Coaches’ Thoughts: Colonial Athletic Association

The City of Basketball Love website asked CAA assistant coaches to give their yeam-by-team thoughts on the CAA this year. Here's what they said about the Hawk (Note: Each “…” separates one coaches’ thoughts from another’s):

UNC-Wilmington Seahawks
“New coach, I’d expect them to play a lot different style. Kevin Keatts comes from the Rick Pitino tree, so I’d expect a little more pressing, a little more uptempo than they played in recent years. Pitino’s guys have had a great track record of coming in and being successful at spots they’ve taken over. …Very curious to see how they’re going to play, and if they’re going to play a fast, uptempo style like you’d expect with Coach Keatts coming from Louisville. I think Cedric Williams is one of the more underrated player in the league, so I’d look for him to have a big senior year. …I think they’re going to be better than people think this year, and then they’re going to turn that thing around pretty quickly because it is a program that has tradition. …I thought they were pretty talented last year, and if he gets them playing together, playing hard, they have some older guys that if they buy into what he wants to do and do the right things, I think they have a chance to win some games. I don’t think their record last year was reflective of their talent.”

(10-29-2014 05:09 AM)70shawk Wrote:  I don’t think their record last year was reflective of their talent.”

Hey did you know Buzz Peterson was Michael Jordan's roommate once? Yeah.

Touche'

I agree with that and I think it is vital that they get off quick or it could be a very long year-again.
What really bothers me is the fact that Keatts wants to pressure and run and the roster says otherwise.Pressure works best when you can fatigue the opponent and it has to be run with confidence and aggression,not sure they have that part of it either.I have talked with some guys that saw his high school teams play and they all agree that they won with talent and pressure-mostly talent.I like the style of play myself but I also understand how difficult it is to pull off.If it was easy every team would use it.

I agree that they do have a chance to be improved this year, but the seniors and a freshman PG will have to step up. They should have a very good CAA frontcourt, but will have to get production at the PG and wings. The formula is simple as Jumpin wrote. Can they sustain their pressure and can they defend at a level that is much improved from a year ago? That will be how this year's team will have to be defined and how they will have to win games in the CAA and OOC. Going to be interesting to see how he utilizes what he has now.

Will Sherwood play a hybrid role with his length at the 3 some and his ability to shoot the ball? How soon will 1 of the freshmen get going at PG or in there as a combo? Will Ponder emerge as a backcourt leader/consistent scorer? Can Jackson and Spruill step up and be consistent? Yemi's impact at the 5? Will Getty's and Ogbodo take another step forward? Do they play very tough collective team D? These are the kind of questions that need to be answered and we will know before too long...

Anything is better than where we were !!! Looking forward to this year and think the new attitude with Keats will be contagious with players and fans alike. I just want to see improvement and compete!!! Wins will come & I expect a to see a them !!!

(10-30-2014 09:01 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  I have talked with some guys that saw his high school teams play and they all agree that they won with talent and pressure-mostly talent.

Valvano used to say that the three keys to winning are recruiting, scheduling, ....and recruiting.

(10-31-2014 06:23 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 09:01 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  I have talked with some guys that saw his high school teams play and they all agree that they won with talent and pressure-mostly talent.

Valvano used to say that the three keys to winning are recruiting, scheduling, ....and recruiting.

Don't forget cheating your ass off!Valvano ranks at the top of the list for all time scum bags in the ACC.The guy was an absolute piece of work.

(10-31-2014 07:38 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  

(10-31-2014 06:23 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-30-2014 09:01 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  I have talked with some guys that saw his high school teams play and they all agree that they won with talent and pressure-mostly talent.

Valvano used to say that the three keys to winning are recruiting, scheduling, ....and recruiting.

Don't forget cheating your ass off!Valvano ranks at the top of the list for all time scum bags in the ACC.The guy was an absolute piece of work.

I'm Shocked! Shocked!

Let's not go off on Jimmy V. I met him and he was a great person to be around-a good guy-met him at a golf course out of the way. Their program may have been a sham a little bit so to speak, but as we are now knowing...many a ACC program has gone that way. And, you can kind of see it with the way teams play. That makes it that much better when programs are revealed. Once the talent gap lessens, it shows big. That's where a UNCW fits it in....maybe now..but more likely down the road a bit.

Let's not call a spade a spade?He was a total salesman-not unlike Coach Cal right now but as far as being a great person he fell way short of that.Cheater supreme and a guy who had no conscious.Buzz was/is a used car salesman but he is a decent guy and not prone to breaking every rule in the book to win games.
Keatts seems like a good guy but obviously he has no experience to cage him by at this level.I am not giving him the nod just yet.Big surprise I am sure to you guys who have already awarded him COY.

(11-01-2014 10:45 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  Big surprise I am sure to you guys who have already awarded him COY.

Big Surprise? Coming from The Mullet?

That's rich!

(11-01-2014 10:45 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  Big surprise I am sure to you guys who have already awarded him COY.

I'm all in on Coach Keatts. Only way to be at this point. We're fans, short for fanatics. Having unreasonably high expectations is what we do. I've thought the Jets are going to win the Super Bowl pretty much every year. And I'm OK with that.

(11-02-2014 12:54 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  I've thought the Jets are going to win the Super Bowl pretty much every year. And I'm OK with that.

Optimistic is one thing, this^^^^ would make you borderline to be checked into a mental institution :)

No different than going in 100% with a high school coach as the guy to save the day at UNCW.Fans are delusional for the most part.Keatts has a better chance to turn this around of course but he is far from a lock to win here.

(11-04-2014 08:58 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  .Fans are delusional for the most part.

I don't think in this case that delusion is confined to fans.

(11-04-2014 08:58 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  No different than going in 100% with a high school coach as the guy to save the day at UNCW.Fans are delusional for the most part.Keatts has a better chance to turn this around of course but he is far from a lock to win here.

Whether I have high expectations and delusion or not has zero impact on the program. So who cares? If you want to be miserable that your guy didn't get the job that's your prerogative.

I didn't know much about Kevin Keatts before he came here but I'm optimistic the program is in good hands, and I'm happier for it. Sue me.

(11-04-2014 08:39 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  Optimistic is one thing, this^^^^ would make you borderline to be checked into a mental institution :)

My cube has padded walls just in case.

The Vatican used to have a position called "The Devil's Advocate".

I'm not saying that The Mullet is the Devil. But if that job were to open up again, I would suggest he submit a resume....

I don't have a guy for the job and I do hope they get better-just not holding my breath right now.Every fan thinks this is the year we win it all and who knows,maybe this is the year of the Seahawk.

(11-04-2014 03:48 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 08:58 AM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  No different than going in 100% with a high school coach as the guy to save the day at UNCW.Fans are delusional for the most part.Keatts has a better chance to turn this around of course but he is far from a lock to win here.

Whether I have high expectations and delusion or not has zero impact on the program. So who cares? If you want to be miserable that your guy didn't get the job that's your prerogative.

I didn't know much about Kevin Keatts before he came here but I'm optimistic the program is in good hands, and I'm happier for it. Sue me.