By BILL LEVY Click here to see photos of the game
It would be easy to think that with a 5-0 start, being the first Atlantic Sun Conference team to have such a record since Jacksonville University did that in the 2000-2001season, that Florida Gulf Coast men’s basketball coach Joe Dooley would have trouble finding fault with his team. It would be easy to be wrong.
Despite defeating the University of San Francisco by a score of 62-47 in the semifinals of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Germain Arena on Tuesday night, Dooley sees plenty of room for improvement.
“We are not a very good offensive basketball team right now,” he said. “I think that is common around the country. Defense seems to be ahead of the offense.”
With the aid of the Dandy Dons (3-1) shooting 4 for 16 from the free throw line in the first half, the Eagles went into halftime leading 26-18.
FGCU, who will play Green Bay for the championship tonight at 7, went on a 25-8 run to open the second half and take control of the game with a 51-26 lead.
“I thought we were sluggish (to start the game),” Dooley said. “We slowed down and settled in (in the second half) and at times played good basketball. San Francisco is a good basketball team. They missed some free throws which was good for us.”
FCGU’s Bernard Thompson led all scorers with 20 points, including consecutive 3 pointers to start the second half.
“Coach (at halftime) told us to win the first five minutes (of the second half),” Thompson said. “He said to come out with a lot of energy. I wanted to help get the team going and knocked down a couple of shots.”
Dooley also mentioned how the play of 6’10” senior was able to help neutralize San Francisco, which Dooley described as a “physical” team. For the night, Hicks finished with 11 points, four rebounds, and a game high three blocks in 16 minutes.
“I know what my role is,” Hicks said. “I play defense, set screens, rebound – anything to keep me on the floor. I enjoy it.”
Despite not having lost a game, Thompson said the team is still a work in progress.
“We are not satisfied,” he said. “We are just taking it game by game.”
Those words are almost certain to put a smile on his coach’s face.