Perchcast: Recent Episodes
The Seahawk Perch
UNCW Athletics Director Mike Oblinger joins us for the summer edition of our semi-annual sit-down series. We covered plenty of ground over 50 minutes, including the CAA's newest member, record fundraising for the Seahawk Club, and all of the facilities questions you've gotten to know and love.Enjoy!
UNCW's latest transfer portal addition might be the most important, as fifth-year point guard Xavier Brown is set to join the Seahawks for the 2026-27 season.You'll only need a few minutes to understand exactly why Brown is the perfect fit for this team, especially with a number of experienced leaders heading on to play pro basketball.We discuss his path from the Tidewater area to college hoops, growing up as the son of a coach, being overlooked in the recruiting process and how he found a fit with former Seahawk Mark Byington at James Madison. We also dive into what he learned this season, suffering the first major injury of his basketball career and being forced to the sideline after the third game at South Florida. It's unfortunate we've only got a year with Xavier, because he's destined to be an all-time favorite in Trask!
With two more commits from the transfer portal on Tuesday, the roster is coming into focus for the 2026-27 edition of the Seahawks.William Kermoury, a sharpshooter from Northeastern, was joined by Xavier Brown, a point guard who spent time at James Madison and South Florida, in making a pledge to UNCW.Get to know a little about how the portal additions will fit together with the returners, as we touch on the Hawks' ridiculous depth of shooters, a couple of key wing additions, and how each of the guards could fit into a versatile attack.Much to be excited about!
We've had Christian May Appreciation days, nights, and even weeks ... so it's probably time we have an episode.It was a fantastic conversation with Christian covering his journey from the WCAC to Towson and then finishing off his college hoops career in Wilmington. Plenty of great stuff on why he immediately committed to the Seahawks, how the 2025-26 team came together over the summer, and what it meant to occasionally play the villain. Enjoy!
We've reached the end of the road, but damn was it a fun ride. The Seahawks won a regular-season title, won 27 games, picked up their first NIT win, and played host to a postseason game for the first time. Now, it's on to Portal Season and all of the fun that brings. Thankfully, it seems the Seahawks stand to bring back a solid foundation as we carry this momentum into the offseason!
The Seahawks are coming home, and we've got a big one on Saturday night against Dayton!UNCW endured a tough start on the road at Yale before battling back and gutting out a huge win over the Ivy League's most consistent program. Now, we'll be hosting an NIT game at Trask Coliseum for the first time, and it seems we're going to have a packed house.
We get to watch the Seahawks play basketball at least one more time for the 2025-26 season!Playing in the NIT for the third time, UNCW is headed north to meet fellow academic powerhouse Yale in New Haven.The Bulldogs present an interesting matchup, as a team with a strong post presence surrounded by a host of excellent shooters. Both teams will hit the boards hard and look to play mistake-free hoops in a battle of teams that won their conference regular-season titles before disappointing tournament losses.
It's time for the biggest show of the year!We're joined by an esteemed panel of #CAAhoops luminaries to break down the 2026 tournament, with a look at each team and why they can (or cannot) cut down the nets in DC.Our guests are noted Hofstra Guy Jerry Beach, Dylan Brett of Hofstra student radio, and Jacob Phillips, who has done awesome work covering the league as a student at Northeastern.
An incredible night in Trask turned sour as Charleston flipped the script on us and made all of the plays down the stretch, ending UNCW's six-game winning streak. Bill and Brant break down where things went wrong for the Seahawks, where the game turned, and what it means with the tournament approaching. Also, a quick look ahead to Tuesday night's date with Elon, which stands between the Hawks and an outright regular-season title.
win over the Aggies, plus a breakdown of how the Cougs match up amid one of their best stretches of the season. How will things be different from the first meeting, and what adjustments will we see in the coaching chess match?
A couple of late deficits, a couple of big-time clutch performances for the Seahawks. But what's new?We have no magical analysis for all of the ways that UNCW continues to win games by coming up big in crunch time, but it sure is fun to witness every week. These dudes are incredibly tough, and it reflects in everything they do.
UNCW took a grown-man win at Charleston and kept building on it this past week, turning in a dominant defensive performance to beat Elon before surviving a heavyweight slugfest with Hofstra on Saturday.The Seahawks are playing their most consistent, toughest brand of basketball at the time it matters most. That's pretty cool!
UNCW got back to Seahawk Basketball on Monday night in Charleston, winning their sixth straight game over the rival Cougars. Enjoy!
Thursday night really sucked, and watching it for a second time only made things worse. The Seahawks didn't much resemble the team we've gotten to know this season, as they veered away from their trademark physicality, toughness, and ability to make the big play when it mattered.Now, the Seahawks head south to renew their rivalry with a Charleston team that has flipped their season over the past two months, surging to the top of the league thanks to Jlynn Counter and two excellent big men.UNCW always bounces back in this spot -- how will they do it on Monday night?
Mary at Trask.Also, a look around the CAA, the inevitable coaching carousel discussion, Gavin Walsh's status, and whether UNCW has a shot at an at-large bid.
Mary team. The Tribe mixed their defenses early and got UNCW out of character before a second-half rally. It seemed there was a lesson in the loss, though, as the Hawks showed up with their best all-around performance in weeks in a tough win at Hampton behind an incredible performance from Greedy Williams, another big one from Patrick Wessler, and nice contributions from Makoi Mabor and Jahnathan Lamothe.Now, UNCW heads north to meet rival Towson in a pivotal game for the Tigers, who sit at 4-4 after recovering from a slow start in CAA play.
Comebacks are the theme of the week as Perchast returns from a month-long hiatus!Fortunately for us, the Seahawks made this an easy episode with Saturday's 24-point rally to stun Stony Brook, creating a moment for the history books in the process.- UNCW is 16-2 and 5-0 in conference play despite injuries, illness, and some inconsistency. How lucky are we?- What's going on with the massive disparity between first and second half performances?- Patrick Wessler has grown in a big way over the past several weeks. How'd he do it?- Nolan Hodge, absolute killer.- These dudes just find a way, and man, is it a beautiful thing.
It's been a couple of hours now, and it's still not entirely clear how UNCW rallied to beat Marshall.In their first close game of the season, the Seahawks found a way to steal a gritty win on a night they didn't play their best on either end of the floor.Patrick Wessler's career-best performance set the tone, while Nolan Hodge came up clutch down the stretch, too. What a night.
It was an abundant Thanksgiving for the Seahawks, who completely dominated five of the six halves of basketball it played in the Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic. There were all sorts of positives for UNCW, ranging from lockdown defense to sharing the basketball and excellent individual performances from Patrick Wessler, Madison Durr, and more. Bill and Brant touch on all of those interesting nuggets, as well as what we can expect against a very good, uptempo Marshall squad on Wednesday night in Trask.
The vibes are high after a 2-0 week that saw the Seahawks largely dominate wins over ECU and Radford. This team's personality is starting to show, and damn, do we love it. They're connected in a way we haven't seen recently, and that is becoming very clear with ball movement and defensive communication. In all, we touch on Gavin Walsh getting comfortable in his role, Christian May finding a rhythm as a two-way player, Makoi's major leap forward, and a character-building win on the road over the Highlanders.Plus, a look ahead to the six games at Trask Coliseum this week as Navy, Southeast Louisiana, and Gardner-Webb come to town. We close it out with a look around the CAA, where Towson got a couple of much-needed wins for the league.
After the loss at Kent State, the Seahawks returned home with a gritty, culture win over USC Upstate!Uncle Bill and Brant discuss the winning plays from Christian May and Gavin Walsh in particular, as well as points on leadership, Madison Durr's unreal ability to get to the free throw line, and Patrick Wessler finding consistency in his new role.With ECU coming to town on Tuesday night, we Jordan Riley's importance for the Pirates, as well as Gio Emejuru's dominant post play. How big of a role will foul trouble play in this one, and will the Hawks need to go small?
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times; Charles Dickens wrote that about UNCW's performance at Kent State, supposedly. Uncle Bill and Brant are on this mic this week for a nuanced discussion of the Seahawks' loss in Ohio on Monday night, which saw UNCW fall behind by 22 points before getting things in gear and fighting back. After a no-good, very bad start, there was A LOT to like about what we saw from the mildly shorthanded Seahawks, including strong outings from Pat Wessler and Nolan Hodge, Greedy Williams' asserting himself at a critical point, and the Hawks' fortitude to fight back against a REALLY good opponent.Then, a look ahead to Saturday night's matchup with an uptempo squad from USC Upstate, led by Karmani Gregory and Carmelo Adkins. Will this one be a little easier, or similar to last year's battle in Spartanburg?
It feels like forever ago the Seahawks tipped off the 2025-26 season with a win over Mount Olive!Uncle Bill and TeacherBracket are here to break down the season-opening win, including a huge night for Big Pat Wessler, Madison Durr's attacking speed, Nolan Hodge's confidence, and what was up with that second half.Then, a look ahead to a great mid-major matchup with Kent State on Monday night. The Golden Flashes play fast and come into this one averaging 103.5 points through two games while allowing 99.5. The Seahawks are likely to try to slow things down and dictate the pace.Finally, a look around #CAAhoops, where several teams let big opportunities slip away against mid-major peers and Towson looked great in a battle with Houston.
We're grateful for the opportunity to talk with one of the all-time great Seahawks, Craig Ponder!Now an assistant coach at UNCW, Ponder played a pivotal role in rebuilding the program under Coach Kevin Keatts, ultimately closing his career with a CAA championship in 2016 before pushing Duke to the wire in the NCAA Tournament. Since returning to Wilmington as a coach in 2020, Ponder has been on the sideline for the winningest period in UNCW basketball history, and last March, became the first Seahawk to win a title as a player and a member of the coaching staff.
With college hoops preview season in full swing, we're excited to welcome Hofstra senior Dylan Brett! Dylan, a play-by-play announcer and aspiring journalist, put together a 77-page CAA preview that contains more than 30,000 words on every player, coach, and storyline in the league. Along with his sharing his detailed analysis on UNCW and several other teams around the conference, he also explained the process of putting together such a massive project while trying to balance his final year of college and radio work. Great conversation with a really talented young fella who is headed for big things! Catch him talking CAA hoops all season long on Twitter at @dylanbrxtt. You'll find the preview pinned on his profile, or directly at:https://x.com/DylanBrxtt/status/1980257693643276637
Uncle Bill provides a quick rundown of what happened in today's exhibition, which saw High Point escape Trask Coliseum with a 99-98 overtime victory.
The UNCW Seahawks play basketball this week!It's just an exhibition game, but it'll be a fun one against a solid, uptempo High Point program that is also looking to build on an appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Chopped Unc Bill Jones and TeacherBracket join to discuss what we've heard about preseason practice and what we're most interested to watch on Saturday afternoon in Trask. Also, some thoughts on lineup combos and the value of these games.
Training camp is over and it's almost time to set up the tailgates, so naturally, we're talking hoops on this lovely August evening!With the CAA dropping the full schedule for the 2025-26 season, we've now got a full picture of the road to DC and UNCW's unprecedented 20-game home schedule. The Seahawks will have to find their footing on the road in January, but things set up nicely for Trask to be rocking in February.With 60 days until the first exhibition game, a few thoughts on the roster, too!
UNCW Director of Athletics Mike Oblinger stops by for his annual summer check-in just as college sports enters a new era thanks to the House Settlement and the seismic changes resulting from revenue sharing.Among the topics we covered: - Mike reflects on his second full academic year in Wilmington, with the Seahawks again hanging multiple banners while experiencing plenty of success beyond competition. - The Seahawk Club and fundraising is reaching new heights- Another offseason, another shift in NIL- Numerous facilities projects, both big and small - More progress for the women's basketball program- The men's basketball scheduling philosophy- Channeling the MBB momentum for athletics as a whole- The changing landscape of the CAA and the league's health as a whole
The man needs no introduction.UNCW Legend and CAA Champion Donovan Newby joins the program to talk about his career as a Seahawk!
We're thrilled to talk with former Seahawk guard Jaylen Fornes about his journey in life and hoops, including two different stints at UNCW that saw his teams hang banners in Trask Coliseum.Fornes, who also played pro ball in Denmark, played for three different coaches in Wilmington, with each at a distinct stage of building their program. He shares his perspective on getting to know Coach Takayo Siddle as a young assistant then reconnecting with him as a head coach as he looked to build a winning foundation.Since returning home, Fornes has been working to build his clothing brand, Stack Your Days (www.stackyourdays.net) and working with young basketball players to make their dreams come true, just as he did as a young man from humble beginnings in Pamlico County.Jaylen is an instant Perchcast legend and someone you'll see coaching very soon.
It's an NCAA TOURNAMENT EDITION of Perchcast!The Seahawks got it done in DC with heart, grit, and defense. There are so many incredible moments and individual contributions to talk about from UNCW's run to its seventh CAA title.We've enjoyed the celebration, but now it's time to go make some noise on the national stage against a GREAT Texas Tech team. The Hawks are going to have to play exceptionally well to get it done, but there is a path to victory.
DONOVAN NEWBY. (And every other guy on the roster, too.)UNCW plays for a banner on Monday night after another classic matchup with Charleston. The most joyful exhaustion.
Coming to you live from DC, here's a quick one looking back at the Seahawks' incredible defensive effort in the win over Hampton, and looking ahead to UNCW-Charleston, Part 3 on Monday night.
Now that we've got the schedule for Sunday, a quick look at how UNCW matches up with Hampton and how the Seahawks can avoid a repeat of the most recent meeting.
We've assembled a squad of CAA luminaries to talk hoops leading into the CAA Tournament, including head coach Pat Skerry of the regular-season champion Towson Tigers.After a good 45-minute chat with Coach Skerry, we were left to discuss everything tourney-related, including UNCW's possible opponents, the dream championship matchup, and more.Also included are Friends of the Show Jerry Beach, Jake Eichstaedt, Trevor Everette, and Brian Mull.Stay tuned for a UNCW-focused issue before the Seahawks open the tournament on Sunday evening!
Bonus Perchcast!With a big matchup in Buies Creek on Thursday night, we talked with Trevor Everette, a college hoops writer who has covered Campbell quite a bit this season. A great in-depth discussion on where these Camels came from, overcoming Jasin Sinani's injury, Eric Van Der Heijden flourishing, and what to expect in the game.Plus, we finished it off with a little look around the conference. Enjoy, and follow Trevor on Twitter at @TrevorEverette!
With their backs to the wall, the Seahawks went out and got their biggest + best win of the season by gutting one out at William & Mary.Brian Mull joins us to talk about how UNCW turned it around, toughness down the stretch, and feeding the post.We also took a good look around the league as we head into the final week of the regular season, tournament seeding possibilities and quick discussions on Campbell and Delaware.Stay tuned to a deeper discussion on Campbell coming up tomorrow!
It's been a very bad seven days, and here's what we're seeing with the Seahawks in their sudden defensive dropoff. Big opportunity to go turn it around at William & Mary tonight!
Recapping a roller coaster 48 hours for the Seahawks, from the high of beating Charleston to the low of a flat defensive effort against Elon.Looking ahead, we preview the trip to Hampton and William & Mary and then break down the final week of the regular season around the CAA.
We're in with a discussion of UNCW's absolute beatdown of Charleston, and quick preview of this weekend's matchup with Elon. Among the topics:- Harlan Obioha, absolute beast- UNCW's physicality was good- Chris Mack was right: Charleston is soft- Winning without a big night from Donovan Newby- Khamari's automatic offense- Siddle gets win No. 100 -- don't take this for granted- Looking ahead to Elon after a weird night in the CAA
After a wild weekend of hoops for Seahawks, it's time for another edition of UNCW-Charleston on Thursday night with a national audience. Let's make them feel the teal!Want to be included in next week's show? Leave a voicemail on the Perchcast Hotline at 910-742-0674!A few things we covered:- Grinding out a win at Delaware- The turnovers have to be corrected before March- Greedy Williams, professional-bucket getter- Winning without Bo and Donovan is massive- Harlan battling through a tough game- Sean Moore, the Swiss Army Knife- Why we miss Pat Kelsey- Chris Mack wants more toughness- A few calls from the Perchcast Hotline (Language warning, sorry!)
It's a Classico episode with Uncle Bill and Brant as both the men and women keep rolling! Among the topics we cover:- Taking care of business- Nolan Hodge is back!- Greedy Williams looking for his offense- The luxury of two good big men- Looking ahead at a trip north to Delaware and Drexel- Is Campbell going to the Final Four?- William & Mary vs. Charleston was fun!- Which Seahawk could play in the Super Bowl?
Friend of the Perch Brian Mull joins us to catch up on the first month of CAA play, with the Seahawks taking a four-game winning streak into Thursday night's trip to NC A&T.Among the topics we covered:- Another win at Charleston (yawn) - A mature home win vs. Hampton- How UNCW's offense has evolved this season- Bo Montgomery and Sean Moore are DUDES- Greedy? They should call him Generous Williams.- #FluGameKhamari- Coaching wrinkles and the value of switching defenses- A little all-time Seahawk discussion
We're coming off a big 2-0 week that saw the Seahawk offense find another gear thanks to a faster pace and dominant play in the paint! It feels like UNCW is playing its best basketball just in time to head to Charleston.In this episode, we touch on...- Picking up the tempo and spreading the floor- Harlan Obioha's mobility + passing - Bo Montgomery playing with confidence- Noah Ross on the attack and being Noah Ross- The potential Josh Corbin absence?- Ante Brzovic's dominance, Deywilk Tavarez's shooting, and CJ Fulton's steady hand- What kind of game should we expect in Charleston?
The Seahawks are heading back home after another weekend split, this time getting a win at Monmouth before dropping a tough one at Hofstra.In this episode, we touched on:- A strong performance against a sneaky-tough Monmouth team- Josh Corbin's best game of the season?- Sean Moore's continued rise- Donovan Newby's 30-point outing- A thin margin for error and the plays that shifted Saturday's result- Greedy Williams, the 1-3-1, and more transition buckets- Previewing Northeastern and William & Mary- Any surprises around the CAA?- Who should join the league next?
The opening weekend of CAA play got off to a disappointing start with a loss to Towson, but the Seahawks showed some progress in grinding out Saturday's win vs. Campbell.Covering all that happened through those two games, plus a quick preview of the trip north to meet Monmouth and Hofstra, where UNCW hasn't won since 2017. Among the topics covered:- Another tough loss to Towson. What happened this time?- Harlan Obioha showed what's possible for the Seahawks in the post.- Life after #ShyTime is going to take some time.- Adjusting to the physicality of conference play.- Nolan Hodge and Noah Ross had a tough Saturday, but don't expect a repeat.- Making the clutch plays to beat Campbell.- Khamari McGriff, playing through the pain and back with a vengeance.- A look around the league after watching William & Mary, Charleston,
It's time for our annual winter chat with UNCW Director of Athletics Mike Oblinger.As always, more than enough to cover in an hour. Here's what we got to:- Trask Coliseum renovation/replacement update- What does the market survey say about the arena project?- Brooks Field renovations, including the early arrival of a videoboard!- MBB + WBB locker room refreshes - Sports Medicine enhancements - Media rights (Flo, Fox Wilmington, and beyond)- A 3.5 semester GPA seems pretty good!
With two months of basketball down, we welcome back Friend of the Perch Brian Mull to take a look at the CAA and how our expectations have shifted from the preseason.Aside from the general conference discussion, we specifically touched on:- Elon's excellent start (:50)- Charleston continues to be Charleston (5:00)- Towson's unexpected struggles + a bit of UNCW-Towson preview (9:50)- Hampton as a surprise team? (16:30)- Zach Spiker is doing an excellent job with Drexel (30:30)- How this UNCW team has developed over the nonconference schedule (37:50)
The lockdown defense that led to UNCW's four-game winning streak was strangely absent in Saturday's loss to Howard. The guys break down a disappointing road loss, where things went wrong, and how those last couple of possessions played out.Unfortunately, the loss overshadowed one of the most productive offensive performances you'll ever see in Khamari McGriff's 34-point outing.Also in this episode:- Quick looks at FGCU and UNC Asheville- The return of Noah Ross!- The 3-point shooting woes continue- Bo Montgomery's two-way impact- An encouraging trend with Donovan + Khamari developing
UNCW won four straight heading into the exam week, and now, they'll have a chance to rest up before closing out nonconference play.We kept it short this week, looking back at the win over Marshall, how the Seahawks' defense continues to improve, and why Greedy Williams has been so incredibly important.Be sure to check out our second episode this week, a conversation with UNCW WBB star Ali Zelaya, a grad transfer who is juggling her grad school work in marine biology with playing D1 hoops!
We're thrilled to welcome Ali Zelaya, a graduate transfer marine biologist, artist, content creator and cat mom who happens to also play basketball for UNCW!Ali is refreshingly honest about her journey from being a big-time recruit at UNC-Chapel Hill, falling out of love with basketball and truly finding herself during her time in college. Since arriving in Wilmington, she's rediscovered her passion for the game and is helping Coach Nicole Woods build a foundation for success, as UNCW has already exceeded its win totals for the past three seasons.When she's not working to help ensure the future of coral reefs, Ali is usually posting hilarious stuff on Instagram and TikTok, offering a look inside her life as a D1 athlete, dancing with her cat, or sharing entirely too much info on her pregame routine.By far, the most intelligent conversation we've ever had on the program.Check her out online:Instagram: @alizelaya3TikTok: @alexandrazelayaaa
One week after a flat performance against Colgate, the Seahawks have won three straight behind a new commitment to defense, rebounding, and physicality.We break down the big win over ECU, analyze the adjustments UNCW made during the Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic, and break down the breakout performances from Bo Montgomery, Harlan Obioha, and the newly-healthy Nolan Hodge.
Six games in three days, with a little turkey in between!A look back at Kansas followed by a preview of all three visitors for the Live Oak Bank Holiday Classic, and a few questions from our loyal listeners.
Live from Lawrence, Kan., a quick preview of the Seahawks' visit to Allen Fieldhouse and a few takeaways from Friday's win over USC Upstate.Many thanks to AD Mike Oblinger and OneSeahawk's Brett Keeler for hanging out!
The Seahawks are 2-0 and we've got a quick look back at the opening week before previews on USC Upstate and the big trip to Kansas.We touched on:- Donovan Newby's career-high 33 point effort- Noah Ross changing the game with his energy- Creating opportunities for Khamari- Elijah Jamison making a late impact- Established emotional, vocal leadership- Who are we looking forward to watching evolve?
Our good buddy Brian Mull quite literally wrote the book on the CAA this season, so he was kind enough to give us a good hour of his time, breaking down the league.- How will Charleston change under Chris Mack?- Who are Hofstra's new Create-a-Scorer guards?- Plenty to like about in-state rivals A&T, Campbell, and Elon!- Who might emerge from the big muddled middle?- Will we finally see a real Bill Coen Northeastern team?If you're looking only for UNCW talk, we start out with the Mount Olive game then take a look at Georgia Southern starting around the 1:02:30 mark.
We're joined by fifth-year UNCW coach Takayo Siddle to preview the 2024-25 season, starting with the transfer portal decisions in March 2024 through Tuesday night's exhibition win over Fayetteville State. Enjoy!
We're talking a lot about media days for the UNCW men's and women's basketball programs, and a little about the portion of practice we got to watch last Thursday.First, we share our initial impressions on meeting newcomers + returners for a women's basketball team poised to take a leap in the second year under Coach Nicole Woods.Next, we dive into our conversations with MBB big men Khamari McGriff and Harlan Obioha, who really illustrate just how big these Seahawks are.Finally, we take a few of your questions!Stay tuned over the coming weeks for full preview episodes focused on the Men, Women, and CAA Hoops as a whole.
The schedule is set and preseason predictions are starting to pop up, so it's time to roll out the mics and shake out the cobwebs!
Before Ashley Wade led the UNCW softball program to its second CAA championship, she took the long road as both a player and assistant coach.In this week's episode, we'll get to know about a journey that included multiple transfers, a $4,000 salary and one long drive to Alva, Oklahoma. We'll touch on:- Arriving at UNCW at a crucial crossroads for the program.- Her late father's influence on her career, including a fateful conversation that might have landed her in Wilmington.- The moment she knew she had the job.- Why the Hawks didn't live up to the preseason expectations in 2023.- How she can help her team improve its mental toughness.- One gritty performance after another in the CAA Tournament.- Takeaways from running into a strong SEC opponent in the NCAA Tournament.- Important Wilmington coffee shop updates!
Hot Perch Summer is over, and it's time to get back to work. For our first episode of the 2024-25 season, we're talking to Athletic Director Mike Oblinger as he reflects on success and lessons from his first full year in Wilmington, as well as what's on the horizon for the Seahawks.Among the topics we covered:- Five more CAA championships in 2023-24- Baseball funding and the future of Brooks Field- Special Assistant Mark Scalf - MBB is headed to The Bahamas later this week!- The future of Trask Coliseum and improving fan experience- NIL, revenue sharing and what that means for us- A record year for the Seahawk Club and the nuances of Wilmington and Seahawk fans- The semi-annual football discourse
As the Seahawks prepare to open the Athens Regional on Friday night vs. Georgia Tech, Coach Randy Hood and closer Luke Craig join us to reflect on the season and what it will take for UNCW to break through a challenging weekend.The outro song is Jayson Arendt's new single, "Like a Small Town". Check it out wherever you download music or listen on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIurFeCwKKsIn this episode, we touch on..- Last year's regional disappointment setting the stage for 2024- "The best team to never win a regional"- Overcoming a slow start after the Hawks fell to 11-10- Craig's personal journey to blossoming in the closing role- This team's growth throughout the season and overcoming adversity- Having fun along the way- Who is Tanner Thach?- Previewing Georgia Tech, Georgia and Army
For this week's show, we welcomed new Seahawk Sean Moore!You might remember Sean from scoring a career-high 19 points to lead FDU to one of the all-time stunners in college hoops history vs. Purdue.After hitting the portal as a grad transfer a few weeks back, UNCW instantly made him a priority and brough him in for a visit on the first weekend.Sean got into the details on his visit, how the coaches pitched him on his role with the Seahawks, impressions of the city, and what caused him to commit before taking another visit.Also, he shared his story from being a little-known D2 guard to creating a moment that will forever live in March Madness, how he's improving his game, and the energy he plans to bring Trask next season.
We're thrilled to have Coach Nicole Woods sit down for a great conversation looking back on her first season leading the UNCW women's basketball program, and the work they're already putting into build for 2024-25.We went all the way back to her childhood in Gastonia, summers on a farm in Reidsville and how her competitive spirit was developed playing every sport imaginable at the Boys & Girls Club.After nearly having a promising basketball career derailed by knee injuries, a chance conversation landed Woods at Belmont Abbey where she needed time to grow up off the court becoming a Hall of Fame-caliber player.Plenty of those lessons have come in handy since she began her coaching career as an assistant focused on building relationships with her players — and one she never thought would lead her into a head coaching job.She explained what changed her mind and led her to take over in Wilmington, the foundation her first team put down, and her approach to bringing a team along after several years of uncertainty.Finally, she details her approach to the transfer portal and recruiting, how a tweet might ultimately land a recruit, and marketing with #OurBeachIsBetter.
A refreshingly honest conversation with UNCW basketball coach Takayo Siddle looking back on the highs and lows of the 2023-24 season, looking ahead to the portal and where the program stands. Also, a little clarification on his offensive and defensive systems and the excitement of watching his mentor Kevin Keatts and NC State pull off the impossible.
We’re back, and so is Brian Mull back to wrap up the regular season for UNCW and preview what’s to come in the CAA Tournament in both the big picture and specifically along the Seahawks’ path.We’ll have a postgame podcast for each of UNCW’s games in the tournament, so keep an eye out for our content!
Turns out, the season will continue on Thursday night after all!No doubt, Saturday night was a rough one, but your resident optimists are here to break down what was a strange week for the Seahawks, including one of the more stunning losses we've dealt with lately.Topics in this episode include:- Where did things get weird vs. Elon?- Zone defenses are affecting UNCW ... but probably not how you're thinking.- Maleeck Harden-Hayes is attacking since he returned!- One game without Tra and some strange vibes in the building.- The Patented UNCW February 17/18 loss and a recent history of bounce-back finishes.- Some light threats to Brett Yormark and anyone else who tries to squeeze mid-majors out of the tournament.- The NCAA is trying to make the NIT irrelevant. - Families, players and the support staff see the wildly negative stuff a few people post on social media, and it's not cool!
We've got a special Perchcast coming your way!Ladies and gentlemen: The Sophomore Sensations, The Dynamic Duo, The Brothers ... Noah Ross and Nolan Hodge joined us to cover anything and everything UNCW basketball.During the conversation, we touched on:- Their paths to UNCW and committing on the same day.- Making the high school to college hoops adjustment.- Settling into their roles this season and fighting through adversity.- Life on the road for the first two months of the season.- Teammates they've most enjoyed watching grow.- Trask Magic!- Refocusing after the loss at Stony Brook.- The Seahawks' ceiling with Maleeck Harden-Hayes back in the fold.
It’s gameday, and we’ve got a new episode of Perchcast to catch up on the wins over Charleston and Campbell, as well as a look ahead to tonight’s first-place showdown with Drexel. Here’s what we touched on for this week:A grown-man win at Charleston! Donovan Newby is making shots, and you know we’re fired up!UNCW’s depth showed up last week, and why that matters for March.Khamari McGriff coming up big in both games last week, and why we’re excited to see him get another shot at the Dragons.Our view on analytics, ShotQuality and other such tools. The Brothers, Nolan Hodge and Noah Ross, are contributing everywhere thanks to their effort. We heard a neat story related to those shirts featuring Kyle Moshier’s design.Campbell showed up ready to play with a great plan.Shemar Rathan-Mayes is playing a huge, valuable role in limited minutes.Ahmard Harvey didn’t play vs. Campbell, but expect him to make an impact vs. Drexel.Is there anyone who might have a breakout game off the bench tonight?Saturday’s trip to Hampton sets up as a classic trap game as the Pirates look for their first CAA win.
After a 10-day hiatus, rivalry week is back!With UNCW set to visit Charleston and the CAA schedule reaching the midpoint, we thought it was high time to bring Friend of the Perch Brian Mull back for another conversation.(Unfortunately, the audio cut out at several points during excellent answers from Brian.)In this week’s episode, we discussed:The Seahawks’ incredible performance at Northeastern.The Seahawks’ incredibly frustrating performance at Stony Brook and why things went down like that.Noah Ross and Nolan Hodge setting the tone with their defensive energy.What will help Donovan Newby get going down the stretch? (#TeamNewby)Takeaways from Round One vs. Charleston, and what will and won’t carry over.Can Ante Brzovic be stopped? How should UNCW play him defensively?Breaking down the depth of the league and some pleasant surprises in the standings.The CAA needs to embrace creativity and incentivize scheduling tough opponents for the good of the league.
After an incredible Saturday night in Trask Coliseum, we asked WWAY Sports Director Jake Eichstaedt to join us to give his perspective on UNCW’s victory over Charleston and the atmosphere and hype surrounding the rivalry.In addition, we covered Thursday night’s visit to Northeastern + Saturday’s trip to Stony Brook.Among the other topics we discussed this week:KJ Jenkins is getting comfortable, and it’s a game-hanger for the Seahawks. || Our students and our team loved the postgame scene; thus, it was good and cool. || UNCW moves to No. 1 nationally in turnover rate. What exactly does that mean? || How in the world did Ante Brzovic originally end up at a D2 program? || Ahmard Harvey keeps showing flashes of what he can give this team down the stretch with his energy and knack for finding the ball, and man, are we excited. || Gritty performances — especially on defense — from guys like Nolan Hodge, Noah Ross and Khamari McGriff. || A brilliant, signature performance from Shykeim Phillips. It’s time to start talking about #2TheRafters, and not only because he’s an incredible player. || The changing local media landscape and the many hats Jake wears in covering UNCW + local sports. || Your questions, our possibly useful answers!
In this super special air horns edition of Perchcast, we discussed one of the more bizarre basketball games we’ve seen UNCW play in recent years, then jumped into Saturday’s big rivalry matchup with Charleston.So much to discuss, including:— Trazarien White’s incredible night (31 points, 11 rebounds, 6 assists)— BLACK ALTERNATE UNIFORMS ARE BEAUTIFUL — Maleeck Harden-Hayes’ absence and his prognosis for Saturday, plus a potential injury for Donovan Newby?— Was this UNCW’s best half of the season? And which half was more important?— Charleston dropped one to Towson. Does it matter for us?— Savoring the experience of Trask on a night like Saturday.— Keys to knocking off Charleston.— Is there anyone with the potential to be an X-Factor for the Seahawks?— You’ve got good questions, we’ve got answers of varying quality!
It’s gameday for the Seahawks, as UNCW heads west to visit in-state rival Elon tonight at Schar Center. This is the first of two Perchcast episodes we’ll have this week, focused on last week’s victories over Monmouth and Delaware, then previewing what to expect tonight vs. the Phoenix.We’ll have an Elon review/Charleston preview ready for your enjoyment on Friday morning.Our guest this week is Jason Lanier, an original member of The Hecklers who remains involved with the Seahawk Club and recently led the efforts to produce the #ShyTime t-shirt.There’s nobody out there that cares more about UNCW than Jason, and it was fun to chat with him about the good ol’ days in Richmond and also the good now days. We’ve got more merch coming your way soon, so be on the lookout.Included in this episode…- Did UNCW really ‘learn’ physicality from its first two games?- Monmouth tried to punk us in Trask, didn’t they?- A major improvement on defense in a matter of a week.- The coaching staff made an effort to get Maleeck Harden-Hayes involved early, and it worked!- Should Shemar Rathan-Mayes be playing more and/or should Donovan Newby be playing less?- Are the Seahawks a better 3-point shooting team than they’ve shown lately?- Is the old CAA making a comeback this season?
A return to Trask Coliseum couldn't have come at a better time for the Seahawks after a surprising 0-2 start in CAA play.This week, Bill and Brant break down what happened on the frustrating two-game run at Drexel and Towson and whether we should be worried about UNCW's long-range prospects. (Hint: probably not so much.)Also, they touch on: - The CAA home-opener vs. Monmouth and Xander Rice.- Shot quality numbers and what they mean for UNCW.- Why the Seahawks haven't been able to push the pace, and whether a trapping press is the answer.'- What might get Maleeck Harden-Hayes going on this homestand.- How much Shykeim Phillips' hand injury altered the offense. - The big man rotation, and the potential addition of Ahmard Harvey.- Slanderous statements by an SEC fanbase that has no business mentioning UNCW.If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and toss us a five-star rating!
With league play tipping off around the CAA this week, we had to invite Brian Mull on for his first episode of the year.First, we break down UNCW's loss to Arkansas to wrap up the nonconference slate, and what the Seahawks should take from their 9-3 run in November and December.From there, we dive into every level of #CAAHoops, from title contenders to the struggling teams who have a chance to make a leap. Brian gives us his thoughts on what's different with Charleston, why he likes Monmouth, and the challenges Drexel provides on Thursday night and beyond.Finally, we wrapped things up with your questions and reminisced on some of Brian's favorite tales from the beat, touched on ‘Fargo, Directory Assistance’ and paid homage to the Great 80 Day Coaching Search of 2010. You'll definitely want to hear who ALMOST took over the job back then.Brian served as the UNCW beat writer at the Star-News starting in 2006 and stuck around for the Benny Moss and Buzz Peterson eras. He lives in Wilmington and covers college hoops nationwide, with his work appearing in places like College Insider and The Athletic. Follow him on Twitter/X at @BGMull for his musings on UNCW, CAA basketball and mid-major hoops in general.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, Seahawks!We've got a treat for you as Athletic Director Mike Oblinger gave us a full hour to review his first eight months on the job, facilities priorities, his first coaching hire, conference realignment, media rights and so much more!Also, you'll find out about Mike's proudest moment as a dad, which podcasts (other than this one!) stay in his rotation and the strange thing he does on his phone late into the night.If you enjoy the show, please subscribe and give us five stars, and even better, share on social media.
The Seahawks took care of business against an overmatched Montreat team on Sunday, and now, they'll head down to Statesboro to meet a Georgia Southern team with its back to the wall.Along with quick breakdowns on those games, the guys get into the details on Takayo Siddle's challenge to his bench, a few spots the Seahawks might see improvement in short order, one 'contrarian weirdo' point and the first-ever Perchcast Guarantee. Also, a discussion of conference realignment and where UNCW belongs and a look at how the CAA schedule will eventually set up.
Brett Blizzard knows what it's like to be part of a UNCW team that is the talk of the college hoops world thanks to 2002 NCAA Tournament victory over USC.Listen in for his perspective on what the Seahawks are experiencing after their historic upset of Kentucky, as well as his reflections from the first glory days of UNCW basketball.Also, you'll hear his thoughts on:- How the game has changed.- NIL and what that could mean for this team.- Why he never thought about transferring to a high-major.- How Trazarien White made himself some money on Saturday.- Coach Jerry Wainwright, master motivator.- Finding a career after basketball.- His thoughts on eventually coaching.
UNCW just pulled off its greatest regular-season win in program history, knocking off a ranked opponent on the road for the first time. And it just happened to be the program with the greatest tradition in college hoops.Bill, Hunter and Brant break down the Seahawks' incredible gameplan, a huge night for Trazarien White and what this win means for the UNCW program.Trazarien joined us by phone for a minute, too!
A little long, but that's because there's a lot to learn about UNCW play-by-play man Mike Vaccaro!We start by reviewing the Fort Myers trip in detail, including Mike's unique courtside perspective and spending time with the team. After a quick preview of ECU, the conversation turns toward Mike's reflections on his career, from his time as a student manager for the Syracuse football program to working at Campbell, then finally landing in Wilmington in 2004. Mike shares memories on his favorite Seahawk moments, players and teams along with some perspective on how media has changed around college athletics.
In a matter of 24 hours, the Seahawks got the full Florida experience — a truly magical day in a beautiful place (Murray State) followed by something so incredibly strange (Appalachian State) that the headline seemed like a typo. With the Fort Myers Tip-Off behind us and a matchup with Florida Gulf Coast to come on Saturday, Bill and Brant touch on:- The defensive issues are pretty clear at this point. Is there a fix?- Explaining the stretch that changed Tuesday's game. - Transition troubles and why pressing probably isn't the answer right now.- A recent history of bounce-back games, including the famous 2021 Jacksonville loss.- An incredible team effort + win on Monday that will unfortunately be overshadowed. - The one thing they'd like to see on Saturday vs. FGCU.
With the Seahawks off to a 3-0 start, Bill and Brant get into UNCW's ridiculous offensive firepower last week, plus a look ahead to what awaits in Fort Myers. They'll also touch on:- Donovan Newby's value beyond the box score.- Microwave scorer Nolan Hodge.- Shykeim Phillips will be your CAA Defensive Player of the Year- Eric Van Der Heijden is back! Where does he fit in? - What's wrong with Charleston, and can it be fixed?- A rough start for #CAAhoops.
Perchcast is back for the 2023-24 men's basketball season! In our return episode, Uncle Bill and Brant discuss UNCW's season-opening win over Mount Olive, what KJ Jenkins means to the Seahawks and the wealth of offensive talent on the roster.Then, it's time to look ahead to Saturday's matchup with Big South favorite UNC Asheville and dynamic scorer Drew Pember. We'll likely get a good look at one of UNCW's biggest strengths in this one.
Kyle and I had been talking about starting a podcast for a while, so we figured the big 'Run it Back' announcement would be a good time for the revival.In this episode, we hit a quick rundown on the 2022-23 basketball season, what the return of Amari Kelly (and almost all of his teammates) means for the Seahawks next season.Also, we touch on the transfer portal, where UNCW can find the most value and how the rest of the CAA sets up at the moment with rosters far from complete. (Drexel seems like a good pick, though.)
UNCW Baseball Coach Randy Hood stops by to preview the 2022 Seahawks, which feature several key returners while breaking in a new pitching staff.
With one week until the regular season tips of, college hoops writer and all-around good guy Brian Mull joins the podcast to talk UNCW basketball.
Bobby Guntoro's swimming journey began in Bali before he committed to UNCW without ever visiting campus.
During his time in Wilmington, he fell in love with the program, the school and city while helping the Seahawks win four conference titles.
Now, a decade later, he's trying to restore the program to the success it experienced under his mentor, the legendary Coach Dave Allen.
Guntoro talks about his personal journey in walking away from a great job as an accountant to pursue coaching, following the example set by his parents and what ultimately led him to turn down a Power Five offer to instead return to UNCW.
In this edition of Perchcast, we're joined by 1989 CAA Player of the year Trent Mongero, and his son, Taber Mongero, who we'd love to see become the 2022 CAA Player of the Year.
Taber, after winning a high school championship on his father's team, began his college career elsewhere before fulfilling his dream of becoming a Seahawk.
We discussed the father-son coaching relationship, how UNCW has changed since Trent played for Bobby Guthrie and the long road that brought both to Wilmington.
Things have been anything but normal for UNCW baseball coach since the start of his first season leading the program in 2020.
He stopped by the show to talk about how the Seahawks have adjusted over the past 12 months, recruiting via Zoom and the winning tradition and culture he hopes to uphold in Wilmington.
Hood also talks about his path from Campbell to pro baseball to getting on Mark Scalf's staff 20 years ago and what the UNCW baseball program needs to continue competing nationally.
Live from Wilmington, it's Tuesday night.
After too many wings, Mike and Brant discuss baseball's sudden struggles after losing three of four and probably spend too much time nitpicking a 12-6 season.
In better news, Devontae Cacok earned his first NBA start on Tuesday, but Frank Vogel still refused to let him flourish.
Identifying Cacok as a little-known recruit and helping him blossom into an NBA-caliber player should be a nice selling point for Coach Takayo Siddle and staff out on the recruiting trail.
Mike returned from watching #ProHawks to catch the sweep of App State while Brant made his first Brooks Field trip of the season and both went home feeling pretty good about the Hawks. Brant's wife, Lauren, went home feeling good about PT's fries.
A look at ECU and what these midweek games mean for UNCW this season, and finally, a discussion of what the departures from the Seahawk basketball program mean for the big picture.
Please, don't let Pirate fans invade Brooks Field this week.
Adversity was the theme of the weekend at Brooks Field and Trask Coliseum with varying levels of success.
Baseball fought back from a tough loss to win two hard-fought games as the bats came alive, while basketball fought back from an early hole to lose in excruciating fashion.
Still, the return of Shykeim Phillips makes UNCW a team no one wants to see in Harrisonburg.
Welcome to Perchcast, a podcast discussion of UNCW sports!
In this week's debut episode, hosts Michael Barnes and Brant Wilkerson-New go in-depth on baseball's opening weekend sweep, why this team is set up for postseason success and what they're looking for vs. Western Carolina.
Plus, a quick discussion of the basketball season as the Seahawks return from their second COVID pause and look to finish strong amid uncertainty in the CAA.