UNC-Wilmington host UNT in home opener

NT80 · November 21, 2005

For Immediate Release

November 21, 2005

SEAHAWKS ENTERTAIN MEAN GREEN IN HOME OPENER

WILMINGTON, N.C. – After tipping off the season by winning three of four games during an extended trip to the Rockies, the UNC Wilmington men’s basketball team returns to Trask Coliseum Tuesday for its 2005-06 home opener.

The Seahawks got off to a blistering start by capturing the Black Coaches Association Invitational in Laramie, Wyo. UNCW surprised the field by knocking off Butler, host Wyoming and Northwestern in succession for the school’s first in-season tournament championship since 1997.

UNCW then ran out of steam last Friday in a 73-54 loss at Colorado, where the Buffs forced the struggling Seahawks into 26 turnovers while blocking six shots and coming up with 17 steals.

“All in all, I thought it was a very good experience for our players and staff,” said fourth-year coach Brad Brownell. “Anytime you can spend eight days together on the road, it will help with bonding and the unity of the team.

“In terms of basketball, the tournament allowed us to face four very solid teams who played different styles. It should help us in preparing for the different teams that we’ll face throughout the season.”

Brownell’s club kicks off its home slate against a team that thumped the Seahawks last November in Denton, Texas. The Mean Green jumped out to a 38-30 halftime lead and never looked back in a 76-69 decision at The Super Pit.

The Seahawks will be looking to win their seventh straight home opener. UNCW has not dropped its home debut since Princeton squeezed out a 61-54 overtime verdict on Nov. 21, 1998.

Overall, the Seahawks own a 22-7 mark in home openers since joining the D-I ranks in 1976-77. UNCW has won eight of its last 10 openers at Trask and Brownell’s first three teams have each been victorious.

“Since we lost to North Texas last year, it should be much easier for our staff to get the attention of our players,” Brownell said. “Our fans will be surprised with the talent that this team has. They have good size and a lot of speed and athleticism.

“I like this game because North Texas will be like a conference game for us. They have a lot of talent and it should be a good test for our home opener.”

The Mean Green lost standout Leonard Hopkins to graduation, but the cupboard is far from bare. Junior guard Calvin Watson, sophomore forward Quincy Williams, junior guard Kendrick Davis and senior center Jeffrey Simpson give Coach Johnny Jones plenty of firepower.

“Calvin Watson is an exceptional 3-point shooter and scorer,” Brownell noted. “Quincy Williams and Jeffrey Simpson are two interior players with experience and Kendrick Davis transferred in from Arkansas.

“They seem to be off to a good start. North Texas is one of the teams that can match our depth. We found that out last year and they apparently are the same way this year.”

Brownell says the game will be difficult in terms of preparation. “Their first game was against a Division II school and we won’t have any tape to evaluate. Just like Colorado, we’ll be going off last year’s information.”

As a result, the Seahawk coach is banking on getting a lift from a home crowd that has produce a 64-10 record at Trask Coliseum over the last six seasons.

“It’s critical in college basketball to perform well and win your home games because road victories are hard to come by. We’ve been fortunate over the last couple years to play well on our home floor. For us to have the kind of season we’d like, that must continue with our non-conference and CAA games.”

Mad Hatter · November 21, 2005

Nice write up on our team. Hope we can come out with a good showing against them. With football having an off year, it'd be nice to have another sport get us some headlines.

Girls soccer helped, but basketball has a much larger draw.