This won’t be a full live blogging exercise, but I may muster up the energy to update with thoughts as the game progresses. Obviously, the Pack really needs this one to keep its slim NIT hopes alive. We still have a home game against horrible Wake Forest and a road game against horrible Miami. Apart from those, this game might be the most likely win left on the schedule. Hopefully, the players were embarrassed by the Duke debacle, and will come out with some real fire.
The pre-game crew is being coy about Atsur’s status – a complete 180 from the cautionary “it’s probably best if he doesn’t play” foreshadowing before the Duke game. Just a hunch, but I expect Engin to play, and play surprisingly well.
9:12 – Fells just playing horrible defense in the early going. And I know I’ll catch shit for this, but I love that we got Packer announcing tonight. It’s nice to hear actual analysis instead of foolish banter.
9:49 – Packer states the obvious: “This is a very poorly played game.” Our effort is much better, but our offense is a complete trainwreck. 9 guys played in the first 10 minutes. I do like that. McCauley just can’t buy a basket, despite some good looks and his typical 100% effort.
10:05 – (Jeff) What a horribly played first half. Thank God I didn’t drive the three hours to watch this live. Virginia doesn’t score a basket for almost ten minutes in the first half and State is down seven at the half? Interesting that Gavin Grant didn’t start. Nice to see so many players get a little time in the first half. It will be nice to get a shooting guard who can shoot. But, we should find a way to substitute Dennis Horner for Courtney Fells and run some plays to get Horner some of Fells’ shots. Our defense was better at times, but doesn’t deserve any compliments. Officiating is awful. No surprise it is a Ted Valentine crew. They have got to start calling fouls on the post.
10:15 – Audible groaning is prevalent in my living room. Why don’t we see if we can let Singletary go for 50 tonight?
10:18 – There are times when Atsur looks like the only guy in white with enough sense to tie his own shoes.
10:21 – Ladies and gentlemen, we have a Costner sighting!
10:24 – So…the coeds like McCauley. Must be the soulpatch/goatee hybrid? Don’t look now, but we have some offensive momentum and Grant is playing defense.
10:29 – Killing ourselves from the line. Momentum in the shitter.
10:31 – Grant takes out Singletary AND draws 3rd foul. Best play of the night. Seriously, hope he’s ok.
10:34 – Fuck. Ballgame.
10:39 – Grant and Nieman go to the line with the chance to get us 8 points…and we come away with ONE. Freaking inexcusable.
10:43 – Atsur and Nieman playing together. Interesting.
10:46 – Cool Monroe footage.
10:48 – I vote no player of the game for us. Nice recognition by Packer re Lowe’s adjustments.
10:51 – There’s just no getting back in this game for us. At least we fought tonight. That’s something to build on.
10:54 – JR Reynolds, Wolfpack killa. Fells is just lucky his pants didn’t fall down on that one.
10:56 – Grant fouls out on a late, lame-ass call. We had no chance anyway.
11:00 – Fuck the powerball numbers, WRAL! Think they’d do that to Duke or UNC?
11:03 – Nice words about our program and Lowe’s tough situation from Brando and Packer. It is much appreciated, gentlemen. Time to stop fouling.
11:06 – Your final score – Virginia 71, NC State 58.
