Cincy on Saturday

06-07 Basketball General22

After starting strong, the NC State Basketball team has not played particularly well in their last two tests against ‘named’ opponents – West Virginia and Alabama. Therefore, it would be particularly nice for the Pack to step up a little during their visit to Cincinnati on Saturday afternoon.

It won’t get any easier as Engin Atsur will not play against the Bearcats. Atsur has missed five games since getting injured in the Pack’s win vs Michigan.

State and Cincy seem to be relatively evenly matched – both with RPIs currently in the 140s. The way that we see it – this Cincy game represents the ‘swing’ game of the Pack’s last five-game stretch (starting with Bama) prior to conference play in January. S6 previews the Bearcats here.

* 4-1 (11-3 overall) would keep fans hope for an NCAA Tournament bubble appearance alive for another couple of weeks. State’s strong play against Michigan and Virginia generates excitement for the Alabama game and Cincinnati’s early struggles gives the Pack hope on the road this weekend. The Pack would definitely have to finish at least 7-9 in conference play (potentially 8-8) for NCAA dreams.

* Before the season, a 3-2 mark would have been the hope/expectation for this stretch. Because of the Michigan win, a 10-4 overall mark prior to January 6th would keep some NCAA hopes alive but would more prominently place the Pack in solid contention to qualify for the NIT with a 15-14 (or better) overall record at the end of the year.

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06-07 Basketball General

22 Responses to Cincy on Saturday

  1. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 11:12 AM #

    “State didn’t play poorly in falling behind by 23 as much as Alabama played well. The Tide shot 57 percent in the first half and made 7 of 15 3s for the game. When it wasn’t making its shots, Alabama was rebounding the misses. The Tide finished with 43 boards, compared to 29 for State.

    Alabama’s size and overall athetlic ability limited Grant’s effectiveness with the ball.”

    While there are many aspects that this YOUNG group of players, along with their NEW coaching staff, could have possibly done better the other night, the fact still remains, Alabama was hitting on all cylinders in the RBC. It would have been hard for most anyone to have beaten them on that night.

    We adjusted, and we did very, very well in the end.

    As far as the Fells highlight reel, I’d like to see that aggressiveness much more often. I think these coaches will bring him on out of his shell and help him realize that he can be an absolute force at any time.

  2. crackdog 12/22/2006 at 11:54 AM #

    While Alabama played well, and hit a few tough shots with hands in their faces, the majority of Alamaba’s sucess in the first half came from poor defense on State’s part. If you leave people open against a team like Alabama, they are going to hit on all cylinders. We have a ways to go still to become a good defensive team, and I hope to see improvement vs. Cincinnati.

  3. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 12:10 PM #

    Ah, but crackdog, you and so many others are still waiting to see evidence of something that already happened right before your own eyes. They are young and they were rattled early by a strong Bama team, but THEY DID ADJUST, AND THEY DID PLAY MUCH BETTER DEFENSE in the second half.

    It’s definitely going to take some getting use to I know, and it’s tough for us to accept when they happen so rapidly. But we don’t have to wait until the next game, or even NEXT YEAR, to see improvements anymore.

    Just stop blinking so much.

  4. legacyman 12/22/2006 at 12:24 PM #

    I don’t think we played great D in the game until the last six or so minutes and some Alabama players did get wide open shots but they DID hit them. Many teams get wide open looks but fail to convert. The big man just worked his magic inside on us even when doubleteamed…that was talent and not a lack of D.

    Alabama is a good team but by season’s end we also might be a good team…NCAA bound, who knows but still better than most expected.

  5. ChuckAllYall 12/22/2006 at 12:58 PM #

    We were a little sloppy with the ball and lazy with many of our passes against Bama. Costner has got to move his feet better on defense, and use that big body more. Grant’s efforts at point guard are admirable, but he’s killing us with his shot selection. I hope the energy and intensity Ferguson brings will continue and was not solely first game enthusiasim. This team is fun to watch and you can see them improving. The positive energy from these guys is refreshing and it’s fun to see them embrace their new offensive freedom. Hopefully when Atsur gets back he will provide the solidness and stability he has shown in the past. Atsur’s consistency, mixed with our explosive wings, and bolstered by McCauley and Costner down low, could surprise some folks and make a few waves come ACC play.

  6. 98st8 12/22/2006 at 1:12 PM #

    Sorry to be off topic but I thought this was kind of funny. ESPN asked who was the best coach between, D. Smith, A. Rupp, and B. Knight. Look at the results in the state of NC. I guess a lot of State and Duke fans got on this one.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/index

  7. StateFans 12/22/2006 at 1:22 PM #

    Make no mistake – State played poorly on defense, rebounding, and shooting (from the field and the FT line) in falling behind vs Bama.

    It’s not a big deal, but we could have a played a lot better.

  8. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 1:26 PM #

    You are all right…sorta. No one on that young team had ever played any significant minutes against a legitimate top ten program before that night. The head coach hadn’t ever even coached against one either. Maybe they just thought they were ready, but really weren’t? Maybe confronting a team playing on Alabama’s level, for the very first time, was a shock to their young minds and made them feel they didn’t have what it took to compete, especially early on in that particular game? Maybe they looked bad because they were questioning themselves everywhere, and on both ends of the court? They are all young and very inexperienced afterall.

    Whatever the contributing factors were in Bama’s large lead, good play by them, against a young deer in the headlights, it went from 23 down to down 6 with less than a minute to play, with an outside chance for an upset of a top ten team. I’d say that’s solid improvement from everywhere on the court, and at a fairly rapid pace. Probably the most important factor being overall confidence in each other as players, along with the mutual respect of their coach.

    Whatever it all came down to in that seven point loss, everyone has now had a taste of what to expect later on, and they’ll be better prepared from here on out. The players are just getting to know one another, the coaches are just figuring out what to expect from them, but they all learned a few valuable lessons about themselves in that one big game. They’ll stumble, but now they know that they can depend on their coach to give them direction, and whenever possible, an opportunity to compete with almost anybody around.

    That goes just as far as it would with a big “W” stamped beside it, and I’m thinking even further because it didn’t. I’d call all of that a win/win in my book, any way you look at it.

  9. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 2:10 PM #

    ChuckAllYall

    You bring up an interesting point about Atsur. I’ve been thinking maybe??? Grant should handle the point with Atsur playing 2 and coming picks for the shot. Constantly substituting Atsur and Ferguson in the 2 spot would give Atsur needed rest and Ferguson time to adjust and get comfortable. Fells, in a match up with a bigger defensive player could use motion and run them ragged while being a threat inside or out. Leave Costner and McCauley just as is, but with a much more emphasis on blocking out and positioning for the rebound, especially on the offensive end. Then use Horner and Nieman to rest the other and provide a spark, or when defensive stops are needed. Both of those guys have shown an ability to get the steal or get after up a loose whenever it’s within reach. That leaves Grant at 6’7″, as a nightmare match up at the point, especially with two/three/four legitimate outside shooters in Atsur, Fells, Ferguson(?), and Costner, who would draw a bigger man out and free up the inside for 6’7″ Grant to drive on a smaller man, and/or dish to McCauley, Fells,…

    Hell when you look at it that way, we’re loaded, the kids will be complaining about playing time shortly. 🙂

  10. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 2:14 PM #

    ^”or get their hands on a loose ball…”

  11. ChuckAllYall 12/22/2006 at 2:42 PM #

    redfred2,

    I think you make some nice points there, and I would agree that Atsur might be more beneficial to the team at the 2, where he seems to be most at ease.

    I still don’t feel comfortable with Gavin handling the ball on the majority of our possessions. I love his abilities as a slasher and rebouder, but cringe everytime he dribbles the ball across the timeline. I know I’m going out on a limb here, but I wouldn’t mind seeing Ferguson at point to remove some of the burden from Grant. In his debut, he seemed to be relatively comfortable with the ball and made few poor decisions (exception being that pass he floated over the middle which would have made Marcus Stone proud). I have a feeling Gavin’s offense will really explode when he relenquishes the ball handling duties.

    We saw how tentaive Ferguson was with shooting last game and that may not be a bad thing at this juncture from our point guard. All indications are that once he gets in the groove he’ll be able to knock down that open three. The only thing that worries me is Fergs did seem to be susceptible to the penetration quickness of smaller guards, although he did a good job of hustling to recover.

    Let me know what your thoughts are about Fergs bumping Nieman and moving Gavin back to the three guard. I don’t see a whole lot of downside. No knock on Nieman, but I think Fergs will be more of an asset to us handling the ball then Nieman is to us on the wing.

    As far as Feels I think you’re right on. If he can develop more consistency with that smooth mid-range jumper, I can definitely see him tiring down defenders running off screens all day long similar to a Rip Hamilton.

    It’s fun to have a team to be excited about again, isn’t it?

  12. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 2:59 PM #

    With Astur able to play shortly, Ferguson, very tentatively showing some ability that should increase with time on the court, Fells being a 2 who could possibly create match up problems in a forward spot, and a formidable, but less trigger happy, Gavin Grant at 6’7″, showing that he has the skills to run the offense at a possibly quicker pace than Atsur ever could, the back court no longer looks like such a weak link.

    All of those legitimate scoring threats, spread out on the court would provide the spacing that GG needs to penetrate and get the most out his 6’7″ frame.

    It’s the old adage that early injuries to key players only make the whole team better in the long run.

  13. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 3:08 PM #

    ChuckAllYall

    I stepped away and you slipped that one in on me. I agree with what you’re saying about Ferguson, but maybe later, he’s a step behind right now and he needs time to get back up to speed.

    As far as Grant goes, I do not think that the others have been giving him proper opportunities to feed them the ball, which is partly his fault because of early shots. I think with the offensively talented guys I listed above, playing in those positions and pressuring the defenses with proper spacing, Gavin Grant can then start to penetrate and become a real problem child for opposing teams.

  14. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 3:18 PM #

    ^About Ferguson up there, it’s not “back” up to speed, it’s up to speed. He was essentially a freshman, playing in his first ever college game the other night.

  15. crackdog 12/22/2006 at 3:19 PM #

    Redfred, I just don’t see it the same way as you do. You saw better defense in the second half, and I saw a team take advantage after Alabama relaxed. To me, that’s not the same thing. I want this to be an improving defensive team, but I just don’t see it yet. I’ll believe it when we make offense difficult for an opponent for 20, 30, 40 minutes a night.

    I hope it starts against Cincy. We have an opportunity here, they play a freshman guard a ton of minutes, though two juniors also get 20+ minutes/game at the guard spot. They have three upperclassmen who get most of the minutes at the forward spot, but they’re as undersized as we are (6’8″, 6’7″, and 6’6″). The freshman guard (Vaughn) is one of their top scorers, so if we can force him to turn it over or take bad shots, we have an excellent chance to steal one on the road.

  16. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 3:50 PM #

    crack

    I’d be a fool not to agree that there are problems on defense, and everywhere else for that matter. But I think they are mainly due to inexperience, and to be honest that starts with the HC and goes right on down the line. Lowe knows the game, there is no doubt, but he didn’t have any feel for the competition he is facing on this level now days. You can’t learn that but one place, in a game. He does now though, after a run in with talented Alabama team.

    That game was a sounding board in many ways. If you’re looking for 40 minutes of anything moderately consistent in order to happy with this slapped together, but talented of group of players, then you are going to have to wait and show some patience while giving them time to develop.

    Myself, I’m just happy watching baby steps, or quantum leaps, as they make positive strides to get to the point where many people somehow think they should already be. ?

  17. redfred2 12/22/2006 at 4:14 PM #

    I’m a grouch today, as per usual! But I don’t understand why people can’t except the fact that this is all brand spanking new to basically everyone associated with the NC State basketball program right now. With L Davis being about the only exception.

    Sorry crackdog, didn’t mean to jump on you.

  18. Woof Wolf 12/22/2006 at 4:25 PM #

    road win on Saturday would not be a steal. I have seen Cincinnati play twice and all but one game of ours. We are capable of winning this game, but if we don’t it is not the end of thr world.

    We are getting better every game, even the last two. If the competiton is more talented and we lose instead of win does not mean we played worse than we did against the cupcakes.

    I love what we are seeing and we are ahead of where I thought we would be. The objective is 15-14 in the regular season. If we do better I’ll love it.
    If we don’t quite make it don’t get negative.

    These guys are playing and coaching their butts off. I hate to lose but I damn sure appreciate the effort when we don’t. Don’t expect too much this year, but wait until next year.

  19. PackGirl 12/22/2006 at 5:05 PM #

    My Christmas wish is that Brackman will play against Cincy. He gets a free trip home for the holidays and we get a very nice Christmas surprise. Please Santa, help us! (If reindeer can fly, why not?)

  20. crackdog 12/22/2006 at 5:20 PM #

    No offense taken, I’m just a defense nut (probably comes from being an undersized ball player). I’m also keeping my expectations down lest I find myself unable to enjoy the small steps that we’re making. Hopefully I didn’t come across as rude, since we all pretty much want the same thing- a team that we can be proud of.

    I didn’t realize that this Cincy team lost to Wofford.

  21. legacyman 12/22/2006 at 5:40 PM #

    I agree with the inexperience comments regarding the young players but I don’t buy that Sidney didn’t know what to expect at this level. That’s a bit of a stretch…the guy has played in an NCAA title game and coached both as coach and assistant coach in the NBA. Sidney is well qualified to run our team and has all the knowledge tools necessary.

    Listen to his accounts of our game play and watch his TV show. The guy makes the most lucid explanations of what happened or didn’t happen of any coach I can remember. He doesn’t sugarcoat anything. If someone screwed up then he won’t cover it up and I like that…not meaning to embarrass any kid but they are young men and have to shoulder blame or credit for their actions.

  22. PurplePeopleEaters 12/23/2006 at 11:44 AM #

    Is this game televised NOT on ESPNU?

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