Numerous examples of tough competition in the lower divisions haunt my tortured mind. The Utopia squad had a hell of a time getting out of DIV, for goodness' sake. Last season looked promising, but one DII team was replaced by another -- low double-digit NR is an impossible obstacle -- plus watch out the division got stronger. Besides, winning DII would probably still be a short stay. Let's focus on what got done this season:
-- The roster is gelling around a starting five and their subs, a rotation! We have a frontcourt of Bean, Markham, and Chisholm, with DuBose and Heard in the 4/5. Off the bench we have Girard, Muncy, Cyr, and Huddleston. Nine spots.
-- The deadbeat coach Marcum takes up a spot and an ignored draft pick takes up the 11th spot.
-- But this season is our first draft since Bean/Cyr. Next season will carry 12 players; it's hard not to think our top two picks will be better than Lawton, so his 68 TSP spot is vulnerable.
-- Regardless, the idea when we began the rebuild was we would have a trained rotation and a simultaneous training program, all based on all the draftees we could fit. We have reached that state and are finally able on only two trainees. The hope is the starting rotation will pick up the occasional boost in TSP. We are making good progress on FT and ST.
-- Ended the season making $70,000 / wk. Am hoping regular playing time for my starters will produce merchandise results as they place among the league leaders. With the trainees (or Lawton), we should have four homegrown players; not as good as the Utopia squad, but pointing in the right direction.
Looking forward with tempered hopes: no injuries, good draft picks, a bit of an advance for the oldsters, get some more money in the bank. Who we get from DII is not in our control.
Some numbers: salary $317,000; merch 9% above league average; $242,000 average attendance.