Point Guard John Calipari and Other Facts About UNC Wilmington Basketball
Kentucky Basketball hosts the Seahawks of UNC Wilmington in Rupp Arena on Saturday, the only Saturday home game on UK’s December schedule. That’s odd. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. in downtown Lexington as the Wildcats look to add a seventh win to the record.
Meanwhile, UNC Wilmington (5-2) has lost two of three, and Saturday’s game in Rupp is the third straight road environment the Seahawks will face.
Back in the summer, KSR shared some fun facts about UNC Wilmington when this game was announced on the schedule. Let’s revisit those facts today as we wait for the game to tip late Saturday afternoon.
Go Cats.
John Calipari had 22 assists in 1978-79
1978 was a big year for John Calipari. He was wrong once, as he often reminds us in press conferences, and he also played point guard at UNC Wilmington, his first year of college. Fresh out of Moon Area High School, a young Calipari appeared in 25 games that freshman season, tallying 29 points, 22 assists, seven rebounds, and 25 fouls. If present-day Calipari could talk to UNC Wilmington Calipari, he may tell him, “you don’t have to make them all, but you can’t miss them all,” because young John shot 23.5 percent on 4-of-17 shooting from the field.
Calipari finished his playing career at Clarion University where there was more playing time available, before launching his Hall of Fame coaching career.
Joel Justus played there, too
There was a time in our not-so-distant past when Kentucky had not one but two UNC Wilmington guards on its coaching staff. Calipari employed former Seahawk Joel Justus, now an assistant at NC State, from 2014 to 2021.
While at UNC Wilmington, Justus played in 116 career games, won two CAA championships, played in two NCAA Tournaments, and was team captain his senior season.
UNC Wilmington’s coach was part of a dark day in our history
Takayo Siddle. The moment I saw the name of UNC Wilmington’s head coach during my Google search for the name of UNC Wilmington’s head coach, I knew I recognized it. But from where?
Gardner Webb. Takayo Siddle played for Gardner Webb when Gardner Webb shocked Billy Gillispie’s Kentucky Wildcats in Rupp Arena. The box score credits Siddle with eight points, three assists, and two boards in 28 minutes played that cold, black night in Lexington.
There’s a photo of him with Mark Coury in this story of Siddle’s hiring at UNCW.
The Seahawks return three starters
Back in a Seahawks uniform from last season’s starting five are Shykeim Phillips, the team’s returning assist leader; All-CAA Second Team selection Trazarien White, who led UNCW in scoring at 14.2 points per game last season; and Maleeck Harden-Hayes, a 6-foot-7 forward and the team’s best free-throw shooter.
The trio of returning starters are UNC Wilmington’s double-figure scorers this year, averaging a combined 44 points per game. Phillips leads the way at 18.1 ppg. White and Harden-Hayes lead in rebounding at six per game each.,
24 wins in 2022-23
Last season, UNC Wilmington finished T-3 in the Coastal Athletic Association with a 24-10 overall record and a 14-7 finish in league play. The Seahawks punched up three times in the non-conference: at North Carolina to open the season (L, 69-56), at Oklahoma (L, 74-53), and at eventual national champion UConn (L, 86-50).
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