UNCG Game Thread

[Gonzo]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

[hapapp]

Canty is a disaster against the press.

[AppinVA]

Five straight and back tied for first. A pretty good little Monday.

[Gonzo]

Two wins for me tonight! Anyone see my girl friend and me win the hippity hop race?

[hapapp]

The guys really responded in the 2nd half. Got a really important road trip coming up. They seem to be responding as a team, something not always evident in the past.

[proasu89]

Two wins for me tonight! Anyone see my girl friend and me win the hippity hop race?

Way to come from behind.

[Kgfish]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

Announced attendance of just over 1300 with probably 600 to 700 students. You call that a solid turn out from a 17,000 member student body? If so we have some low expectations.

[ASU2416]

Really nice win. This game kind of mirrored the game from Saturday against Elon, only our run came to start the 2nd half instead of at the end of the 1st half. I don't know where the guys were in the 1st half, but the men in the 2nd half were completely different. Everything starts with defense, and I'll hit on this more in Conference Contemplation Thursday, so I won't get into too much right here.

I kind of feel sorry for Wes Miller (I know I may get bashed by the ABC'ers for this). He seems to have some low character guys to deal with. I didn't think Simpson was too bad until closer to the end (the guy can ball) but David Williams... yikes. He went at Baskin pretty much the whole time he was on the floor.

Nice to see attendence at 1,327 on a rainy, nasty, Monday night. I wish we weren't excited about that number, but it's improving. Better turnout by the students, but it can get better, way better. Go Mountaineers.

[cbarrier90]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

Announced attendance of just over 1300 with probably 600 to 700 students. You call that a solid turn out from a 17,000 member student body? If so we have some low expectations.

I guess you forgot about getting destroyed by High Point and barely beating Carson-Newman...

I could care less if 1 was in attendance. We got the W. On to the next one...

[AppinVA]

Two wins for me tonight! Anyone see my girl friend and me win the hippity hop race?

I didn't see anyone that looked like Hunter S. Thompson.

[MountainMan]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

Announced attendance of just over 1300 with probably 600 to 700 students. You call that a solid turn out from a 17,000 member student body? If so we have some low expectations.

It's all relative. Student turnout was very good relative to what I've seen earlier this season -- and they did get into the game and generate some noise. Given what we've seen, I'm not going to whine about that. Would love to see more, but if the winning continues, more of them will get the fever.

[asumike83]

Exactly, it is progress. Announced attendance was 1,327 but it sounded like more and it sure looked like the vast majority were students.

Another important aspect is that the students who came out for the first time this season saw an exciting game. Hopefully, that translates to the students returning and bringing some friends. I've seen a number of people on Twitter talking about the game, which is also a good sign. If the team can keep it going, maybe it will build some excitement around this program for the first time in a long while.

We've got GSU at home next Thursday, then Saturday afternoon games with Davidson and Western on consecutive weekends. If the team keeps playing well, there could be real nice crowds for both of those.

Pics of the student section, definitely the best of the season:

[App Band]

Saint, I'm also a HUGE Marshall Phillips fan! Love that kid!!!!! I've tried to locate him but can't. I know he played ball overseas for several years but after that we lost touch. I even asked Tyson and Buzz but they don't know where he is now either. Super sweet young man and FANTABULOUS player!

[Kgfish]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

Announced attendance of just over 1300 with probably 600 to 700 students. You call that a solid turn out from a 17,000 member student body? If so we have some low expectations.

I guess you forgot about getting destroyed by High Point and barely beating Carson-Newman...

I could care less if 1 was in attendance. We got the W. On to the next one...

Didn't forget anything. Didn't realize the team had to earn the students privilege of attending games. Thought you supported your team through good times and bad. You may not care if more than 1 student shows up, but the players do. If only 800 out of 17,000 students is considered a "solid turnout" we have set the bar really low. Understand paying customers from town not showing up to see us play the 344 ranked team (out of 347) but only a handful of students who get in free?

[Kgfish]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

Announced attendance of just over 1300 with probably 600 to 700 students. You call that a solid turn out from a 17,000 member student body? If so we have some low expectations.

It's all relative. Student turnout was very good relative to what I've seen earlier this season -- and they did get into the game and generate some noise. Given what we've seen, I'm not going to whine about that. Would love to see more, but if the winning continues, more of them will get the fever.

I agree it was a great leap from the 50 or so who showed up a few times earlier this year.

[3rd]

You know some on here will complain about the number of students at the game yesterday. But did anyone see the coach and the entire team come over and clap in front of the students after the game. Yesterday was something this team had for the first time all year, and that was support by their peers. During the game many times the players were trying to pump the students up and if you don't think their defense fed off of the students then your crazy. Their may have only been 600-700 students their but they sure as heck knew how to come alive and make some noise.

[cbarrier90]

VERY solid student turn out. Nice work students.

More importantly, they looked like they had a great time. Likely to return.

Announced attendance of just over 1300 with probably 600 to 700 students. You call that a solid turn out from a 17,000 member student body? If so we have some low expectations.

I guess you forgot about getting destroyed by High Point and barely beating Carson-Newman...

I could care less if 1 was in attendance. We got the W. On to the next one...

Didn't forget anything. Didn't realize the team had to earn the students privilege of attending games. Thought you supported your team through good times and bad. You may not care if more than 1 student shows up, but the players do. If only 800 out of 17,000 students is considered a "solid turnout" we have set the bar really low. Understand paying customers from town not showing up to see us play the 344 ranked team (out of 347) but only a handful of students who get in free?

My point is the bar really got that low, which is why the fact that we are in a virtual tie for 1st in the conference is so surprising.

When a train of mediocrity is speeding downhill for so long, first you have to stop it, and only then can you start to make the slow climb back to the top, and that's not an easy trek. Attending Appalachian basketball games has seemed like more of a chore than a privilege.

I still say it all goes back to the marketing department not putting forth any effort to really get the word out. It's disappointing that football can get something like playattherock.com and all those hype videos, the only thing basketball gets is a small sign outside that says "there's a basketball game tonight."

I said it in a post before, but students don't take school pride in a mediocre program, especially when they can stay home and watch State play Duke. Give them a reason to show up. After five straight wins, progress, however small, has been made, and that's a step in the right direction.

[Goapps15]

Yes the students may not have been overly abundant but it was the best student showing of the season. They got to see an exciting game and this will hopefully bring them back for the next few weekends games versus Western and Davidson.

I am a student and have attended every sport possible from volleyball to football. I always am at the basketball games when I am in town and always encourage others to join me. Last night the group I brought was around 15-20 people. If our marketing department can get more people involved it would increase even more especially because of the current 5 game winning streak.

Back to the game though, Appalachian shot 82.4% (28-34) from the free throw line and 44% from the field (25-57) last night. The biggest difference lately in the team's performance is defensive intensity and being more patient on the offensive side of the ball. The more patient we have been on the offensive side of the ball has allowed us to wear down defenses and get better shots off. Last night we only shot 18 three pointers. That would account for roughly 30% of our shots. There were times last year when we would jack up 40-50% of our shots from downtown.

Capel has got the team improving and is doing a great job of coaching the team up. He is not yelling at them anymore, he is simply pulling them over and telling them how to fix the problem.He also is using his time-outs better to slow down the other teams momentum or when he feels the team is getting out of whack. I have been very impressed with his coaching the past 7 games.

[yosefederation]

Very happy with the new attitude of 0f this team come 2013. That includes both players and coaches. Now we have to prove we can play with same intensity on road that we have at home past two 2nd half of those games. Samford was 2-11 non- conf. yet are 3-1 in conf. play tied with us. We need to take care of business at Samford and chattanooga this week to prove this team has turned the corner. jmo.

[Kgfish]

You know some on here will complain about the number of students at the game yesterday. But did anyone see the coach and the entire team come over and clap in front of the students after the game. Yesterday was something this team had for the first time all year, and that was support by their peers. During the game many times the players were trying to pump the students up and if you don't think their defense fed off of the students then your crazy. Their may have only been 600-700 students their but they sure as heck knew how to come alive and make some noise.

UR missing the point.