The problem you run into at the mid major level is that players with length, who can use that length to defend, aren't usually great scorers as well. If they have length and can score, they aren't playing at UNCW, they're playing at UNC.

So, your defensive scheme at UNCW cannot be the one you learned at UNC, since you don't have the length at every position you're used to. Ok, what does a good defense look like if you don't have length?

1. You can run a real press like UNCW used to and UNCG does now. Running the press allows you to recruit high volume scorers lacking Power conference size. We've seen over and over again that size does not determine scoring ability, but it can be a big defensive liability.

2. You can play a zone to stop penetration and interior post ups. Hofstra is a great example of a team built on smaller players who can score but have defensive deficits due to size.

3. You can play a slow tempo game like CofC, where you rely on the great defense of bigger, athletic players who aren't high D1 caliber scorers. Keep the games low scoring and close, and try to close out games with great defense and a few guys who can score. Ala' UNCW in the BB days.

That's about it at the mid major level. The problem I see right now is we aren't playing a style of play that fits any of those strategies. We want to run and play man to man, but don't have either size or great scorers on the roster. We don't press to create TO's, we press to run clock. We won't play zone either. We basically play UNC ball without UNC caliber players and that's a proven, losing strategy at the mid major level. Ask Buzz or Lebo how that worked out. And now, McGrath has implemented the same failed strategy they did.


So, as much as i'd like to think we can continue with the same strategy with some players having more experience or bringing in a few recruits and start winning, I just don't see it. Something HAS to change or we may improve slightly, but will still remain in the bottom half of the CAA.