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Building a successful program
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82hawk Offline
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Building a successful program
I'm an alumni of UNCW. The entire time i've been associated with UNCW visions of "building a program" have been dangled before us. We have twice experienced the kind of success that could be the first step in "building a program". In both cases, we had a very distinct style of play.

The Wainright/Brownell years were built on a standard lineup with a huge center, big forwards and big guards. Games were low scoring and we relied on a top 10, physical defense. Although not pretty, the fans filled Trask to see us win and they got loud. As a result we went to the NIT twice and the NCAA four times over a 12 year period. Finishing lower than third in the CAA only twice during this span. UNCW also collected it's first and only win in the NCAA tournament, defeating Southern Cal. This success happened when the CAA was nearing its' peak.

So, what did the UNCW administration do in response to this unprecedented success? They decided it wasn't good enough. In turn, they treated Brad Brownell as an afterthought and made no attempt to reward him for the success or keep him at UNCW. Once Brownell was gone, the powers that be decided we needed a fast paced style of play to bring excitement to UNCW basketball and get us past the "failure" of Brownell to win NCAA tournament games.

We all know what happened. Benny Moss followed by Buzz. Eight years of failure, zero NIT or NCAA appearances and a combined record of 83-154. One second place finish in the CAA and seven finishes in 7th place or worse.

Kevin Keatts arrives and takes over a down and out program that had gone 9-23 the previous year with a 3-13 record in the CAA. He brings with him another very distinct style of play. A Louisville style press which is built on a fast paced offense and creating turnovers, steals and fast breaks. UNCW once again has an identity and success on the court. Keatts ties for first in the CAA his first season, then wins the CAA outright the next two seasons leading to two NCAA appearances in three years.

Keatts is snapped up by NCSU leaving UNCW in the position of hiring a coach following a great deal of success again. This time UNCW tried to keep the successful coach, but the finances were beyond anything UNCW could match. The opportunity to build on success and build a "program" was once again within our reach. The coaching tree of Pitino is wide and deep, extending all the way to Florida coach Billy Donovan and his former assistants as well as the VCU coaching tree. Continuing the style of play that brought this immediate success was within our reach.

What did the UNCW administration do? They didn't interview or consider a single coach familiar with the style of play we just had success with and recruited players for. Predicted by several on this board, incoming recruits and transfers bailed out of their commitments and we lost every single incoming player.

So, here we are again. Leaving behind a very successful style of play that led to CAA championships and NCAA appearances in hopes of the "better deal". One that takes us beyond just getting to the NCAA but winning games. Not happy with taking incremental steps to get there, but abandoning ship in favor of a complete overhaul in players, coaches and style of play.

Sorry folks, we will NEVER build a "program" like this. Perfect is the enemy of good, and we were GOOD...twice. Really good. One step forward and two steps back every time we experience success will never get us there. My greatest concern is that we didn't learn our lesson and we will forever be changing styles because we are focusing on the best coach available(so we think), vs. the best coach out there who FITS OUR STYLE...whatever that is.

I truly hope McGrath can turn this around and end up leading us to the type of success we've experienced before. I'll gladly take the type of success we experienced with both Keatts and Brownell year after year. You can't win an NCAA game if you aren't playing one. Every two to three years allows you to build a program on that type of success. But, if McGrath does get there...and he leaves...we CANNOT change styles AGAIN, hoping to get to that next level. Sooner or later we have to come to terms with the fact we are a mid major in the NCAA. And that the type of success we have experienced is "good enough" for the long term. McGrath has expressed a desire to stay if he succeeds. I hope we don't "Brownell"him should that happen, and once again abandon ship on success hoping to get to the next level.
(This post was last modified: 12-22-2017 06:27 PM by 82hawk.)
12-22-2017 11:10 AM
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Messages In This Thread
Building a successful program - 82hawk - 12-22-2017 11:10 AM
RE: Building a successful program - 82hawk - 12-22-2017, 06:40 PM
RE: Building a successful program - Proff - 12-23-2017, 07:30 PM



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