Providence were indeed riding high as the Big East season began, undefeated in 11 games and nationally ranked. Their first seven Big East games were absolutely brutal:


Those losses hurt their ranking much more than I expected. They didn't even receive votes in the last poll. I think the Friars are probably a better team than several of the other 5- and 6-loss teams who are ranked. UNLV, TCU, and Michigan State come to mind right away, and while I hate to say it, Providence is probaby better than Lafayette right now, too. I'd be surprised if Providence is still in 12th place when the Big East season ends.

Thanks for stopping by, Chas. I really enjoy communicating with any of you who are reading, so please feel free to comment anytime.

I'm going to step outside of the narrative of Coach Sims' career to write about a project I've been working on. If you don't think it will be fun to read my ramblings about it, you won't miss a thing if you simply skip this post.

The idea started taking shape as I was creating Coach Sims' basketball-playing son, Duncan. I had never used the editor much, other than to add some private schools to my game's database or change the spelling of a player's name ("Mcdonald" to "McDonald," for example.) I decided it might be fun to create some high school players and add them to the pool of Future Recruits.

I didn't want to simply start typing numbers into the boxes for their ratings. I decided it would be fun to make a "game" of it instead. I love rolling dice, and I envisioned myself rolling and looking at a table to determine what kinds of players my creations would be.

My first attempt didn't turn out as well as I hoped. I created a table for each of the five positions, against which I'd reference a roll of a d12. Even though I thought I created realistic ranges for each position--guards would be better perimeter defenders, bigs would be better shot blockers--I still ended up with players who had some funky skill sets. They didn't feel like real players to me.

So, back to the drawing board I went. I came up with something that (1) is simpler and (2) seems to be more realistic.

When I look at a player's ratings in FBCB, I can often visualize what kind of player he will be. He might remind me of a real college basketball player I've watched. I decided to use this principle in creating my recruits.

I came up with four simple archetypes for each position.

• PG: Facilitator, Perimeter Defender, Scoring Point, and Complete Guard
• SG: Sharpshooter, Secondary Creator, Perimeter Defender, and Complete Guard/Wing
• SF: Three-Level Scorer, Wing Defender, Point Forward, and Complete Wing
• PF: Stretch Four, Blue Collar Man, Scoring Post, and Complete Post
• C: Athletic Big, Blue Collar Man, Scoring Post, and Complete Post

I roll a d12 and use the result to assign an archetype to the player.

The Complete archetypes are what the name implies: they're well-balanced, all-around basketball players who can do things many players at their position can't do. They are rare and special.

The Blue Collar Man is a strong inside player who excels at rebounding, playing post defense, and blocking shots. I've used that term to refer to several players in my dynasty, such as Samuel Davis.

I had a hard time coming up with unique archetypes for PF and C. They seem almost interchangeable in FBCB, especially the way I coach. The Stretch Four is a good outside shooter, and the Athletic Big is quick and likes to attack the rim.

I then created a table that assigns potential ratings to each archetype, based on a die roll. For example, a Facilitator PG gets a potential Passing rating of 70+d20. If I roll a natural 20, I roll the d20 again and add that total to reach his final score. He'll probably reach 100 if that's the case. And if I roll a 1, he'll still be able to develop into a very good distributor, with a rating of 71. The Facilitator will have lower ratings for skills that aren't essential to his role, such as Shot Blocking, Post Defense, and Strength.

After I get his potential ratings, I fill in his actual ratings. I do that more randomly; some players are more developed than others.

It's worked fairly well so far. I just rolled up a center who's a Blue Collar Man. His key potentials are very good: Offensive Rebounding is 93, Defensive Rebounding is 74, Shot Blocking is 81. He ends up being a three-star player. I also created a Complete Wing who is a five-star player, and a Secondary Creator who had a few unlucky, low rolls and earned two stars.

I'm probably going to tweak it a bit more, but I'm pleased with how it's turned out so far. :)

That sounds cool... and means you could create your faithful readers using an archetype of their choosing and follow their career... ;)

You know, I could indeed do that! It sounds like it might be fun. Pick a name, a home town, and an archetype, and I can take it from there. You'll graduate from high school in the Class of 2031. :)

Ezra Love
Evansville, IN
Blue Collar Man PF

Fantastic! Is there a high school you'd like Ezra to attend?

February 2, 2030
#1 Villanova 109, @#22 St. John's 84
We set a new program record for points in a single game, but we lose Avery Sullivan for a week or so, while his injured groin heals.

Corey Hicks (24p/6r) leads us in scoring, with sixth man Tony Ezell (22p/5r) right behind him. Asher Wise (17p/5r) continues to develop beneath the bright spotlight that always falls on the nation's #1 recruit. Fellow first year Justice Stafford (12p/4a) teams with Blake Norton (9 assists) to run the offense expertly. Lowell Welter (10 points) rounds out the double figure scorers, and Sullivan blocks 3 shots in his 17 minutes of action.

We shoot 36-for-60 from the field, 23-for-31 from the line, and 14-for-24 from three point range. We score 55 in the first half, 54 in the second.

Clemens Schwaiger will move into the starting lineup while Sullivan recuperates.
Record: 20-0 (8-0).


February 6, 2030
#12 Louisville 97, @#1 Villanova 88
We knew we'd face a real challenge from a powerful Louisville team, especially without Avery Sullivan. We were right.

Wings Charles Godwin and Joseph Lott score 26 and 25 points respectively, offsetting very good outings from Lowell Welter (23p/10r) and Corey Hicks (20p/6r). Asher Wise adds 13 points and 8 rebounds, and Tony Ezell pitches in 10 and 7.

Clemens Schwaiger gives it his all, with 8 points (3-10 shooting) and 8 rebounds. But we simply can't replace a stud like Sullivan with the same kind of player.
Record: 20-1 (8-1).


This will be one heck of a fight for the Big East conference title. And our next game is at Georgetown.

February 9, 2030

Code:

---

#2 Georgetown 66, #1 Villanova 65

---

In a game worthy of the top two teams in college basketball, we're barely second best.

Lance Moore's three-ball sends the Hoyas into the locker room with a 38-32 lead, a moment after Asher Wise throws down a lob from Peter Segal that ranks among the greatest dunks in Villanova history.

With a capacity crowd roaring its approval, Georgetown increases their lead to 10 points at the 12:00 media timeout of the second half. We refuse to fold, however, and an old-fashioned three-point play by an old-fashioned post player, Lowell Welter, makes the score 53-50, Hoyas, with 7:43 to play.

Now it's Georgetown's turn to counter, and they do so effectively, widening their lead to 60-52 over the next four minutes. But we respond with a flurry of our own, featuring a Avery Sullivan basket-Wise three-Sullivan dunk combination. 62-61 Georgetown, 1:51 remaining.

On the Hoyas' next possession, Justice Stafford picks Edward Sturgeon's pocket. We bring the ball down, and Wise rebounds his own miss and scores to put us in the lead. The clock reads 1:31.

Twenty-three seconds later, Jimmy Cahoon tips in Tony Rabe's miss. Cahoon has been fairly quiet, but he comes up huge when it matters. Once again, the Wildcats reply. This time it's Tony Ezell, who knocks down a mid-range jumper with 48 seconds to play. Villanova 65, Georgetown 64.

The noise inside the Capital One Arena is deafening as the Hoyas bring the ball up. Coach Wallace Hastings wants his players to take their time. They do as directed, stringing together nine passes before Stephen Waites pulls the string on a 12-footer from the right side. Waites is a sophomore, and he's the Hoyas' sixth man. We recruited him as a high school senior, but he's a Maryland guy who decided to stay close to home. Tonight, he etches his name in Hoyas lore when his jumper finds the net.

We have 17 seconds to try to reply one final time. We get a good shot--a baseline drive by Corey Hicks--but it won't fall. Cahoon grabs the ball, and that's how it ends.

It's hard to feel too bad about this one. Lowell Welter plays like a full-grown man against a very tough Hoyas frontcourt. Avery Sullivan more than holds his own against Jimmy Cahoon on a night when he's playing at 92 percent. Asher Wise demonstrates poise and maturity on a big, big stage.

It's our second straight loss. Coach Sims' Villanova teams have never lost two straight games.

The last time Graham lost two games in a row happened on December 19 and 29, 2015. His Lafayette team lost to two ranked teams: Baylor (71-69) and Missouri (80-77). Corey Hicks was in second grade. Asher Wise was in preschool.

The starting five for Lafayette in both games:

• C James Sanders
• F Rhett King
• F Venceslás Castillo
• G Joe Lien
• G Hubert Song

The sixth man was Alvaro Kinard.

Remember them? :)

February 13, 2030
@#2 Villanova 74, Rutgers 71
We hold off a spirited comeback attempt by the Scarlet Knights and end our mini-losing streak.

Avery Sullivan, back to full strength, scores 22 points, grabs 14 rebounds, and blocks 3 shots. Corey Hicks (14), Lowell Welter (13), and Tony Ezell (10) join the junior center in double figures. Welter has 7 rebounds, and Blake Norton 6 assists.

We shoot well from long range: 9-for-18 from three, with Hicks sinking 4 of 7.
Record: 21-2 (9-2).

Meanwhile, at Lafayette: The arrival of Duquesne in the Patriot League has given the Leopards a worthy foe. The Dukes (8-1) lead the conference by a single game over Lafayette (7-2), but it's the #12 Leopards who are nationally ranked.


February 16, 2030
@#2 Villanova 98, South Florida 42
The Wildcats roar to a 60-27 halftime lead and coast to a very comfortable victory, featuring a 32-point master class from senior Corey Hicks.

Corey isn't the only star performer. Avery Sullivan posts a 15/15 double-double and blocks 3 shots. Justice Stafford comes off the bench to sink 4-of-5 threes and score 16 points. Fellow reserve Tony Ezell has 12 points and 6 boards, and Lowell Welter has 9-and-8.
Record: 22-2 (10-2).


February 20, 2030
#2 Villanova 68, @#17 Pittsburgh 64
Outstanding play from our backcourt pair and a typically solid performance from Avery Sullivan is enough to earn us a big road win over Blaine Boyd's Panthers.

Corey Hicks goes 4-for-6 from long range and scores 19. Blake Norton scores 13 and hands out 8 assists. Sullivan scores 15 points, blocks 6 shots, and claims 6 rebounds, outplaying Pitt sophomore Orval Juan, a former #2 recruit. Lowell Welter made only 2 shots, but pulls in 14 rebounds.

Pitt's Lamar Gibson scores 12 points and hands out 10 assists.
Record: 23-2 (11-2).


February 23, 2030
#2 Villanova 89, @Notre Dame 72
The biggest difference between us and the Fighting Irish today is our ability to hit three-pointers. We make 31 field goals to their 28. Both teams make 12 free throws. However, we attempt 30 threes and make 15, while they attempt 22 and make only 4.

Much of that difference is explained by the fact we have Corey Hicks and Notre Dame doesn't. Hicks goes 6-for-10 from distance and scores 26 points. Asher Wise and Lowell Welter contribute 16 points each, sinking three triples each. Tony Ezell and Justice Stafford finish with 10 points apiece, and Avery Sullivan pulls in 12 boards while leading us with 6 assists.

Meanwhile, West Virginia hosts Georgetown, and beats them 67-53. We and the Hoyas are a game behind the Mountaineers in the Big East standings.
Record: 24-2 (12-2).

The poll voters like us just a bit better than Georgetown.


February 27, 2030
#1 Villanova 81, @Syracuse 72
This game doesn't feel like a nine-point game; it always seems like a much tougher contest.

The Orange field an extremely...unorthodox lineup. Their center, 7'0" senior Ronald Southard, is a walk-on. Their starting "small" forward, senior Bernard Fortin, is 6'10" and weighs 257 pounds. Southard gets hurt after playing 2 minutes, and Fortin moves into the post.

No matter who plays the five for the Orange, he can't handle Avery Sullivan (20p/13r). Lowell Welter adds 17 points, Justice Stafford 12, and Corey Hicks 11. Blake Norton has 8 points and 4 steals.
Record: 25-2 (13-2).

March 2, 2030
@#1 Villanova 83, Cincinnati 47
Playing like the best team in the country, we swarm all over the Bearcats defensively while displaying great balance offensively.

Cincinnati shoots 28% from the floor, and only half as well from behind the arc (3-for-21). Meanwhile, Asher Wise and Corey Hicks score 18 points each, and Avery Sullivan records his 16th double-double of the season (16p/11r).

As good as those three are, the Player of the Game is Lowell Welter. While the crowd at Kay's Cardinal Country Restaurant back in Cochranton watch on the flat screen TV, their favorite son scores 14 points and grabs a career-high 17 rebounds.
Record: 26-2 (14-2).


March 5, 2030

Another sellout crowd at the Wells Fargo Center watches us come back from 15 points down to defeat a superb West Virginia team that has battled us all season long for Big East--as well as national--supremacy.

The Mountaineers lead, 40-25, with five minutes left in the first half. We cut their lead to 11 by the break, but the visitors still seem to be on their way to victory.

Then, as the team returns to the floor for the second half, they're greeted by a wall of sound that spreads from the Villanova student section all around the arena. "I've never heard anything like it," senior Corey Hicks later says. Hicks and his teammates respond. It's Corey's three-pointer with 12:12 remaining that ties the game at 57. And it's a bucket by Peter Segal that gives us our first lead since the score was 3-2.

The Mountaineers tie the score...and Segal drains a 28-footer to put us ahead, 62-59. We don't relinquish the lead again.

Avery Sullivan suffers through a horrendous evening, outplayed by WVU's outstanding center, Chris Evan. In the end, however, his teammates--Hicks, Asher Wise, and especially Justice Stafford--won't let him end up on the losing side tonight.


March 9, 2030
@#1 Villanova 87, Seton Hall 74
Corey Hicks sobs visibly as he embraces his parents before his Senior Night game, and then leads all scorers with 25 points as we defeat the Pirates.

Corey makes 5 of his 9 three-point attempts and grabs 5 rebounds. His classmates, seldom-used big man Joshua Parkin and walk-on Mark Jones, also give the fans chances to cheer. Parkin starts and scores 4 points, while Jones comes off the bench and hands out 3 assists.

Everyone in the Pavilion knows it's probably Avery Sullivan's last Villanova home game, too. Avery scores 16 points, with 7 rebounds and 2 blocks.

Asher Wise (16p/7r/6a) flashes his all-around basketball skills. Blake Norton scores 12, and Lowell Welter has 10 with 7 boards.
Record: 28-2 (16-2).

March 14, 2030



We watch the first two rounds of the Big East tournament before it's our turn to take the court at Madison Square Garden. Our opponent will be a South Florida team that won a wild, triple-overtime classic against Providence.

Big East Tournament Quarterfinal
(1) #2 Villanova 90, (9) South Florida 73
The Bulls, who have to be exhausted after their exertions of the night before, can't keep up with us tonight.

Five Wildcats score in double figures, led by Avery Sullivan with 22 A sixth 'Nova player rebounds in double figures, and a seventh finishes with 9 points and 5 assists. But the Player of the Game is South Florida's Bobby Judd, a senior who posts a double-double (24p/10r). His backcourt mate, Moe Haberman, who scored 40 against Providence, is held to "only" 14 tonight; he averages 7 a game.

The four top seeds all win, so we'll face UConn in the semifinal. On the other side of the bracket, Georgetown plays West Virginia. The Hoyas stole the #1 ranking in the national polls from us; apparently the voters were extremely impressed with their 13-point victory over South Florida in their last regular season game.
Record: 29-2.


March 15, 2030
Big East Tournament Semifinal
(1) #2 Villanova 84, (4) Connecticut 76
Player of the Game Corey Hicks scores 20 points and adds 6 assists as we advance to the Big East final.

The honor could have gone to Avery Sullivan, with his 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 blocks. Tony Ezell (14) and Blake Norton (12) also score in double figures, and Norton stars with 9 assists. Lowell Welter (8p/12r/3b) fills the scoresheet nicely, too.

Sullivan jams a finger, so he'll be at less than 100 percent for the championship game. Needless to say, he'll start anyway.

Our opponent will be West Virginia, who beats Georgetown, 75-36(!!) in the other semifinal.
Record: 30-2.


March 16, 2030
Big East Tournament Championship
Villanova wins their third consecutive Big East conference tournament in a hard-fought game against a West Virginia team that is turning into a true rival. Veteran coach Joseph Strickland always has the Mountaineers ready to play, and after routing Georgetown in the semifinal, they take the floor with the determination to avenge their defeat at our hands earlier this month.

The game is very close for 30 minutes. Then, we go on a 17-6 run over the next five minutes to gain control. It's a 15-point game with 3:00 remaining. Then, to the credit of Coach Strickland and his team, they come charging back, outscoring us 14-3 the rest of the way and making things far too interesting.

The Mountaineers do a very good job of neutralizing our usual top scorers. Fortunately for us, Tony Ezell brings his scoring touch with him to Madison Square Garden, and we get an offensive explosion from Peter Segal, who comes off the deep end of the bench with guns blazing. Avery Sullivan can't shoot well with his hurt finger, but it doesn't prevent him from rebounding and blocking shots.

After the team poses with the Big East tournament trophy, they board the bus back to the Main Line. It's time to get ready for the Big Dance.
Record: 31-2.

March 17, 2030
Nine of the 16 Big East teams earn spots in the NCAA tournament field. We're awarded the #1 seed in the East Region. If we defeat the winner of a play-in game, we might face 8-seed Lafayette in the second round. The Leopards suffered a shocking loss in the Patriot League tournament semifinal, which paved the way for American to earn the league's automatic bid and gave the tournament committee the chance to select three Patriot League teams--Duquesne is the third.


March 22, 2030
NCAA East Region, First Round
(1) #1 Villanova 98, (16) Mercer 48
There's no Cinderella story for the Bears, who earned their bid with an upset victory in the Atlantic Sun tournament.

Corey Hicks enjoys a perfect shooting performance, hitting all 8 of his field goal attempts--4 from three-point range--and all 3 free throw attempts, good for 23 points. Blake Norton and Tony Ezell contribute 15 points each, and a healthy Avery Sullivan notches a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double with 4 blocked shots.

Mercer's senior center, Andrew DeRosier, battles Sullivan all night long, and finishes with 15 points and 10 boards of his own in his final collegiate game.

Lafayette defeats St. Bonaventure, so our next game will be a Graham Sims derby.
Record: 32-2.


March 24, 2030
NCAA East Region, Second Round

Reporters who hope Graham Sims will give them click bait headlines are sorely disappointed in the aftermath of his Villanova team's defeat at the hands of the Lafayette program he headed for 15 years.

"I don't have to tell you it hurts to lose," he says, as he sips from a bottle of water. "It always does. But I'd be lying if I said I'm not close to some of the people in their locker room. I recruited three of those players.* I worked closely with some of their support staff. I didn't stop caring about them the day I came to Villanova, and they know that."

Coach Sims takes another sip. The reporters don't interrupt with questions, giving a coach with over 500 career victories the respect he's earned. "Lafayette is a very good team. They've got five-star players, high school All-Americans. They could compete in the Big East. Douglas Richburg is a very good coach. Don't forget, I've coached against him for what? 10 years now. He was at Bucknell when I was at Lafayette. They gave us a very good game when we played them in December. This result isn't 'shocking.' It's two good basketball teams playing with the desire they should play with in the NCAA tournament.

"Of course I hope Avery stays another year. We'd absolutely love to have him. But he might be the top pick in the draft. He'd be foolish not to consider his options."

Graham smiles when a reporter asks him if he'll be rooting for Lafayette to win the tournament. "Of course I will. Isn't it always better to say that it took the eventual champion to knock you out of the tournament? Seriously, though. Like I said, I've got people I care about very much at Lafayette. If we can't win it...

"Coach Richbourg is my friend, and our families are friends. I wish him and his team the best of luck the rest of the way."

Chloe Ellis, a third-year student at Lafayette, is a big basketball fan. "It's fantastic to beat Villanova, but it's not better because Coach Sims is there now. Most of us realize Coach Sims built the Lafayette program. Could another coach have done it? Maybe so, but he's the one who did it.

"There are a few idiots who call him a 'traitor' and talk a lot of trash, but most of us have nothing but respect for Coach Sims. He's always classy when he talks about Lafayette, and he acts classy when we play him. We're proud of the fact he got his start here, and we're proud of what he accomplished here.

"It's part of our history."
Record: 32-3.

*The three players we signed for Lafayette are senior Tod Quiroz and redshirt juniors David Bowen and Mike Wong.

April 6, 2030
Three of the teams in this year's Final Four represent the Big East. Seven-seed Pitt went on to win the East Region. They'll face Georgetown, who defended their top seed in the Midwest.

California, the only team who's crashing the Big East party, will take on West Virginia, the successful top seed in the South Region.

Lafayette's season ended in the Sweet Sixteen, with a 70-62 loss to Washington.

April 8, 2030
NCAA Championship Game
West Virginia wins an all-Big East championship game.

April 8, 2030
As we expected, Avery Sullivan announces he'll forgo his final season of college eligibility to enter the pro draft.

He'll be joined by the two other superb junior big men from the Big East: Georgetown's Jimmy Cahoon and West Virginia's Chris Evan.


I've thoroughly enjoyed watching Jimmy Cahoon and Avery Sullivan compete in the Big East for the last three seasons. Jimmy is a worthy National Player of the Year, and I'm very pleased to see Avery earn second team honors behind him.

I was hoping Corey Hicks would make All-American, too. His career arc, which we'll look at more closely in his Senior Tribute, is especially pleasing.

Asher Wise lived up to the hype. You'll read more about him later, too.


Such a well-deserved honor for Corey Hicks. I didn't recruit him; I inherited him, but I've coached him all the way through so I feel like he's "mine."

And look at Lowell Welter, joining Sully on the All-Big East second team! Lowell is often overshadowed by flashier stars, but he's a very, very efficient player. Low-Key isn't a bad nickname for him.

J.R. Bunch is a fine choice for Big East Freshman of the Year. I've always liked J.R. He was very high on my "wish list" when I was recruiting his high school class, but he was a lock for Providence from the start. I figured either he or Asher Wise would end up as the FotY. Like I said, Asher lived up to the hype. He started every game for us, played almost 1100 minutes, and adjusted to not always being the most talented player on the court.

The more Justice Stafford played, the better he got. He's got a very, very bright future ahead of him if he keeps developing.

April 8, 2030
The Big East is the nation's best basketball conference, and right now, no other conference comes close.

The season ended earlier than I hoped it would, but as I look at these numbers, I realize once again what a great season we had.

I don't usually try to build explosive offensive teams, but that's what happened anyway. Perhaps it's a reflection of the fact that Villanova can attract attention from the most talented players in the country. At Lafayette, I had to shop in a different aisle, especially early in Graham's career. I prioritized defense, looking for players the power conference teams overlooked. Now, I've got a decent shot at almost every top player in the East, and they're not all lockdown defenders.




Next: the Senior Tributes, plus one.

2029/30 Farewell

AVERY SULLIVAN

There was a bumper crop of extremely talented big men in the high school Class of 2027, especially on the East Coast. From that star-studded assortment, I picked Avery Sullivan from the start. He was the first player I recruited at Villanova.

I've never regretted my choice.


When you recruit a five-star player, you realistically assume he'll be with you for only three years. You don't slow-track a player like that, and we certainly didn't do that to our prize big man from New Jersey. He started every game for a national championship team his freshman year, served as a dangerous third option offensively, and made freshman All-American. He continued to develop, and this season, he earned All-American recognition once again.

Avery lived up to his reputation as a relentless rebounder and a predatory shot-blocker. And he certainly proved to be the genuine article when it came to his signature skill: post defense. No big man in the nation consistently came out ahead in his individual battles against Sully, and with two of the best of the best playing against him in the Big East, our man faced plenty of stern challenges.

In three years, Sullivan amassed statistics that rank him among Villanova's best players of all time. He departs as our second all-time rebounder, our fifth all-time shot blocker, and our tenth all-time scorer. His 359 rebounds in 2029/30 is the second-highest single season mark in our school's history.

Well on his way to completing his undergraduate degree in Irish Studies, Sullivan is entering the professional draft. He might become the second Wildcat to be drafted #1 overall, and he'll certainly hear his name called among the first three or four picks. A bright future awaits him, on the court and off.

Thanks for the memories, Avery.

2029/30 Senior Tribute

MARK JONES

A Southern gentleman from Valdosta, Georgia, Mark joined us as a walk-on his freshman year. He gave us the luxury of having a mobile, hard-working big man who could test our scholarship players in practice every day. He never complained, even when he went two years without ever seeing the court during a game.


The decision to give Mark an NCAA championship ring was a unanimous one.

Mark majored in Psychology and will graduate next month. He won't be leaving campus, however; he's been accepted to our M.A. program. He wants to work with young people, possibly in a school setting.

Thanks for the memories, Mark.

2029/30 Senior Tribute

JOSHUA PARKIN

This Tribute is a difficult one to write.

Joshua was a very solid three-star recruit coming out of North East High School in Maryland. In Coach Sims' final season at Lafayette, I offered Joshua a scholarship, and made a max effort to sign him. He narrowed his choices to two schools. He had Villanova on top of his list, but they hadn't offered him, and we had. Then, late in the fall, my predecessor offered Joshua a scholarship, and he signed with the Wildcats.

At Lafayette, Joshua would probably have been a multi-year starter on an NCAA tournament team. At Villanova, he gradually lost playing time to a succession of more talented big men. I can't help wishing he'd picked the Leopards.


Joshua did absolutely nothing wrong. He worked hard and developed his skills, and he set program records in the weight room. He was also a solid student who will complete his degree in Public Administration. JP has received invitations to try out for professional teams in Lithuania and Spain.

Thanks for the memories, Joshua.

2029/30 Senior Tribute

COREY HICKS

When Corey Hicks walked onto the Finneran Pavilion court with his parents, Jerald and Monique, on Senior Day, tears of joy ran down his cheeks. Images of Corey embracing his parents immediately appeared on social media. "Everybody loves Corey," one of his classmates said about him after the game.


I recruited Corey for Lafayette, too, but his desire to play for Villanova never wavered. The story of his Wildcat career is a story of patience and hard work, and it has quite a happy ending.

As a freshman, Corey was the first guard off the bench. The next season, he played starters' minutes without starting a game, even with Duncan Sims now eligible and deserving playing time. Corey's ability to move to the three and guard players six or seven inches taller than he was, combined with his deadly outside shot, made him an essential part of Graham Sims' rotation and an indispensable member of an NCAA championship team.

Corey admits he believed he deserved to begin his junior year as a starter, but he spent the first two months of the season as the sixth man. When the opportunity to start was presented to him, he grabbed it with both hands and never let go. And, as a senior, he emerged as one of the best basketball players in the nation, a first team All-Big East player and a third-team All-American.

Only one player in school history made more three-point baskets than Corey did this season: his long-time teammate Jacob Allen '29. Corey also ranks second to Jacob in made three-pointers in a career. He's sixth all-time in total points, and he's also in the top ten for assists and steals.

Some pro draft experts list Corey as a possible second round pick. If he's not drafted, he plans to try out with a professional team. He'll graduate with a 3.73 GPA in Political Science, and he's been accepted to law school at the University of Virginia. Wherever he goes, Corey will represent what's best about Villanova and its basketball program.

Thanks for the memories, Corey.

April 13, 2030

The pro draft created several intriguing story lines. Here's a look at the first round:

An especially large number of underclassmen were chosen in the first round this year. Not surprisingly, the trio of Big East big men all went off the board very, very early. There are several other familiar names on the list, players we crossed swords with in Big East play.

Georgetown's roster just got decimated. Jimmy Cahoon and Tony Rabe were drafted, but Lance Moore and Edward Sturgeon declared for the draft, left school early, and weren't chosen. The Hoyas have nine scholarship players on their roster, and one of them, sophomore Damarion Logan, is unhappy and might leave.

Corey Hicks went undrafted, too. He'll look to sign somewhere as a free agent.

April 13, 2030

Coach Sims and his Recruiting Coordinator, the talented Weston Wells, worked magic with the Class of 2030.



The Big East and the ACC were successful in luring top high school talent this past year. Wake Forest, with their three five-star newcomers, could be a team to watch out for in the coming seasons.



As you might expect when you have the nation's top-ranked recruiting class, several of your conference's top newcomers will be arriving on campus in the fall. The one player we pursued heavily who signed with a Big East rival was center Zac Henderson, who picked St. John's instead.

Lafayette had only one scholarship to offer, and it went to a three-star JUCO player, guard Joey Shoffner. Their class is, therefore, rated low (#275 overall).

May 1, 2030

Two legendary coaches have decided to retire this spring.

Joseph Strickland decides that winning a national championship is the best final scene he could write. Coach Strickland, who coached West Virginia from the beginning of this dynasty, retires at #17 on the career wins list, with 434 victories to his credit.

Daniel Chouinard is also going to hang up his whistle. The first coach with 500 career victories to retire, Coach Chouinard concludes his career with a 508-158 record, 10 conference championships, and an NCAA title to his credit. Coach Chouinard spent the last three seasons at Vanderbilt after a glorious 13-season run at Illinois, where he won the 2014 NCAA title.

Both West Virginia and Vanderbilt offer Coach Sims their head coaching positions, but he's not going anywhere. :)

Dario Ferreira, however, is. Coach Ferreira accepts the top job at Davidson, which means we'll be looking for a Coaching Assistant this spring.

We decide to hire George Doyle, a well-traveled veteran assistant who is known as an expert in coaching offense.

Coach Doyle last worked with Daniel Chouinard at Vanderbilt, and he's also been on the staff of several other top programs. Welcome to the staff, Coach.

July 1, 2030

We began the summer without a scholarship to offer, because the game generated a really bad walk-on to fill Avery Sullivan's roster spot. I cut the walk-on, so now I have one available scholarship.

Last year's big haul of recruits included several perimeter players, so this year I'll make a big man my top priority. Here's how our call list looks as the recruiting season begins:


Recruiting is uniquely challenging when you have only one scholarship to offer. I wouldn't be surprised if almost all these players have at least one scholarship offer by August 1, which is when I'll have a chance to see their ratings.

Sam Marshall is the #1 recruit in the nation. He averages 34 points, 9 rebounds, and almost 7 assists a game. There's no way his ratings won't be good. But is Sam the best fit for our program? I can't know for sure until I see his evaluation.

Marshall lists us among his top schools, but we're fifth on his list, behind North Carolina, Boston College, West Virginia, and Vanderbilt. How likely am I to win a battle against four other elite programs, when I'm starting out in fifth place?

If I had two scholarships available, I wouldn't hesitate to offer one to Sam. I could be patient and see if visiting the Marshall family and bringing Sam to campus would lead him to choose our program. I'd hold onto the other scholarship until we've evaluated our targets more thoroughly and offer it next month.

Many of the top players in the class will make their choice on November 1. If I go all in on Sam Marshall and he signs elsewhere, our second (and third and fourth) choices might also have signed, too.

I decide to offer Marshall anyway. Let's see if having an offer in hand causes him to view our school more positively.

Once I find out more about the players on our call list, I'll let you know what I think of some of them.

Wm H. Harrison High School in Evansville, IN if possible... :)

August 1, 2030

Our Lead Scout, Daniel Bryant, is as good at his job as he can be (100 rating). He thinks Sam Marshall is the real deal.
There's very little Sam can't do on a basketball court. At 6'9", he's long enough to defend four positions, although he's especially effective on the perimeter. We rate him as a Yellow/Blue player.
Marshall receives at least two more offers, from North Carolina and Lafayette. He prefers UNC, but we'll make an all-out recruiting effort with Sam this month. Coaches Sims and Wells will visit him, and we'll bring him to campus.

In a perfect world, we'd sign both Marshall and Ezra Love, a powerful big man from Indiana.
Ezra does big man things very, very well: rebounding, blocking shots, and defending the paint. He also makes a high percentage of his shots, indicating some offensive upside. There's a reason why he's considered the #3 player in the nation, and the best player at his position.
It looks like Ezra would like to play closer to home than Villanova, but we can afford to give him the full recruiting treatment, too.

Our most realistic target is Zach Cohen, a 6'10" center from Edison, New Jersey.
Like Ezra Love, Zach takes care of business under the basket on both ends of the floor. It's easy to see him fitting our style of play very well.
When Lafayette offered him, Zach moved them to the top of his list. I'm sure Coach Richbourg and his staff are recruiting him as hard as they can. We'll do the same thing.

September 1, 2030

The players on our call list begin to narrow down their choices in August.

Sam Marshall got the offer of his dreams from Boston College. Coach Erwin Gadson is a member of the 500-victory club, and the Eagles are one of a very small number of teams that have made the NCAA tournament field every year since this universe began. North Carolina is still on Sam's list, and we're his third choice. Is it time to move on?

We remain on Ezra Love's list, too, the fifth of five teams there and the only one from which he hasn't received a scholarship offer. Right now, Kentucky and Vanderbilt are in the best position to sign him.

Zach Cohen narrows his list to two: Lafayette and Villanova. He's apparently going to cross the Delaware River and play his college ball close to home.

Another player is moving up our list: 6'8" power forward Jonathan Taylor, from upstate New York.
JT hasn't been a big scorer in high school, averaging just under 9 PPG. He makes most of the shots he does take, however, and he possesses the other skills we look for in our bigs.
Jonathan likes us, too. I wonder if he'd choose a Villanova offer if he had one?

Now it's decision time. Sam Marshall expresses an Average amount of interest in playing for us. Ezra Love's interest is High, and both Zach Cohen and Jonathan Taylor are at Very High.

I think Sam's on his way to Boston. I wonder if knowing he wouldn't be able to step into the starting lineup at his preferred SF position as a freshman at Villanova makes a difference to him? We'd have the third-year version of Asher Wise at that spot. I checked Boston College's roster, and Sam is probably good enough to beat out the incumbent right now.

I decide to withdraw Marshall's offer. It was fun while it lasted. At least he won't be at another Big East school, tormenting us for the next few years.

I'm going to give the offer to Zach Cohen. Zach had us ranked ahead of Lafayette before the Leopards offered him. Is Villanova really his dream school? We're about to find out.

October 1, 2030

My hunch paid off! When Zach Cohen receives his offer from Villanova, he moves us to the top of his list. Coaches Sims and Wells are going to visit him this month, and hopefully they can close the deal.

Here are the top choices for each of the other recruits we've been watching closely, plus a few more from my call list:

• Sam Marshall: Boston College
• Ezra Love: Kentucky
• Jonathan Taylor: Providence
• Jacody Hinton: Georgetown
• DeQuinn Baldwin: Georgetown
• Trystan Maddox: Richmond
• Reggie Johnson: Pitt

I imagine Georgetown has a slew of scholarships to offer. I think they're getting two stars in Baldwin and Hinton; DeQuinn is the #2 player in the nation, and Jacody is a solid Top 20 guy.

Trystan Maddox is a three-star player from Norfolk to whom I'd offer a scholarship most years. I think he's a sleeper, a future star in the Atlantic 10.

November 1, 2030

We got our man! Zach Cohen commits to play for Villanova today.
We think Zach is a Yellow/Blue player, so there's a chance he could start as a freshman. If Lowell Welter returns for his senior season, Zach could possibly learn the ropes as Lowell's backup, if he's not quite ready for a starting role yet. I don't see a bad outcome in that case. And I mean no disrespect when I say I envision Zach staying at Villanova for four years.

DeQuinn Baldwin and Trystan Maddox haven't committed yet, but the other players I listed above choose the programs I paired them with.

Now it's time for training camp. Let's find out how ready we'll be for the new season.

You've got it. Harrison High is in the database, and if it weren't, I'd add it. :)

November 10, 2030

Let's meet the 2030/31 Villanova Wildcats...


Coach Graham Sims enters his fifth season at Villanova with a roster filled with players he has recruited.

The Wildcats must replace two starters, guard Corey Hicks and center Avery Sullivan, from a team that spent much of the year ranked #1 before losing in the second round of the NCAA tournament. Both departing players were All-Americans, so their shoes will not be easy to fill.

Sophomore Asher Wise is the player most eyes will be focused on this season. A freshman All-American last year, Asher worked hard in camp and should be one of the Big East's most dynamic offensive players. Draft experts almost unanimously consider Asher a future Top 5 pick.

Playing alongside Wise at forward will be junior Lowell Welter. He is an elite rebounder, a solid post defender, and a sneaky-good outside shooter who has made 46 percent of his shots from behind the arc. Lowell was a second team All-Big East selection, and he's a player Coach Sims knows he can count on.

We have two possible starters at point guard, either of whom look like they could be first-rate. Blake Norton did just fine in his first year as a starter last season. He handed out almost 5 assists a game, with almost three times as many assists as turnovers. Blake, now a junior, shoots well enough to force teams to guard him.

Sophomore Justice Stafford earned more playing time as the season went on. A five-star recruit, Stafford is a better defender and possibly a more dangerous scorer. Last year, Blake offered more creativity and reliability running the offense, but Justice worked hard on these aspects of his game in camp. Both Norton and Stafford will play a lot, and it's possible they could play together.

Coach Sims has always liked using a dynamic sixth man. He's got a good one in Tony Ezell, who returns to the role for the third consecutive season. As a sophomore, Tony raised his scoring average over a point while playing five fewer minutes per game. His midrange game is solid, and he is extremely good at finding ways to score inside.

Junior Clemens Schwaiger or sophomore Kris DeMello will start at center. Schwaiger offers more defense and rebounding, while DeMello offers more offense. Again, they'll both see the court quite a bit.

Who will the be the fifth starter? It might be Justice Stafford. It also might be freshman Reed Weisberg, whose silky-smooth jumper brings to mind marksmen like Byron Shores and Duncan Sims. Weisberg doesn't have Stafford's defensive chops,

If any backcourt player starts to slide, highly regarded freshman Ernest Adcock is the next man up. The top point guard in his class, Ernest is more ready for the demands of Big East basketball than most newcomers. He's looking forward to the challenge of stopping the conference's top backcourt players.

Sophomore Peter Segal and freshmen Michael Petit and Noah Gardner round out the scholarship roster. Segal is a good outside shooter and a tenacious defender.



Two consecutive #1-ranked recruiting classes have stocked the Wildcats roster with talented players. "Just think," said one Big East coaching rival, "Avery Sullivan could still be in school. Imagine this team with him on it." Keeping this many talented players happy and finding a role for each of them will present Graham with a significant challenge, but it's one any coach would welcome.

The expectations on the Main Line are always high. This team looks like they could meet those expectations.

November 10, 2030
Coaches Invitational Tournament, First Round
(1) #1 Villanova 69, (16) USC Upstate 41
The Coaches Invitational is one of the more prestigious pre-season tourneys, with several of the nation's top teams included in the field. Our first round opponent, from Spartanburg, SC, has a prestige of 24. It's a lopsided matchup, and the game turns out that way, too.

Lowell Welter (18p/10r) is named Player of the Game. Asher Wise (14p/6r/2s) and Justice Stafford (14p/5r/4a) join him in double figures.

The strangest stat line belongs to Reed Weisberg. In 10 minutes of playing time, Reed manages to squeeze off 8 shots, 6 from behind the three-point arc. Unfortunately, only one of his threes goes in.
Record: 1-0.


November 11, 2030
Coaches Invitational Tournament Quarterfinal
(1) #1 Villanova 85, (9) South Carolina 70
We were admittedly sloppy in our first game, but we play much better against another opponent from the Palmetto State today.

Tony Ezell leads us with 19 points, and Asher Wise demonstrates his comprehensive skill set with 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists. Lowell Welter (15p/7r) and Reed Weisberg (14p, 4-10 from three) join them in double figures. Clemens Schwaiger pulls in a career-high 11 rebounds.
Record: 2-0.


November 17, 2030
Coaches Invitational Tournament Semifinal
(1) #1 Villanova 75, (12) Pepperdine 52
The Waves made the semifinal by upsetting Missouri, but their tournament ends when we pull away to victory in the second half.

Reed Weisberg knocks down 5 of 10 three-point tries and leads us with 15 points. Tony Ezell produces 14 points off the bench, and Clemens Schwaiger scores 11 with 7 boards and 2 blocks. But it's the all-around play of Justice Stafford (9p/6r/4a/3s) that sets the tone tonight.
Record: 3-0.


November 18, 2030
Coaches Invitational Tournament Championship
We make use of a variety of weapons to defeat Stanford and claim the Coaches Invitational Tournament trophy.

Tony Ezell scores from inside, Reed Weisberg scores from outside, and Asher Wise scores from everywhere. Asher is named Player of the Game, but Reed or Tony would have been good choices, too.
Record: 4-0.

November 20, 2030
@#1 Villanova 67, Virginia 59
Virginia takes the air out of the basketball in an attempt to upset us in our own gym, and for 20 minutes, it works very well. The Cavaliers are ahead, 33-22, and we're scrambling to find some footing in the game.

The Hoos do a very good job of denying Asher Wise, who only takes 5 shots in 35 minutes of playing time. Fortunately, they leave Lowell Welter room to operate, and he scores 19, adding 12 rebounds to complete the double-double. Reed Weisberg adds 14 and Blake Norton 10.

We switch up the starters a bit. Kris DeMello and Justice Stafford replace Clemens Schwaiger and Blake Norton in the starting five. Norton, in particular, responds well to the change.
Record: 5-0.



November 24, 2030
#1 Villanova 96, @Creighton 69
It takes us a while to get going against the Blue Jays, but once we do, we don't look back. We commit only 5 turnovers and hand out 21 assists.

Much of our scoring comes from the wings today. Asher Wise finishes with 16 points, but he needs 18 shots to score them. Wise also finds teammates for 6 assists. Creighton has no answer for Reed Weisberg, though. The freshman knocks down 6 treys in 10 attempts and finishes with 23 points. Through six tames, Reed's our leading scorer, averaging 15 per game

Sixth man Tony Ezell contributes 16 more, and reserve Ernest Adcock finishes with 10 in 8 minutes of playing time. Lowell Welter scores 7 and captures 7 rebounds.
Record: 6-0.


November 27, 2030
@#1 Villanova 80, La Salle 74
Big Five games are always challenging. The Explorers invade the Pavilion and stake a strong claim in the first half, leading 42-32 at the break. We can't make a shot, and the visitors can't seem to miss. Asher Wise, in particular, can't find the range.

The balance of the game tilts our way during the second half. We still can't stop Rufus Hughes, who sears us for 31 points. But Reed Weisberg starts to find his rhythm, too. For the second straight game, Reed goes 6-for-10 from distance and finishes with 23 points. Tony Ezell does his usual damage from the post, finishing with 16. Lowell Welter scores 13, and Wise finishes with 10.

Justice Stafford keeps the shooters happy, finishing with a career-high 10 assists.

I like the way we balance our scoring. Four Wildcats average between 12 and 16 points per game, and a fifth comes in at just under 10.
Record: 7-0.

December 1, 2030
@#1 Villanova 83, #12 Lafayette 73
Quite a few things about the Lafayette basketball program have changed since the Leopards eliminated us from the NCAA tournament last spring. Coach Douglas Richburg moved on to the bright lights of Southern California, taking the top job at UCLA. He swaps a more prestigious program for a more prestigious conference.

The new head Leopard, Leland Tingle, served a 16-season apprenticeship as an assistant before taking the top job at Cal State-Fullerton in 2027. Coach Tingle, age 60, went 68-35 with the Titans.

He prepares his new team well for their date at the Pavilion, but after falling behind early in the second half, we pull away and win by 10. Asher Wise (20p/8r/5a/2s) and Lowell Welter (19p/6r) provide a one-two scoring punch, backed up by Tony Ezell (14p/5r) and Justice Stafford (13p/7a).
Record: 8-0.


December 7, 2030
@#1 Villanova 97, Bucknell 51
A visit from an old Patriot League foe turns out well for the home team.

Asher Wise pours in 31 points, good for a new career high. He adds 6 assists and 4 rebounds, cementing his status as our most important player. Tony Ezell scores 21 points and grabs 8 boards, and Blake Norton contributes 7 points and 7 assists in 17 minutes.
Record: 9-0.


December 10, 2030
@#1 Villanova 79, Davidson 49
Davidson coach Dario Ferreira spent four years as Graham Sims' X-and-O man, and in his return to Finneran Pavilion, Coach D's Wildcats don't fare well against the Villanova variety.

Asher Wise (18 points), Reed Weisberg (16), Justice Stafford (12), and Tony Ezell (12) all hit double figures. Lowell Welter does so in rebounds (11, with 8 points). Stafford and Blake Norton combine for 10 assists. Norton makes 3 steals.
Record: 10-0.


December 15, 2030
#1 Villanova 90, @Princeton 69
Reed Weisberg turns in the highest-scoring game of his young Villanova career tonight, dropping 29 on Princeton at Jadwin Gymnasium.

Reed sinks 6 of his 7 threes and adds 2 steals. Asher Wise (15p/5r) and Tony Ezell (15 points) join him in double figures, and Tony also has 9 rebounds and a career-best 7 assists. Justice Stafford dishes out 5 assists, too.
Record: 11-0.


December 20, 2030
#1 Villanova 74, @St. Peter's 64
Our visits to New Jersey programs continue with a trip to Jersey City, where we hold off a late charge by a determined ostentation of Peacocks.

Once again, it's Reed Weisberg leading the way, scoring 18 points and making 4 threes. Tony Ezell is right behind him with 17. Asher Wise (14p/6r/4a) and Lowell Welter (9p/10r) play well in supporting roles.
Record: 12-0.


December 28, 2030
#1 Villanova 87, @Delaware 50
We haven't gotten much production out of the center position this season, so I make a lineup change before our visit to Delaware. Tony Ezell moves into the starting lineup, and Lowell Welter shifts to center. Kris DeMello will come off the bench.

The new combination seems to work well. Ezell runs into foul trouble, but he scores 12 points in 17 minutes. Welter turns in a passable imitation of Avery Sullivan (14p/12r/3b). DeMello reaches career highs with 15 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks. Meanwhile, Asher Wise asserts his authority with 25 points and 6 rebounds.

Reed Weisberg (6) and Justice Stafford (7) provide quality assist-ance.
Record: 13-0.

January 7, 2031
The Big East doesn't boast five of the nation's top teams the way we did last year, but it's still far from a "down year" for the nation's most powerful conference. There has been at least one Big East team in four consecutive Final Fours now, and I wouldn't bet against the conference extending our streak to five this spring.

West Virginia's only loss came on the road, at Boston College. Louisville's only loss came at Memphis. Pitt lost to a ranked New Mexico team in a preseason tourney, and then to Michigan State. There's not a soft loss in the group.


January 8, 2031
@#1 Villanova 87, Notre Dame 81
See what I mean? A team from the "bottom half" of the league comes to the Pavilion and fights us hard for 40 minutes. The Irish are good. They have a freshman point guard, Grover Jenkins, who is the real deal. He hands out 10 assists and makes 5 steals. They have a former five-star recruit, junior Charles Wells, whose 1000th career point is among the 20 he scores tonight. They're two threes and a free throw away from an upset victory.

Asher Wise leads us with 23 points (6-10 from long range), and Tony Ezell, returning to the starting lineup for the first time since his freshman year, contributes 20, with 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Reed Weisberg scores 15; Lowell Welter finishes with 11 points and 8 boards; Justice Stafford contributes 5 rebounds and 4 assists. We make half our three-point tries, and that's the difference, right there.
Record: 14-0 (1-0).


January 11, 2031
#1 Villanova 101, @#12 Louisville 97
Tony Ezell's face is contorted with pain as he leaves the court. One of his arms wraps around the shoulders of his best friend, Lowell Welter. Tony won't put any weight on that foot. A member of the Villanova training staff supports him from the other side.

Just over 15 minutes remain in the game when Ezell's injury stops the clock. Louisville leads, 58-53. We take control of the game, which is played at a frantic pace the rest of the way. We lead by as many as 12 at one point, and we emerge with a big road victory against a tough opponent. Asher Wise is superb, with 29 points and 5 rebounds. Reed Weisberg plays like a veteran: 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists. Welter scores 16, Justice Stafford 15. But nobody feels much like celebrating.

The medical report confirms the bad news. Tony has torn his ACL. :( He'll miss the remainder of the season, and we hope he'll be back by the time the 2031/32 season begins.
Record: 15-0 (2-0).


January 15, 2031
@#1 Villanova 84, St. John's 75 (OT)
Kris DeMello returns to the starting lineup as we defeat the Red Storm at the Wells Fargo Center. We need five additional minutes of basketball to do it, as SJ's Michael Burke hits a three with 0:04 remaining to tie the game at 68 and send it to overtime.

Double-doubles from Lowell Welter (13p/12r/2b) and Asher Wise (13p/11r) are among the keys to our victory. Reed Weisberg takes the scoring honors with 20 points.
Record: 16-0 (3-0).


January 18, 2031
@Syracuse 88, #1 Villanova 79
The Orange hand us our first loss of the season, coming from behind and overcoming a 28-point effort from Asher Wise. The sophomore wing adds 7 rebounds and 4 assists.

Reed Weisberg (18p/8r), Justice Stafford (9 assists), Kris DeMello (10p/6r) and Lowell Welter (9p/10r) make varied positive contributions. We don't play badly; they simply play better.
Record: 16-1 (3-1).


January 22, 2031
@#2 Villanova 85, Cincinnati 57
All five starters, plus reserve Michael Petit, score in double figures as we punish the Bearcats at the Pavilion.

Reed Weisberg, who hits 5-of-6 treys, leads the way with 19 points, two more than Asher Wise. Reed collects a career-high 8 rebounds, too. Lowell Welter posts a double-double (10p/12r), and Kris DeMello supplements 11 points with 4 blocks. Petit and Justice Stafford score 10 apiece.
Record: 17-1 (4-1).


January 25, 2031
#2 Villanova 90, @Rutgers 73
Entering the game, we and the Scarlet Knights are among a cluster of teams with 4-1 records in Big East play, a game behind West Virginia. When the buzzer sounds, three teams--Syracuse, Louisville, and Villanova--are left on the step below the Mountaineers.

The hero for the Wildcats is Lowell Welter. His 25 points are a career high, and his 16 rebounds are only one shy of his best ever. Low-Key also flashes his outside game, knocking down three triples, and blocks 2 shots.

Asher Wise (21p/4a/3s), Reed Weisberg (14p/6r) and Kris DeMello (16p/6r/3b) provide Lowell with quality support.
Record: 18-1 (5-1).


January 29, 2031
@#2 Villanova 78, Seton Hall 58
When Graham Sims addresses the Wildcats at halftime, they trail their visitors from New Jersey, 31-25. It's a different story after intermission, as Sims' charges nearly double up the Pirates in the second half.

"They were outworking us," Kris DeMello points out. "Coach Sims told us that wasn't acceptable. We fixed it."

Justice Stafford (12p/8a) is named Player of the Game. Asher Wise (19p/5r) takes the scoring honors. Lowell Welter (11p/9r) and DeMello (12 points) also score in double figures, and Blake Norton hands out 4 assists in 13 minutes.

Syracuse loses to Providence, leaving us and Louisville a game behind West Virginia.
Record: 19-1 (6-1).

Lafayette hasn't lost since we beat them in December. The Leopards spent a week at #5 in February 2026, Graham's last season. They've been #6 a few other times. This ranking, therefore, is a noteworthy achievement for the Lafayette program.

February 2, 2031
@#18 Pittsburgh 69, #2 Villanova 67
Orval Juan's jumper from the top of the key with 7 seconds left gives the Panthers a crucial home victory.

Honestly, it's what we deserve, after we take a horrid 49-20 beating during the second half. Yes, that's right; we lose a 17-point halftime lead.

Asher Wise and Reed Weisberg score 18 points each, and Justice Stafford has 7 points and 8 assists. And, to make matters worse, Lowell Welter has to leave the game with blurred vision, which will impair him for another week or so. He's listed as day-to-day.
Record: 19-2 (6-2).


February 5, 2031
#2 Villanova 77, @South Florida 63
Double-doubles from Kris DeMello (11p/12r/2b) and Reed Weisberg (17p/10r/3a) help us recover our winning ways on a trip down South.

Justice Stafford (15p/6r/3s) and Noah Gardner (10p/4r) also come to play. Our defensive effort is exceptionally good, after the disaster that was the second half of the Pitt game.
Record: 20-2 (7-2).

We're at the halfway point of the Big East season, and West Virginia has opened up a two-game lead on the field.
We visit West Virginia later in the month, but even if we beat them, we'll still need help from someone else to win the regular season championship this year.


February 8, 2031
#2 Villanova 78, @Notre Dame 57
The Irish do some very good Fighting in the first half, and we go to the break tied at 41. Then, we do to them what Pitt did to us, outscoring them 37-16 in the second stanza and claiming the victory.

Asher Wise continues to establish his credentials as one of the best shooters in college basketball. He scores 27 points, sinking 5 of 8 three-point attempts. For the season, Asher is shooting 49.5% from long range, averaging 8 attempted threes per game. Keith Fujimoto of Kentucky is the only Division I player who comes close to Asher's combination of accuracy and volume from behind the arc.

Reed Weisberg, who is no slouch himself when it comes to outside shooting, scores 15 points. Lowell Welter announces his return to action with 14 points and 8 boards, and Justice Stafford finishes with 9 assists.
Record: 21-2 (8-2).


February 12, 2031
@#3 Villanova 97, #7 Louisville 88
A very satisfying victory against a fellow Big East heavyweight. A lot of Villanova players do a lot of things well.

I want to give a quick shout-out to Noah Gardner. He's our leading scorer on a per-30 basis, averaging 21.4 points; Asher Wise is second at 17.4. It's a small sample size, but first year Noah has connected on 8 of his 12 three-point tries. I'm going to find more playing time for him.

Meanwhile, Syracuse edges West Virginia, 58-57. We're tied with Syracuse, a game behind WVU in the Big East race.
Record: 22-2 (9-2).


February 15, 2031
@#3 Villanova 75, Georgetown 67
Graduation and defection to the pro draft hurt this year's Hoyas team badly. The loss we inflict upon them drops their Big East record to 3-9, and their overall record falls below .500 (12-13).

The biggest key to our victory is a dominant performance by Kris DeMello (16p/9r/5b). Asher Wise scores 13 with 5 rebounds, and Justice Stafford adds 12 with 8 boards.

The Hoyas will be back. They're adding at least two top high school recruits in this year's class, players we recruited actively. But, for now, they're taking their lumps.
Record: 23-2 (10-2).


February 19, 2031
@#1 Villanova 84, Connecticut 61
Poll voters can be weird. Top-ranked Kentucky lost last week, but instead of moving undefeated Vanderbilt from #2 to #1, they had UK swap places with us. Then, we play like a #1 team, dispatching UConn fairly easily. Once again, we break open a close game with a second-half blitz; this time, we outscore the Huskies 42-19.

Reed Weisberg leads a cast of five double-figure scorers with 20 points. The others, including reserve Blake Norton, finish with between 10 and 13. Justice Stafford has 7 assists, and Weisberg claims 8 rebounds.

Syracuse loses to Rutgers, which means we're in sole possession of second place in the Big East, a game behind West Virginia.
Record: 24-2 (11-2).


February 22, 2031
Providence 82, @#1 Villanova 76
Full credit to Providence for refusing to fold when we open the second half with a 9-0 run that puts us ahead by 14 points. We put UConn away with a run like that one, but the Friars accept the punch and counter with a harder one.

Asher Wise (26p/10r) plays like an All-American, and Lowell Welter (15p/15r) battles ferociously in the paint at both ends. Reed Weisberg scores 13 points, but he also commits 9 turnovers; that's one short of the Villanova record.
Record: 24-3 (11-3).


February 26, 2031
#3 Villanova 74, @#4 West Virginia 65
Our loss to Providence stings a bit more now, as we travel to West Virginia and defeat the conference-leading Mountaineers.

West Virginia does an excellent job of controlling Asher Wise. They hold him to 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists. However, they have no answer for Lowell Welter, who scores 18 points and rips down 17 rebounds. He also steps outside to hit 2 threes, in 3 attempts. Kris DeMello (7p/11r/4b) outduels WVU's outstanding center, Booker Brent. And Reed Weisberg scores a quiet 18 points.

West Virginia's leading scorer tonight is Herschel Middlebrooks, a member of our last recruiting class at Lafayette. Hersch left at the same time Coach Sims did, and is completing his collegiate career this spring.
Record: 25-3 (12-3).

As I looked at the emails that appeared in my inbox at the beginning of the month, I noticed there were, once again, messages about unhappy players. This time it was Peter Segal and Ernest Adcock, who are both having problems cracking the backcourt rotation.

I don't blame Peter or Ernest. They were five-star recruits, and Ernest was the best PG in his class. I began to wonder if this was the case at the other most successful programs in my dynasty. Do the other top teams have disgruntled young stars who find their paths to playing time blocked by other former high school phenoms?

I took a look at the rosters of the teams that have Prestige scores of 97 or higher, plus Kentucky and Lafayette, who are at 94. I picked Kentucky because, well, they're Kentucky, and I sense they recruit well. Plus, UK has spent much of the history of this universe at 100, before two off years "plunged" them into the 90s. And it's obvious why I chose Lafayette.

Here are the recruiting rankings of the scholarship players on these teams' rosters:



The #886 player at Tennessee and the #1020 player at Stanford are players who transferred in. A few of the others are as well, but those two guys are the only outliers, players far less highly regarded than those their schools usually recruit.

Reading down each program's column shows us how deep its stock of top recruits is. As you can see, we have eight players who were ranked #30 or better in their class at Villanova now. None of the other top programs have the same kind of top-shelf depth; Kentucky comes the closest.

Interestingly, some of these schools have only 10 players on scholarship, and only two--Tennessee and Lafayette--have their full allotment of 13. There are programs with four, and even five, walk-ons filling out their rosters.

I also noted how many players in each program are currently unhappy. As I mentioned before, we have two at Villanova. Tennessee, Vanderbilt, and Kentucky also have two unhappy scholarship players. Kansas, North Carolina, and West Virginia have one. All the players at Georgetown, Boston College, Stanford, and Lafayette are satisfied.

It probably shouldn't bother me that lines of computer code have expressed unhappiness about the way a computer simulation is playing out, but it does. I find myself thinking about this dynasty as a roleplaying game. I enjoy getting into Coach Sims' character. I can envision Peter and Ernest and their teammates. I can imagine what an unhappy player feels like. I'd like to create a program where players enjoy being part of something bigger than themselves, while winning a lot of basketball games.

Starting with the next class I recruit, I'm going to give myself a bit of a challenge. I'm going to see if I can maintain Villanova's prestige and our place as one of the nation's top programs, while creating a "culture" where all our players remain happy. I'm going to shape a roster with some role players who are content filling their roles, rather than a collection of blue chip guys, some of whom are disgruntled and end up transferring.

Right now we have 11 four-star or better players on our roster. Only Kentucky (12) has more; Vanderbilt (10), Georgetown (9), and Kansas (9) also can run out rotations full of top recruits. I'm not surprised that the teams with the most blue chippers also have the most unhappy players. There's only so much playing time to go around.

I'm going to to start recruiting some three-star players who do specific things well. Almost every other team in the universe is making that work, so let's see if Villanova can, too.

March 1, 2031
#3 Villanova 85, @St. John's 74
It's not looking good after 20 minutes, as we trail 40-31. After the break, however, it's 55-33 for the good guys.

We do a lot of things well, shooting a FG/FT/3P "slash line" of .529/.800/.500 and holding the Red Storm to .406/.733/.379. Asher Wise finishes with 21 points, with Reed Weisberg not far back at 17. Kris DeMello continues to impress as our starting pivotman (12p/9r/6b). Justice Stafford scores 10, with 6 assists.

Weisberg has another careless game, turnover-wise, giving the ball to our opponent 7 times. He's now committed 98 turnovers, which gives him a real chance to break a season record he'd probably prefer not to hold. Titus Pound's 112 turnovers in 2024/25 is the current mark.

Then we receive some good news out of South Bend. Notre Dame has knocked off West Virginia, 64-63. The Big East standings are tied again!
Record: 26-3 (13-3).


March 5, 2031
@#2 Villanova 66, Marquette 53
If we had a senior on our team, it would have been his Senior Night. Instead, it's simply our last home game of the season, and we win it in a rather sloppy fashion.

Kris DeMello's 15 points and 6 rebounds earn him a PotG nod over Lowell Welter (13p/10r). Asher Wise and Reed Weisberg score 11 each, and Justice Stafford--all 5'10" of him--snares 7 rebounds to go with his 8 points.
Record: 27-3 (14-3).

This is fun to see:




March 8, 2031
#2 Villanova 67, @DePaul 51
We defeat the Blue Demons and secure the Big East regular season championship, along with the top seed in next week's tournament. It's Graham's third straight conference title, and the 16th of his coaching career.

Reed Weisberg leads us in scoring with 20 points. His 4 three-pointers give him 102 for the season; he's the fourth player in 'Nova history to hit at least 100. I've coached them all: Jacob Allen, Corey Hicks, and as of this year, Asher Wise, who hit his 100th of the season against Providence last month.

Lowell Welter and Justice Stafford score 13 points each, and Justice adds 4 assists and 5 rebounds.
Record: 28-3 (15-3).

March 13, 2031
Big East Tournament Quarterfinal
(1) #2 Villanova 71, (16) DePaul 49
The Blue Demons' Cinderella story was fun while it lasted, but the clock strikes midnight in the Quarterfinal round.

We hold Gerald Dean, their 6'7", 254-pound shooting guard (!!) scoreless, two nights after he scored 24 against South Florida. It's a sad ending for Gerald, a fine player who finishes his career with over 1500 points.

Asher Wise leads us with 23 points, but it's Justice Stafford (17p/5r/5a/3s, 4-for-6 from three) who claims the "first star" honors. Unfortunately, Justice's neck is painfully stiff after the game, so he's day-to-day for now. Ernest Adcock will earn his first collegiate start in tomorrow's semifinal.

Lowell Welter misses a double-double by one point (9p/10r) and Reed Weisberg contributes 13 points.
Record: 29-3.


March 14, 2031
Big East Tournament Semifinal
(1) #2 Villanova 56, (4) #12 Pittsburgh 44
Some victories are beautiful to watch. Others aren't. This one isn't, but it's a victory nonetheless.

Thirty-five points from Asher Wise (20) and Reed Weisberg (15) are almost enough to beat the Panthers by themselves. The same two players carry much of the rebounding load: 8 for Asher, 7 for Reed.

Ernest Adcock fails to score, but he hands out 3 assists.
Record: 30-3.


March 15, 2031
Big East Tournament Championship
(2) #10 Louisville 97, (1) #2 Villanova 87
Congratulations to the Cardinals, who play an outstanding game of basketball and deservedly win the Big East tournament.

Charles Godwin, a popular player who passed up the opportunity to turn pro in order to enjoy moments like this, leads the Cardinals with 24 points. Israel Cho, a sophomore who probably won't stay for four years, adds 20.

Four of our five starters, plus sixth man Blake Norton, score in double figures, led by Lowell Welter with 18. Asher Wise (16), Norton (14), Kris DeMello (14), and Reed Weisberg (13) follow. Norton and Ernest Adcock have 4 assists each; Wise grabs 8 rebounds; DeMello blocks 3 shots.
Record: 30-4.

March 16, 2031
Once again, we're awarded the top seed in the East Region, so we'll face the winner of the play-in game: either Troy or Boston University. Lafayette (29-3) joins us in the East, as the 3 seed.

West Virginia, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt are the other #1 seeds.


March 20, 2031
NCAA East Region, First Round
(1) #2 Villanova 71, (16) Troy 63
Every team in the NCAA tournament field is good, and the Trojans demonstrate this fact by hanging in with us until the final buzzer.

Lowell Welter dominates the game with 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 blocked shots. He's backed by a 13-point, 10-rebound double feature by Asher Wise, a 12-point performance by Reed Weisberg, and a 5-assist return to action by Justice Stafford.
Record: 31-4.


March 22, 2031
NCAA East Region, Second Round
(1) #2 Villanova 67, (9) #21 Mississippi State 64
Lowell Welter wants to keep playing basketball this season. Tonight, he scores 15 points and takes in 10 rebounds to lead us to a spot in the Sweet Sixteen.

Asher Wise scores 17 points and Reed Weisberg finishes with 15. We shoot only 39% for the game, and miss 19 of our 28 three-point tries, but we play solid defense and make up for our offensive struggles.
Record: 32-4.


March 27, 2031
NCAA East Region Semifinal...the Sweet Sixteen
(1) #2 Villanova 69, (4) Duke 63
The Blue Devils are not a top-tier program in this universe. Their Prestige has fallen from its starting level of 98 to the high 70s, and they've had three losing records. They're still Duke, however, so beating them feels significant.

We do the "balance" thing again, with four starters scoring between 12 and 16 points. Lowell Welter is the exception this time, and Reed Weisberg is the high man. Four starters grab between 6 and 8 rebounds. Kris DeMello leads this list, and Wise is the odd man out.

Asher Wise's final basket gives him a round 1000 points for his Villanova career.

Lafayette has also won their first three games, so you know what's coming next...
Record: 33-4.


...an instant classic.

March 29, 2031
NCAA East Region Final...the Elite Eight

This time it's our turn to bring the curtain down on the Leopards' dreams, a year after they ended ours.

The two teams are never separated by more than the five-point margin we establish when Justice Stafford sinks two foul shots with three seconds left in the game.

Asher Wise gives Villanova fans more reasons to love him, a local boy making good on the game's biggest stage. So does affable small-town guy Lowell Welter. Reed Weisberg completely disregards the option of shooting from within the three-point arc, unless he's standing at the free throw line.

Graham Sims takes a moment to console David Bowen and Mike Wong, the last remaining Lafayette players he recruited. Between them, they played 285 games in Maroon and White, starting 220 of them. Both players scored over 1000 points; Wong finishes his career with 1174, and Bowen reaches the milestone with his first basket tonight and finishes with 1012.

It's the 598th victory of Coach Sims' career. His opponent tonight, Leland Tingle, proves himself a worthy one, despite having exactly 500 fewer wins to his credit.

Now, it's off to the Final Four. It's Graham's fifth trip to the national semifinal, but it's the first for every one of his players.
Record: 34-4.

April 5, 2031
NCAA National Semifinal.,.the Final Four
#2 Villanova 92, #17 UCLA 75
In the Elite Eight, Graham had the chance to avenge last year's loss to Lafayette. Tonight, he avenges the defeat he suffered at the hands of that team's coach.

You might remember that Douglas Richburg left Lafayette for UCLA last May. Coach Richburg is a long-time friendly foe of Graham's, since he coached at Bucknell before moving to Lafayette to replace Coach Sims.

The brightest star for the Wildcats tonight is Reed Weisberg, who contributed 22 points (6-for-8 from long range), 4 rebounds, 4 assists...and zero turnovers! Asher Wise finishes with 17 points and 6 boards. Lowell Welter scores 12, rebounds 6 and blocks 2. Kris DeMello posts 11 points and 2 blocks, and Justice Stafford and Ernest Adcock combine for 10 assists.

Adcock's fellow second teamers, Clemens Schwaiger and Noah Gardner, also make impacts. Clemens hauls in 10 rebounds and scores 7 points, and Noah scores 9 points in as many minutes.

A put-back by Booker Brent enables West Virginia to defeat Michigan State, 65-63...so we'll face the team we battled to the wire for the Big East title with an even bigger prize at stake.
Record: 35-4.

April 7, 2031
NCAA Championship Game

We did it again!

The Villanova Wildcats win their second national championship, defeating West Virginia, 63-61, on a pair of free throws by Kris DeMello with no time remaining on the clock.

It's the second consecutive All-Big East championship final, as last year the Mountaineers defeated Georgetown.

At halftime, it looks like West Virginia will defend their title. They lead, 37-28, and we're having trouble getting our offense going. The game is played at a deliberate pace that suits the Mountaineers and their stingy defense. They force us into 21 turnovers, and we usually don't win when we squander that many possessions.

However, WVU's defensive intensity can lead to foul trouble, and over the course of the evening, our ability to get to the line keeps us in the game. Ronald Chavis proves almost impossible for us to guard, and our old pal Herschel Middlebrooks keeps finding ways to score, but the other Mountaineers can't get good looks at the basket. After all, we usually play pretty good defense ourselves.

With 24 seconds remaining, the score is tied at 61, and West Virginia has the ball. Everyone in the arena believes they'll have the last chance to win the game in regulation time. Then, Middlebrooks gets a bit careless, and Ernest Adcock swipes the ball from him. Ernest is in the game right now for that reason: he's one of our best perimeter defenders, and here he makes the biggest play of his young collegiate career.

We advance the ball into the frontcourt and call time out. Now it's our turn to take the last shot. The Mountaineers will do anything short of mayhem to prevent Asher Wise from getting the basketball. They're equally worried about Reed Weisberg, even though the freshman hasn't done much tonight. In retrospect, they were probably pleased that they forced Lowell Welter to handle the ball, but he takes care of it and makes a good pass.

And If the Mountaineers could pick a Wildcat to have the ball in his hands with time running out, they'd probably choose Kris DeMello. The sophomore center has taken seven shots tonight and made one. It's Kris who has possession as the clock is running down, and as he tries to drive the left baseline, he's met by Ronald Chavis. There's a whistle...and Chavis is called for a foul.

Kris DeMello is a career .617 shooter from the line. That's not a fluke result; his rating for free throw shooting is 30. Among the players in our rotation, only Welter (.541/20) is worse. However, in this situation, Kris has only to make one of two.

The big Canadian calmly sinks them both. Let the celebrations begin.

Graham Sims becomes the first coach to guide his team to three national championships (Kenneth Burroughs and the retired James Berube and Marvin Heron have two to their credit). The victory is the 600th of Coach Sims' career, the most in our dynasty's history (Burroughs has 550 wins). He's had quite a ride, and it's not over yet.

Awesome, congrats!

April 7, 2031

From high school All-American to freshman All-American to second team All-American, Asher Wise continues his career progression in a wonderful way.


Asher was an easy pick for All-Big East honors. The conference had a lot of star power this year, and our guy certainly added to it. Orval Juan will almost certainly turn pro, so I'd make Asher my preseason pick for Big East Player of the Year in 2031/32.

I'm really happy that Lowell Welter earned some All-Big East love. We don't win the accolades we won without him. He's a favorite of mine.

Reed Weisberg wouldn't have been a bad pick for the national Freshman All-American team. I don't see much separating him from Duke's John Crook. I'm glad he got the Big East award, though.

I usually don't take issue with the Coach of the Year vote. This year, however, I want to ask a few questions.

I'm taking nothing away from the job Gerard O'Neal did at Syracuse. The Orange hadn't had a winning season in four years, before the former St. Bonaventure coach arrived and led them to 21 wins and an NCAA tournament berth. However, the Orange exited the tournament in the first round. Meanwhile, their former coach, Joseph Owens, took a 32-win West Virginia team to the championship game, and Graham Sims' 36-win Villanova team won it all. For my money, both those coaches had better years than Coach O'Neal did. I'd have voted for Coach Owens.

Thanks, Chas! I felt good about this team's chances in November. When Tony Ezell got hurt, I remember thinking, "Well, that's it." I thought losing him would cost us a few wins in the Big East. That would hurt our NCAA tournament seeding, and that would make our road to the Final Four tougher. We did a very good job of covering for Tony's absence, because the rest of our frontcourt guys stepped up.

And, as it turned out, I think we dodged two very dangerous bullets when Vanderbilt and Kansas were eliminated from the Midwest Region, whose champion we played in the Final Four. We matched up much better against UCLA than we would have against either of those teams. Kansas' offense was insanely good. Vanderbilt traditionally plays exceptional defense, and this year's Commodores were very good by their standard. No disrespect intended to UCLA, but I can't help wondering if we'd have made it to the final at all if we'd had to play either KU or Vandy.

As always, I appreciate you following along! :)

April 7, 2031

I like to dig deeper than wins and losses to figure out why those wins and losses happened. This year's Wildcats were almost as explosive offensively as last year's team, but they were a bit better defensively. The margins still look very good. We handled a challenging schedule, playing 30 of our 40 games against teams in the top 100 of the RPI list. And, most importantly, we won games in March and April.




Asher Wise finishes the season with an even 700 points, which is the highest single season total in Villanova's history. That surprises me; I figured someone had scored at least that many before I took the 'Nova job. I remember Byron Shores and Kenton Lashley scoring that many at Lafayette while Coach Sims was there.

Asher and Reed Weisberg broke the school record for "most three-point attempts by a player not named Jacob Allen." Allen and Corey Hicks are the only Villanovans to make more threes in a season.

I'll say more about one of our players in a moment, because we have to bid him Farewell.

2030/31 Farewell

LOWELL WELTER

As Lowell Welter's junior season progressed, I wondered more and more if he'd decide to turn pro. After a successful sophomore season that saw him earn second team All-Big East honors, Lowell continued to improve. He earned his way back onto the second team, and most importantly, he helped us earn a national championship.

When I recruited Lowell, I described him as "country strong," a ferocious rebounder who "could develop into a very good outside shooter." I think I described the player Lowell became quite well. Had he decided to return for his senior year, he would have achieved career totals of over 1000 points and 1000 rebounds. No Wildcat has done that. No Lafayette player has, either. And, as for his outside shooting, Lowell knocked down over 45 percent of his threes, and he took more than a few of them.

Low-Key isn't considered a top prospect for the pro draft. Even if he's not drafted, I fully expect him to make someone's roster. Lowell is the kind of player any team would want. He hustles, works hard, and plays for his teammates. He's a winner, too. Our record since Lowell arrived is 104-8, and there will be a 2031 banner hanging from the rafters next fall. He's a big reason why.

Back in his home town of Cochranton, PA, Kay's Cardinal Country Restaurant proudly includes "Lowell's Corned Beef Hash" on its menu now. That might be the most meaningful tribute this Wildcat has received.

Thanks for the memories, Lowell.

April 12, 2031

Lowell Welter receives wonderful news on Draft Night. He's chosen early in the second round, going #33 overall.

Two of Lowell's Big East foes, Pitt center Orval Juan and Georgetown power forward Shelton Davis, are drafted first and third. Wing Ronald Chavis of West Virginia gives the Big East three lottery picks, as he goes off the board at #10, and his teammate, senior big man Booker Brent, is taken at #18.

Lafayette guard Kevin Wells decides to turn pro a year early and is drafted with the #45 pick.


When your recruiting class consists of one player, it can only be ranked so high. That's the position we find ourselves in, as Zach Cohen is our sole incoming freshman. The next highest one-man class is ranked #195.

West Virginia appears to be reloading very well, and I mentioned Georgetown's class already. We actively recruited their big names, DeQuinn Baldwin and Jacody Hinton. We also took a long look at Pitt signee Reggie Johnson.

On the other hand, I'm still trying to figure out how Marquette ended up with a single one-star recruit.

Kansas attracts the nation's top-ranked class, headlined by five-star players DeWitt Oliver and Jerrell Thomas. Ezra Love leads Kentucky's third-ranked class, while Sam Marshall is the prize player in Boston College's #5 haul.

April 13, 2031

Perhaps in recognition of his third national championship, coach Graham Sims has leveled up again. He is now one of five Level 14 coaches in our universe. The others are Kenneth Burroughs of USC, Ervin Gadson of Boston College, Wallace Hastings of Georgetown, and Joseph Owens of West Virginia. Three of these consummate pros regularly match wits with each other in the Big East.


Our Prestige remains at 100, and our Facilities score is 88. There are four other teams with 100 Prestige: Georgetown, Kansas, North Carolina, and West Virginia. Stanford is at 99; Vanderbilt is at 97; Lafayette has risen to 95.

Our basketball budget will be $800,000 again this season.

May 13, 2031

Our (former) Scouting Director, Daniel Bryant, will be Kennesaw State's next head basketball coach. Coach Bryant, who's only 28 years old, is the tenth of Coach Sims' former assistants to hold a head coaching job, and the eighth who is currently running his own program.

Interestingly enough, the coaches on Graham's tree have not been terribly successful head coaches. Thomas Liang, who is now at Penn State, has the most victories, with a career record of 126-126. None of Graham's former assistants has seen one of his assistants move to a top job, so his tree is still one level high.

We replace one Coach Bryant with another Coach Bryant. And the new Coach Bryant is actually a former Coach Bryant, as he's been on the Villanova staff before.

The Wildcats hired Jacob Bryant as their Scouting Director in 2019, after he spent nearly a decade in the same role at Texas A&M. Jacob left the Main Line after three seasons to take the top job at Stony Brook. He never posted a winning season with the Seawolves, and was fired this spring. Coach Bryant is 45 years old, and while he's only a Level 4 coach, he's as good as it gets at the one job we're asking him to do. He'll be paid well to do it, with a yearly salary of $188,435.

May 13, 2031

Today, we receive a commitment from the first transfer I've signed who isn't a member of Graham Sims' family. He's William Collins, a sturdy post player who arrives from LSU.

At first glance, William might appear to be somewhat of a bust. He was a three-star recruit coming out of high school, and he appears to offer absolutely nothing offensively. However, his post defense, rebounding, and shot blocking abilities mark him as a classic Blue Collar Man, in a compact package.

William never saw the floor at LSU, but I think there's a useful squad player in there. He'll battle in practice every day with talented big men like Kris DeMello, Clemens Schwaiger, and Zach Cohen, and in a few months, he'll be able to try to stop Tony Ezell. Collins is also a very good student.

Welcome to our program, William!