I've been harping on UNCW playing some zone for quite some time. Keatts will not play a zone, period. I think it would help us on fouls as a whole, but he is the coach.

We beat a middle of the pack A-10 team on the road and lost to a middle of the pack ACC team on the road. We dominated most of the St Bonaventure game and got dominated last night. Very tough loss but even good teams occasionally lose. Flemings did not make shots and that hurt us. On to Towson

(12-29-2016 11:57 AM)Fletch 8 Wrote:  We beat a middle of the pack A-10 team on the road and lost to a middle of the pack ACC team on the road.

Define "middle of the pack". Because I think SBU is very capable of finishing no lower than 5th or 6th in a 14-team league and Clemson is very capable of being the 5th-7th best team in a 15-team league. That's not "middle-of-the-pack".

We got paid $170K to play good competition on the road and went 1-1. That beats expectations. Even if many hear think the committee will disregard the Saint Bonaventure win, I'd like to think the committee isn't that hypocritical. After all, winning tough road games is exactly what they tell teams to do to get in the dance. We took our shot at that twice and came out with a win. That's meaningful and will help us down the road.

Now we need to go dominate a tough CAA and see where the chips fall.

(12-29-2016 12:25 PM)Seahawk Nation 08 Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 11:57 AM)Fletch 8 Wrote:  We beat a middle of the pack A-10 team on the road and lost to a middle of the pack ACC team on the road.

Define "middle of the pack". Because I think SBU is very capable of finishing no lower than 5th or 6th in a 14-team league and Clemson is very capable of being the 5th-7th best team in a 15-team league. That's not "middle-of-the-pack".

We got paid $170K to play good competition on the road and went 1-1. That beats expectations. Even if many hear think the committee will disregard the Saint Bonaventure win, I'd like to think the committee isn't that hypocritical. After all, winning tough road games is exactly what they tell teams to do to get in the dance. We took our shot at that twice and came out with a win. That's meaningful and will help us down the road.

Now we need to go dominate a tough CAA and see where the chips fall.

Point taken about the schedule, money and end result. But, Clemson is middle-of-the-pack in the ACC. After the top four in the conference, there is a drop-off in quality. I haven't studied everyone's schedule, but Clemson could finish as high as 6th but as low as 12th in the ACC. They're in the middle with NCSU, Miami, FSU, ND, Pitt, FSU, Cuse and VT. Right now, their RPI is 9th best in the ACC, with the 8th toughest SOS (1 spot ahead of NCSU).

I just went to current standings on ESPN and saw both were in the 6-9 range out of 14. Not top or bottom 3. Totally agree it is early and standings right before conference play don't tell the whole story.

We beat decent (not bottom feeders) from almost all the other non big 5 leagues American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Big South, and they were almost all away or neutral

Back in 06 we got destroyed by Colorado away. Similar situation. Still a young season. @ Towson Saturday will be one of the toughest conference games all year.

(12-29-2016 12:57 PM)Fletch 8 Wrote:  I just went to current standings on ESPN and saw both were in the 6-9 range out of 14. Not top or bottom 3. Totally agree it is early and standings right before conference play don't tell the whole story.

We beat decent (not bottom feeders) from almost all the other non big 5 leagues American, Missouri Valley, Ohio Valley, Big South, and they were almost all away or neutral

Back in 06 we got destroyed by Colorado away. Similar situation. Still a young season. @ Towson Saturday will be one of the toughest conference games all year.

Clemson was picked 5-6, and the Bonnies 4 in most preseason picks.

ACC media picked Clemson 11th:

http://www.theacc.com/news/2016-17-acc-b...10-26-2016

I think the coaches had them at 5th though.

I see clemson at 7-10 in the ACC,good enough to make the NCAA as an at large I think. St.Bony is not a team I am familiar with at all but I don't think they will make the NCAA from what I have read.

(12-29-2016 11:19 AM)82hawk Wrote:  I've been harping on UNCW playing some zone for quite some time. Keatts will not play a zone, period. I think it would help us on fouls as a whole, but he is the coach.

Why do you think Keatts is not using zone at least some to change the look and help his bigs stay on the court? It is not exactly rocket science here,we all see how thin UNCW is in the front court.

(12-29-2016 05:34 PM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 11:19 AM)82hawk Wrote:  I've been harping on UNCW playing some zone for quite some time. Keatts will not play a zone, period. I think it would help us on fouls as a whole, but he is the coach.

Why do you think Keatts is not using zone at least some to change the look and help his bigs stay on the court? It is not exactly rocket science here,we all see how thin UNCW is in the front court.

Because it is not a part of his press for 40 system. Would it keep Cacock on the floor a little longer? Maybe. Zone has to be practiced extensively to be effective though. You can't half-ass a zone. Our pressing man defense is the most effective scheme we have seen since Brownell. For years those of us that have consistently been around here have waited for a coach with a "system" and "identity" for our team. We have it now. Is it perfect? No. Is any defense perfect? No.

I'm not gonna complain and let the season play out.

(12-29-2016 06:26 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote:  Because it is not a part of his press for 40 system. Would it keep Cacock on the floor a little longer? Maybe. Zone has to be practiced extensively to be effective though. You can't half-ass a zone. Our pressing man defense is the most effective scheme we have seen since Brownell. For years those of us that have consistently been around here have waited for a coach with a "system" and "identity" for our team. We have it now. Is it perfect? No. Is any defense perfect? No.

I'm not gonna complain and let the season play out.

Exactly. Changing horses midstream just to try to hide our lack of depth in the frountcourt for one season would be ill-advised or simply stupid.

We're talking about a system that has gotten us a 27-11 (.711) CAA record entering Year 3 of CAA play under Keatts, and will undoubtedly get us a lot of CAA wins this year too.

And next year, the frontcourt depth will improve greatly with Bryan, the development/progress of Elmore, the additions of Boutte, Cole, and maybe a "surprise" addition we don't know about yet. Thus, we will have no reason whatsoever to b*tch about it any longer.

(12-29-2016 06:26 PM)CoastGuardHawk06 Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 05:34 PM)jumpinmullet Wrote:  

(12-29-2016 11:19 AM)82hawk Wrote:  I've been harping on UNCW playing some zone for quite some time. Keatts will not play a zone, period. I think it would help us on fouls as a whole, but he is the coach.

Why do you think Keatts is not using zone at least some to change the look and help his bigs stay on the court? It is not exactly rocket science here,we all see how thin UNCW is in the front court.

Because it is not a part of his press for 40 system. Would it keep Cacock on the floor a little longer? Maybe. Zone has to be practiced extensively to be effective though. You can't half-ass a zone. Our pressing man defense is the most effective scheme we have seen since Brownell. For years those of us that have consistently been around here have waited for a coach with a "system" and "identity" for our team. We have it now. Is it perfect? No. Is any defense perfect? No.

I'm not gonna complain and let the season play out.

Beg to differ on the zone defense,it is by far the easiest defense to teach and learn. All of these kids have played plenty of zone over the years. I do agree it might not fit what he wants to do and I respect that if that is the case. He most certainly has earned the right to run whatever defense he sees fit. I think it would benefit him to run a little zone but that is just a thought from the cheap seats.