Media Day: UNCW men’s basketball gearing up for repeat run to NCAA tournament
WILMINGTON, N.C. (WWAY) — Last year was a good one for UNCW men’s basketball, but the program is moving forward to 2025-26.
The Seahawks made the NCAA tournament for the 7th time last season after winning the CAA championship.
That effort earned head coach Takayo Siddle a contract extension through 2030 while also giving the program a greater financial commitment from the university.
Siddle says that boost will benefit his team going forward.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“I think it helped us put together a really talented roster,” Siddle said. “We increased our resources to help us be successful. When you look around our league, I think we’re 1A/1B with Charleston. When you have that in your pocket, a lot of good things can happen.”
UNCW has repeated as conference champions twice in its history. Doing so for a third time would be done with a roster where nine of 15 players are new to the program, including seven transfers. Some of them directly from CAA rivals.
Junior Gavin Walsh transferred from Binghamton, hoping to play in the big dance.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“It would be a dream come true,” Walsh said. “It’s something that I think every college basketball player works towards their whole life. Putting that blue button on the jersey, that NCAA logo and playing in front of the whole country, the whole world, I think that’s a challenge that everybody wants.”
While it was an achievement to make it there once, senior Greedy Williams says the desire to make it back is even stronger.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“When you’re hungry and get a little snack, it kind of makes you a little bit more hungry, especially since we didn’t finish how we wanted,” Williams said. “We definitely feel like we can get there, win some games and show the world.”
Fellow returning senior Nolan Hodge feels they need to iron things out as the season goes on.
(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)
“It’s going to be tough, but we really just got to focus on the day-to-day process that we have,” Hodge said. “March is a long ways away. Just trying to make our days as good as possible right now. Build our habits so that they come out when it matters most.”
The Seahawks open their season on November 3 at home against Mount Olive.
