UNCW (0-0) at Illinois State (0-0)
8 p.m. | Redbird Arena | ESPN3 | Listen | StatBroadcast | UNCW Notes | ISU Notes
Let’s finally get this started.
After spending his first season attempting to guide a team through unprecedented uncertainty, the Takayo Siddle era begins in earnest on Tuesday night, as the Seahawks travel to Normal, Ill. to meet the Redbirds in the season-opener for both teams.
After a season in basketball purgatory for UNCW, Siddle was able to put his touches on the program, adding 10 newcomers and getting a full offseason to help build the culture and style for a team that never truly established an identity under the previous staff.
If Thursday night’s exhibition victory over Francis Marion was any indication, the Seahawks won’t lack for entertainment this season as they return to the Run, Defend, Win system that saw UNCW win two CAA championships during Siddle’s tenure as an assistant beside Kevin Keatts from 2014-17.
Plenty has been written about last season, as the Seahawks were decimated by COVID-19 stoppages and injury en route to a 7-10 finish, never truly instituting Siddle’s preferred system, as a thin roster left UNCW unable to push the pace on offense or apply the pressure needed to be successful.
That’s well in the past, though, as Siddle and the Seahawks have the experience and depth to roll 10-deep if necessary.
Tuesday night, we’ll find out just how far UNCW basketball has come in the past eight months.
Here’s what to watch for in a winnable game on the road:
About the Redbirds
ISU isn’t all that different from UNCW this season, as the Redbirds try to mix in several high-impact transfers with talented returners, led by guard Antonio Reeves.
The 6-6, 185-pound Reeves went through the NBA Draft process and seemingly made good on the feedback, hitting 6 of 10 3-point attempts on his way to 34 points in last week’s exhibition victory.
Reeves — a career 31 percent 3-point shooter — is capable of a scoring outburst, while transfer point guard Mark Freeman, a second-team All-OVC pick last season at Tennessee State, will run the show. Josiah Strong rounds out a solid perimeter group.
Although ISU is a bit thin on experienced big men, the 6-9, 200-pound Abdou Ndiaye is a solid rim protector.
A good Illinois State preview from Busting Brackets, and another quick one quick from the MVC. Here’s the pregame story from the paper up in the Bloomington-Normal, Ill. area.
Key Players: G Antonio Reeves (12.4 points in 2020-21), G Mark Freeman (17.1 points, 4.6 assists at Tennessee State), G Josiah Strong (11.5 points, 2.7 assists, 37.1% 3-point), F Kendall Lewis (9.9 points, 4.1 rebounds at App State), G Emon Washington (5.3 points, 4 rebounds), F Abdou Ndiaye (3.8 points, 1.4 blocks).
KenPom rankings for UNCW: No. 227 overall, No. 199 Offense, No. 331 Defense.
KenPom rankings for ISU: No. 202 overall, No. 226 Offense, No. 179 Defense.
KenPom forecast: ISU 78, UNCW 71 (25 percent chance of victory).
Good to be Shy
The universe, unfortunately, has been very stingy with Shykeim Phillips lately.
After playing in just two games in the 2020-21 season due to injury, Phillips managed just 16 minutes in last week’s exhibition due to foul trouble.
He ended up with 11 points, 4 assists and 1 turnover, but his impact went far beyond his stat line.
With Phillips on the floor, UNCW hit 15 of 24 field goal attempts, including 7 of 11 from 3-point range. He also served as a steadying force for the offense, with one total turnover during his 16 minutes, while his ball pressure helped produce 9.
Of the Seahawks’ most effective lineups, Phillips led the two that produced the biggest scoring margin.
There’s a pretty direct correlation between the junior point guard getting more minutes, and UNCW getting a better chance at victory.
Locking Up
Plain and simple, the UNCW defense wasn’t good in the exhibition game — but it did improve mightily in the second half.
On one hand, it was the first half of the first exhibition game for a roster of newcomers playing their first game together.
On the other, it was a continuation of what we saw last season as opponents got one good look after another in the lane.
Defense ultimately comes down to energy, effort and communication — all things that can be improved rather quickly.
Afterward, Siddle and players pointed to increased energy being a key to why the Seahawks were more successful in the second half, forcing Francis Marion to miss all 7 of its 3-point attempts while committing 11 turnovers.
Still, the Patriots got 20 of their 32 second-half points in the paint.
UNCW’s system means opponents will usually have a size advantage, but if the Seahawks are playing hard, getting in position and forcing turnovers, their speed will easily outweigh what they’re giving up in the post.
If traps are slow, rotations aren’t crisp and opponents can get into the open court, Division I teams have the size and talent to capitalize for easy buckets.
Big Night
It feels like we didn’t get a full look at James Baker Jr. in the exhibition.
The graduate transfer from Morehead State had 6 points on 2/3 shooting to go with 4 rebounds on a night where he took care of his business and got a seat on the bench without having to do too much.
Tonight’s game is where a guy like Baker — who has 120 appearances and 80 starts under his belt — is extremely valuable.
This will be Baker’s fifth season-opener, and last year, he drew the start at Rupp Arena, where he played 26 minutes and put up 10 points against a bunch of future NBA players.
There’s nothing the Redbirds can throw his way that he won’t be ready for, and given that both teams like to run, he’s well equipped for a great performance vs. less-experienced players.
It’ll be fun to watch Baker lead this team and play to his strengths in a game that maters.
Whose Night?
Nine players got 14+ minutes in the exhibition, and had Jamahri Harvey played his usual second-half minutes, it would have been 10.
Siddle has mentioned he’d like to get the rotation down to 8 or 9, and to make those decisions, he’ll focus on guys who are helping the team with winning plays beyond just scoring.
Maybe he pares down the rotation tonight, or maybe that develops over the next several weeks, but that’s part of the beauty of a system that rewards activity and execution.
It’s not unrealistic to think that, on any given night, one of nine different guys could be the high-scorer.
Now, it’s unlikely 12 guys get into the scoring column like they did in the exhibition, but don’t be surprised to see four players with double-figure scoring totals.
Trazarien White was rewarded for his toughness and effort with 15 points in the exhibition — who gets themselves in position to make plays, grab loose balls and finish breaks?
In Siddle’s final season as an assistant at UNCW in 2016-17, the Seahawks had a different leading scorer in each of the first four games of the season. In 2015-16, seven players took turns leading UNCW in scoring.
Tip-Ins
UNCW hasn’t won a season-opener vs. a Division I opponent since a Nov. 11, 2012 victory vs. UNC Asheville.
The Seahawks used a double-double from Keith Rendleman to knock off ISU 63-54 in their last trip to Normal, on Dec. 3, 2011. The Redbirds lead the all-time series 3-2.
Jaylen Fornes will play in his fourth UNCW season-opener and fifth in his college basketball career.
The Redbird Arena floor was named Doug Collins Court in 2007, recognizing the four-time NBA All-Star, coach and TV analyst who averaged 29.1 points over three seasons at ISU.
Collins played for Will Robinson, who was the first Black head coach in Division I basketball.