#CAAHoops Preview: UNCW Men's Basketball
Miles McQuiggan
WILMINGTON, N.C. (Oct. 28, 2022) - Merriam-Webster defines luck as "a force that brings good fortune or adversity."
The success of the UNCW men's basketball team a year ago was certainly a force that brought good fortune, but people who tuned in or attended Seahawks games last season would likely decline to qualify it as "luck" as computers and others outside the league often did.
A fan, writer, or passionate contributor to #CAAHoops Twitter would be able to offer up numerous forces: Trask Coliseum providing an electric atmosphere, veteran players hitting big shots, and seemingly weekly double-digit comebacks from a team that played every possession in high gear.
Those forces combined to lift a UNCW team picked ninth in the CAA preseason poll to a co-regular season title, trip to the conference title game, and eventually a CBI Championship in Daytona.
"The first thing you look at is how resilient we were," said head coach
Takayo Siddle. "That group didn't get a lot of credit for the toughness that they embodied. I'm talking the mental toughness to come from behind and win so many games and the toughness to go on a long winning streak. I think the toughness of that group was something a lot of people didn't understand."
Gone from that group are senior leaders including Jaylen Sims, now in the NBA G-League. But UNCW boasts plenty of returning pieces who gained valuable experience late into March.
"It did a lot for our program and for our returners," said Siddle of the CBI run. "It gave us some experience, but we can't hang our hat on that. This team has to form its identity and pave its own way."
An elevated role awaits
Shykeim Phillips, a double-digit scorer and All-Defensive Team honoree from a year ago.
Trazarien White also made a significant splash in his first year by the beach and the Seahawks welcome in a formidable group from the transfer portal, including former Charleston guard
Nick Farrar.
For UNCW, which was on the doorstep of a return to the NCAA Tournament before falling in the conference title game last year in DC, it will be those forces and not a formula for "luck" that cause the Seahawks to return to dancing.
But for those who rely on a four-leaf clover for some extra reassurance, NCAA First Round games will be played in North Carolina on... March 17.
UNCW
Head Coach: Takayo Siddle
2021-22 Record: 27-9, 15-3 (T-1st)
Postseason: CAA Final; CBI Champions
Returning Starters (2)
Shykeim Phillips, G 11.3 ppg, 34.4% 3FG, All-CAA Defense
Trazarien White, G 6.9 ppg, second on team with 4.7 rpg
Notable Newcomers
Maleeck Harden-Hayes, G 5.3 ppg at North Dakota State
Victor Enoh, C 4.5 rpg at Marist
Nick Farrar, G 5.6 ppg at Charleston
Donovan Newby, G 8.3 ppg at Milwaukee
Eric Van Der Heijden, F 0.4 ppg at Ole Miss
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