No doubt that over a 4-yr horizon the team overall has shown some positive trends. But as noted in an earlier post of mine, not so much during late season ACC series when it really counts.

Last 4 ACC weekends in 2018: lost 2of3 to ND and Duke, swept by Miami & UNC
Last 4 ACC weekends in 2019: lost 2of3 to GT, swept by Miami, lost 2of3 to BC & UVA
Last 4 ACC weekends in 2021: swept by NC State, lost 2of3 to UVA, swept by Duke & ND

Maybe this record isn’t fairly reflective of the current coaching staff. Maybe the staff has tried numerous approaches to end seasons on a more positive note - but not had success so far. The cause for these similar results at the end of each season might even vary from one season to the next. But whatever it is the current staff has yet to remedy it.

I’m not hostile to Szefc. In fact I think he’s a good man with sincere intentions. I just wonder whether he’s got that something xtra to be a great coach. One way he may be deficient is that he doesn’t seem to have deep loyalty toward his players, and I wonder if when times are tough he’s not done enough for them to be loyal to him in return. This is illustrated by how he rarely if ever puts the blame on himself and his staff. Or says “we’ve got the talent, it’s on me & my staff to make sure our guys are prepared properly to have success.”

In Cory’s recent 2021 recap Szefc instead seemed to blame his players for the late season swoon: “…the opposing arms we faced have really done a good job executing plans, and our guys haven’t made many adjustments. That’s why you see what the outcomes have been.”