Defiant coach Terry Wong remains confident despite Northumbria University M2 Basketball’s 84-65 defeat by Manchester University.
The home team lost the first three quarters by a combined 21 points and never really looked in the game after Manchester finished the first quarter on an 8-2 scoring run.
“Nothing in particular [went wrong], there’s not one part of our game I can pinpoint for improvement,” said Wong. “The group just has to develop as a unit, we need a stronger bond between us. There are so many new lads in the squad this year.”
Early turnovers were a problem for Northumbria and didn’t allow them to settle into an offensive rhythm. But in Wong’s opinion this was down to complacency rather than nervousness.
“The opposition turned up with only eight players and [this contributed] to our lads relaxing and starting slow,” he added.
“[We were] not sharp enough, I don’t blame anyone but at this level there can be no transition into the game.”
Manchester consistently looked to attack on the fast break, something Northumbria struggled to deal with. This game plan lead to a number of scoring runs that took the match out of Northumbria’s hands.
“Watching them warm up, they were all speedy, but this could’ve been easily stopped with better communication,”added Wong. “Again, it comes back to the team developing as a unit.
“For the game situation, we played the best defence we could. Sometimes you have days [where] their shots all seem to be going in.”
The game at university level is changing, players are becoming position-less and this is something Northumbria are currently trying to adapt to.
“University basketball used to be about structured, systematic movement,” he added. “It is now a more natural game.
“It’s only a matter of time before it all clicks.
“At that point I believe we will be the best in the UK. I believe in my boys.
“[At the moment] other teams are looking to set the pace and they feel like we’re vulnerable. They won’t be ready when we click together.”
Jack Surtees
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