Down 4, 13 seconds.


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Down 2, 7 seconds and Mercer ball.


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Regardless of how this goes, two major factors in the turning point of this game when we were up 8 and really clicking on both ends...

1. Estime technical after making his layup
2. Next possession when the refs made the wrong call on the possession when the ball went out of bounds and Mercer jumped in the air from out of bounds and knocked it off Toews.


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I blame the entire coaching staff.

Mercer hits both free throws to ice it.

That’s a frustrating loss in a road game we should’ve won.

Mercer hits more than a few lucky threes.


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(12-21-2018 09:04 PM)surfsalot Wrote:  I blame the entire coaching staff.

Yeah. I’m with you there. They need to own up to that.


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Hawks have enough talent to win these games, but don't play smart. Need to play better defense and to either get it down low or drive it to the hole and get fouled. It sounded like UNCW definitely out-rebounded them. At least Sims and Estime are playing now so that will help these youngsters down the road. Toews sounded like he had a bad TO on a fast-break with about 40 seconds left and the game tied.

(12-21-2018 09:11 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Hawks have enough talent to win these games, but don't play smart. Need to play better defense and to either get it down low or drive it to the hole and get fouled. It sounded like UNCW definitely out-rebounded them. At least Sims and Estime are playing now so that will help these youngsters down the road. Toews sounded like he had a bad TO on a fast-break with about 40 seconds left and the game tied.

Yeah. That was a tough turnover for him and probably the only play he’s remembering right now though. Aside from that play he had a phenomenal night. That loss isn’t on him. I’m more frustrated with our coaching in the 2nd half and their inability to recognize the guys need a timeout and regroup. Sims played great tonight too. Estime played well minus his tech. Fornes played okay. He hit some big shots, but he mostly had an off night and needs to recognize this team has players who can put it in and he needs to play within that. Just firing 3 after 3 when your cold does nothing but let a team comeback or extend their lead. Share the ball and make the defense move.


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(12-21-2018 09:11 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Hawks have enough talent to win these games, but don't play smart. Need to play better defense and to either get it down low or drive it to the hole and get fouled. It sounded like UNCW definitely out-rebounded them. At least Sims and Estime are playing now so that will help these youngsters down the road. Toews sounded like he had a bad TO on a fast-break with about 40 seconds left and the game tied.

Yep. He had Cacok open but the Mercer player read the pass. Freshmen mistake, should have slowed it down and set the offense.

Hard to beat anyone when they shoot over 50%, especially when our 3pt shooting isn’t lights out.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

(12-21-2018 09:17 PM)Seahawk2010 Wrote:  

(12-21-2018 09:11 PM)billthebighawksfan Wrote:  Hawks have enough talent to win these games, but don't play smart. Need to play better defense and to either get it down low or drive it to the hole and get fouled. It sounded like UNCW definitely out-rebounded them. At least Sims and Estime are playing now so that will help these youngsters down the road. Toews sounded like he had a bad TO on a fast-break with about 40 seconds left and the game tied.

Yep. He had Cacok open but the Mercer player read the pass. Freshmen mistake, should have slowed it down and set the offense.

Hard to beat anyone when they shoot over 50%, especially when our 3pt shooting isn’t lights out.

DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE

I slightly disagree there. Look at the final score. It’s indicative that we played much better defense, even when you factor in they shot over 50%. Watching the game, I felt it was one of our best defensive outings of the season. I can easily recall about four different LUCKY 3’s that went in for Mercer. Contested, off balance, bounced 15ft up off the back and side of the iron to somehow fall back in. Our guys played great defense tonight, IMO.


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Well, I see I was better off at our Christmas gathering than watching another loss. Same old same old.

I heard someone say we played better defense while giving up 53% on FG's. Curious how you'd come to that conclusion? Also, how does Mercer turn 11 TO's into 22 points while we turn 11 TO's into 7 points? That's amazing.

The only thing I see we did better was rebound on offense and limit our TO's to 11, so we at least stayed close. Just another long line of moral victories though. McGrath is now 2-15 on the road as the coach at UNCW.

There is one huge change i'd love to see...well two.

1. We are much better at the FT line this year, why not drive to the bucket and draw some fouls? We're a jump shooting team or take 3's. Cacok will draw fouls in the post, but he isn't a great FT shooter. I'd rather see us start our offense at the top of the key rather than trying to run it through Cacok in the post.

2. Press and trap. Like someone stated, we are long and athletic. Also, we are better in transition than we are in the half court set. This team is actually more equipped to press then the teams under Keatts. Is this just an ego thing? Because it's obvious we have success when we do apply more pressure.

I have to say, I am shocked we lost this game. Mercer...seriously?

82,

First off, I'm not shocked that we lost because this is a process and it was a road game. Their record was deceiving as they've played good teams tough.

We do have guys that can make FT's, but do we have a consistent guy that will get downhill and create late in a clock? That's the problem right now. Who's that guy going to be? Fornes has the body and ability to do this. He needs to expand his game and drive the paint to draw fouls, draw guys to him or even take his floater (VERY under rated shot!) when there. It would also open his 3 ball game too because he would be rolling. If not him, somebody needs to do this more because Cacok would have a field day off of it. Simply jacking up quick 3's without a post entry or at least a good ball reversal fails most of the time. You have to stay connected on offense as well as defense...prudent ball movement (with good pass/shot fakes) wasn't there at critical stretches and it's more critical when you haven't established a killer at the back end of the clock to erase that issue at this point.

Getting to point 2...I agree that a 3/4 court 1-2-2 would be good especially when you have Sims and Estime in there with length. That's something that they can continue to build on.

This is an interesting team to follow because we all know that there are good pieces albeit some are very young. One more driving aggressive guard would really make a big difference. Hawks have to find that guy and it may be on the roster. Until you have a guard that can do this and be the guy, it's going to be tough in close games.

It was good to see Estime and Sims begin to show. They are 2 key guys going forward and Cylia played well tonight. And, the kickout from Cacok to Estime was great. I'd LOVE to see more of that because that will free up Devonte later and it's giving us a squared up 3 ball look which is FAR easier to hit. Good job Devonte,great assist! To me, an assist is HUGE!

“Mercer...seriously?” - Coach K 2014. Sorry 82, but if you’re gonna reference one of the best coaches off all time at least give him credit.

Tough loss tonight. It’s quite frustrating that we can’t lock in and get a stop when we really need it. Regardless of what our defensive set up is, we should be able to at least do that at the end of tight games. That 6 minute scoreless spell killed us in the 2nd half. Found it odd that Ty Taylor didn’t get any PT during that span, he might slack on defense a bit but he usually can go out there and get us a bucket or two. Jaylen Sims has been impressive, his versatility is something we’ve lacked since McGrath has gotten here. The more comfortable he gets, the more of an asset he becomes. Maybe the break can do everyone some good, coaches included. Regardless, I look forward to being in Trask when CofC comes to town next weekend.

Sims was a real highlight in this one. He has a high major frame and surprisingly soft touch. I felt like we closed out decently on the wing in the second half and they hit some tough shots. I will say this. Our three point opportunities in the second half looked more open than theirs. The PG was able to break Kai down a few times when we needed a stop. We missed Gasden. We’re missing his offensive presence and on the ball defense.

As good as Kai’s instincts are with the ball he is still lacking situational awareness that is critical at certain points down the stretch when you’re the starting point guard. He’ll get there. I can live with that right now.

When Gasden comes back I can see Fornes and Taylor both losing minutes. I think we ride the one who’s hot off the bench.

(12-21-2018 09:06 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  

(12-21-2018 09:04 PM)surfsalot Wrote:  I blame the entire coaching staff.

Yeah. I’m with you there. They need to own up to that.


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LOL. Own up to it?

(12-21-2018 08:40 PM)CG_Hawk06 Wrote:  We aren’t even trying to take good shots right now and I’m still annoyed at the lack of timeouts called by McGrath that led to our offensive drought being so extended. We led by 8 then went down by 8 and aren’t close to recovering because our guys are running up the court on a fast break where we outman the defense and firing a stupid three.


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That’s the Roy gene in him

(12-21-2018 09:58 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Also, how does Mercer turn 11 TO's into 22 points while we turn 11 TO's into 7 points? That's amazing.

I agree. I tweeted https://twitter.com/EvanJ3535/status/107...9790067713

(12-22-2018 10:17 AM)EvanJ Wrote:  

(12-21-2018 09:58 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Also, how does Mercer turn 11 TO's into 22 points while we turn 11 TO's into 7 points? That's amazing.

I agree. I tweeted https://twitter.com/EvanJ3535/status/107...9790067713

If you’re gonna tweet about us, at least be a pal and use “UNCW”.


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(12-21-2018 09:58 PM)82hawk Wrote:  Well, I see I was better off at our Christmas gathering than watching another loss. Same old same old.

I heard someone say we played better defense while giving up 53% on FG's. Curious how you'd come to that conclusion? Also, how does Mercer turn 11 TO's into 22 points while we turn 11 TO's into 7 points? That's amazing.

The only thing I see we did better was rebound on offense and limit our TO's to 11, so we at least stayed close. Just another long line of moral victories though. McGrath is now 2-15 on the road as the coach at UNCW.

The answer you seek is in your own statement.

1. Look at the final score. While they shot a low percentage, their 75 pts is lower than some of the others we’ve given up.

2. They hit a lot of shots that were either “lucky bounces” or with hands in their faces from UNcW players. There is such a thing as playing great defense even when a shot falls. If you don’t understand that, then I’ll question if you’ve actually ever played the game. For whatever reason, Mercer was just hot shooting last night... and I don’t think it was because we played bad defense. Perhaps they just felt really confident knowing we haven’t won many games.

3. Lastly, Mercer is not a bad team. They’re 5-1 at home now this season and over the last several years are the winningest team in GA.

If we don’t show improvement during conference play my worry meter will rise.



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