The Seahawks and Cougars had different routes to the CAA championship game

UNCW (24-9) vs. Charleston (30-3)

CAA Championship | 7 pm | CBS Sports Net | Listen | Stats

WASHINGTON, D.C. — What a strange and winding road it’s been since Jan. 11, but ultimately, it was that night — and several things that happened because of it — that brought us to the ending that felt like a certainty way back when.

The Seahawks will get a third crack at the Cougars, and chances are, there’s about to be another score posted in big bold letters everywhere a UNCW player might visit before 7 p.m. tonight.

This one, a 93-61 reminder of what happened a month ago when Charleston ran the Hawks off the floor in a stunning result between two rivals who had played a one-possession classic earlier.

UNCW does have a slight experience advantage, as this marks the second straight championship game appearance after last season’s loss to Delaware.

“We know the magnitude of this game, we were here last year,” Siddle said. “Me and this guy [Trazarien White] and a few of his other teammates, we were here, and we know what it feels like to be on the wrong side of it, so these guys will be ready to play.”

Here’s what to watch for as the Seahawks make their 13th CAA championship game appearance, seeking their seventh title.

This Season’s Meetings

Feb. 8: Charleston 93, UNCW 61
Jan. 11: Charleston 71, UNCW 69

It’s hard to believe the Seahawks led the second matchup 23-23 with 7:36 to go in the first half, because minutes later, the Cougars led 46-27 at the half.

A few things went Charleston’s way, UNCW didn’t handle that adversity well and the Cougars did what they’re capable of in transition. Things only got worse from there.

The Seahawks just didn’t compete, as Charleston won the rebounding battle 29-18, including a 13-5 edge on the offensive boards that led to a 22-0 advantage on second-chance points. The Cougars also dominated in the paint to the tune of a 42-26 margin.

In a lot of ways, it was even worse than the Hofstra loss that set the state for Monday night’s performance.

Who’s Fresh?

In the first game, UNCW didn’t play with enough energy and intensity until the second half, and ultimately, it couldn’t overcome the hole it had dug.

In the second, the Seahawks didn’t compete much at all, and we saw how quickly that got out of hand.

More than any offensive adjustment or scheme to get Amari Kelly the ball in the paint, the top priority for the Seahawks is coming out with the same level of fire they had on Monday vs. Hofstra.

So, who will punch first on Tuesday night, fewer than 24 hours after both teams rallied from deficits to win knock-down, drag-out classics?

Time and again this season, we’ve seen the Seahawks’ fate decided by whether they’re tough enough, because when they are, they do all of the little things it takes to win — getting 50/50 balls, hitting the offensive glass and finishing tough buckets in the lane.

This game is going to be a 40-minute street fight, and if I were a betting man, I’d put a few bucks on seeing literal blood.

Seeing ‘93-61’ in big bold letters again should drive that point home.

Nick’s Night?

Taking a look at UNCW’s shot chart from the two games vs. Charleston, and there’s a glaring outlier of a statistic.

CBB Analytics says that through two games, the Seahawks have managed just five at-rim field goal attempts, accounting for 4.7 percent of their shots.

Against CAA opponents not named Charleston, UNCW is getting 28.2 percent of its shots at the rim and 20.5 percent of its looks a little further out, but still in the paint.

Several guys could play a part in reversing that trend, but Nick Farrar seems like a likely candidate to get where he needs to go and finish over his man around the bucket.

Over the past five games, Farrar has hit 7 of 10 at the rim, from the next closest level in the paint.

March is all about storylines, and what a tale it would be to see Farrar help loosen up the defense against his former teammates and lead the Seahawks to a championship.

Lineup Data

Per CBB Analytics, UNCW has used 10 different lineups for 3+ minutes together in the two games vs. Charleston this season.

Here’s their four-factor performance, with the top group sacrificing a bit of rebounding and offense to play lockdown defense.

House Money

Charleston is the team with all of the national expectations that might see a magical season slip away and end up in the NIT with the loss (It shouldn’t; a 30-win team should be in.)

UNCW is confident and loose, and the Seahawks are having a lot more fun on the court than they were a few weeks back. It seems they’ve internalized some of our fans jumping ship over them in recent weeks. (Don’t think we don’t see you celebrating now.)

The Cougars are a team that thrives off emotion, for better or worse. They play with an edge that usually benefits them, but in last nights’ win over Towson, it boiled over a little at times.

That could certainly be a factor in a close, physical game.