FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Nova Southeastern University men's basketball team (6-7, 2-3 SSC) continues its road slate against another top-10 opponent Saturday, the No. 7 Barry Buccaneers (12-1, 4-0 SSC). NSUSharks.com spoke to Gary Tuell prior to the matchup.
Q: Wednesday's game at Rollins didn't come easy, but the Sharks escaped Winter Park with a win, which is never easy in any season. What can the team take away from that 55-53 victory? A: We played to win for the first 33 or 34 minutes, but once we got the lead up to 12 or 13, we began playing not to lose. We played in reverse the last four minutes, backed ourselves into a corner and nearly backed out of a victory. Which is why we all felt like sneaking out the back door when the game with over. We certainly didn't finish the game the way we played it for the opening 34 minutes. But winning on the road, even when you make costly mistakes, is a good thing. It was much easier to talk about the mistakes and find teachable moments after a win than it would have been had we given the game away. Give Rollins credit for fighting back and making it a nail-biter. But give our guys credit for doing enough good things to earn the victory.
Q: The defense was key Wednesday, but the Sharks struggled offensively at times. In the last four games (three on the road, one at home against No. 7 Florida Southern, all in conference) the Sharks have shot under 40 percent as a team. Can you pinpoint the key factor in the Sharks' recent offensive misfortune, or is it a mixed bag? A: I can think of three good reasons we didn't shoot the ball well in our last three games: Lynn, Florida Southern and Rollins. They all play great defense and make you earn every basket you get. As did Eckerd in the game before that. It's no secret that we're a one-dimensional team. We're looking for other ways to score some easy baskets, but we don't have a lot of options for posting our guys up down low and getting buckets around the rim or drawing fouls. We're like a baseball team with a lot of singles hitters but no power. That kind of club has to work very hard to score runs, whether it be stringing together several hits or stealing bases, bunting men over, whatever. We don't have the home run hitters inside who can get you easy scores. We have to work harder than other teams simply because we are so one-dimensional and have so many scoring limitations.
Q: On the other end, NSU has turned into quite the rebounding team. NSU's guard-heavy lineup has outworked their opponents, 45-37, on the offensive glass in 2015. Is the group overachieving on the glass, or is this a sneaky good rebounding squad? A: Whatever success we have rebounding the ball is strictly due to our blue collar work ethic. We preach that games are won in the paint, on the glass and at the foul line and our guys believe that. So we focus on those things for every game. We believe to be a good offensive rebounding team you first have to put yourselves in position to get those rebounds. We don't accept standing around and watching when shots go up. If they want to be spectators they need to buy some popcorn and sit up in the stands. But any success we have rebounding the ball is purely from the determination and will of our players. We have no business out-rebounding anybody. We're small, we're not quick and we don't out-jump or out-muscle anyone. We just try our best to stay persistent.
Q: Barry has lived up to the preseason hype. They are undefeated in region, atop the conference standings, and have only lost to undefeated Indianapolis. What makes this Barry squad so effective? A: I picked Barry to win the league in our preseason coaches' poll because I respect Butch Estes as a coach and because of what they did in recruiting in the off season. They already had a nice nucleus returning from last year, but the players they added to their roster make them very good. It's still early, but I think they are as good as or better than any team I've seen in my 11 years in the Sunshine State Conference. They have quality guards who can handle, pass and make good decisions with the ball. They rarely turn it over or make many mistakes. Deric Hill, in my opinion, is the premier point guard in our league. But when they added University of Albany transfer Anders Haas to the backcourt, they picked up an exceptional athlete with great passing and handling skills who can make 3-pointers from the lawn if they leave the doors to the gym open. Juan Ferrales was a great three-point scorer for them last year and continues to be one of the best in our league. Arie Williams comes off the bench and torches teams from the 3-point line. And it's almost unfair when they move Yunio Barrueta to the perimeter because he's the best athlete and maybe the best player in our league and that just gives them another great shooter. When they play Barrueta inside, he just overpowers people.
They returned Adrian Gonzalez inside where he was outstanding last year as a freshman. And they've added two Division I transfers (6-8, 280 Tray Leonard from Fordham and 6-8, 225 Jevoni Robinson from North Carolina State) who just pound everybody in the paint. And they still have Savad Garner, who is undersized but plays huge in the post, although with all that beef he's almost become their forgotten man. He's a tough, passionate guy who kicks butt inside. This is the most complete team in our league. They have 10 guys who play and any of the 10 would start for us. Their pressure defense is exceptional, their ability to run and score in transition is exceptional, their 3-point shooting is exceptional and their post play is exceptional. They really are a team without a weakness. At least, I haven't been able to find one.
Q: 11 of the last 12 games between Barry and NSU have been decided by 4 points or less. What has made this series so close, despite all the changes that have occurred with both teams? A: That's a good question and I have no answer for it. We've had some terrific games with them… won a couple we should have lost and lost a couple we probably should have won. I guess the geographical closeness of the two teams makes this a natural rivalry in some people's minds, but I've never felt much like Barry was our big rival game. I don't think our players believe it is either. Heck, most of our guys are not from South Florida and they probably couldn't find Barry on a map. For us it's just another conference game against another tough conference opponent and you better come to play hard or you're going to get beat. I think we've split the regular season series almost every year, with a few exceptions, because our teams have been evenly-matched in terms of talent. That probably is the big reason we've produced close finishes. But this year is different from the past. This year is a total mismatch in terms of depth, athletic talent, especially with us being down three scholarship players (
Casey Carroll [Jr., Youngstown, Ohio],
Brian Cahill [Sr., Arlington, Va.] and
Nick Rosa [Fr., Coral Springs]). Even if we were at full strength, I think we would struggle to stay with this Barry team. But as small and thin as we are now, I don't know how we're going to compete against them. They're special.
Q: Brian Cahill (Sr., Arlington, Va.) missed the trip to Rollins, is there any chance he appears on Saturday or will Sharks fans have to be patient? A: I have no idea. Brian is recovering from eye surgery and his return is up to the surgeons. We don't expect him back and have moved forward without him. He hasn't practiced for 10 days and we don't know when he will return or if he will return. It's sad because he's been through so much adversity in his career. I don't know if I've ever coached a guy who loves ball more than Brian. After two back surgeries he refused to quit when most guys wouldn't think about ever picking up a ball again. For him to have the eye injury now is just a very sad and disappointing circumstance for all of us. My heart goes out to Brian. I do know him well enough to know that if the surgeons ever approve his return he will be on the court shooting and working out 30 minutes later.
Q: You turn 65 today, an age that typically is associated with retirement. However, you don't seem to be slowing down, in fact, you've become healthier and energized as the season's progressed. What keeps you so passionate about coaching basketball? A: I'm blessed to work for a university and an athletics director who have been very supportive and encouraging. I love the game and I love the opportunity to work with young guys every day. I get paid to do something I love and that makes me both fortunate and appreciative of the opportunity. I love to compete. I love taking a group of guys and molding them and giving them a dream to shoot for. I'm a much better coach today than at any point in my life. I wish I knew what I know now when I first started coaching because I could have helped some of my past teams win a few more games.
I've also been blessed throughout my life to coach some truly exceptional young men. Guys with great character who have been wonderful gentlemen and student-athletes. The guys I've had at NSU, I wouldn't trade any of them for any other coach's players. And that's especially true of the team we have now. I'm extremely lucky to have the group of guys I'm coaching now, and believe me, I know it. They are just a joy to be with on and off the floor and they make me proud to be their coach every day of their lives.
I hope to coach for another 10 or 15 years, the Good Lord willing. If NSU grows tired of me then I hope I can find another situation where I can help a team or a head coach by sharing what I've learned over the years. I don't ever envision retiring. I love the game too much. When I die, just bury me at center court and speak of me kindly when they jump it up to start the next game.
