Team is really looking better on both ends. The offense looks good with a lot of motion (like the weave action too), and the defense has looked better lately-added length and depth have helped. Guys are feeling more comfortable out there and chemistry is getting better. This team has been a joy to follow lately!

(01-06-2019 01:29 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Team is really looking better on both ends. The offense looks good with a lot of motion (like the weave action too), and the defense has looked better lately-added length and depth have helped. Guys are feeling more comfortable out there and chemistry is getting better. This team has been a joy to follow lately!

Who played 90 minutes?

Need to have a set "Free Throw Lineup" for the end of these games. Crazy that we're nearly 2 months into the season and both games this week were the first ones in which we've had to make free throws down the stretch to secure the victory. We did a decent enough job, but I won't act like I wasn't somewhat concerned at the end of the Towson game. The lineup below is the one I'd feel most comfortable with if we're up by single digits at the end of the game.

Toews
Gadsden
Fornes
Cylla
Cacok

(01-07-2019 09:59 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  Need to have a set "Free Throw Lineup" for the end of these games. Crazy that we're nearly 2 months into the season and both games this week were the first ones in which we've had to make free throws down the stretch to secure the victory. We did a decent enough job, but I won't act like I wasn't somewhat concerned at the end of the Towson game. The lineup below is the one I'd feel most comfortable with if we're up by single digits at the end of the game.

Toews
Gadsden
Fornes
Cylla
Cacok

Gary Miller the voice of reason. Your appearances on this discussion board are too sporadic. Please weigh in more often.

One other factor in recent games (to include all of our conference games so far) is Cacok being on the floor for significant minutes by avoiding foul trouble. Outside of whatever that weird Flagrant 1 was against Towson, I haven't really seen him make any "silly" fouls. His ability to give us the minutes we need from him are a massive advantage for us and a must. Kudos to whatever the coaching staff has worked on with him during recent games, and his focus. Can't underestimate that difference maker.

(01-07-2019 12:50 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  One other factor in recent games (to include all of our conference games so far) is Cacok being on the floor for significant minutes by avoiding foul trouble. Outside of whatever that weird Flagrant 1 was against Towson, I haven't really seen him make any "silly" fouls. His ability to give us the minutes we need from him are a massive advantage for us and a must. Kudos to whatever the coaching staff has worked on with him during recent games, and his focus. Can't underestimate that difference maker.

One thing that helps him is the fact that he isn't throwing his arms up at the refs and questioning every call they make against him. I think this goes a long way.

Cacok was picking up silly fouls reaching for steals from guards at midcourt or trying to reach in on guards driving to the basket. Both were situations where the odds of getting a steal were almost zero and the odds of getting a foul were 90%. He seems to have stopped that and now gets his fouls in the post.

Amazing how a couple of victories changes most everyone's disposition.

They have also learned to play better when Cacok is not on the floor. They were totally lost when he went out of the game earlier in the season.

(01-07-2019 05:20 PM)Proff Wrote:  Amazing how a couple of victories changes most everyone's disposition.

I feel like there were some among us who preached to HOLD FAST for conference play and assess after the season before throwing in the towel.

(01-07-2019 06:36 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 05:20 PM)Proff Wrote:  Amazing how a couple of victories changes most everyone's disposition.

I feel like there were some among us who preached to HOLD FAST for conference play and assess after the season before throwing in the towel.

WINNING CURES EVERYTHING.

(01-07-2019 06:36 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 05:20 PM)Proff Wrote:  Amazing how a couple of victories changes most everyone's disposition.

I feel like there were some among us who preached to HOLD FAST for conference play and assess after the season before throwing in the towel.

I feel like there were some among us who took a deep dive into issues that were costing us games, and the coaches were made aware of things they didn't realize and addressed them....

(01-07-2019 08:58 PM)82hawk Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 06:36 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 05:20 PM)Proff Wrote:  Amazing how a couple of victories changes most everyone's disposition.

I feel like there were some among us who preached to HOLD FAST for conference play and assess after the season before throwing in the towel.

I feel like there were some among us who took a deep dive into issues that were costing us games, and the coaches were made aware of things they didn't realize and addressed them....

Yeh, it's called impatience. ?

The criticism was more than warranted. We have a couple W's against bottom dwellers. We have certainly looked better, but a lot left to play. Hoping the trend continues. if some of these adjustments made earlier in the season(when some of us were screaming for them) we could be .500

(01-07-2019 09:25 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  The criticism was more than warranted. We have a couple W's against bottom dwellers. We have certainly looked better, but a lot left to play. Hoping the trend continues. if some of these adjustments made earlier in the season(when some of us were screaming for them) we could be .500

The same stuff we heard/read in Keats' first two years. And nobody has turned our program around as fast as Keatts did. I've heard the same with every new coach we have had. It's usually as process that takes than practice time. McGrath has really only had one recruiting period. He hasn't got enough of his recruits in yet. He says he is investigating for the long haul here. I believe he deserves a little patience from us to try and accomplish the process. At this stage, we have nothing to lose by giving him the space. After all, he is pretty much here for at least the next couple years.

(01-07-2019 09:40 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 09:25 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  The criticism was more than warranted. We have a couple W's against bottom dwellers. We have certainly looked better, but a lot left to play. Hoping the trend continues. if some of these adjustments made earlier in the season(when some of us were screaming for them) we could be .500

The same stuff we heard/read in Keats' first two years. And nobody has turned our program around as fast as Keatts did. I've heard the same with every new coach we have had. It's usually as process that takes than practice time. McGrath has really only had one recruiting period. He hasn't got enough of his recruits in yet. He says he is investigating for the long haul here. I believe he deserves a little patience from us to try and accomplish the process. At this stage, we have nothing to lose by giving him the space. After all, he is pretty much here for at least the next couple years.

Honestly i don't question his recruiting, IMO that's been solid. His decisions have been what has been rightfully questioned, and his stubbornness has cost us games. Hopefully the recent adjustments show he's finally learning.

The stuff we questioned with our former coach was what needed to be done to take us to the next level, what we question here makes us relevant or a bottom dweller, big difference IMO. What our former coach was stubborn on worked 90% of the time and it drove us nuts when he wouldn't adjust when it didn't. The stubbornness here was sticking with game plans that haven't worked for 65% of his tenure!

(01-07-2019 09:40 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 09:25 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  The criticism was more than warranted. We have a couple W's against bottom dwellers. We have certainly looked better, but a lot left to play. Hoping the trend continues. if some of these adjustments made earlier in the season(when some of us were screaming for them) we could be .500

The same stuff we heard/read in Keats' first two years. And nobody has turned our program around as fast as Keatts did. I've heard the same with every new coach we have had. It's usually as process that takes than practice time. McGrath has really only had one recruiting period. He hasn't got enough of his recruits in yet. He says he is investigating for the long haul here. I believe he deserves a little patience from us to try and accomplish the process. At this stage, we have nothing to lose by giving him the space. After all, he is pretty much here for at least the next couple years.

Fake news. Not the same stuff with Keatts at all because he came in and completely turned around a losing program using the same players as the previous coach. We were tied for first in the CAA his first year here. Not much to criticize and I certainly didn't.

We won 2 road games over a full season and the next OOC season under McGrath. We suffered a 40+ point blowout loss to Furman in the past month. We weren't making any adjustments to turn things around. That was the concern and now adjustments are being made. Criticism was warranted. And now, praise is warranted for making adjustments and trying new strategies.

Patience is earned through progress and we weren't seeing any progress. We are now seeing progress based on a willingness to adjust and change in order to win games. That's all anyone has been looking for. It's a good sign. But we are sitting at 2-1 with wins against two of the worst teams in the conference and needed a double OT win to get there. Although there is optimism, let's not pretend we've taken down Hofstra and William and Mary to get here.

We all want UNCW to succeed and that includes Coach McGrath and every coach that has been here. But, my loyalty is to UNCW not a coach.

Like the rest of you I am hoping that this is a turning point for us.

(01-08-2019 06:56 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 09:40 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 09:25 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  The criticism was more than warranted. We have a couple W's against bottom dwellers. We have certainly looked better, but a lot left to play. Hoping the trend continues. if some of these adjustments made earlier in the season(when some of us were screaming for them) we could be .500

The same stuff we heard/read in Keats' first two years. And nobody has turned our program around as fast as Keatts did. I've heard the same with every new coach we have had. It's usually as process that takes than practice time. McGrath has really only had one recruiting period. He hasn't got enough of his recruits in yet. He says he is investigating for the long haul here. I believe he deserves a little patience from us to try and accomplish the process. At this stage, we have nothing to lose by giving him the space. After all, he is pretty much here for at least the next couple years.

Fake news. Not the same stuff with Keatts at all because he came in and completely turned around a losing program using the same players as the previous coach. We were tied for first in the CAA his first year here. Not much to criticize and I certainly didn't.

We won 2 road games over a full season and the next OOC season under McGrath. We suffered a 40+ point blowout loss to Furman in the past month. We weren't making any adjustments to turn things around. That was the concern and now adjustments are being made. Criticism was warranted. And now, praise is warranted for making adjustments and trying new strategies.

Patience is earned through progress and we weren't seeing any progress. We are now seeing progress based on a willingness to adjust and change in order to win games. That's all anyone has been looking for. It's a good sign. But we are sitting at 2-1 with wins against two of the worst teams in the conference and needed a double OT win to get there. Although there is optimism, let's not pretend we've taken down Hofstra and William and Mary to get here.

We all want UNCW to succeed and that includes Coach McGrath and every coach that has been here. But, my loyalty is to UNCW not a coach.

Quality post. Gary Miller like in it's pragmatism but not as 'rosy'.

(01-08-2019 08:58 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(01-08-2019 06:56 AM)82hawk Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 09:40 PM)SEA33HAWK Wrote:  

(01-07-2019 09:25 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  The criticism was more than warranted. We have a couple W's against bottom dwellers. We have certainly looked better, but a lot left to play. Hoping the trend continues. if some of these adjustments made earlier in the season(when some of us were screaming for them) we could be .500

The same stuff we heard/read in Keats' first two years. And nobody has turned our program around as fast as Keatts did. I've heard the same with every new coach we have had. It's usually as process that takes than practice time. McGrath has really only had one recruiting period. He hasn't got enough of his recruits in yet. He says he is investigating for the long haul here. I believe he deserves a little patience from us to try and accomplish the process. At this stage, we have nothing to lose by giving him the space. After all, he is pretty much here for at least the next couple years.

Fake news. Not the same stuff with Keatts at all because he came in and completely turned around a losing program using the same players as the previous coach. We were tied for first in the CAA his first year here. Not much to criticize and I certainly didn't.

We won 2 road games over a full season and the next OOC season under McGrath. We suffered a 40+ point blowout loss to Furman in the past month. We weren't making any adjustments to turn things around. That was the concern and now adjustments are being made. Criticism was warranted. And now, praise is warranted for making adjustments and trying new strategies.

Patience is earned through progress and we weren't seeing any progress. We are now seeing progress based on a willingness to adjust and change in order to win games. That's all anyone has been looking for. It's a good sign. But we are sitting at 2-1 with wins against two of the worst teams in the conference and needed a double OT win to get there. Although there is optimism, let's not pretend we've taken down Hofstra and William and Mary to get here.

We all want UNCW to succeed and that includes Coach McGrath and every coach that has been here. But, my loyalty is to UNCW not a coach.

Quality post. Gary Miller like in it's pragmatism but not as 'rosy'.

Nothing fake about the fact that pretty much the same people were biotching about not playing zone and giving up too many baskets on drives and in the paint. And yes, that was with winning. But I guess some people are never pleased. And I am so sorry that a new coach comes in and don't follow us, as couch coaches, and how we want the process to go in building this program. Believe it or not, I am right there with you on some of these questions. I just believe in giving a coach the benefit of the doubt the first couple years. If, next year, the process is not showing results, I will start being more vocal about the lack of progress. And, if this coach doesn't work out, maybe one of you can apply for the job and lead us to the promised land. Remember, we lost Brownell because of people who were not satisfied with his style of coaching.