We all pretty much knew this day would come, so no use in acting surprised. What a great ride for 3 years!
1. UNCW is back! We have the right Chancellor, right AD and right trustees in place to keep us on top.
2. We have elevated our facilities(aka locker room) and our coaching pay to top 50 in the NCAA. We should be able to attract a very good coach in our price range who can keep the boat running at full speed.
3. Bass was prepared. Months ago he began compiling a list of Run/Defend/Win style coaches in case this happened. We should be ahead of the game in who our targets are and who may be willing to come on board. The quicker we can start interviewing and getting a coach on board the better. Lucky for us, several of the top pressing teams are already out. Texas, VCU, Minnesota all lost. Louisville is still in, and there may be a coach on their roster who would like to have.
4. Keatts and Pitino will speak vary highly of UNCW to any coaches looking to come here. We are a school that has proven it is a place to win, even if it's a stepping stone to a P5 job. The job should be highly desirable right now, a far cry from our last hire of Buzz.
Overall it sucks we lost Keatts, but he put us in as good a position as a midmajor school can be for the long term. The fan base, donors and city are prime to stay on top. And our Chancellor has realized just how important our men's basketball team is to the unity of the school.
Seahawk fans, life is good....
I agree that the leadership does want us to succeed and will probably provide a favorable climate for continuity. Facilities are sorely lacking, we have always had a decent locker room, what is needed and we are truly lacking in facilities is a practice gym, we do not have this and it hurts in recruiting and also having a place for team development. Also Trask is nice but really could really use a major upgrade. Bass has to really strike quick if he is going to hold this thing together.
Yes, Trask could use an upgrade. But, game day atmosphere is very important as well.
(03-17-2017 05:47 PM)Dash Rip Rock Jr Wrote: [ -> ]I agree that the leadership does want us to succeed and will probably provide a favorable climate for continuity. Facilities are sorely lacking, we have always had a decent locker room, what is needed and we are truly lacking in facilities is a practice gym, we do not have this and it hurts in recruiting and also having a place for team development. Also Trask is nice but really could really use a major upgrade. Bass has to really strike quick if he is going to hold this thing together.
Upgrades to Trask are in the works. Mostly an expansion at the front to include food choices, a welcome center, a bookstore area where fans can buy gear and a nice open gathering area. Practice facility would be nice, but I don't see it as a huge barrier. We already allowed the players to live off campus this year at much nice facilities than a dorm. Given the choice, i'm sure they would take the off campus living.
I want in here. Yes, UNCW is back for sure. Thanks Kevin! It's cool that he's up for the challenge that awaits because homeboy is gonna have a hard time that first year. Kevin was great for our program-he was because he reestablished what we all felt that this should be. UNCW is a special basketball place where it is king along with Scalf's terrific baseball program.
Kevin has an ability to spot talent before anybody else-that was cool and he had some help from our staff without question! That's his strength. My hope for him is that he can land the kind of recruit that everybody knows is great. That's a big difference. It's a different game. Now everybody has talent and he will have to start making adjustments.
The only negative that I have with Keatts is that he had NO Plan B at UNCW. You have to be able to get stops and that killed UNCW this year. UNCW should still be playing right now. When I saw direct line drives to the hole, even when we were winning big, I knew that was a problem. Yes, Keatts got the players and they really improved. Look at CJ and Devonte for example, he saw the raw ability and they got better. Still, when you look at the bigger picture, this team didn't advance and they should have. You have to get stops, you have to make adjustments and you have to give multiple looks defensively. That didn't happen and for his sake, I really hope that he learns that lesson.
(03-17-2017 11:20 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote: [ -> ]I want in here. Yes, UNCW is back for sure. Thanks Kevin! It's cool that he's up for the challenge that awaits because homeboy is gonna have a hard time that first year. Kevin was great for our program-he was because he reestablished what we all felt that this should be. UNCW is a special basketball place where it is king along with Scalf's terrific baseball program.
Kevin has an ability to spot talent before anybody else-that was cool and he had some help from our staff without question! That's his strength. My hope for him is that he can land the kind of recruit that everybody knows is great. That's a big difference. It's a different game. Now everybody has talent and he will have to start making adjustments.
The only negative that I have with Keatts is that he had NO Plan B at UNCW. You have to be able to get stops and that killed UNCW this year. UNCW should still be playing right now. When I saw direct line drives to the hole, even when we were winning big, I knew that was a problem. Yes, Keatts got the players and they really improved. Look at CJ and Devonte for example, he saw the raw ability and they got better. Still, when you look at the bigger picture, this team didn't advance and they should have. You have to get stops, you have to make adjustments and you have to give multiple looks defensively. That didn't happen and for his sake, I really hope that he learns that lesson.
Agree 100%. We were beaten by a coach that threw out his game plan and found a way to win. I don't recall Keatts making adjustments in that manner. We won doing what we do, and the plan B was to win or lose with Plan A.
In the end, he accomplished his goal of getting a next level job and we accomplished our goal of turning the program around. Win/win.
It's as plain as day. My coworkers were asking me if I was excited. I told them, YES, I was excited about our offense but that our defense was a problem to advance. I was right. In the end that was the problem.
Sticking to the thread, UNCW has a lot to offer. And, we can thank Kevin for getting us back to where we were....at the top of the mid major food chain bordering on high major-definitely talent wise. The next hire should be a good coach because it's been proven time after time that UNCW will get there. The fans are rabid and they support the program. Heck, even when UNCW was down they still led the league in attendance! It's a good job once again and somebody will have a chance to take this program over and do good things!
(03-17-2017 06:15 PM)CaptLou Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, Trask could use an upgrade. But, game day atmosphere is very important as well.
As an ODU fan with one of the nicest mid major arena around, I will say that I enjoy the atmosphere more at Trask than at The Ted most of the time. It may lack bells and whistles, but it has atmosphere, and can get loud.
(03-20-2017 10:44 AM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ] (03-17-2017 06:15 PM)CaptLou Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, Trask could use an upgrade. But, game day atmosphere is very important as well.
As an ODU fan with one of the nicest mid major arena around, I will say that I enjoy the atmosphere more at Trask than at The Ted most of the time. It may lack bells and whistles, but it has atmosphere, and can get loud.
It's crazy how often that happens!! This happens all the time, i much prefer the atmosphere at the old Yankee Stadium vs the new.
(03-20-2017 10:46 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote: [ -> ] (03-20-2017 10:44 AM)Monarchblue Wrote: [ -> ] (03-17-2017 06:15 PM)CaptLou Wrote: [ -> ]Yes, Trask could use an upgrade. But, game day atmosphere is very important as well.
As an ODU fan with one of the nicest mid major arena around, I will say that I enjoy the atmosphere more at Trask than at The Ted most of the time. It may lack bells and whistles, but it has atmosphere, and can get loud.
It's crazy how often that happens!! This happens all the time, i much prefer the atmosphere at the old Yankee Stadium vs the new.
Don't get me wrong, when we are good and that arena is full, it is loud and a lot of fun. Problem is we have a boring coach and a mediocre team in a comfortable arena right now. It's like going to the theater a lot of games.
I pray they never replace Wrigley.