(02-29-2020 03:00 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(02-29-2020 02:53 PM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  

(02-29-2020 12:15 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  

(02-29-2020 07:00 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(02-28-2020 11:45 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Jerry was great for UNCW and UNCW was great for Jerry with 2 CAA titles. We got Brownell and rolled to 2 more CAA titles.. It's a shame we didn't continue the dominance but stupidity ruled. We got lucky again with Keatts and got 2 more CAA titles. He left us in shambles and even a good coach would have struggled for a bit. Now we have Burke who has shown great promise in getting guys to buy in and play serious ball. We have to give some credit to McGrath for recruiting such promising players like Phillips, Dodd and Boggs plus Ty, Sims, Okauru Marty, Brian, Estime et al. He got these guys here and built this foundation of talent.

A couple of bigs and a nice combo guard and the sky is the limit if everyone stays! And, to me ,that includes Burke. Hawks are the flagship CAA program with 6 titles and are poised for more in the future if it holds together like it looks like it might.

I keep hearing this nonsense that Keatts left us in shambles. It's BS. He left, but he didn't leave us in shambles moreso than any other coach. Players have far more latitude to direct their own careers than they ever did before and they made decisions they felt were best for their careeers. Only two players backed out before McGrath was hired. The others left upon knowing he was hired.

Let's put this in perspective once and for all. Let's say Burke had been hired instead of McGrath.

1. Let's say Burke couldn't have convinced a single player to stay. With NO additional recruits, he would have had Talley, Ty Taylor, Richmond, Fornes, Bryan, Cacok. Are you telling me he wouldn't have had that roster in the top 3-4 of the CAA? And that's wiithout adding a single recruit.

2. McGraths' first recruiting class was Jeff Gary, Jay Estime, Jacque Brown and Trey Kalina. I'm pretty sure that's the worst recrutiing class in the history of UNCW basketball. I'm also pretty sure Burke, or literally anyone, could have brought in a better class to compliment the players above.

No, Burke wasn't a candidate, but that's not my point. My point is that we made the worst possible choice with McGrath. A GOOD coach, like Burke, and this program wouldn't have been "in shambles" when Keatts left. If a good coach had followed Keatts, we'd have still been at the top of the CAA. Thanks God we have one now.

I agree with much of your stuff normally but there wasn’t enough left to win. Cacok and Talley were good but that is it period. McGrath had zero time to salvage the recruiting class so that’s what happened.

I do like Burke.

That is exactly how I see it as well,the other guys all had serious flaws in their games and were not starter quality or even close to it. Had an empty class after they all decommited,takes the best all around player,talks massive crap on his way out the door-fact. Some people are in love with Keatts on this board and some see the facts.
Burke is in a good spot now and hopefully he can get another win tonight.

Unless you personally heard him "talk crap" on the way out yourself, you're working off rumors...not facts. Calling it "fact" doesn't make it so. No "love" for Keatts, just not buying into all the hate. Sorry.

I’ve asked around about this rumor and have always heard it’s BS. I won’t ever buy it either lol.