https://www.starnewsonline.com/photogall...09981/PH/1

UNCW picked at #9

Who was doing the picking here?

There's some suspect picks in there. Here's a list of my suspects:

1. JMU finishing in 4th. LOL. No.

2. William and Mary in 7th. Nope. They hired an unproven George Mason assistant and the majority of their team and recruits split. They're lucky Nate Knight stayed around. 7th might be possible, but I doubt it.

3. UNCW in 9th. Sure, I'm being a homer but I don't see us finishing behind William and Mary, Drexel, or Elon. IMO, our cellar here is 7th.

I see us finishing 9th. The caa media day was held and the poll is from the coaches and media

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

I mean not a huge shock. We finished 10th last year and lost Cacok. We have 7 guys who are currently unproven in the conference eyes. I can understand why the coaches and media would put us 9th. Do I truly think we will finish 9th? Nope.

Key questions:

1. Can Toews and Simms improve from solid freshman debuts?
2. Life after Cacok...Can Linseen prove to be an adequate replacement?
3. How does Gadsden respond from surgery?
4. Can Okauru be a huge difference maker with his high level experience?
4. How much can Dodd and Boggs contribute immediately?
5. Is team chemistry improved after a couple of players transferred out?
5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

This is a big year for McGrath to show what he can do. The entire team are his players. I am not saying we need to win the conference, but we must show improvement, especially game to game. And no, 9th is not an improvement at all.

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  I mean not a huge shock. We finished 10th last year and lost Cacok. We have 7 guys who are currently unproven in the conference eyes. I can understand why the coaches and media would put us 9th. Do I truly think we will finish 9th? Nope.

Key questions:

1. Can Toews and Simms improve from solid freshman debuts?
2. Life after Cacok...Can Linseen prove to be an adequate replacement?
3. How does Gadsden respond from surgery?
4. Can Okauru be a huge difference maker with his high level experience?
4. How much can Dodd and Boggs contribute immediately?
5. Is team chemistry improved after a couple of players transferred out?
5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

This is a big year for McGrath to show what he can do. The entire team are his players. I am not saying we need to win the conference, but we must show improvement, especially game to game. And no, 9th is not an improvement at all.

1. Yes and Yes. Both showed improvement as the season went on which is indicative of improvement with experience.
2. Unknown, and an appropriate question. Personally, I don't think single player is going to fill the shoes of Cacok, however a mentality of team basketball could. Team rebounding and scoring... think the "Moneyball" mentality but apply it to college hoops.
3. Gadsden will not be ready to go at the start of the season. I'd imagine we probably won't see him in the first half of the season.
4a. Another unknown and good question. I think he'll be another immediate impact as a scorer but we know darn well we need immediate impact on defense. I do think there will be a mentality to "just outscore" and emphasis on offensive firepower as the season progresses if the defense doesn't improve.
4b. I think Boggs will have a more immediate impact and Dodd will be like Simms was last season. He'll improve as the season progresses and be an asset for us in the future.
5a. I thought the team chemistry improved a bit last year after some of the younger players who weren't getting playing time left. I know team chemistry was recently mentioned on this board, but that was the FIRST and ONLY time I've heard that mentioned and there were no names attached to accusations.
5b. Can we improve defensively? I hope so. It's not a matter of if we can. We must. The players and coaching strategies MUST improve on the defensive side of the ball if we want to improve and get back to leading the conference. Until then, I don't see us as being any better than a team that hovers around .500 and in the middle of the conference. Everyone from the HC down to the practice players MUST improve and emphasize defense.

Love the b. responses. Typing and editing on the iPhone got me. Agree with you on the assessments. Regarding Toews and Simms, one of the things McGrath has shown is he can recruit. Toews and Simms IMO are legit. Shout out to Bill for being high on Simms early, as I can see him having a breakout year (CAA 2nd Team).

Just one caveat.

In regards to Gadsden it is a matter of how he responds and how quickly to surgery and missing time in preseason.

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

(10-10-2019 05:01 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Not surprised by us being picked 9th at all. Hofstra being picked 1st is surprising, I think CofC and Northeastern are clearly better on paper. The JMU preaseason buzz is laughable, pretty sure they were picked 4th last season as well.

(10-10-2019 08:11 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 05:01 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

(10-10-2019 09:18 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 08:11 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 05:01 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

C.B. McGrath running a zone?!?! I hope you're right.

(10-10-2019 09:32 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:18 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 08:11 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 05:01 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

C.B. McGrath running a zone?!?! I hope you're right.

What you might see is man with less switching.

Flosports has a free CAA preview show on their app for those interested

(10-10-2019 11:46 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Flosports has a free CAA preview show on their app for those interested

Not interested. Did they hire you as a marketer or something? lol

(10-10-2019 11:48 AM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 11:46 AM)solohawks Wrote:  Flosports has a free CAA preview show on their app for those interested

Not interested. Did they hire you as a marketer or something? lol

Someones got post hard information around here

(10-10-2019 09:32 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:18 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 08:11 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 05:01 AM)70shawk Wrote:  

(10-09-2019 04:56 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  5. Lastly and most importantly can we improve defensively?????!!!!

^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

C.B. McGrath running a zone?!?! I hope you're right.

Yeah, unfortunately it's a 2-3. Makes no sense considering we are already abysmal at defending the 3.

(10-11-2019 12:39 PM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:32 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:18 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 08:11 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 05:01 AM)70shawk Wrote:  ^^This^^

Fix this, and I bet this team can compete with anybody in the CAA.

It is really hard to understate how awful (statistically) UNCW's defense was last year. One of the worst in the country. If that is not greatly improved then not much else will matter.

Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

C.B. McGrath running a zone?!?! I hope you're right.

Yeah, unfortunately it's a 2-3. Makes no sense considering we are already abysmal at defending the 3.

And it's tough to rebound out of.....

(10-11-2019 12:46 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-11-2019 12:39 PM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:32 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:18 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 08:11 AM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  Yup, This. The same old tired conversation, but needed.

Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

C.B. McGrath running a zone?!?! I hope you're right.

Yeah, unfortunately it's a 2-3. Makes no sense considering we are already abysmal at defending the 3.

And it's tough to rebound out of.....

I'm fine with him starting out with a press and falling into a man to man or zone once the opposing team has got it past half court. I just want to see some adjustments made once the team starts to figure out how to break down the defense. The most frustrating thing about CBs tenure is his willingness (or lack there of) to adjust in game, and then when asked about it he states "they made tough shots." Easy to make a "tough" shots when you're comfortable with what the defense is giving you. Switch it up, show different looks, experiment.... especially during non-conference so you know your strengths and weaknesses when you get into conference play and the games are much more meaningful.

(10-11-2019 01:40 PM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(10-11-2019 12:46 PM)Seahawkhoops Wrote:  

(10-11-2019 12:39 PM)HAWKING Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:32 AM)Gary Miller Wrote:  

(10-10-2019 09:18 AM)HAWKING Wrote:  Ditto. My guess is we will see Zone and full court pressure this year until it proves not effective.

C.B. McGrath running a zone?!?! I hope you're right.

Yeah, unfortunately it's a 2-3. Makes no sense considering we are already abysmal at defending the 3.

And it's tough to rebound out of.....

I'm fine with him starting out with a press and falling into a man to man or zone once the opposing team has got it past half court. I just want to see some adjustments made once the team starts to figure out how to break down the defense. The most frustrating thing about CBs tenure is his willingness (or lack there of) to adjust in game, and then when asked about it he states "they made tough shots." Easy to make a "tough" shots when you're comfortable with what the defense is giving you. Switch it up, show different looks, experiment.... especially during non-conference so you know your strengths and weaknesses when you get into conference play and the games are much more meaningful.

Agree. Ability to switch defenses too stops the offense from getting comfortable.

A freaking 2/3? I don't like that one bit. Hopefully that will change because that's inviting a 3 point fest. Hope it's more of man to man with some switching or a 3/2 trapping D. That's what I always went with when man wasn't working or to change things up. You have to freaking change things up and save stuff for the 2nd stanza. The way I always went (because I'm retired for at least 1 year to give my youngest son a different look than his old man) was to always be aggressive, always. You can get beat, but not passively. You can be a truly great defender in a 2/3 and not get to somebody. They better communicate like crazy and move with the ball in the air or they're screwed.

I'm willing to wait and see so let's think man right now...my guess is that they will play man mostly. Hopefully they have a good plan and Okuaru can cover some space. You'd ideally like to see him check a great 2 man one on one and let the chips fall. Hopefully Kai will hold his own on D because he can do his thing on O. My man Sims can guard a 3 or 4 and takes his craft seriously the way it seems to me on both end-underrated player to me that is a team guy. Hopefully Estime can guard his man and I feel pretty decent about Marty holding his own. We will see with the bench. They have some good tools. Phillips should be able to guard the opposing PG but isn't where Kai is offensively at this point. Ty will guard once he's available. Boggs has the tools but will be learning as will Dodd at the 5/4. Tolafree looks like somebody that can guard somebody and can guard a 2/3. Skaggs will give his all and is smart, but not a good one on one guy. His role is to shoot and that may be HUGE at times. Can we get Bowden available and willing to play some 5? Interesting situation.

Do they zone press 3/4 court? It may be a possibility given the makeup of the team. It could eat some clock and make life a little more difficult in the half court. They may even force some turnovers heaven for bid. That's huge given that we haven't had that lately and we aren't going to own the glass most nights.