The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

I've said it before and I'll say it again, this is SIMPLY AMAZING!!!

I'd be honored if you checked out my Cavaliers Association Blog (see sig) and gave me thoughts

Keep up the amazing work!

Woah! Thanks for the praise. I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'll make sure to check out your Association when I have a chance.

Also, for those of you who are interested, here is a replay I missed from the last game.

Clarence Weaver attacks the paint to put the Wildcats back in control

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Rule of Three
vs.

If once is an issue, and twice is a problem, then does someone characterize the same thing happening three times. A habit? Then it could be time for an intervention Manhattan, where the Kansas State Wildcats once again dropped a second half double digit lead, this time losing to Rutgers 86-83.

Dandorriss Walls defends the paint

The game started out about as well as could be hoped for the Wildcats. They entered the game superior in talent and with numerous high profile scalps to their name. Their swagger showed in the first half with how they played defense, especially with their big men forcing the Scarlet Knights to alter their shots.

But after a standard first half of Kansas State dominance, Rutgers decided to show up. Just when Coach West began to slow down the pace and try and sit on the lead, Stephen Jeanpiere and Kevan Cripe began to rain down threes. Their shooting was relentless, and the back court took full advantage of Kansas State's 1-3-1 by shooting from the wings and the base line. With Barney Conroy overstretched on defense, the Wildcats had to make adjustments on defense. But try as he might, Guy West could not put the clamps on his opponent.

Bird misses the three, but Gatling gets the ball and sends it in

Sure, sometimes a relentless shooting night from an opponent is inevitable. Tonight, at least in the second half, all the bounces were going just right for Rutgers, but that must have been little consolation for the sickening feeling going through the Bramlage Coliseum crowd. Rutgers took their first lead with just minutes remaining in the second half, and despite Branduinn Gatling trying to shoot the Wildcats to victory the Scarlet Knights had answers every time.

Eventually it was the Wildcats who cracked. Lack of discipline on both sides of the ball led them to defeat.

Kevan Cripe buries a three to put the game away

Where once there was good wing defense, Rutgers was able to get space by making extra passes. Staring down at a hole, the Wildcats were able to get huge shots from Gatling to keep pace. However, due to some poorly placed passes by Conroy and Gatling being out of position, both shots were on the line and only counted for two. Thus, the Wildcats could not take back the lead.

In addition, the Wildcat's final two relevant possessions had Coach West infuriated in the locker room after the game. On the first, the Wildcats ran a motion play meant to free up Ross in the paint. Instead, Ross was stripped of the ball as soon as he received it. Rutgers responded with a three. On the next possession, Dandorriss Walls got a clear path to the beasket on the lane and Duncan Bird made a perfect pass from the wing. All Walls had to do was drive the paint. Instead, he took one step, fell to the court, and lost the ball. No Scarlet Knight was near, and Walls did not suffer an injury. Instead, it was incompetence in action. (ed note: I was so shocked by the turnover I forgot to take a replay)

After Quentinn Stukes and Jeanpierre sank free throws to put Rutgers for good,up by 6 with 4 seconds to go, all the Wildcats could do was watch Conroy's three at the buzzer make the final margin of loss 3. As a result, the Wildcats drop three of their last four and head into conference play with a 9-6 record.

Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Kansas State Wildcats
Jan 5, 2019	1ST	2ND	SCORE
Rutgers (8-6)	39	47	86
Kansas State (9-5)	47	36	83

Rutgers Scarlet Knights
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
S. Jeanpierre	23	7-14	3-8	6-7	6	5	2	0	1	23
K. Cripe	21	8-12	4-6	0-2	0	3	1	0	0	20
Q. Stukes	19	2-9	1-4	4-4	4	2	1	1	1	9
D. Daley	23	4-7	0-0	2-2	4	3	2	0	0	10
K. Dunn	15	4-6	0-0	0-0	7	2	2	1	0	8
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
R. Lamkin	13	4-9	2-4	0-0	4	0	0	0	0	10
A. Snow	15	1-2	0-0	0-0	4	1	0	0	1	2
H. Colwell	9	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	3	0	0	1	2
C. Marigney	9	1-5	0-1	0-0	1	2	1	0	0	2
F. Edwin	3	0-2	0-0	0-0	1	0	0	0	0	0
D. Collins	-- DID NOT PLAY --
G. Israel	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		32-68	10-23	12-15	32	21	9	2	4	86

Kansas State Wildcats
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
B. Conroy	21	4-6	3-5	0-0	3	13	1	0	2	11
D. Bird	12	2-5	2-5	0-0	1	1	0	0	0	6
B. Gatling	20	8-20	5-11	0-0	5	4	0	0	1	21
D. Walls	21	6-7	0-0	0-2	4	6	1	5	3	12
D. Ross	18	9-17	0-0	4-6	14	1	1	3	2	22
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PTS
D. Worthington	13	3-7	0-0	2-2	4	2	0	0	0	8
E. Kummer	8	1-4	1-4	0-0	2	0	0	0	1	3
L. Burns	10	0-3	0-2	0-0	2	4	0	0	1	0
C. Weaver	18	0-3	0-0	0-0	2	1	0	0	0	0
R. Guzman	6	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0
M. Mathis	2	0-0	0-0	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0
M. Martin	-- DID NOT PLAY --
TEAM TOTALS		33-72	11-27	6-10	37	32	3	8	10	83

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

With the Big XII conference schedule about to begin, press are invited to ask questions for Coach West regarding the season so far for the Big XII mid-season press event.

You are welcome to submit questions in this thread (or, if you rather via PM). If you wonder what the format is like, feel free to check out similar posts from the past few seasons. If you would like to be referred to by a name that is not your forum name, or would like to be tied to a particular publication, please say so in your post. I'll get to any questions posted in the thread.

[MBFranchise]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Coach West,

Your team has been through the ups and downs this season. The starters get no help from the bench one game and are forced to be benched the next. Why does this team continue to struggle to find an identity?

What will be the key to finding success in the Big XII?

What is the best part about coaching in Manhattan, KS, the Little Apple?

Have you met Bill Snyder?

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Note: There is still time to submit any questions you might have Coach West before the start of Big XII play regarding how the season has gone so far (or whatever else).

2019 Preview

It's conference season time, and expect the Big XII to be very competitive this year. While the conference may not have an elite team and probably will not be in the National Title picture, this year the conference is very deep. As many as seven teams could be in the NCAA Tournament this year. For now, the Oklahoma Sooners are the favorite to carry the title, but they are hardly a unanimous selection. There is too much talent in the Big XII.

Big 12 Pre Conference Conference Standings - Updated: Jan 8, 2019
TEAM	REC	PCT
#12 Oklahoma	10-1	.909
Nebraska	11-2	.846
Oklahoma State	11-2	.846
Colorado	11-3	.785
Iowa State	11-3	.785
Kansas	10-3	.769
Baylor	12-5	.705
#22 Texas	9-4	.692
Texas Tech	8-4	.666
Kansas State	9-6	.600
Texas A&M	6-4	.600
Missouri	7-7	.500

The Texas Longhorns started the year with some questionable losses, but they look like they have righted the ship since some early struggles. Meanwhile, Nebraska has and Baylor both have some very impressive wins in out of conference play thanks to big performances from their star players. From top to bottom, teams in this conference can compete. Do not expect anyone to run away with the Big XII this year.

Big 12 Players to Watch

Best Overall Player
Cyril Beck
89 OVR PG Texas

Best Freshman
L.L. Burns
80 OVR SG Kansas State

Best Shooter
Keon Boylan
83 OVR PG Oklahoma

Best Playmaker & Pro Prospect
Smackey Giddens
88 OVR PG Missouri

Best Defender
Ulrich Graham
83 OVR PF Iowa State

Projected Big 12 Standings

Although the Sooners will face some stiff competition, they are still the most complete team in the conference and have the best shot winning the conference. Kansas and Texas, as usual, are also in the mix, but do not sleep on Texas Tech. The Red Raiders have been lighting it up from beyond the arc all year. The sample size is large enough to say the team isn't just hot -- but could be good enough to be sleeper pick. The same cannot be said of Kansas State, who has been wildly inconsistent, or Missouri, who has had let down after let down. Both the Wildcats and Tigers are very talented, but this may not be their year.

#12 Oklahoma (89)
Kansas (89)
#22 Texas (88)
Missouri (89)
Texas Tech (88)
Kansas State (89)
Colorado (85)
Oklahoma State (86)
Iowa State (87)
Baylor (84)
Texas A&M (83)
Nebraska (84)

Quick Take: Around the Nation

NCAA Hoops Rankings - AP Top 25 - Updated: Jan 8, 2019
RK	LW	TEAM (VOTES)	RECORD
1	1	West Virginia	15-1
2	3	Louisville	12-2
3	4	North Carolina State	10-1
4	2	Charlotte	11-3
5	5	Drexel	15-1
6	6	Marquette	12-2
7	8	Temple	15-2
8	11	Connecticut	13-2
9	18	Alabama	14-1
10	7	UCLA	12-3
11	12	St. John's	10-1
12	20	Oklahoma	10-1
13	21	Oregon State	11-2
14	16	USC	13-2
15	17	La Salle	10-1
16	19	Clemson	10-2
17	14	Villanova	13-4
18	25	UNLV	12-3
19	NR	Indiana	13-4
20	9	Memphis	7-3
21	15	Ohio State	12-4
22	24	Texas	9-4
23	10	Washington	13-1
24	NR	Boston College	14-2
25	NR	Utah State	11-4

Alabama catapults up the rankings after notching their ninth straight win, while Washington drops a stunning 13 spots after losing to Arizona. There is still a lot of volatility in the rankings, but one developing story that will be worth monitoring is the number of non power-conference teams breaking into the rankings. Charlotte, Drexel, and Temple all continue to hold onto spots in the Top 10, and probably will not relinquish them anytime soon. That said, the Big East is still top dog, and preseason predictions of West Virginia or Louisville winning it all are still holding strong.

[TheNumber35]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Coach West, your team has had a nasty habit this season of racing out to big leads and then collapsing late in the game. What's to blame for this habit and how do you plan to fix it?

Coach West, I know that your time here in Manhattan has been very hot and cold, with many difficult breaks and a couple tough seasons by your standards. In the meantime Drexel continues to stay in the Top 10 week in and out, my question is simply if sometimes you miss Drexel and have any regrets about leaving when you did?

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

2019 Big 12 Coach's Press Conference

Guy West (Head Coach, KSU): Good morning. I don't have too much of an opener today because so far our team's play speaks for itself. We have plenty of work to do going into the conference. We faced some worthy adversaries and I feel like our team has grown quite a bit. We've settled into our rotation, and are starting to work together. I think anyone would like to see that translate into more Ws. I don't think there is a coach out there who wouldn't. But this season is going to be just as much about the work our young men do off the court as the work they do on it. We have the talent to go the distance, but we all have to put the work in.

*Floor Opens for Questions*

TheNumber35 (Redgit Sports): Coach West, your team has had a nasty habit this season of racing out to big leads and then collapsing late in the game. What's to blame for this habit and how do you plan to fix it?

West: It starts with mental preparation, and therefore it starts with me. It is my job to instill discipline in my team to keep things together and execute the game plan until the final whistle. Yes, I've heard a lot of excuses about this that or the other. But focusing on excuses doesn't fix the problem. Practice does. That's easy to say on this podium, but getting consistency starts with putting in the work.

Samuel Conroy (Des Moines Chronicle): Wouldn't it be better to help your team's consistency by putting in players with more experience? Players such as Moses Mathis or Roger Guzman?

West: If the game dictates that Moses or Roger get more playing time, then sure I will put them in. But I am also here to develop the best basketball team I can for KSU, and part of that means keeping my core players in crunch time situations. Right now the rotation is pretty set, and barring a hot hand that's who I'm going to run with.

MBFranchise (OS Network): Your team has been through the ups and downs this season. The starters get no help from the bench one game and are forced to be benched the next. Why does this team continue to struggle to find an identity?

West: I think we do have an identity actually. We push hard, defend the boards, attack the paint, and outrun opponents. It is a sign of strength of our team that we have so many players who can put up points. Yes, there have been some ups and downs, but many times the wins or losses boil down toa lack of execution or mental toughness. Those are fixable problems. I'd love to add "tough" into our identity. We have some very tough players, but "team" toughness is another matter entirely.

Phoenix Ralphio (Omaha City News): Many fans wanted to see Roland Saunders on the court this year, some going so far as to say it was a mistake to redshirt him this year. Could you discuss Saunders' progress and your future plans for him?

West: Roland Saunders and Brent Coggins have both been doing very well in practice. Both have shown tremendous ability. Truth is, Roland could play this year and be just fine. He's an outstanding young man who is going to contribute greatly next year. But I only have so many minutes I can give. I am pleased with our front court's production this year, and Saunders is going to plug in very well next season.

Anne Cardenas (CHOOPS.NET): For the first time in your coaching career, your team's leading scorer is not the team's starting center. Do you see this trend, and Branduinn Gatling's shooting continuing throughout the season?

West: It's an extension of what you saw at the end of last season. I want my team to take high value shots -- ones either behind the 3 point line or near the basket. Gatling is great at attacking the basket and very skilled at getting open beyond the arc. He fits exactly what we want on offense. If the shots keep falling, he's going to keep shooting.

MBFranchise (OS Network): What will be the key to finding success in the Big XII?

West: I think the numeber of questions earlier in this conference point towards that answer. We, as a team, need to get our sea legs under us. No more floundering with minutes left. This season we have been our own worst enemy. If we can turn that around, we will be in very good position. We played by far the toughest non conference schedule of any team in the leauge. We are prepared..

Douglas Mitchell (Rocky Mountain Times): What team in the Big 12 are you most concerned with from a match-up perspective?

West: Not every team is athletic enough to keep up with us, but Texas Tech is a whole other story. Just strictly from a match up perspective, I am going to have to have my players juggle traps, tough presses, a strong fast break, and the ability to hit long range shots. They are a tough team anyway, but facing them will be a lot like looking in the mirror as well.

Yvette Herrera (Dallas Morning Dispatch): Rumors have surfaced between you and a number of potential coaching vacancies including UCLA, Duke, and Michigan. Do you care to comment?

West: Sure, I'll comment. Ha. Ha ha ha. Did you get that down? It's not happening. I'm sticking to Manhattan.

MBFranchise (OS Network): What is the best part about coaching in Manhattan, KS, the Little Apple? And do you have any words regarding Bill Snyder's recent passing?

West: I just want to start by giving my condolences to the Snyder fmily. Losing someone so suddenly is never easy. I did know Mr. Snyder through work and through common functions, and I know he valued the University and his family tremendously. He was a fixture in the community, and Manhattan was proud to take him in and raise him up. As for the best part of coaching here? There is a lot to like, but the most satisfying part is going into a game at a packed Bramlage and hearing just how much this team means to the community. It reminds me that I'm just a name in a program or brochure. One day we will pass, but the institution will live on.

TheNumber35 (Redgit Sports): Coach West, I know that your time here in Manhattan has been very hot and cold, with many difficult breaks and a couple tough seasons by your standards. In the meantime Drexel continues to stay in the Top 10 week in and out, my question is simply if sometimes you miss Drexel and have any regrets about leaving when you did?

West: No regrets. I don't dwell on the past. To be honest, Drexel is about where I would expect them to be in the rankings right now. I wish we could have pulled that game out because Kansas State really is good enough to be one of the top teams in the country as well. But we did lose, so we've got to buckle down and get to work. I have no regrets of leaving. Heck, I hardly have time to regret it anyway. I have too much work to do here with these kids.

*That concludes the time for the Kansas State press conference*

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

More updates coming, I just got something typed up and then realized "oh crap, I didn't get down the box score." Oops.

Also, do you all like the video replays in the thread? I currently don't have a better way to record on the screen than a camera, and at this time I cannot afford a capture card (which would be optimal). Generally I see about 7 or 8 people (on average) look at the replays each game.

What do you all think? Should I stick with them or ditch them?

[MBFranchise]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

More updates coming, I just got something typed up and then realized "oh crap, I didn't get down the box score." Oops.

Also, do you all like the video replays in the thread? I currently don't have a better way to record on the screen than a camera, and at this time I cannot afford a capture card (which would be optimal). Generally I see about 7 or 8 people (on average) look at the replays each game.

What do you all think? Should I stick with them or ditch them?

I vote keep them. Guess I am one of the 7 or 8 that watches them!

[cranes74us]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Keep em .. im also 1 of the 7 lol. Great Dynasty.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Thanks again for you all's support. I enjoy writing this, and I'm glad to see you all enjoy my presentation.

Good news though. Work paid (for the first time in months really) and as a result I was able to order a capture card. After the next few updates, there should be no more shaky cam in replays (plus I can add some other finer details).

I've sat down to write up the T A&M game 3 times now and got interrupted. Maybe today will be the day. But I'll say this much: they would be the team that plays me tough no matter how poorly they are rated. Every friggen time.

[Deuce2223]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Just wanted to stop by and say it's great to see you still posting your dynasty.

Someday I hope to have the time and desire to break out College Hoops again, but for now MLB "The Show" has my 100% attention, and I am back on the board's again posting my M's Franchise.

Will try and be sure to stop by more often and see how Coach West continues to do.

[waytofailself]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

Just wanted to stop by and say it's great to see you still posting your dynasty.

Someday I hope to have the time and desire to break out College Hoops again, but for now MLB "The Show" has my 100% attention, and I am back on the board's again posting my M's Franchise.

Will try and be sure to stop by more often and see how Coach West continues to do.

Great to have you back. You're an asset to the OS community as a whole.

Also FYI: got my capture card up and running (after some bizarre issues with installing the software from a CD of all things). So that will open up some of the content I can add to this dynasty (although I'll have to watch it with the background music in menus).

[baccVols]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

was Awol for awhile and didnt see that recruiting class you pulled last year. Nice Job!!!!

[LouiePM]

Re: The Accidental Career of Guy West (CH2k8)

I finally caught up after 8 days.
I'm a new fan. Plus I had to make a profile to comment on this 5* dynasty!!!
KEEP IT UP!!!!