State @ Carolina Pre-Game Thread (Updated Wed 9am)

08-09 Basketball General175

Note: Originally posted by Alpha Wolf and amended on Wednesday by Jeff

State is obviously improving and has won back-to-back ACC wins for the first time this season. The Wolfpack also snapped a nine-game conference road game skid Saturday in Atlanta. For their part, UNC’s Tyler “Will.i.Am” Hansbrough loaned PG Ty Lawson some of his infamous determination last night.  Lawson put that to good use in the final minutes of the UNC-Miami game, as he led the Tar Heels win 69-65 in Coral Gables.

On paper this looks like a Tarheel romp, and all indications are that will be how it plays out. Yet Another has some nice general statistics. Speaking of statistics, Section Six will statistically show you Tracy Smith’s impact on our offense by clicking here. With that said, I fully expect Smith to be in foul trouble and on the bench within the first eight minutes of tonight’s visit to Chapel Hill.

Caulton Tudor has gone so far as to say that the Wolfpack’s goal in Chapel Hill tonight is simply to ‘compete’. Honestly, I can’t disagree with him. The talent differential between these two rosters is just too large and is only accentuated by the strength of Carolina’s backcourt compared to the struggles of the Wolfpack’s backcourt (which is definitely improving).

Tudor makes a legitimate point about the debacle in Chapel Hill last year…

For all practical purposes, State’s 2007-08 season ended on Jan. 12 with a 93-62 loss in the Smith Center. Sidney Lowe’s second team entered that game at 11-3 overall, on a seven-game win streak and with a resume that included respectable wins over Davidson, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, South Carolina and Villanova.

But after one of the most humiliating first halves in school history (UNC 43, Pack 13), the Wolfpack disintegrated. State won only four more games and lost all sense of team unity. That’s how fast you can slide from 11-3 to 15-16 and into oblivion.

…but he fails to mention that was one of the Wolfpack’s first games without injured starting point guard, Farnold Degand and with struggling freshman, Javi Gonzalez. Degand wouldn’t have meant a Wolfpack win; but his presence would have made a huge difference in the manner in which we were embarrassed.

Don’t forget, the Wolfpack went to the halftime locker room down only 41-40 in his Coach Lowe’s first trip to Chapel Hill before Coach was rushed to the hospital during halftime. So, I am not convinced that this program just ‘naturally’ gets clobbered in Chapel Hill.

If NC State can have their best game of the year – and our bigs get fair enough treatment from the officials to get to the free throw line for a number of shots proportional with the contact that they draw – then Pack could have fighter’s chance tonight because of the improved play of Farnold Degand in the backcourt and Courtney Fells on the wing. The team is surely aware that a win would be money on any regular season resume.  They’ll need a complete, forty minute effort against a Tar Heel squad starting to head towards its peak, and winning will be difficult.  Thing is, this is the ACC and anything can happen.

* WRAL has a lot of insightful comments from Coach Lowe regarding changes, substitution rotation, our post play and more that you can see by clicking here. This is interesting stuff.

Starting with the Virginia Tech loss, the largest number of players that have seen more than a minute of playing time in any one game is eight…

…”[We are] just looking at our team, being fair, giving everyone an opportunity and trying to narrow that thing down to eight players.”

* The N&O has recognized that for the second straight year that no players from North Carolina high schools will be starting in tonight’s Game. (Click here)

This is the second straight season that neither basketball team has had a starter from North Carolina. The 2007-08 season was the first time in at least 29 years that all five starters from each team came from outside North Carolina.

* ACCNow also has a video podcast that can be seen by clicking here. We’d love to embed their stuff, but their technical department obviously falls short of the talent of JP Giglio’s impressive administration of the site.

08-09 Basketball General

175 Responses to State @ Carolina Pre-Game Thread (Updated Wed 9am)

  1. Sw0rdf1sh 02/17/2009 at 9:04 AM #

    Why is it so fun to dispise another team?

    I would LOVE to see Tyler foul out for the first time against us and throw his big pouty face on.

  2. Wulfpack 02/17/2009 at 9:04 AM #

    wufpup, I linked to it on the web and then cropped it in gravatar the same way you would any other image on the web. Would you like me to change it to something else so you can use it? Would be happy to…

  3. LRM 02/17/2009 at 9:05 AM #

    Wufpup,

    My post wasn’t directed particularly at you.

  4. wufpup76 02/17/2009 at 9:13 AM #

    No worries LRM, I freely admit that I do more than my fair share of ref bashing when I should be assigning blame elsewhere … My immaturity knows no bounds

    Wulfpack: No! I really appreciate the offer, but please keep it. I have been trying to link it to gravatar from a saved image on my cpu and wondered if instead I needed to use an online image … Thanks for telling me which way you were linking it … Of course, there’s probably a high degree of “user error” on my end

  5. Pack Leader 02/17/2009 at 9:27 AM #

    I really like beingable to put your own picture next to your post!! Very original!! dont owrry wufpup it took me about 4 days to get it to work

  6. Rick 02/17/2009 at 9:27 AM #

    Costner just picked up his second foul walking to class.

  7. Wolf Dog 02/17/2009 at 9:34 AM #

    We match up well against the heels except for Lawson. He is the difference between the Holes and everyone else in the ACC. UNX problems have come in the tournament when they run into teams that are big inside and force them into a physcial game. The more physical the game tomorrow the better chance we have. We have to find a way to stop lawson from penetrating, we have to outrebound them, and we have to finish shots close to the basket. MaCauley and Smith Missed way too many easy baskets last time. We have the type of team that can give UNX fits. We have to go BIG, pound the Holes, and pray we get close to a fairly called game. We do that and someone knocks the crap out of Lawson or lets hope Lawson is still not feeling well. Then we can win!

    I agree with the above post. Beat UNC and I see us heading towards NCAA, otherwise NIT. We need to go at least 10-8 in ACC season and tournament given our nonconferece play to get in NCAA in my opinion.

  8. BJD95 02/17/2009 at 9:39 AM #

    I don’t see why people ascribe morality to how coaches work the refs. Their JOB is to maximize their teams’ chance to win. The blame lies in the system that incentivizes such behavior, not in the coaches who understand how the system works.

  9. wufpup76 02/17/2009 at 9:50 AM #

    ^Very true, BJD … however I do think Greenburg had earned a second tech that wasn’t called in the State-VT game

    Water under the bridge / over the dam and all that jazz …

    “lets hope Lawson is still not feeling well …”

    ^I don’t know, it seems to me his focus and level of play have risen while being under the weather … I hope he feels better and can go back to concentrating on creating noise disturbances with his car stereo while chugging one back with Phil F.

    (Ok, that was a low blow about Phil F. – sorry)

  10. inhoc... 02/17/2009 at 9:53 AM #

    “180, 360 – same difference!”

    we will see if there is a difference after a couple more games, i`m thinking by then we will have done an complete 360……..;)

  11. smile102 02/17/2009 at 10:15 AM #

    “No worries LRM, I freely admit that I do more than my fair share of ref bashing when I should be assigning blame elsewhere … My immaturity knows no bounds”

    wufpup, THATS funny.

    Believing that the refs throw calls in an effort to determine outcomes, that Swofford or Bowles or others overtly try to hurt State, this is all so absurd and so much sour grapes. And the ubiquitousness of it, every topic here manages to blame others, a long list of others, for the latest athletic failing. It’s not healthy, mature, productive or entertaining. (Rant Off)

  12. Pack Leader 02/17/2009 at 10:18 AM #

    some interesting thoughts on john wall. Mabey we can get him?

    -John just admitted in a N&O article that Baylor probably hired Clifton to sway him. If the plan was for John to head to Baylor with Clifton, it would be kept as quiet as possible for fear of the NCAA sanctions or investigations. What John just did by admitting that, was to basically eliminate the threat of him bailing for Baylor because it is against NCAA rules to hire somebody to sway a recruit.

    -His mom is a self proclaimed Wolfpacker. She is a State fan and a huge Sidney Lowe fan. As reported, John and his mom are very close and he cares very deeply for her like most any son of a single mother. She also happens to be sick and in and out of the hospital as of late. His mom has publicly said she would like John to attend NC State, but will stay out of his recruiting process. Now say all you want but if John is talking to anyone, or asking advice from anyone about this process it’s the people closest to him.

    -A reliable source (according to wolfpackhoops.com) who happens to be affiliated with the Garner basketball program who has spoken to Wall in the past month about his recruitment process. While John did not spill the beans, he told us he really believes John isn’t 100% sure, but that John did say “I don’t know, it might be too hard to go anywhere far away from home.” The source mentioned State and Duke, as we all already know. But the fact that location is weighing on Wall’s decision is something that we like to hear. Asked about the pressure John would face if he did choose the Wolfpack. With a smirk on his face the source told us “Pressure is not something John worries about.”

    – Now many believe Memphis is Wall’s final destination, but there will be questions about Tyreke Evans returning as their PG next season. Prior to this season Evans was almost a lock to be NBA bound after the season, but early struggles and glaring holes in his game have made scouts ask questions. Bobby Knight and Jay Bilas were already talking about how much better Evans will be with another year in college. This would create a playing time issue as Memphis has already inked 5-Star Xavier Henry who happens to be the #1 shooting guard in the nation and 4-Star Nolan Dennis who is the 11th best shooting guard in the nation. Add in Wall and you’d have 4 guards for 2 spots, and this is not wishful thinking, check the draft boards. Tyreke Evans is no where to be found on many of them.

  13. BJD95 02/17/2009 at 10:19 AM #

    What Seth showed was purely rational behavior. He knows he’ll either get tossed (unlikely, especially at home) or the refs will feel the heat and (consciously or not) even things out over the rest of the game.

    If he just sits back and takes it, they are going to lose the game regardless – so he has no incentive to do anything other than go postal.

    Just like Roy has no incentive to do anything other than lay the groundwork for a tight whistle against Hansblow.

    It’s sickening that the refs are weak enough to be manipulated this way, and that the league doesn’t do more to encourage and back up independent, no nonsense officiating. But the coaches are just working through the system as they correctly understand it.

  14. Alpha Wolf 02/17/2009 at 11:25 AM #

    ^ Right in each case.

    The Fishels (as Left used to call them) are human like everyone else and as such can be emotionally manipulated.

  15. GoldenChain 02/17/2009 at 11:39 AM #

    ^^ So BJD95, you’re saying not to stand there and look like hang-dog Droopy?!
    Wonder why no one ever told Herb that?!

    And BTW, I never was overly exuberant, just saying that given the conditions (recent poor play by Blood, some close games where unx hasn’t played their best against mid-level competition, the ease they beat us with last time, and that we seem to be playing better…conditions seem decent for an upset).

  16. Wait_Til_This_Year 02/17/2009 at 11:41 AM #

    If TH has a concussion, and Lawson’s sick, they should really take the next few games off. For their health. They need to heal up for the Duke game in a few weeks.

  17. Wait_Til_This_Year 02/17/2009 at 11:42 AM #

    By the way, that’s all we need to hear for the whole next game. “Tyler played THROUGH A CONCUSSION last weekend. Just amazing.”

  18. choppack1 02/17/2009 at 11:47 AM #

    Actually Alpha – I consider them more like dogs.

    You don’t get them to do nice things for you by treating them well, you have to publicly humiliate them, then they’ll heal.

    If you ever saw the ways that officials openly disrespected Sendek it was frustrating as heck. They basically knew that they could do whatever the other coach wanted, and all Sendek would do is mail that tape to the league office.

    Sidney should say on his radio show stuff like, “You know, if the refs call those illegal hand-checks, we’ll be in the game.”

    I really believe they need to be thoroughly and repeatedly humiliated to get calls.

    Of course, when I coached Y ball, that was the one time I wasn’t frustrated to death over the officials. I had one game where a player was camping out in the lane so I started counting out loud until I got a three second call – problem solved. Of course, ACC ball is a little more complicated and a lot more political than Y ball! I’ve often wondered if the officiating didn’t bother me in those cases because (a) I had more control over it (b) because I was in a leadership position and was more concerned about what my team was doing or (c) Y ball is easier to officiate than ACC ball or (d) all of the above.

  19. Alpha Wolf 02/17/2009 at 11:50 AM #

    “By the way, that’s all we need to hear for the whole next game. “Tyler played THROUGH A CONCUSSION last weekend. Just amazing.””

    I call him ‘Will.i.Am’.

    “If you ever saw the ways that officials openly disrespected Sendek it was frustrating as heck. They basically knew that they could do whatever the other coach wanted, and all Sendek would do is mail that tape to the league office.”

    Times have changed. See: http://www.themarchtomadness.com/2009/02/arizona-state-gets-all-the-calls.html

    Sidney should say on his radio show stuff like, “You know, if the refs call those illegal hand-checks, we’ll be in the game.”

    I would love to see that and Sid absolutely should start getting into the head game2s too.

  20. LRM 02/17/2009 at 11:58 AM #

    If Hansbrough truly played the Miami game with a concussion, then rather than lauding him for his heart, instead the Carolina coaching and medical staffs should be vilified for dangering a young man’s health and potentially jeopardizing his future.

    In fact, just to be on the safe side, I think Hansbrough should sit out tomorrow night’s game. And I’m worried about that bug Lawson played through as well, so he should rest up for the stretch run as well.

  21. wufpup76 02/17/2009 at 12:07 PM #

    “If you ever saw the ways that officials openly disrespected Sendek it was frustrating as heck.”

    ^God was it ever …

    Alpha – that charge call against USC was an abomination, and the UCLA block call against Collison wasn’t much better (though Collison did get away with a little bit of a “hook” before that)

    What’s up with Pac-10 refs? Last season they gave UCLA several beneficial calls at the end of numerous games … This season, some more uneven officiating

    These guys are making the ACC guys look outstanding (ok, maybe not so much)

  22. LRM 02/17/2009 at 12:13 PM #

    We’d be the cream of the crop in the PAC-10, that’s how awful that conference is.

  23. wufpup76 02/17/2009 at 12:30 PM #

    “We’d be the cream of the crop in the PAC-10, that’s how awful that conference is.”

    ^People think Duke is overrated, how about UCLA, Arizona St., and Washington for that matter?

    While all 3 are decent teams, none of them have beaten any team of real note (a combined 2-8 vs. the RPI Top 25) and the Pac 10 did next to nothing in the non-conference slate

    For some added perspective, Washington is on top of the league and owns wins over UCLA (home) and ASU (away) … Washington lost to Florida, Kansas, and Portland in non-conference

    yowza …

  24. choppack1 02/17/2009 at 12:31 PM #

    “I would love to see that and Sid absolutely should start getting into the head game2s too.”

    Alpha – that’s not the NC State way. We should be happy that we get to play the fine institutions of Duke and UNC. We employ the strategy Bobby Knight famously mentioned about rape: Sit back and enjoy it.

    LRM – you are right. The Pac-10 is horrid. UCLA looks like they’d win about 4 games in the ACC.

  25. 61Packer 02/17/2009 at 12:31 PM #

    We wouldn’t be the cream of the crop in the Southern Conference, let alone the Pac 10.

    I’ve watched the Pac 10 all season, and no doubt the ACC is better, but the Pac 10 has some good teams, among them UCLA, Washington, Cal, ASU and Arizona who are all NCAA tourney teams, and Stanford and USC are close.

    It’s going to take more than a John Wall or a ringing endorsement from Jed that good things are coming for Wolfpack basketball.

1 2 3 4 5 … 7

Leave a Reply