Front Office Football Central - View Single Post - Coach Graham Sims: A Pennsylvania Story (FBCB)

MoonlightGraham · 11-30-2023, 07:25 PM

November 14, 2027
Philadelphia Invitational, First Round
(2) #3 Villanova 75, (7) Arkansas 62
The opening game in the Philly Invitational doesn't go according to plan, but we pull out a win over a pesky Arkansas team.

Bruno Le Fleurquin, Jacob Allen, and Duncan Sims combine for a total of 9 points. Fortunately, Jose Blanco cuts loose for 24, with 8 rebounds, and Caleb Blaney asserts himself with 11 off the bench.

Avery Sullivan enjoys a quiet, efficient first game, making 4 of 7 shots, scoring 8 points, and grabbing 6 boards. Devin Guzman (8p/7a) provides a steady hand.
Record: 1-0.

November 16, 2027
Philadelphia Invitational Semifinal
(2) #6 Villanova 87, (3) Missouri 60
We fall three places in the polls, dropping behind several teams that have already won three or four games, and it seems to inspire the boys to punish the Tigers for this slight.

Jose Blanco (23p/11r) plays like a grown man again tonight, and this time BLF (15p/13r) is just as assertive. Jacob Allen (11 points) and Duncan Sims (11p/3a, 6-6 from the line) also play better.

We commit too many turnovers and miss quite a few shots, but when the game ends, the scoreboard still looks very good.
Record: 2-0.

November 18, 2027
Philadelphia Invitational Championship Game
(2) #6 Villanova 81, (4) Ohio State 73
A delighted crowd at the Wells Fargo Center watches the Wildcats defeat Ohio State to lift the Philly Invitational trophy.

The Buckeyes, who upset North Carolina to earn a spot in the final, have problems unlocking the Villanova defense. They shoot 33.8% from the field and miss 13 of their 21 three-point tries. Meanwhile, Villanova gets 20 points and 9 rebounds from Bruno Le Fleurquin, 6 points and 10 boards from Avery Sullivan, and 14 points off the bench from Duncan Sims. Caleb Blaney (9p/2s) again plays well.
Record: 3-0.

November 21, 2027
@#6 Villanova 98, #17 Lafayette 75
Hoops fans in eastern Pennsylvania have come to treasure Villanova-Lafayette matchups. To their credit, Villanova fans are more charitable to the Leopards than they are to many opponents, for which Graham Sims is very appreciative.

The warm feelings don't prevent the 'Cats from asserting their will, however. Jose Blanco (23p/9r) and Bruno Le Fleurquin (18p/10r) win most of their battles against Lafayette big men Porter Prado (16p/10r) and Bret Bryant (14p/6r/6 turnovers). Corey Hicks has his first big game, with 15 points, and Charles Vancleave adds 10 more. Duncan Sims (7p/4a) also plays well on his return to his home town.
Record: 4-0.

November 24, 2027
@#1 Villanova 96, #6 Kansas 78
Villanova fans greet Kansas coach Douglas Gillum, Villanova '84, with a heartfelt standing ovation. Older fans remember Gillum as a player. Many of them know him as a respected, Hall of Fame-worthy coach, and they're proud of his connection to their university. Coach Gillum just turned 65. How many more times will he visit his alma mater as an active coach? Is this the last one?

At the same time, they are even more proud of the Wildcats' #1 ranking. Graham Sims has coached a national champion, but he's never coached a top-ranked team. There's something about entering a game as the nominal best team in the country.

Then we go out and play like that team. It's 58-41 at halftime, and the crowd cheers wildly as the players leave the court for the locker room. Kansas plays better in the second half--we win that half 38-37--but they can't cut the lead any more than that.

It is as complete a performance as any of Graham's teams have ever delivered, and it happens on a very big stage.

Code:

Villanova 96, Kansas 78

---------------------------------------------------------
Kansas  (3-1, 0-0):
Player            Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts
Vince Lawlor      PF   18   2-4   0-1   1   1   0  4   4
Brian Cazares     PF    9   3-3   0-0   0   0   0  4   6
Brian Rex         SF   27   4-9   2-2   3   5   1  4  13
Cyril Macias      SG   32  7-14   0-0   0   9   1  3  18
David Edmond      PG   32  5-15   0-0   1   3  11  2  12
Charles Rumph     SF    9   1-3   0-0   1   2   3  4   3
Dallas Brundage   PG   14   3-9   0-0   1   1   2  0   7
Domingo Bravo     SG    3   0-0   0-0   1   1   0  0   0
Scott Lapointe    PF   28   0-3   3-4   5   8   2  3   3
Jamie Kendall     C    19   4-6   2-2   1   4   1  3  10
Long Campbell     SF    2   0-0   2-2   0   1   0  1   2
Errol Otten       PF    6   0-1   0-0   0   0   0  1   0
John Kalendek     C     1   0-0   0-0   0   0   0  0   0

Turnovers: 13 (V.Lawlor 1, C.Macias 6, D.Edmond 3, 
 D.Brundage 1, S.Lapointe 1, J.Kendall 1)
Blocked Shots: 4 (B.Cazares 1, S.Lapointe 3)
Steals: 7 (C.Macias 2, D.Edmond 2, J.Kendall 2, 
 L.Campbell 1)
3P FGs: 11-32 (B.Rex 3-7, C.Macias 4-11, D.Edmond 2-5, 
 C.Rumph 1-3, D.Brundage 1-5, E.Otten 0-1)

Villanova  (5-0, 0-0):
Player            Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts
Avery Sullivan    C    21   4-8   4-6   2   3   1  0  12
Jose Blanco       C    36  8-12   4-7   4   7   5  1  20
B. Le Fleurquin   PF   28   5-8   3-5   2   9   2  3  13
Jacob Allen       SG   20  4-10   2-2   1   4   1  0  13
Devin Guzman      PG   28   0-2   5-8   0   4   5  1   5
Duncan Sims       SG   21   5-7   2-2   1   3   3  2  15
Corey Hicks       SF   27   2-5   2-2   1   5   2  2   7
Charles Vancleave PG    8   1-2   0-0   1   1   0  1   2
Caleb Blaney      PF    9   2-2   1-2   0   0   0  1   7
Richard Pray      SF    2   1-1   0-0   0   1   1  1   2
Joshua Parkin     C     1   0-0   0-0   0   0   0  0   0

Turnovers: 12 (A.Sullivan 1, J.Blanco 1, B.Le Fleurquin 
 1, J.Allen 1, D.Guzman 2, C.Hicks 3, C.Vancleave 2, 
 C.Blaney 1)
Blocked Shots: 5 (A.Sullivan 2, J.Blanco 1, D.Guzman 1, 
 C.Vancleave 1)
Steals: 1 (J.Allen 1)
3P FGs: 9-18 (J.Allen 3-7, D.Guzman 0-1, D.Sims 3-5, 
 C.Hicks 1-2, C.Vancleave 0-1, C.Blaney 2-2)

Player of Game: PF Jose Blanco (VLNV)

Record: 5-0.

11-30-2023, 07:25 PM	#403
MoonlightGraham High School Varsity Join Date: Sep 2022	November 14, 2027 Philadelphia Invitational, First Round (2) #3 Villanova 75, (7) Arkansas 62 The opening game in the Philly Invitational doesn't go according to plan, but we pull out a win over a pesky Arkansas team. Bruno Le Fleurquin, Jacob Allen, and Duncan Sims combine for a total of 9 points. Fortunately, Jose Blanco cuts loose for 24, with 8 rebounds, and Caleb Blaney asserts himself with 11 off the bench. Avery Sullivan enjoys a quiet, efficient first game, making 4 of 7 shots, scoring 8 points, and grabbing 6 boards. Devin Guzman (8p/7a) provides a steady hand. Record: 1-0. November 16, 2027 Philadelphia Invitational Semifinal (2) #6 Villanova 87, (3) Missouri 60 We fall three places in the polls, dropping behind several teams that have already won three or four games, and it seems to inspire the boys to punish the Tigers for this slight. Jose Blanco (23p/11r) plays like a grown man again tonight, and this time BLF (15p/13r) is just as assertive. Jacob Allen (11 points) and Duncan Sims (11p/3a, 6-6 from the line) also play better. We commit too many turnovers and miss quite a few shots, but when the game ends, the scoreboard still looks very good. Record: 2-0. November 18, 2027 Philadelphia Invitational Championship Game (2) #6 Villanova 81, (4) Ohio State 73 A delighted crowd at the Wells Fargo Center watches the Wildcats defeat Ohio State to lift the Philly Invitational trophy. The Buckeyes, who upset North Carolina to earn a spot in the final, have problems unlocking the Villanova defense. They shoot 33.8% from the field and miss 13 of their 21 three-point tries. Meanwhile, Villanova gets 20 points and 9 rebounds from Bruno Le Fleurquin, 6 points and 10 boards from Avery Sullivan, and 14 points off the bench from Duncan Sims. Caleb Blaney (9p/2s) again plays well. Record: 3-0. November 21, 2027 @#6 Villanova 98, #17 Lafayette 75 Hoops fans in eastern Pennsylvania have come to treasure Villanova-Lafayette matchups. To their credit, Villanova fans are more charitable to the Leopards than they are to many opponents, for which Graham Sims is very appreciative. The warm feelings don't prevent the 'Cats from asserting their will, however. Jose Blanco (23p/9r) and Bruno Le Fleurquin (18p/10r) win most of their battles against Lafayette big men Porter Prado (16p/10r) and Bret Bryant (14p/6r/6 turnovers). Corey Hicks has his first big game, with 15 points, and Charles Vancleave adds 10 more. Duncan Sims (7p/4a) also plays well on his return to his home town. Record: 4-0. November 24, 2027 @#1 Villanova 96, #6 Kansas 78 Villanova fans greet Kansas coach Douglas Gillum, Villanova '84, with a heartfelt standing ovation. Older fans remember Gillum as a player. Many of them know him as a respected, Hall of Fame-worthy coach, and they're proud of his connection to their university. Coach Gillum just turned 65. How many more times will he visit his alma mater as an active coach? Is this the last one? At the same time, they are even more proud of the Wildcats' #1 ranking. Graham Sims has coached a national champion, but he's never coached a top-ranked team. There's something about entering a game as the nominal best team in the country. Then we go out and play like that team. It's 58-41 at halftime, and the crowd cheers wildly as the players leave the court for the locker room. Kansas plays better in the second half--we win that half 38-37--but they can't cut the lead any more than that. It is as complete a performance as any of Graham's teams have ever delivered, and it happens on a very big stage. Code: Villanova 96, Kansas 78 --------------------------------------------------------- Kansas (3-1, 0-0): Player Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts Vince Lawlor PF 18 2-4 0-1 1 1 0 4 4 Brian Cazares PF 9 3-3 0-0 0 0 0 4 6 Brian Rex SF 27 4-9 2-2 3 5 1 4 13 Cyril Macias SG 32 7-14 0-0 0 9 1 3 18 David Edmond PG 32 5-15 0-0 1 3 11 2 12 Charles Rumph SF 9 1-3 0-0 1 2 3 4 3 Dallas Brundage PG 14 3-9 0-0 1 1 2 0 7 Domingo Bravo SG 3 0-0 0-0 1 1 0 0 0 Scott Lapointe PF 28 0-3 3-4 5 8 2 3 3 Jamie Kendall C 19 4-6 2-2 1 4 1 3 10 Long Campbell SF 2 0-0 2-2 0 1 0 1 2 Errol Otten PF 6 0-1 0-0 0 0 0 1 0 John Kalendek C 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 Turnovers: 13 (V.Lawlor 1, C.Macias 6, D.Edmond 3, D.Brundage 1, S.Lapointe 1, J.Kendall 1) Blocked Shots: 4 (B.Cazares 1, S.Lapointe 3) Steals: 7 (C.Macias 2, D.Edmond 2, J.Kendall 2, L.Campbell 1) 3P FGs: 11-32 (B.Rex 3-7, C.Macias 4-11, D.Edmond 2-5, C.Rumph 1-3, D.Brundage 1-5, E.Otten 0-1) Villanova (5-0, 0-0): Player Pos Min Fgm-a Ftm-a Off Reb Ast PF Pts Avery Sullivan C 21 4-8 4-6 2 3 1 0 12 Jose Blanco C 36 8-12 4-7 4 7 5 1 20 B. Le Fleurquin PF 28 5-8 3-5 2 9 2 3 13 Jacob Allen SG 20 4-10 2-2 1 4 1 0 13 Devin Guzman PG 28 0-2 5-8 0 4 5 1 5 Duncan Sims SG 21 5-7 2-2 1 3 3 2 15 Corey Hicks SF 27 2-5 2-2 1 5 2 2 7 Charles Vancleave PG 8 1-2 0-0 1 1 0 1 2 Caleb Blaney PF 9 2-2 1-2 0 0 0 1 7 Richard Pray SF 2 1-1 0-0 0 1 1 1 2 Joshua Parkin C 1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 Turnovers: 12 (A.Sullivan 1, J.Blanco 1, B.Le Fleurquin 1, J.Allen 1, D.Guzman 2, C.Hicks 3, C.Vancleave 2, C.Blaney 1) Blocked Shots: 5 (A.Sullivan 2, J.Blanco 1, D.Guzman 1, C.Vancleave 1) Steals: 1 (J.Allen 1) 3P FGs: 9-18 (J.Allen 3-7, D.Guzman 0-1, D.Sims 3-5, C.Hicks 1-2, C.Vancleave 0-1, C.Blaney 2-2) Player of Game: PF Jose Blanco (VLNV) Record: 5-0. Last edited by MoonlightGraham : 11-30-2023 at 07:37 PM.