Well, here we go. Don't see a betting line this morning, but going by kenpom, etc, I suppose we would be a very slight favorite at the neutral site.
Drexel looked sharp to me yesterday. I will be looking to see the things we always talk about, like our ball movement, going to the paint, etc. There should be no question about being focused in a survive or go home game like this, against a team that no player (or coach) should think that we are "supposed" to beat.
Incidentally, we are trying to become the first #4 seed since 2000 to win the CAA tournament - which was won by UNCW for our first CAA Championship.
(This post was last modified: 03-05-2023 07:31 AM by 70shawk.)
I really don't know what to expect from this team. CAA coaches seem to have figured us out and we haven't been able to make changes to counter what they've done. It does seem like we've been pressing with more intensity and have been intentional about getting the ball up the court off defensive rebounds for fast break chances. BUT, our offense has been so bad in the half court we haven't been able to get in the press off made baskets.
We just don't have "that guy" who can get us a bucket when we have to have one, with the exception of Farrar who seems to be parked on the bench when we need him most. I know Siddle has his demands on defense and his expectaitons, but there has got to be some leeway when we go on a nine minute drought and can't make a field goal. What I REALLY hope to see is Ross starting again and MHH coming off the bench. There is no doubt, for whatever reason, that worked best for the team. The good thing is that even when Ross started he usually wasn't relied upon to score and he didn't play much more than 20 minutes. Not sure he can give that to us against Drexel, but it could change everything and give us that punch off the bench that really was our strong point,
So, here's my prediction
Ross plays at least 15 minutes, we win
Ross plays less than 15 minutes, we lose.
(03-05-2023 08:00 AM)82hawk Wrote: I really don't know what to expect from this team. CAA coaches seem to have figured us out and we haven't been able to make changes to counter what they've done. It does seem like we've been pressing with more intensity and have been intentional about getting the ball up the court off defensive rebounds for fast break chances. BUT, our offense has been so bad in the half court we haven't been able to get in the press off made baskets.
We just don't have "that guy" who can get us a bucket when we have to have one, with the exception of Farrar who seems to be parked on the bench when we need him most. I know Siddle has his demands on defense and his expectaitons, but there has got to be some leeway when we go on a nine minute drought and can't make a field goal. What I REALLY hope to see is Ross starting again and MHH coming off the bench. There is no doubt, for whatever reason, that worked best for the team. The good thing is that even when Ross started he usually wasn't relied upon to score and he didn't play much more than 20 minutes. Not sure he can give that to us against Drexel, but it could change everything and give us that punch off the bench that really was our strong point,
So, here's my prediction
Ross plays at least 15 minutes, we win
Ross plays less than 15 minutes, we lose.
Other teams 'figured us out' and have been packing it inside, daring us to shoot from outside and denying lanes to our undersized guards who try to take it to the rim.
Coach gave Ross a few minutes against Stoneybrook, but he didn't sniff the floor against Towson. So unless he had a heck of a practice week it's hard to see Ross getting 15 minutes of floor time today.
Farrar is a scorer who wants the ball in his hands, and has the ability to deliver.
I guess we will find out soon enough what adjustments will be made in light of the above.
(03-05-2023 04:39 PM)82hawk Wrote: Ross played more than 15 minutes....
Ross needs to play more. We are a flat out better team with him on the court. He came off the bench in the 2nd half when we were losing by double digits and we went on a 11-0 run after that.
(03-05-2023 04:39 PM)82hawk Wrote: Ross played more than 15 minutes....
Ross needs to play more. We are a flat out better team with him on the court. He came off the bench in the 2nd half when we were losing by double digits and we went on a 11-0 run after that.
One very positive note - when the Seahawks went down by 11 and it looked like it could really get away from them, the guys dug down and didn't fold. Doubtless, the presence of Farrar and Ross had more than a little something to do with the comeback. The old scrappiness came back.
We are going to need a lot more than that to take down Hofstra tomorrow...but it's a positive development.
Nick wants to win and he wants to help us win, that's obvious. He has offensive skills that are far beyond anyone else on the team and we really need offense. 17 minutes from Nick and 15 minutes from Ross against Hofstra, or against anyone for that matter, is a huge difference maker for the Hawks'.
The more I watch Ross the easier it is to see why the team plays better with him on the court. There were at least three times I remember a guard trying to get a shot off by backing Ross into the post and he was shut down and forced to pass. Ross also gets a touch on a lot of rebounds to keep them alive, even if he isn't the one to get the rebound. He also boxes out really well and allows other UNCW players to get to rebounds as a result. It's no wonder the team stats are better when he's on the court.
(03-05-2023 05:41 PM)82hawk Wrote: Nick wants to win and he wants to help us win, that's obvious. He has offensive skills that are far beyond anyone else on the team and we really need offense. 17 minutes from Nick and 15 minutes from Ross against Hofstra, or against anyone for that matter, is a huge difference maker for the Hawks'.
The more I watch Ross the easier it is to see why the team plays better with him on the court. There were at least three times I remember a guard trying to get a shot off by backing Ross into the post and he was shut down and forced to pass. Ross also gets a touch on a lot of rebounds to keep them alive, even if he isn't the one to get the rebound. He also boxes out really well and allows other UNCW players to get to rebounds as a result. It's no wonder the team stats are better when he's on the court.
Ross does the intangibles. It doesn’t show up in the box score, but every little thing he does makes us better.
Farrar is a matchup nightmare for certain teams. But the issue with him is that he can be a defensive liability against certain teams.
(03-05-2023 05:41 PM)82hawk Wrote: Nick wants to win and he wants to help us win, that's obvious. He has offensive skills that are far beyond anyone else on the team and we really need offense. 17 minutes from Nick and 15 minutes from Ross against Hofstra, or against anyone for that matter, is a huge difference maker for the Hawks'.
The more I watch Ross the easier it is to see why the team plays better with him on the court. There were at least three times I remember a guard trying to get a shot off by backing Ross into the post and he was shut down and forced to pass. Ross also gets a touch on a lot of rebounds to keep them alive, even if he isn't the one to get the rebound. He also boxes out really well and allows other UNCW players to get to rebounds as a result. It's no wonder the team stats are better when he's on the court.
Ross does the intangibles. It doesn’t show up in the box score, but every little thing he does makes us better.
Farrar is a matchup nightmare for certain teams. But the issue with him is that he can be a defensive liability against certain teams.
As long as he, or anyone, is scoring more than the guy they are defending it really doesn't matter. Multiply that equation by every player on the team and we win. Farrar couldn't really stop Williams, but he outscored him by a whole lot, so what difference does it make? He forced an interior shot blocker to come out of the paint and it opened up the lane for everyone. Can't ask for much more than that. It's going to be interesting to see how we score against Hofstra with Ross getting minutes and hopefully Farrar doing the same.
Nick Farrar was indeed deserving of the Toughness Chain. Good job, Nick!
Although he didn't have much on his stat sheet, the minutes we got from Noah Ross were outstanding. He put the clamps on Luck when it looked to me that he was starting to have his way with us.
We need everyone to be on their A game come 6 pm tonight.
(03-06-2023 09:16 AM)Proff Wrote: Nick Farrar was indeed deserving of the Toughness Chain. Good job, Nick!
Although he didn't have much on his stat sheet, the minutes we got from Noah Ross were outstanding. He put the clamps on Luck when it looked to me that he was starting to have his way with us.
We need everyone to be on their A game come 6 pm tonight.
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The team was a +12 with him on the floor.(Ross) Also, the fact that this was the first time Nick got the chain is a joke, he's won at least 3 games for us by my count
UNCW v Drexel - CAA Tournament 
