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UNCW Office of University Relations

Men's Basketball Joe Browning

Seahawks Dance With Virginia At NCAA Tournament

UNCW Game Notes | Virginia Game Notes

ORLANDO, Florida – The UNCW men's basketball team has some unfinished business after leading national power Duke and then falling to the Blue Devils, 93-85, in the second half of last year's trip to the NCAA Tournament.
 
Early Thursday, the Seahawks, 29-5 and two-time Colonial Athletic Association champions, get another shot at an Atlantic Coast Conference opponent – this time Virginia (22-10) and its defensive-minded Cavaliers.
 
Third-year UNCW Head Coach Kevin Keatts and his club captured their third consecutive CAA regular season crown and locked up the program's first back-to-back titles since 2002 and 2003 by running the table last weekend in Charleston with victories over Delaware, William & Mary and Charleston.
 
UNCW will be making its sixth NCAA Tournament appearance when the Seahawks and Cavaliers tip off at 12:40 p.m. ET on Thursday at the Amway Center in Orlando.
 
"We're extremely excited to have the opportunity to play against a very good Virginia team," said Keatts, who coaches his 100th game for the Seahawks on Thursday. With a 72-27 record in three seasons, he already ranks among UNCW's winningest head coaches.
 
"We're proud to be back in the NCCA Tournament. We learned so much from the game we played against Duke last year. I think our guys are prepared and ready to go.
 
"We've had a tremendous season. When you think about having a target on your chest all year long, being picked number one, and obviously winning the regular season and a tournament championship, 29 games is impressive. We're excited, once again, about our opportunities."
 
The Seahawks are anchored by a pair of veterans and two talented young players. Senior guards Chris Flemmings (15.8 ppg and 5.5 rpg) and Denzel Ingram (14.5 ppg, apg) are finishing up outstanding careers, while sophomores C.J. Bryce (17.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Devontae Cacok (12.3 ppg, 9.6 rpg) are two of the CAA's newest stars.
 
Flemmings scored 18 points in UNCW's loss to the Blue Devils in Providence last season and has been steady again in his senior year. The Cary, N.C., product has earned First-Team All-CAA honors two straight years, playing in 67 games and scoring 1,069 points for the Seahawks.
 
Ingram, who transferred from UNC Charlotte, moved up to Second-Team, All-CAA this season after leading the circuit in three-point shooting and assists. He has scored 899 points and dished out 293 assists in two seasons in the Port City.
 
Bryce made the CAA's All-Rookie team one year ago and soared to the First-Team All-CAA unit this season after leading the Seahawks in scoring 12 times and reaching double figures in 32 of 34 contests. He was selected the CAA Tournament's outstanding player after scoring 57 points in UNCW's convincing run in Charleston.
 
Cacok, meanwhile, was one of the CAA's most improved players. After getting his feet wet last season, he started 33 of 34 games in 2016-17 and was named CAA Defensive Player-of-the-Year with 43 blocks and 37 steals.
 
The Seahawks and Cavaliers are playing for only the fourth time. Virginia has won the first three meetings by an average of 27.6 ppg, but the Seahawks threw a scare into the Cavaliers, 69-67, on Jan. 18, 2010, at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville.
 
"We have a lot of respect for Virginia," added Keatts. "Tony (Bennett) has done a tremendous job with their program. They're one of the best defensive teams in the country. We've got to do a lot of things to be able to score against those guys."
 
UNCW stands 2-39 lifetime in games against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents. The Seahawks only played one ACC team this season and lost to Clemson, 87-73, on Dec. 28, 2017, at newly-refurbished Littlejohn Coliseum.
 
The Seahawks are 1-5 in NCAA Tournament games after playing in 2000 (Nashville), 2002 (Sacramento), 2003 (Nashville), 2006 (Greensboro) and 2016 (Providence). UNCW's lone win in the NCAA Tournament came in 2002 when the 13th-seeded Seahawks stunned No. 4 Southern Cal at Arco Arena.
 
Commentators Mike Vaccaro and Marty Feurer will provide the action for the Seahawk Digital Network in Thursday's NCAA matchup on WLSG 94.1 FM and 1340 AM in Wilmington and WSME 97.1 FM and 1120 AM in Jacksonville, N.C.
 
The game will also be televised nationally on TruTV, with Ian Eagle, Steve Lavin and Evan Washburn on the call.
 
UNCW's NCAA Tournament Records
 
Most Points 93 vs. Southern Cal, March 13, 2002
Field Goal Percentage .593 vs. George Washington, March 16, 2006
3-Point Field Goal Percentage .500 vs. George Washington, March 16, 2006
Free Throw Percentage .810 vs. Indiana, March 16, 2002
Rebounds 43 vs. Cincinnati, March 17, 2000
Assists 20 vs. George Washington, March 16, 2006
Steals 9 vs. Cincinnati, March 17, 2000
Blocks 3 vs. Southern Cal, March 13, 2002
  3 vs. Duke, March 17, 2016
 


 

 
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Players Mentioned

C.J. Bryce

#12 C.J. Bryce

G
6' 5"
Sophomore
Devontae Cacok

#15 Devontae Cacok

F
6' 7"
Sophomore
Chris Flemmings

#1 Chris Flemmings

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Denzel Ingram

#10 Denzel Ingram

G
6' 0"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

C.J. Bryce

#12 C.J. Bryce

6' 5"
Sophomore
G
Devontae Cacok

#15 Devontae Cacok

6' 7"
Sophomore
F
Chris Flemmings

#1 Chris Flemmings

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
G
Denzel Ingram

#10 Denzel Ingram

6' 0"
Redshirt Senior
G