In close games… coaching will usually win. Keatts is a real coach… for real.
I agree with this statement. We’ll learn more and more about Keatts in the coming years (I personally think he is our best men’s basketball coach since V), but the jury has clearly returned on Manning. Wake has led or been tied at the half in a very large number of games this year, yet has a losing record. Even with all the cupcakes, Manning has an overall losing record. I get that he inherited the Bzzzz mess, think he is a good recruiter (talent looked at least to our level), and think he is a great big man coach, but I don’t think he is a good head coach or in game coach (which was my point when Gott was losing to him). I hope Wake sticks with Manning as it will make Keatts’ job easier.
As for the game, I felt it was a tale of two halves more than a good last four minutes. Both teams had hot and cold shooting, but in the first half we settled for the first / lazy shot and jacked up a lot of threes and contested shots. In the second half we drove more, moved the ball more and were inside out and getting to the line. We were -5 in the first half and +14 in the second.
We also subbed and went small, where I think we just look much better. The Markell/Batts combo applies great pressure and having Markell out there lets Beverly come off the ball and become a scorer (think he is a combo more than a pure point at this level). The spacing is better which helps Yurt and Nard when they are the 1, and lets Dorn operate better.
Good game and let’s go get 6 more in the ACC during the regular season just like it. Beating Miami (if we could do it) would be huge. They are the type of team we have struggled against this year — well coached and strong defensively.
