Starting this thread now, since last week I didn't end up having time on Friday to throw up a preview.


Video: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/north...Type=video


Projected Starting 5 (CAA Stats only)

PG Vasa Pusica (6-5 r-Sr.): 16.6 ppg, 4.6 apg, 2.8 rpg, .483 FG %
SG Shawn Occeus (6-4 Jr.): 11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.2 spg, .407 3-Pt %
G Donnell Gresham Jr. (6-1 r-Jr.): 8.8 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.8 apg, 1.4 spg
G/F Bolden Brace (6-6 Jr.): 12.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.6 apg, .429 3-Pt %
C Anthony Green (6-10 Sr.): 12.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.0 bpg, .676 FG %

Key Bench Players (CAA Stats Only)

G Jordan Roland (6-1 r-Jr.): 14.8 ppg, 2.0 spg, .929 FT %, 28.0 mpg
F Tomas Murphy (6-8 So.): 3.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, .467 FG %, 11.2 mpg

The Road so Far

Record vs D-I: 9-8
CAA Record: 3-2 (t-3rd)
NET: # 110
RPI: # 91
KenPom Overall Efficiency: # 102
KenPom Offense: # 39
KenPom Defense: # 203
Best Win: neutral vs. Alabama (10-5)
Worst Loss: vs. Boston U. (8-8)

Team Strengths

* Overall Offense: There aren't many weaknesses to the Huskies' game on the offensive end. They are tied with Hofstra for the highest ranking in KenPom's Offensive Efficiency Rating, at # 39 nationally, are 2nd in CAA-only games in scoring (83.2 ppg), and 1st in Field Goal % (.490). They're also mere percentage points behind Hofstra in team three-point shooting (.394), as they average the most made threes (10.0) in the league. And though NU doesn't really have a true point guard, they're 3rd in A/TO ratio as a team (1.6).

* Turnovers: Northeastern ranks 3rd in the league in Turnover Margin (+1.80) and are 2nd in the league in Steals (6.8). Only Center Anthony Green is a liability in the turnover department, averaging 2.6 turnovers per contest over 26.8 minutes.

* Guard Depth: The Huskies boast a quintet of guards that are capable in many different areas. Most impressive, perhaps, is their ability to rebound and help in rim protection. Despite running with a 4-guard lineup all game, every game, NU is a respectable 6th in rebounding margin (-1.2) and even 3rd in the league in blocked shots. 6-1 Gresham actually leads the team in rebounding so far in CAA-only games, and 5 different Huskies have at least 2 blocks, including 6-1 Roland.

Team Weaknesses

* Overall Defense: As good as Northeastern's offense has been, their defense is, at best, below average for NCAA standards and CAA standards this season. The Huskies rank 8th in the league in scoring defense (76.0 ppg), 7th in FG % Defense (.455) and 6th in 3-Point % Defense (.363). Historically, teams have played fairly strong defense in the Bill Coen era. In fact, just last season the Huskies were # 86 nationally in Ken Pomeroy's defensive efficiency ranking. So it's likely we can expect some correction there, with NU returning to at least a league-average defensive unit. It's only a matter of time.

* Post Depth: The need for Coach Coen to play a guard-heavy lineup might partly be impacted by the lack of depth NU has in the post. If Green gets into foul trouble, there's not much behind him. Murphy has been somewhat effective as the primary backup, but is a bit raw as just a sophomore. Jeremy Miller, who had a very promising start to his career from 2015-17, is only seeing 5.5 minutes per contest in CAA games. Had the 6-10 big man's career arc been going strong through his junior and now senior campaigns, who knows how good the Huskies would be right now.

If you have DirecTV this games will be on NESN

Northeastern beat Charleston 69-60 last night, to improve to 4-2.

We are 12 point dogs. Over/under is 152.

Did Elmore not make the trip up north?

Another team hitting 3 pointers against us

Roland for Northeastern does that BS leg kick when shooting 3's to draw fouls.

Announcers were way too generous in talking about our defense. "UNCW is not a bad defensive team per say..."

Anybody know where Elmore is I did not see him on the bench

I'll make the predicton now. McGrath will be 3 and out.

Different game, same result. Team makes a run in the 2nd half and we fold.

This is nothing more than Benny Moss/Buzz Peterson revisited. Wait until next year when we don't have Cacok. We'll be lucky if we don't finish in last place. Our coaches have no idea how to win against even decent teams.

Worst beating NU has put on a team this year.

(01-19-2019 01:54 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Worst beating NU has put on a team this year.

Uhh they beat W&M by 20pts. Not saying 17pts is any better, but that statement is false.

Northeastern's record is deceiving. They were missing Puisca and Occeus for a good part of the non-conference with injuries. Northeastern is finally looking like the preseason favorite team that they were predicted to be.

A horrible road trip, but we get the next four at home. Need to put these past two games behind us.

Another competitive 27 minutes followed by a brutal mid to late 2nd half

McGrath is going to have to shake up his staff in the offseason. He badly needs an assistant coach that can bring some better defensive strategies. No matter if we play zone, man to man, we always look like a very soft team on defense.

shocker, good first half. Other team adjusts, we don't, we get spanked in second.

Clearly need more offensive threats on the court.

(01-19-2019 03:43 PM)surfsalot Wrote:  Clearly need more offensive threats on the court.

Our schemes suck on offense and defense. We don't need better players we need better coaches.

Jaylen Fornes was a dynamic scorer in HS and was a rising star under Keatts. Under McGrath he has regressed as much as any player i've ever seen at UNCW. His confidence has been destroyed and every minute on the court he's waiting to get pulled for a mistake. I will be shocked if he stays next year.

Ty Gadsden is THE best three point shooter in the conference. But, we seem to have nothing in our plan to get him open from 3. He takes about the same number of threes as anyone else.

Cacok is a great scorer deep in the paint, outside of that, any other player should take the shot. But, for some reason, we have him at the top of the key passing the ball around in the middle of the shot clock. His ONLY option is to pass, and everyone knows it. He's not even rolling to the basket off a pick, he's just there as an outlet.

Cylla is a really good scorer, period.

Jay Estime' is a really good scorer as well, but today he took a total of two shots. Missed them both, so I guess that put him on the bench most of the game, even though he started.

Sims shoots 39.4% and 33% from three, and he shoots and plays as much as Estime(45% and 41%) and Gadsden (51.6% and 56.9%), I don't care what anyone says, he is NOT a three point threat. He may be one day, but with a shot that flat, he won't be consistent until he changes his trajectory.

Defensively, I guess it's Keatts fault since he never taught his players to defend and McGrath inherited players he THOUGHT had been taught to defend. He's still overcoming that......

I am not convinced that we are lacking the players to win and compete on offense or defense.