I didn’t expect to get even madder when I read the sports page this morning. But then I read these quotes from Ben McCauley:
“It may seem like it but we’re still trying to [win],” junior forward Ben McCauley said. “We’re definitely trying to.
“I don’t think we’ve forgotten how to win [but] I think we’re kind of one step behind. We’re almost there.”
Almost there? Are you fucking kidding me? The last place team, the team who was winless against non-Boston College ACC foes, was beating you by 27 early in the second half. Maybe there’s a new meaning for “almost” that I just haven’t heard of yet.
How do we get out of this mess? Pretty simple, says Big Ben:
“We have to win these last three games and do very well in the ACC Tournament,” McCauley said. “If not win it, get to the finals and hope for the best. But we can’t think about the ACC Tournament right now. We got to win these last three games.”
How about a manageable goal – like showing up ready and fucking willing to play hard for a full 40 minutes. Just once. Then talk about how motivated everyone will be in the offseason to work hard, get in shape, and make sure they never have to suffer such humiliation ever again. Forget the NCAAT, NC State is on the outside of the NIT bubble right now. There’s nobody on the NCAAT selection committee even thinking about NC State.
This team and this coach continue to act like there are no major, systemic problems with the lousy product they are putting on the court. Like there is some magic switch that will flip, and NC State will get “hot” just like every opponent magically seems to do against NC State.
Here’s a hint – they are outworking you. It started with offseason workouts and fall practice, and continued through yesterday’s shoot-around. From the game recap thread, here’s what SFN commenter WolftownVA81 saw yesterday:
Being at the game today, I’ll offer my few observations. We got there when the doors openned 1-1/2 hours before game time so we got to see the shoot arounds, warmups and stretches. We had good seats on row A at the 300 level just behind the NCSU basket so we had a good view.
1. Our guys were not taking the shoot around serious. They were laughing and having a good time while most of their shots bricked.
2. The UVA players were all business and were making most of their shots. At one point my wife commented UVA had made 10 or 12 in a row from the 3 pt. line and we’re going get killed today.
3. When stretch time came, it was more go through the motions. We have players that can’t or won’t touch their toes.
The first step to recovery is recognizing that you have a problem. I see no evidence that anyone associated with the basketball program really gets that. Like I said a few days ago, maybe losing out and having no post-season will finally hammer the message home.
