UNCW Goes For Big Road Win at Hofstra
The Seahawks will again be on CBS Sports Network tonight
UNCW (16-6, 10-1) at Hofstra (14-9, 6-4)
5 p.m. | Mack Sports Complex | CBS Sports Network | Listen | StatBroadcast
The Seahawks certainly got their bounce-back performance on Saturday in what was easily their best offensive performance of the year.
Now, we’ll find out if a step back last week might end up helping UNCW take two steps forward as it faces off with a talented Hofstra team on Monday night at 5 p.m. in their second-straight nationally-televised game on CBS Sports Network.
This time around, it’ll take an inspired defensive effort for the Hawks to slow down a Pride offense that ranks in the top 100 nationally.
Here’s what you’ll need to know for the early-evening tipoff on Long Island.
(Note: Yes, that’s actually a 5 p.m. tipoff. We’ve heard Walk-Ons and Kickback Jack’s in Wilmington will be showing the game. Thanks for the update, Clay Alan!)
When Last We Met…
Jan. 29: UNCW 78, Hofstra 72
The Seahawks’ winning streak appeared in serious peril as the Pride led by as many as 15 points in the first half as Aaron Estrada, Zach Cooks and Jalen Ray got to the basket at-will.
Just as it has done several times when facing deficits, UNCW turned up the pressure and used turnovers to fuel a transition offense that outscored Hofstra 19-7 on the break, and 22-7 off turnovers.
After allowing the Pride to shoot 57.7 percent in the first half, the Hawks dug in defensively and held them to a 35.7 percent mark (10/28) in the second half, and when Hofstra turned up the physicality, UNCW responded by getting tougher.
Mike Okauru scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, while Jamahri Harvey played one of his best games, knocking down three 3-pointers on his way to 14 points.
KenPom rankings for UNCW: No. 207 overall, No. 188 Offense, No. 213 Defense.
KenPom rankings for Hofstra: No. 118 overall, No. 80 Offense, No. 187 Defense.
KenPom forecast: Hofstra 77, UNCW 69 (23 percent chance of victory).
Another Zone?
Given Elon’s success with zone defense, it figured that the Seahawks would see it again on Saturday at William & Mary. Although the Tribe didn’t play zone exclusively, it did give it a shot in the hopes of slowing down UNCW’s driving offense.
So far, it’s been two very different performances for the Hawks against the zone, who struggled against Elon’s more active, extended zone looks but completely dominated William & Mary’s passive zone with a barrage of 3-pointers.
First-year coach Speedy Claxton has switched Hofstra over to playing primarily man-to-man defense, but for the past eight years, the Pride thrived while playing almost exclusively zone under Coach Joe Mihalich.
So, it makes sense that Hofstra might mix things up in an attempt to throw the Hawks off their game.
At this point, there’s no doubt the coaching staff will have UNCW prepared for the possibility that opponents will be throwing out gimmick defenses in an attempt to keep the Hawks from touching the paint and creating offense from there.
From there, it’s a matter of ensuring the Seahawks are the smart, efficient team that moved the ball confidently and quickly vs. the Tribe, as opposed to the team that was put on its heels and spent too much time probing the perimeter vs. the Phoenix.
Digging In Defensively
Last time out against Hofstra, the Hawks played two very different halves of defense.
Early on, Estrada (18 PPG) got everything he wanted in the lane, while Cooks (15 PPG) and Ray (13.8 PPG) weren’t far behind as the Pride used screens, got switches to create advantageous matchups and drove to the rack.
After a spirited halftime discussion in which UNCW coach Takayo Siddle demanded more toughness from his team, he said the Seahawks took defense personally and dug in.
While the Seahawks continued switching, they occasionally hedged on screens. More importantly, UNCW just played tougher defense on switches and thanks to fullcourt pressure, lured Hofstra into some transition shots they’d probably otherwise pass up.
As well as the Hawks played offensively at William & Mary, it wasn’t a great day defensively as the Tribe routinely got good looks off screens, hitting 10 of 18 3-point attempts while also assisting on 11 of 22 buckets.
Siddle was clearly frustrated on the sideline with his team’s ball-screen defense, and maybe, that was a blessing in disguise as it will surely be a focus going into this game.
The better the Seahawks can communicate and handle that up top tonight, the better chance they’ll have of winning the game.