Tonight’s Big Game Evolves into Survival Mode (Updated 4:45pm)

SHU

The theme that we have attached to basketball this past week is one of major importance for NC State. Sunday night’s win over Cincinnati basically allowed the Wolfpack to hold serve while waiting for tonight’s opportunity to strengthen our NCAA Tournament resume’ with a road game at (RPI #25) Seton Hall.

Over the last two games against Davidson and Cinicinnati, a more energized Wolfpack team showed great significant improvement as point guard Farnold Degand became more effective on both offense and defense while helping the Pack with effective three point shooting when the open shot was available (8 of 16 for the year). But, Degand’s season ending knee injury has thrown water on our parade and now we don’t necessarily know what to expect when the Pack takes the court.

Pack Pride provides some preview information calling the game “HUGE” and Wilmington’s Andrew Jones says that Gonzalez is now the Wolfpack’s key and says,

Unless Gonzalez proves he a vastly different player from the one I’ve seen so far, State is in trouble. In 111 minutes, the Miami native has just nine assists.

Gonzalez, however, has only made a few plays worthy of an ACC point guard. He’s been extremely hesitant, almost timid at times, and hasn’t played with confidence. Gonzalez doesn’t shoot well, almost never penetrates into the lane, and starts the offense way too close to midcourt.

Lastly, ACCNow is discussing the improtance of this ‘home game’ for Brandon Costner; but – as ususal – Gavin Grant steals the spotlight in the ‘quotable’ department.

Asked if the game had special significance for him, Grant quickly quipped, “Nah, I live in the Bronx, man. We don’t even associate with Jersey.”

WRAL-TV has a report on tonight’s game with a focus on Grant but I can’t figure out how to do this damn embedding BS so you can view it by clicking this link.

http://www.wral.com/sports/video/2221793/

Updated 4:45pm
Two new links worth posting:
(1) Section Six’s always informative preview

Well, this should be interesting. Of Seton Hall’s top five minutes-getters, no one is taller than 6-5. How they’ve managed the OR% they have, I do not know…probably just a function of the early season schedule seeing as how none of the short guys are very good rebounders at that end of the court; they had a similarly short team last season, and as you can see, they didn’t rebound well offensively…

SHU’s 2FG% defense ranked 292nd last year and currently sits at 259th this season.

Protecting the basketball is going to be huge for us in this one, as that’s really the only leg they have to stand on defensively; they don’t force misses and they give up plenty of second chances, so if we keep the mistakes down we’ll be in good shape for a nice day.

(2) ACCNow says that the Wolfpack is starting a new season tonight in light of Farnold Degand’s injury.

It also might be time to take another run at the Gavin Grant Experiment. Grant, a senior, ran the point with mixed success in Engin Atsur’s absence last season.

Lowe laughed this summer when it was suggested Grant get another turn at running the offense. But if Grant, Courtney Fells, Brandon Costner, Ben McCauley and J.J. Hickson represent State’s five best players, then they should be on the floor at the same time.

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07-08 Basketball

206 Responses to Tonight’s Big Game Evolves into Survival Mode (Updated 4:45pm)

  1. Trip 12/27/2007 at 9:33 PM #

    Costner wtf are you doing fouling a 3 pt shot?!?

  2. GAWolf 12/27/2007 at 9:34 PM #

    I am now a Grant fan. It’s taken me years to say that. He toted us tonight.

    Costner fouls a 3 shooter. Are you kidding??? At least he won’t be going pro this year.

  3. Trip 12/27/2007 at 9:34 PM #

    Grant, you better throw up the X after all of this.

  4. WestCoast 12/27/2007 at 9:34 PM #

    Fells with a terrible jump ball on their end of the court. Get rid of the ball and push it. He thought they were going to foul him. He’s lucky we have the arrow.

  5. redfred2 12/27/2007 at 9:35 PM #

    Hell, I’ve lost track, I know we’re up by four though

  6. redfred2 12/27/2007 at 9:35 PM #

    I love this for GG!

  7. GAWolf 12/27/2007 at 9:36 PM #

    Fells takes the inbounds, all but literally sits on the ball and they get a jump ball. Possession arrow Pack. We really do some knuckleheaded shit….

  8. redfred2 12/27/2007 at 9:37 PM #

    GG with 2 FT’s!!!

    80-74 PACK with 12 seconds

  9. redfred2 12/27/2007 at 9:39 PM #

    Make that 79-73

    I don’t know why I started this anyway, I cannot type.

  10. WestCoast 12/27/2007 at 9:39 PM #

    State prevails. Mainly with great def. the last 10 min. of the game. Our two pg’s have to play better in the ACC, and we have to be able to break full court presses. We win though, and it’s a good feeling.

  11. WolftownVA81 12/27/2007 at 9:40 PM #

    Holy cow! Grant is my new hero. What a game. I think the boys may be coming together. Still can’t figure out BC though. Congratulations Pack on a great win.

  12. RabidWolf 12/27/2007 at 9:40 PM #

    Great win for the ‘Pack, and much love to GG for stepping up yet again!!

  13. GAWolf 12/27/2007 at 9:40 PM #

    Big win for the Pack!!! Good job.

    If our coaches objectively review this game, no way in hell Costner starts until he gets his head on straight. That was the worst game I’ve EVER seen the kid play. The analogy above about him pouting seems pretty accurate…as sad as it is to have to say that.

  14. MrPlywood 12/27/2007 at 9:41 PM #

    4 guys in double figures – nice balance… excellent away game win.

  15. Trip 12/27/2007 at 9:42 PM #

    79-73. I was off by 2, not too shabby.

    MJ seems to be playing well, they’re calling him the “unsung hero” of the game on the radio. A huge layup near the end, and while he was 50% FT shooting, he made enough to seal the game.

    Man, Grant is playing easily as good as Hodge did, if not better.

  16. redfred2 12/27/2007 at 9:42 PM #

    ^Make that can’t type, can’t add, or think coherently.

    I’d still love for someone to give an analysis of Fells efforts to be a factor on offense in the second half.

  17. wolfonthehill 12/27/2007 at 9:43 PM #

    Courtney kept us in it early.

    Gavin and JJ are money in the 2nd half.

    But I’m bitterly disappointed with only 5 shot attempts for JJ. We needed to force the ball to him at all costs, get him 15-20 shots, and he’d have scored 30. They had no one who could touch him.

    Nice win, but closer than it would/should have been with the right game plan.

    Come on, Sid – exploit your opponent’s weakness.

  18. wolfonthehill 12/27/2007 at 9:44 PM #

    That being said, 3 VERY nice wins in a row that put us in good position prep’ing for ACC ball. Way to turn it around, fellas.

  19. geojim1990 12/27/2007 at 9:44 PM #

    As everyone says, “a win is a win” I guess. But I’m sick of saying, “it was ugly but it got it done”. Just once I’d like to say, “that was Swiss f***ing clockwork … & against a quality team”.

  20. Noah 12/27/2007 at 9:47 PM #

    What was Johnson’s line for the night?

  21. Astral Rain2 12/27/2007 at 9:49 PM #

    Let’s just hope Mays can be an ACC-caliber PG his freshman year.

    This team is going to give the selection committee nightmares if it’s 8-8 or better when it comes to seeding. Hopefully the Hall can get some good wins and be a tourney team themselves.

  22. GAWolf 12/27/2007 at 9:49 PM #

    I really thought this would be the year that we could watch a game with that relaxed smirk that my Carolina grad friends get to gaze over a UNC shalacking with. I really thought this would be a year where I’d get to watch a game and say we dominated that game against a quality foe. I reckon there is still time…

  23. redfred2 12/27/2007 at 9:49 PM #

    I don’t know so much about calling it a “good position”, but they are at least cutting back on unforced errors when it matters. It is good to see that they figured out a way to retool and play without Gegand.

  24. WolftownVA81 12/27/2007 at 9:50 PM #

    The great pass from Grant to Johnson was key to the win as were the bucket by McCauley and the bonehead SH turnover. I think our point guards showed some improvement tonight. However, Javi has got to take some shots. He was open several times at the three point line and could have come in for a mid range jumper only to pass. That has to change.

  25. highstick 12/27/2007 at 9:50 PM #

    Costner’s foul on the 3 pointer looked a little weak to me, but somebody needs to put the “Pillsbury Doughboy” on a diet. Who was the fellow in Popeye who likes to eat hamburgers???

    I liked what I saw out of MJ tonight. Not a bad first outing.

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