posts a double-double of his own. Kai Smith (8p/10a) comes close. John Cannon (14p/2s), Forrest Curl (10p/4r/2b/2s), and Asaad Richardson (10p/4a) also fill the scoresheet nicely. Record: 12-0. |
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04-15-2024, 05:18 PM
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#815 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 2, 2042
@#1 Villanova 94, Lehigh 52 Lehigh has a good team this year. They enter the game at 9-3, with good wins over Rutgers and La Salle. We are more than the Mountain Hawks can handle, however, and we pull away in the second half and cruise home. Dan O'Halloran puts up another double-double (23p/11r/4b), but Kai Smith wins the PotG (16p/8a/5s/1t). John Cannon (22p/5r), Forrest Curl (12r), and Weston Wagner (11 points in 9 minutes) also show their stuff. Record: 13-0. January 5, 2042 Code:
Graham Sims is always greeted warmly there; almost everyone at Lafayette--with the exception of the most obnoxious fools in the student section--understand Coach Sims' role in building the Lafayette basketball program. Here's the statistic that proves it best: Lafayette Prestige in 2011 (Coach Sims arrives): 27 Lafayette Prestige in 2026 (Coach Sims leaves): 91 Lafayette Prestige in 2030 (all-time peak; last of Coach Sims' players): 95 Lafayette Prestige in 2042 (currently): 71 The Leopards continue to win with a roster of solid three-star recruits, occasionally fronted by a Top 100 player. This year's star is Morris Smith, who unfortunately gets hurt tonight and barely shows what he can do. He's a senior who has started 114 games for Lafayette, with over 1500 career points to his credit. Morris was a high four-star recruit as a high school senior. Meanwhile, our 11 scholarship players include six five-star and four four-star recruits. We have more talent at our disposal, and tonight that makes a sizeable difference. Record: 14-0. Code:
Our two most traditional rivals--Georgetown and Pitt--share the top of the Big East table with us. It's going to be another spirited fight for the conference championship. The return of Israel Moody gives me a wonderful problem: how to find playing time for all our deserving players! This quick look at our stats illustrates the situation well. Code:
Code:
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04-16-2024, 12:08 PM
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#816 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 8, 2042
#1 Villanova 93, @Connecticut 54 Our new lineup works well, as Israel Moody celebrates his return to the starting five with 20 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals. John Cannon sinks 5 three-balls and scores 21. Double-Double Dan O'Halloran posts 16 points and 10 boards. The Huskies try fouling him rather than letting him score inside, so Dan goes 8-for-10 from the line. Kai Smith hands out 8 assists, and sixth man Asaad Richardson goes 3-for-3 from behind the arc and scores 13 points in 19 minutes. We're very solid defensively; Forrest Curi (5p/6r) helps hold UConn's bigs to a total of 3 points, and the Huskies shoot under 30 percent. I like it. Record: 15-0 (1-0). January 11, 2042 Code:
Seton Hall makes 14 threes, and we have to shoot 58 percent from the floor to stay with them. Israel Moody scores a lot, but he gives up a lot of turnovers. And John Cannon scorches the net from long range. The fans got what they paid for, didn't they? Record: 16-0 (2-0). January 15, 2042 @#1 Villanova 88, St. John's 50 We sink 13 of our 22 three-point attempts and 17 of our 20 free throws, providing a lot of our offense in a comfortable win over St. John's. I think Asaad Richardson is liking the sixth man role. Tonight he drops 29 on the Johnnies, adding 5 rebounds. John Cannon (21p/2s), Kai Smith (14p/10a/3s/1t), Dan O'Halloran (10p/11r/2b), and Immanuel Bahr (3b) all provide quality assistance. Record: 17-0 (3-0). January 18, 2042 Code:
Chris Pless and Jon LaFramboise, both former five-star recruits, hold their own with our post players--not too many teams have done that this season. We fall to third in the Big East, behind Boston College and undefeated Georgetown. We face the Hoyas next, in Washington, D.C. Record: 17-1 (3-1). |
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04-17-2024, 05:20 PM
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#817 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 20, 2042
Code:
Very few people have scored 37 points against a Graham Sims team. We do a good job of keeping the other Hoyas under control, either by limiting their touches or forcing them into bad shots. Immanuel Bahr plays extremely well off the bench, teaming up with Dan O'Halloran and Forrest Curl to frustrate Georgetown's excellent big men. I ought to go back and identify the Villanova games that matched up the #1 and #2 teams in the nation, and see how we've done in those contests. Record: 18-1 (4-1). January 22, 2042 Code:
Syracuse has other plans. With 1:32 remaining, the Orange lead, 84-83. It takes a Kai Smith three-pointer with four seconds left to secure the victory. See what I mean when I say any Big East team can win against any other, on any given day? And that's what makes it fun. Record: 19-1 (5-1). January 29, 2042 #1 Villanova 81, @#14 Pittsburgh 65 On a night when Dan O'Halloran (4 points, 2-11 shooting) can't get going offensively, his teammates do enough to defeat a good Pitt team at their arena. Asaad Richardson leads us with 23 points in 26 minutes of reserve action. John Cannon adds 20, and Kai Smith supplements 12 points with 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Israel Moody rounds out the double-digit scorers with 11. Record: 20-1 (6-1). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 04-18-2024 at 10:45 AM. |
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04-18-2024, 11:14 AM
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#818 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 5, 2042
Code:
They shoot extremely well, especially from long range, while we don't shoot well at all. Again, we rely heavily on the steady play of Kai Smith, who is making a solid claim on the title of the nation's top point guard. Tonight, he plays 32 minutes, handling the ball a lot, without committing a single turnover. Perhaps it's because of his height--Kai is 5'5"--but he's not considered a pro prospect. I'd love to have him here all four years. Our defense is very disruptive, and it needs to be. As well as Seton Hall shoots tonight, we need to limit their attempts. Record: 21-1 (7-1). February 8, 2042 @#1 Villanova 80, Providence 58 We shoot the ball well from the free throw line (17-for-19) and from three-point distance (13-for-27), and we play opportunistic defense. Kai Smith finishes with 8 points, 8 assists, 5 steals, and a single turnover. John Cannon, who takes 13 threes and makes 5, scores 22 points. Asaad Richardson adds 15 from the bench; they're our only double-digit scorers. Record: 22-1 (8-1). February 10, 2042 @#1 Villanova 68, Connecticut 55 It's far from a pretty game; it's the kind of dog fight you'd expect Huskies to enjoy. But we get enough from our big dogs to win. Dan O'Halloran, the Big Shamrock, scores 13 points and grabs 12 boards. Kai Smith dishes out 10 assists with 0 turnovers. But it's John Cannon, who scores 19 points, makes 7 steals, and blocks 2 shots, who shines the brightest. Asaad Richardson (12p) and Israel Moody (10p) also make it into double figures. Record: 23-1 (9-1). February 12, 2042 @#1 Villanova 96, #14 Boston College 75 Tonight we host the Eagles, the only team to beat us this season, and this time the outcome is different. A group of five double-figure scorers is led by Dan O'Halloran and Asaad Richardson, who score 16 points each. Dan adds 9 rebounds and 2 blocks to earn the PotG prize. John Cannon (15p/2s), Israel Moody (13p/4r/3s), and Kai Smith (11p/8a/3s/1t) all contribute in especially meaningful ways. Our shooting slash line is a pretty .600/.500/.810. Record: 24-1 (10-1). |
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04-24-2024, 09:37 AM
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#819 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 19, 2042
Code:
It's one thing to get 20 steals against Grinnell, and another thing altogether to get 19 against Georgetown. And we're not getting many of those steals off clumsy bigs who are trapped handling the ball; we're taking the ball from guards. Meanwhile, our point guard delivers 10 assists with a single turnover. The most competitive aspect of the game is a big man battle between Adam Webb and Dan O'Halloran. They're both top pro prospects for a reason. Record: 25-1 (11-1). February 22, 2042 #1 Villanova 76, @St. John's 60 We trail this one at halftime before we pour it on over the next 20 minutes and pull a victory out of the Johnnies' hands. John Cannon leads the way with a season-best 29 points. Without much fanfare, John has put together quite a career; he's closing in on 1300 career points in three seasons, and he's almost certain to hear his name called on Draft Night in April. Israel Moody (16p) and Asaad Richardson (13p) are our other double-digit scorers. Dan O'Halloran finishes with 13 rebounds and 4 blocks. Record: 26-1 (12-1). February 24, 2042 Code:
Nobody was surprised when Raymon committed to Syracuse. He's now a senior, a starter for three years. He'll almost certainly complete his career as the Orange's third all-time scorer. Raymon has played in the NCAA tournament once, as a sophomore; that team reached the Elite Eight. He hasn't had many moments to shine in the national spotlight. That's why I honestly don't mind seeing a mensch like Raymon drop 40 on us tonight. We win the game, after all. It's a big night for Forrest Curl, the most complete game he's played for Villanova. And it's another strong performance from freshman Weston Wagner, who is earning a reputation as a dangerous shooter off the bench. Record: 27-1 (13-1). |
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04-24-2024, 10:04 AM
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#820 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 5, 2042
#1 Villanova 82, @Providence 73 We enter the game with a chance to clinch the Big East championship. The Friars are determined to keep that from happening, and after 20 minutes, they are well on their way to doing so. They lead, 30-26; neither team can seem to buy a basket. The game opens up in the second stanza, and we pull away to win the game and the league. Sixth man Asaad Richardson's 15-point, 8-rebound performance earns him the PotG. He's backed up by Dan O'Halloran (18p/8r/8t!), John Cannon (13p/7r/3s), and Kai Smith (7p/10a/1t). Record: 28-1 (14-1). March 8, 2042 Code:
Kai engages in a classic battle with Pitt's Roland Goodnight, another of the best point guards in the country. Roland is a 6'2" senior, and he's projected to be a lottery pick. The pros apparently think size matters, more than they probably should. The Big Shamrock snares a career-high 19 rebounds, nearly joining Avery Sullivan and Zach Cohen as the only Villanovans to amass 20 caroms in a single game. And Asaad Richardson continues to thrive in his reserve role. Record: 29-1 (15-1). |
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04-24-2024, 10:32 AM
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#821 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 14, 2042
Big East Tournament, First Round Code:
With eleven seconds remaining, a tearful Raymon Rodman exits a Syracuse game for the final time. He finishes his distinguished career with 1777 points, third most in his school's history--and an even more remarkable 921 rebounds. That's the Syracuse record, and it's set by a 6'5" wing. Raymon scores one more point than our PotG, Israel Moody. Record: 30-1. March 14, 2042 Big East Tournament Semifinal Code:
Again, we rely heavily on Asaad Richardson's scoring ability, and Forrest Curl does a lot of good dirty work. Pitt defeats Georgetown in the other semifinal, so we're spared another Wildcats-Hoyas matchup for the tournament championship. Record: 31-1. March 15, 2042 Big East Tournament Championship Code:
With the exception of Roland Goodnight, who plays his usual assertive game, we keep the Panthers from doing what they want to do. Meanwhile, we take super good care of the ball, with Kai Smith directing the offense like Kai Smith. Kai would have had more assists if his teammates had been better at making shots. I'd award the tournament MVP award to Israel Moody, whose comeback from his Achilles injury seems complete. A win, however, is a win, and a trophy is a trophy. Record: 32-1. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 04-24-2024 at 10:34 AM. |
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04-24-2024, 11:49 AM
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#822 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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March 16, 2042
We secure the top seed in the NCAA East Region, an accomplishment that seems to be a regular one now. The other top teams in our bracket are 2-seed Louisville and a 29-2 Lafayette team that is seeded third. Villanova is the only Big East team with a top seed...what is the basketball world coming to?  Duke, Florida, and Miami are the other one seeds.March 21, 2042 NCAA East Region, First Round Code:
Lots of misses means lots of rebound chances for Dan O'Halloran, who capitalizes on many of them. Double-Double Dan is now averaging 15.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per contest. Avery Sullivan is the only Wildcat who has averaged a double-double for a season. Record: 33-1. March 23, 2042 NCAA East Region, Second Round Code:
Did this year's Wildcats say "Let's shoot even more threes than that team did?" So far, that's what they are doing, pulling 73 in two games. Today, almost half of them went in. Our scoring is balanced, and Dan O'Halloran tracks down lots of missed shots. Record: 34-1. March 28, 2042 NCAA East Region Semifinal: the Sweet Sixteen Code:
At halftime, we lead Kentucky 53-26, and the basketball world's attention turns elsewhere. Kai Smith delivers a master class, once again directing our offense without a single turnover and tormenting UK's ballhandlers. John Cannon quietly drops 23, scoring at all three levels. Down in the South Region, two-seed Tennessee loses to three-seed Houston, ending the season of the Vols' freshman phenom, Wayne Bradhold. I'll post Wayne's season statistics at the end of the year. Record: 35-1. March 30, 2042 NCAA East Region Final: the Elite Eight Code:
It's therefore unusual for the Wildcats to play the role of villain, but we're cast that way in this matchup against the Dons of San Francisco, a loveable Cinderella team who carry their 14 seed all the way to the region championship game. The Dons have already claimed a win over Lafayette, whom they beat, 69-65, in the first round. They also eliminated Western Kentucky and Colgate, who themselves upset two-seed Louisville. The Dons start four veterans who have all played at least 100 games of college basketball alongside star freshman Kent Hayes. They harass us for 40 minutes, preventing us from taking the shots we want and reducing John Cannon to a passenger. Fortunately for us, Forrest Curl plays very well, and so does Asaad Richardson. The clock strikes for Cinderella, who nonetheless had a wonderful time at the Dance. Dan O'Halloran claims 15 rebounds, and Kai Smith blocks a shot. The former event is the more common. Record: 36-1. |
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04-24-2024, 12:36 PM
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#823 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 1, 2042
The Final Four has been set, and it's an intriguing one. We're representing the East, as we were seeded to do. We'll face Kansas State, the Midwest champion, who beat Pitt when the final shot of Roland Goodnight's collegiate career bounced off the front of the rim. I was rooting for Vanderbilt to return to the glory of the last weekend of the season, but the nine-seed Commodores fell before three-seed Houston. The South Region champion Cougars will face Nebraska, a twelve-seed who just ended Georgetown's season. April 5, 2042 NCAA Semifinal: the Final Four Code:
Kai Smith has broad shoulders for a man his size, and he puts the Wildcats on those shoulders tonight. His 9-point, 8-assist, 2-steal, 1-turnover game is unremarkable for him, but that's how good he is. Now John, Kai, and their teammates and coaches will play for the national championship once again. It's the tenth trip to the final for the Wildcats and the third for each of the players on the roster. And, for Graham Sims, it's his eleventh championship game. Again, we'll be cast as the bad guys, because Nebraska continues their improbable run with a 72-71 victory over Houston. Record: 37-1. April 7, 2042 NCAA Championship Game Code:
Kansas coach Blaine Boyd is one of Graham Sims' best friends. "I'm absolutely rooting for Villanova," he candidly admits. It was Boyd's team that the Cornhuskers beat to earn their tournament berth. Creighton senior Emily Rossiter is an avid basketball fan. She plays the clarinet in the Blue Jays pep band. "None of us like Nebraska," she states. "I went to the Villanova game back in December. The atmosphere there was amazing. I didn't like the outcome [VU 81, CU 61], but I left with a lot of respect for their program. I want them to win. Big." Boyd, Rossiter, and thousands of Wildcat fans are happy now, as Villanova storms to a 47-26 halftime lead and rolls the rest of the way to their third consecutive national championship. The team's four juniors--John Cannon, Kai Smith, Nick O'Brien, and Forrest Curl--have never known any other outcome. Only Forrest, who redshirted his first season, has experienced a season that didn't end with One Shining Moment. It's a sophomore, Dan O'Halloran, who provides the Wildcats with our greatest advantage. He faces a full-grown man in Justin Sterner, a 7'0", 251-pound redshirt junior, and won't let Justin touch the ball unless he grabs a defensive rebound. John Cannon scores 20 points, leading all scorers. After the game, he announces that he will enter the professional draft. Kai Smith, however, has other news. "I have three rings now," Kai points out. "I'd really love a fourth." Record: 38-1. |
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04-24-2024, 02:13 PM
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#824 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 7, 2042
Awards time! Code:
I'm delighted, but not surprised, to see Dan and Kai earning national honors. Nor am I shocked to see Wayne Bradhold on the All-Freshman Team. I'm thinking he might have been runner up to Assad for the FOY prize. Code:
I like the conference's choices for the first team. They're exactly the same five players I would pick. I'm happy for John, who earns some well-deserved recognition, and for Asaad and Tyson, worthy members of the Freshman Team. |
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04-24-2024, 08:23 PM
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#825 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 7, 2042
Code:
Code:
We weren't a terrific defensive team, with the exception of our ability to force turnovers, especially through steals. Our offensive efficiency (117.2) ranks first. Our defensive efficiency (90.8) places 21st. Code:
Code:
Code:
The first conclusion I draw when I look at these stats: these dudes could shoot the basketball. Every scholarship player shot at least 48 percent from the floor except one: Israel Moody, who shot .501 as a freshman. If the entire team shot as "poorly" as Weston Wagner, we'd still have the fourth best field goal percentage in the nation. Other things I notice:
There's only one Farewell this season, and it's up next. |
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04-24-2024, 08:52 PM
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#826 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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2041/42 Farewell
JOHN CANNON Our recruitment of John Cannon was unlike that of almost any other player we've signed. We didn't discover him until late in the recruiting cycle, and we offered him a scholarship before we had the chance to scout him thoroughly. He was a five-star player, so I was pretty sure he'd be good. He was. Code:
John's career followed a progression that many successful players experience on Coach Sims' Villanova teams. He was a solid rotation player as a freshman, a productive sixth man as a sophomore, and an All-Big East starter as a junior. His signature skills--the ability to stroke it from behind the arc, his lockdown defense, and his penchant for creating turnovers--were reliably on display in all three of these roles. In three productive years, John earned a spot on our leaderboards for three-pointers made (8th) and steals (4th). With one more typical Cannon season, he'd rank second, but only because the career leader is still active. John should be drafted early in the first round of the pro draft, and he might end up as a lottery pick. A bright future in professional basketball awaits him, and he's made significant progress toward his degree in Statistics. His greatest legacy, however, are those three NCAA championships we've won, with lots of help from him. Thanks for the memories, John. |
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04-24-2024, 09:07 PM
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#827 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 7, 2042
Let's check out our "bespoke" player, Tennessee's rugged big man, Wayne Bradhold. Wayne was a big reason why the Vols won 30 games this year. Code:
Wayne led the nation's freshmen in rebounding, and placed second in his class in blocked shots. His offensive game is not nearly as highly developed, but opposing teams still have to guard him. Wayne is still regarded as the top professional prospect in his class. |
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04-24-2024, 09:41 PM
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#828 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 12, 2042
Tonight, John Cannon becomes the sixteenth Villanova player drafted in the lottery since Coach Sims arrived when he's selected #9 overall. Phoenix Underwood of Georgetown is the top pick, and Pitt's Roland Goodnight is drafted at #3. Adam Webb (#5) and Tadgh Phelan (#11) give the Hoyas three lottery picks, and Andrew Quesenberry (#16) joins them in the first round. Code:
Roman Holloway looks like he'll be the next in a line of excellent centers on the Main Line, and Joel Campbell has the makings of a versatile wing. Code:
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04-25-2024, 11:37 AM
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#829 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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You're putting the Dynasty in Dynasty Reports
__________________
Email: [email protected] |
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04-26-2024, 08:57 AM
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#830 | |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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Quote:
Thanks, Chas. I admit the game is much easier when you're playing a maxed-out coach like Graham Sims. I've never had such a coaching titan for my alter ego in a simulation game. The challenge with Coach Sims isn't keeping his job; it's maintaining Villanova's 100 Prestige and winning national championships. It's building a team, rather than a collection of five-star, top ten recruits. It's thinking about a team philosophy, a program DNA, and making it happen. One of the things I like most about FBCB is the fact that I can play the game this way. I become frustrated when I can't find the connections between the in-game decisions I make and the events on the court. In FBCB, I can see my team playing differently when I adjust the Pace or Motion setting. When I recruit players who are good perimeter defenders, other teams' guards struggle to take over the game. And, when I create a Blue Collar Man like your Wayne Bradhold, he gets a ton of rebounds, protects the paint, takes relatively few shots, and makes a definite impact on his team. Winning basketball teams often include players like Wayne, and he can help his team win in FBCB, too. Thanks for stopping by! |
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04-27-2024, 10:49 PM
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#831 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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April 23, 2042
A Coach in Autumn by Jared Kiplinger and Kaitlyn Blaha, The Villanovan Coach Graham Sims' office in the Wawa Center reflects the personality of the man who occupies it. It's a friendly space, its walls decorated with a comfortable mix of photographs, artwork, and framed certificates. The largest photo depicts Coach Sims with his wife Mary Kate and his son Duncan. It's Duncan's Senior Night game. Beside it is hung a photo from Coach Sims' own Senior Night, the arms of his parents around him. Father and son both wear the number 14 on their Villanova jerseys. In these photos, he's a proud father and a grateful son, sharing moments with his family. Coach Sims' Villanova diploma is framed and hung nearby. He is a proud alumnus of the Class of 2001. There is a beautiful watercolor of the spires of St. Thomas of Villanova Church, painted by former player Matthew Valentine. None of Coach Sims' numerous awards are displayed here. The sole memento of his coaching career is a string of nylon, cut from the net and preserved in a deep frame after his team won Villanova's first national championship in 2028. Since then, Coach Sims has cut down the net six more times, including each of the last three seasons. The national championship he won at Lafayette gives him eight such titles. No other coach in history has won more than three. In 31 seasons, Coach Sims' teams have won 987 games, triumphant 87 percent of the time. Both marks are the best in history, by a wide margin. There is no honor a college basketball coach can achieve that Coach Sims has yet to receive. He is now 63 years old, an age at which many coaches consider retiring. Many of Coach Sims' peers, the men he knew as a young coach, have done so. Does Coach Sims think about following them into his post-coaching life? He smiles before he answers this question. "Not quite yet," he replies, very simply. Then he expands upon his response. "I don't think I'll ever stop loving coaching. Each team is different, each player is unique. That makes every experience a new one, and that excites and motivates me. "Recruiting is challenging, and it requires a lot of energy," Coach Sims admits. He takes a sip from a water bottle. "When I begin to find it hard to summon that energy, I'll know it's time to step down." Coach Sims can't tell you exactly how many games his teams have won. "Nine hundred-something," he offers. "It's not far from a thousand now." When he's reminded that a typical Villanova team will help him reach this milestone in December or January, he arches his eyebrows. "That's close," he admits. "That won't affect my decision, however. I'll know when it's time, and I can't imagine any one victory or any one defeat will convince me that it's time." Coach Sims won't promise a recruit or his family that he will be coaching at Villanova for the player's entire career. "I've never made that promise," he points out, "not when I was at Lafayette, either. I tell high school players that they're playing for a program, not for a coach. They're attending a university, not joining a basketball team. If they're only coming to Villanova--or any school--to play for a coach, they're coming for the wrong reason. "I said the same thing to my son, whom I recruited twice." he adds, with a grin. Duncan Sims first signed with Lafayette, and when his father moved to Villanova, Duncan followed him, sitting out a redshirt year before playing two years as a Wildcat and graduating in 2029. "Duncan decided this university was the place he wanted to be. I want to make sure all our recruits feel that way"... |
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04-29-2024, 11:32 AM
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#832 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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May 1, 2042
Several of Coach Sims' long-time coaching peers have moved into retirement this spring. Joseph Owens, age 62; formerly at Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisville, and Wisconsin; career record 745-319 Larry Ramirez, age 71, formerly at Boston College and Miami; career record 727-319 Tracy Norton, age 61; formerly at New Orleans and Oklahoma; career record 642-313 Blaine Boyd surprises everyone by leaving Kansas to replace Coach Owens at Tennessee. Then, the Jayhawks surprise everyone even more by hiring unproven Matthew Coble, a Level 7 coach with 88 career wins. Coach Coble will probably have a very, very short leash. Two of Graham's former assistants have also hung up their whistles. Donn McClinton, who was Graham's lead scout for years at Lafayette, has retired from the head coaching position at Morehead State. Dario Ferreira, who was the X-and-O man at Villanova for Graham's first four seasons at Villanova, steps down from his job at Cincinnati after nine seasons. Coach McClinton posted a 71-116 record at MSU after taking the reins in 2036. Coach Ferreira was more successful, recording a 184-113 mark with the Bearcats in a run that began in 2033. As usual, one of Coach Sims' assistants is receiving an opportunity to run his own program. This time, it's Dwight Worsham, returning to the head coaching ranks with a position at Detroit. Veteran William Conrad has been hired to take over the scouting department in Coach Worsham's place. Coach Conrad, 56, has a 243-340 record as a head coach, most recently at Wagner. Welcome to the Main Line, Coach. Only three of the coaches sprung from Graham Sims' coaching tree have experienced notable levels of success. Chris Kiger, whose three-year tenure on Graham's staff at Lafayette ended in 2027, is the most accomplished, by far. Coach Kiger, who is now at Missouri, has a 323-228 career record. David Bryant (Wisconsin, 175-165) has also earned a job with a power conference team. The best bet to achieve coaching stardom is Tom Caballero, who's landed the job at Syracuse at age 37. Coach Caballero has a 74-51 record. |
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04-29-2024, 02:38 PM
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#833 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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July 1, 2042
There are twelve scholarship players on this year's roster. Two are seniors: big man Forrest Curl and point guard Kai Smith. That gives us three scholarships to offer this year. Our two-deep and three-deep charts don't reveal any glaring problems with depth, and we don't have a freshman who looks like he'll be an instant star, like Dan O'Halloran, Asher Wise, or Avery Sullivan were when they arrived on campus. So we probably won't have to worry about whether or not an absolute boss of a freshman would have to play understudy to an alpha Cat for two years. We're basically free to recruit the best players we can land, regardless of position. Pennsylvania has produced a bumper crop of basketball recruits this season. Four of the top 15 players in the nation are doing their things in the Keystone State, and two of them list Villanova as their dream destination. John Zabriskie, the best of the bunch, is playing in Pitt's backyard, so the Panthers definitely have the inside track with him. John expresses less interest in us than any of the other four. This year, I'm not going to offer a scholarship to a player whom we haven't evaluated. There are several players on our call list whose stats look good, but none of them are among the top three or four recruits in the nation. Here's the call list, as it stands right now. Code:
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04-29-2024, 08:42 PM
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#834 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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August 1, 2042
Now that we've taken a look at the players on our call list, I'll introduce you to some of the ones we regard most highly. Code:
Cam Hickman is a high school All-American from just outside Harrisburg. He plays center at the prep level, but his lean frame might play better at the four spot in college. He does Blue Collar Man things quite well, while demonstrating some talent as a inside scorer. He also shows signs of being able to find open teammates and switch out on perimeter players. He has a scholarship offer from West Virginia and has recently expressed some interest in Georgetown, but we're hoping that an offer from us and some max-level recruiting attention will put us back atop his Top Five list. A player I wasn't sure we had much of a chance with has seemingly fallen in love with playing for Villanova, and he's a very good one! Code:
Matthew is a shooter, first and foremost, and he's good at it. He'll play some perimeter defense, and he's an unselfish passer. He's also a rim-rocking, crowd-pleasing dunker. It wouldn't surprise me to see Matthew add a school or two to his list in the coming months, but we're going to return his affection for Villanova with a scholarship offer, bring him to campus, and visit his family. Here's a player whom we consider somewhat of a sleeper: Anthony DiStefano, a combo guard from the NYC area. Code:
I'm going to offer Anthony a scholarship and recruit him heavily this month. I have a good feeling about him. |
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04-29-2024, 09:25 PM
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#835 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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September 1, 2042
Georgetown offers a scholarship to Cam Hickman, and he's still listing the Hoyas ahead of us. I'm beginning to sense that the recruiting AI is subtle enough for a player to consider the players a recruit would compete with for playing time. Georgetown doesn't have a stud center on their roster, so Cam might be a starter there from his first day on campus. With us, he'd have to compete with Roman Holloway, a five-star player who is only a year older. I'm going to continue recruiting Cam, but I'll be investigating a backup plan. Anthony DiStefano picks up an offer from Syracuse, but he still has Villanova first on his list. Matthew Washington also has a Georgetown offer in hand, but he also says we're his first choice. It might be a bit of a long shot, but I'm going to pursue this Illinois product a bit more actively now: Code:
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04-30-2024, 08:33 AM
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#836 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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October 1, 2042
Very little changes on the recruiting front this month. Matthew Washington has apparently closed his recruitment, listing us as the only school he's interested in. Anthony DiStefano still prefers our offer to Syracuse's, and includes Duke and UConn as schools that interest him. Once again, it's a battle between Georgetown and Villanova; the prize this time is Cam Hickman. We'll need some autumn magic to win this one. I'd consider pulling Cam's offer, but right now, I don't see another player to whom I'd give it. Jordan Powell is less likely to pick us than Cam is. I'll ride or die with these three players, and see what happens on Decision Day. |
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04-30-2024, 08:51 AM
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#837 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 1, 2042
Decision Day There's no autumn magic for Coach Sims and the Wildcats this time. Cam Hickman picks Georgetown. I suppose the idea of competing for playing time with our full stable of bigs, including Roman Holloway, Immanuel Bahr, and Weston Wagner, didn't appeal to him. But there is good news. Anthony DiStefano announces his commitment to Villanova today. I can easily envision Anthony becoming a fan favorite, a player with a nonstop motor and the ability to do lots of things well. He's a plus athlete with serious, serious hops, and he can play both guard positions. Welcome to the Villanova family, Anthony! Matthew Washington doesn't sign today, but I'm still convinced we'll be able to get him on board a month from now. I was about to give up and leave the third scholarship for next season, but I decided to peek at the list of players who are still unsigned. That's how I spotted John Cannon, and that worked out really well for us. This time, I discover Earnest Crowder. He's from a small village in Quebec...Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! Earnest is also the highest rated point guard in the Class of 2042. Nobody has offered him a scholarship. I'm about to change that. I haven't scouted Earnest yet, but I'm not going to let that bother me. I'll trust that the #6 player in his class is a baller. Plus, I want to send Coaches Sims and Taylor to Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! I'll post Earnest's "hero card" after we get his ratings. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 04-30-2024 at 08:53 AM. |
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04-30-2024, 01:56 PM
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#838 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 9, 2042
Here's the 2042/2043 Villanova Wildcats squad... Code:
And how did training camp go? Code:
Coach Graham Sims is entering his 17th season as Villanova's head coach. The 63-year-old Sims spent 15 seasons at Lafayette before moving to the Main Line. From last year's national champions, the Wildcats return four starters, including two All-Americans. It's reasonable for 'Cats fans to expect another deep run in the NCAA tournament this coming spring. Wildcat Nation rejoiced last spring when point guard Kai Smith announced he would return to Villanova and pursue a fourth national championship with his teammates. Kai's ability to orchestrate an offense is unmatched. Last season, he led the nation in assists (8.2 APG) and turned the ball over only 1.5 times per contest. Despite his 5'5" frame, he is a lockdown defender and an opportunistic ball hawk. Kai has led three teams to national championships, and he's certainly capable of doing so again. Isn't it wonderful when a player you've recruited turns out to be exactly the star you expected him to be? Center Dan O'Halloran arrived on the Main Line with the title of "nation's top recruit." After two years at Villanova, Dan has delivered on that promise. He's a reigning first team All-American with the full range of skills you'd want in a big man. His game is so polished and complete that he was able to devote much of his time and energy during camp to the task of becoming a better free throw shooter. The first point Dan scores this season will be the 1000th of his career; that career will almost certainly last only three years, as he's the top professional prospect in all of college hoops. Still, one more season like his first two will assure Dan's place in the inner circle of Villanova legends. Junior forward Israel Moody's first two seasons were marred by injury. Now healthy, the 6'5" swingman wants to show the Big East what he can truly do. A freshman All-American, Moody uses his muscular frame to mix it up inside with much larger players. Rounding out the frontcourt is Forrest Curl, a redshirt senior who has transformed himself from a seldom-used reserve into a powerful post presence who can subdue the best big men in the nation. Forrest doesn't shoot often, but he makes half the shots he does take, and he is a fine passer for a 6'10" forward. The fifth starter is last season's Freshman of the Year, Asaad Richardson. This 6'4" guard began the season as a starter, transitioning to a role as sixth man when Israel Moody returned to the lineup. Asaad flourished in both roles. He averaged 14 points per game, shooting .497/.383/.824. We can afford to give Asaad a simple task, at which he excels--score points--because he has many teammates who can concentrate on the rest. Richardson's sixth man role will go to soph Tyson Lien. Recruited as a shooting specialist, Tyson last year demonstrated his ability to spell Kai Smith at the point, too. This year, we have Scott McMasters, returning from a redshirt season, so Tyson can focus on providing instant offense. Meanwhile, McMasters will keep the team running on an even keel when Kai needs a breather. Four big men will vie for the most playing time among the frontcourt reserves: sophomores Immanuel Bahr, Weston Wagner, and James Largent; and freshman Roman Holloway. Immanuel and James are Blue Collar Men; Weston is a stretch four with a deadeye outside shot; Roman is O'Halloran's heir apparent at center. All of them got better at their specialties during camp. We'll see which of them assert themselves once the season begins. Popular walk on Nick O'Brien is also returning for a fourth season. Nick wouldn't hurt the team if we needed him to play significant minutes at guard sometime. Freshman wing Joel Campbell is taking a redshirt this season. If he continues to develop his game as much as he did during camp, he'll be a force by the time he's done. Expectations are high at Villanova, and they should be. Wildcat fans expect trips to the Final Four, and more, each season. This year might very well bring a fourth national title to the members of the Class of 2043. |
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04-30-2024, 09:22 PM
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#839 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 10, 2043
Travelers Invitational Semifinal Code:
Northwestern keeps it close--very close--for a half before we open the game up a bit. We don't shoot particularly well, but we don't turn the ball over and do enough to advance to the finals of this sweet little tournament in Hartford. Record: 1-0. November 12, 2042 Travelers Invitational Championship Code:
The Musketeers focus a lot of their attention on Dan O'Halloran. I don't blame them, but that allows other Wildcats, like Israel, room to operate. And Dan usually gets his, anyway. We bring another trophy back home to Wawa Arena. Record: 2-0.  |
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05-01-2024, 12:16 PM
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#840 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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November 16, 2042
Code:
Drexel is up by five, 40-35, at the intermission, and we barely have enough to turn things around in the second half. Kai Smith endures a very rare rough game, with almost as many turnovers as assists. Meanwhile, the Dragons shoot the lights out from distance. Thank goodness Israel Moody and Dan O'Halloran find space to do their thing close to the hoop, or we'd have lost this one. It demonstrates how important it is for us to have Kai playing at his best. Record: 3-0. November 20, 2042 Code:
Kai Smith plays like Kai Smith. Israel Moody adds additional turnover creation to his portfolio, and the result is a very pleasant trip down to Charlottesville. Record: 4-0. November 23, 2042 Code:
Wayne Bradhold and Dan O'Halloran battle all evening long, and both big men have their moments. It's not terribly rare for Bradhold to take only two shots. He averages only four field goal attempts per game. It's the other things he does that make Wayne one of the two or three big men the pros covet most. We shoot terribly, especially from behind the arc, and Kai Smith endures a nightmare of a game. Against top opponents, as Kai goes, so go the Wildcats; that's becoming abundantly clear. Record: 4-1. November 28, 2042 Code:
Dan O'Halloran's stats are modest, with the exception of those five blocks, but he commands the low blocks at both ends of the floor. The shooters shoot better than they have all year long, and Kai Smith directs the offense and takes care of the ball in vintage style. When we do all these things, we are a very good basketball team. Record: 5-1. |
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05-02-2024, 09:04 AM
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#841 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 1, 2042
Good news from the recruiting front arrives today, in the form of a commitment from Matthew Washington. Matthew's scoring ability, which features both outside marksmanship and attacking the rim, could easily overshadow the rest of his skills if you don't look closely enough. He will defend and pass the ball; he's far from a selfish showman. He'll be a great fit for our program. Now, let's take a look at the player we want to round out our class: Earnest Crowder. Code:
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05-02-2024, 10:03 AM
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#842 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 2, 2042
Code:
Dan O'Halloran and Forrest Curl render the Blue Jays' frontcourt powerless. And, although we don't shoot particularly well once again, the steadying hand of Kai Smith won't let the team drift off course too far. Record: 6-1. December 6, 2042 Code:
Once upon a time, Graham Sims regularly took his Lafayette teams to Nashville, where Vanderbilt give them regular spankings. Then, his early Villanova teams played the Commodores in marquee matchups between highly-ranked powerhouses. Now, it's Vanderbilt who are looking up a bit at the titans of the Main Line. Mr. Inside (Israel Moody) and Mr. Outside (Tyson Lien) team with Double-Double Dan to send the visitors back to Tennessee with an L. Record: 7-1. December 13, 2042 Code:
I wonder why Gonzaga uses only six players until I look at their roster. They have only six players who CAN play tonight. Their wacky coach, Joshua Beyer, decided to redshirt four true freshmen this year. A former walk-on at Missouri State transferred in and received a scholarship, so they have to redshirt him, too. Three players are currently injured. That's why the Bulldogs have only six players available to face Villanova at home tonight. The result is what you might expect. The situation is made worse when Gonzaga's only reserve fouls out. None of the six players can stop Israel Moody, but few players have done so this year. Izzy is making almost 60 percent of his shots. If he hits his 22-point average next game, he'll reach 1000 points on the nose. Asaad Richardson shows signs of snapping out of his shooting slump, which is very encouraging. Record: 8-1. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 05-02-2024 at 10:14 AM. |
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05-04-2024, 03:53 PM
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#843 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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December 17, 2042
Code:
Israel is far from a one-dimensional scorer; his rebound and assist totals are up this year, and he's second in the Big East behind Kai Smith in steals. It's hard to believe Israel is only considered the #9 pro prospect among draft-eligible players in the Big East. I guess the pros are wary of the effects of his Achilles injury, which don't seem to be holding him back. Record: 9-1. December 21, 2042 Code:
We flex our muscles a bit more in the second half, when Israel Moody uses his full set of skills to confound the Garnet defense. Meanwhile, Kai Smith shows off his ability to control a game without shooting. Record: 10-1. December 31, 2042 Code:
His current team is no match for us, as we spread the ball around and let everyone eat. That's Kai Smith's specialty. Even after a few games when he was more careless than usual, Kai is second in the nation in assist-turnover ratio, behind Tennessee's outstanding freshman Aaron Scott. Record: 11-1. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 05-04-2024 at 03:55 PM. |
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05-04-2024, 04:19 PM
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#844 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 1, 2043
Recruiting Update Happy New Year! Wildcat Nation makes a bit of joyful noise today, as Earnest Crowder makes his commitment to our program.  The name of Earnest's home town has nothing to do with laughter. "Haha" is an old French term for an obstruction, something to be avoided. Lake Témiscouata is located just east of the town, and early canoe travelers had to portage around an unpassable part of the lake that was near the future townsite. Nor will anyone be laughing at Earnest's game. He sees the floor well, and his passing ability is reminiscent of a young Justice Stafford. His defensive skill will put obstructions in the path of any opponent who takes him on. Welcome to the Villanova family, Earnest! |
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05-04-2024, 07:13 PM
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#845 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 4, 2043
Code:
One day, Hassan Adams will tell his grandchildren how he once played against Dan O'Halloran, defending him so well that the All-American missed 13 of the 15 shots he took. Record: 12-1. January 6, 2043 Code:
Only three Big East teams have played a ranked opponent, and none have done so more than once! Boston College lost to #13 Washington. Georgetown and Villanova both lost to #1 Tennessee. We've been flat track bullies, haven't we? To be fair, I scheduled Vanderbilt and Lafayette, who are almost always Top 25 teams, and neither are that good this year. No other Big East school has dared to challenge themselves against the big boys this year. Our conference RPI is .566, second to the SEC's .571. The Big Ten is third at .562. |
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05-04-2024, 07:21 PM
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#846 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 7, 2043
Code:
Syracuse's fine senior point guard, Rene Gonzalez, outplays Villanova's fine senior point guard, Kai Smith. Kai has never turned the ball over eight times in a game...until tonight. We're 0-2 against Power Five conference schools who wear orange this year. Record: 12-2 (0-1). Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 05-04-2024 at 07:35 PM. |
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05-04-2024, 07:34 PM
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#847 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 10, 2043
Win #1000 Code:
"You can't predict when something like this will happen," Graham points out. Privately, Graham says he asked the Villanova athletic department to keep things low-key: the ball ceremony and a social media post or two. The game itself is a fairly routine Villanova win: not many turnovers, lots of assists, solid defense, outshooting their opponent. The low point is a twisted ankle suffered by Dan O'Halloran, who is listed as day-to-day for the next week or so. Record: 13-2 (1-1). Graham Sims' Career Record: 1000-150. |
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05-05-2024, 11:57 AM
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#848 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 12, 2043
Code:
Having players like Holloway and Wagner keep us out of trouble when injuries, foul trouble, and fatigue take their toll on our starters. We can let O'Halloran heal completely before he returns to action without sacrificing our chances to win against tough opponents. We avoid turnovers and create lots of them, and that's a winning formula for us. Record: 14-2 (2-1). January 14, 2043 Code:
Asaad Richardson enjoys his second big game in a row. This time, he sets a new career high for points. Israel Moody is an especially disruptive defender, calling attention to an aspect of his game that's often overlooked. Record: 15-2 (3-1). January 21, 2043 Code:
The full range of Kai Smith's talents are on display. He makes the night even more special by scoring his 1000th career point. His understudy, Scott McMasters, combines with him on a 14-assist, 2-turnover point guard masterclass. Georgetown lost to UConn over the weekend, so we climb to second place in the Big East, a half-game behind Syracuse. Record: 16-2 (4-1). |
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05-05-2024, 12:20 PM
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#849 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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January 26, 2043
Code:
A shout out to Seton Hall's guards for their accurate long-range marksmanship. A misstep by Syracuse against Boston College returns us to the top of the Big East. Record: 17-2 (5-1). January 28, 2043 Code:
Dan O'Halloran dominates the paint defensively on a night when his shot won't fall. Dan's stats aren't as glossy as they were last year, but I'd argue he has a more balanced team around him. We don't need 20-and-12 from Dan every night to win. Record: 18-2 (6-1). February 4, 2043 Code:
Asaad Richardson has an off night, but the rest of the guys play well. It's not a spectacular win, but they all count. UConn has a player named Graham Boss. Yes, he is. Record: 19-2 (7-1). |
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05-06-2024, 02:27 PM
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#850 |
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High School Varsity
Join Date: Sep 2022
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February 7, 2043
Code:
Israel Moody and Weston Wagner provide most of our highlights on an evening that is otherwise forgettable. Record: 19-3 (7-2). February 11, 2043 Code:
Meanwhile, UConn does us a solid, defeating Georgetown, 85-84, and allowing us to retake the Big East lead. Record: 20-3 (8-2). February 14, 2043 Code:
Kai Smith receives three marriage proposals via signs in the Villanova student section, as he leads us to victory on St. Valentine's Night. Asaad Richardson undoubtedly sets a few pulses beating faster, and our total of 10 steals doesn't include the hearts our players captured. Exactly 12,500 not-so-secret admirers leave happy, unless they happened to be rooting for Syracuse. Record: 21-3 (9-2). |
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