Jerome Tang came into the postgame interview visibly upset after the loss to UCF. The team’s offensive struggles derailed what could have been a straightforward win. Wildcats stars Dug McDaniel and David N’Guessan were unable to lead the team in the absence of Coleman Hawkins, combining for just 18 points on 36.4 percent shooting from the field.
“We have to improve,” Tang said. “We can’t afford to take any plays off. We lost the middle eight today, with a 10-0 run at the end of the half and a 6-2 run at the start of the second half, resulting in a 14-point swing. I appreciate our players’ toughness and grit as they fight to come back, but we need to avoid needing those comebacks in the first place. We should start strong and eliminate the need for a comeback.”
Usually composed in his remarks, Tang held the players accountable for their efforts and the early deficit. Max Jones put in a strong performance with a season-high 22 points, showcasing his shooting ability and offensive aggression. However, his individual success couldn’t compensate for the team’s overall lack of offense on Wednesday night.
“Typically, I come in and say, ‘I’ll take the blame for this,’ but we all need to take responsibility for this one,” Tang stated. “We need to adopt this approach going forward because the challenges ahead won’t get any easier.”
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