Preview: NC State vs Georgia Tech

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After falling 59-47 to Virginia Wednesday night in Charlottesville, NC State (14-9, 2-6) hits the road again Saturday afternoon to take on the No. 21 Yellow Jackets in the “Thriller Dome.” Ga. Tech (16-6, 4-4) fell 86-67 to Duke in Durham Thursday night and will have a quick turnaround for Saturday’s match up with the Wolfpack.

The Wolfpack needs a win in the worst way and will look to reverse its fortunes against the Yellow Jackets. State has lost three straight ACC games since the upset over Duke Jan. 20. If NC State does in fact hope to get that done, the offensive effort will have to be much better than it was Wednesday night against the Cavaliers. The Wolfpack shot just 35 percent from the field Wednesday and went only 2-11 from behind the arc.

NC State will need to limit fouls against Ga. Tech, especially in the paint, as Gani Lawal and Derrick Favors lead the Jackets in both scoring and rebounding. Lawal averages just over 14 points and Favors notches 11, with both players hauling in more than 8 rebounds a night. If NC State gets in foul trouble early it could be a long afternoon in Atlanta.

Game Notes

NC State Travels to Georgia Tech: NC State hits the road for the second time this week, as
the Pack travels to Atlanta to face No. 21 Georgia Tech on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. NC State
started its week with a 59-47 loss at Virginia on Wednesday, and will be looking for its third
straight win over Georgia Tech this weekend.
The Yellow Jackets are the fourth ranked opponent the Pack will face this season. NC
State previously won at No. 25 Florida State and won at home against No. 7 Duke, and fell at
home to No. 24 Clemson.
The game will be broadcasted on Raycom with Tim Brandt and Eddie Fogler.
The Series Versus Georgia Tech: Saturday’s matchup will mark the 85th meeting between
NC State and Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack leads the overall series 50-34. NC State has won
the last two matchups, and the Pack has also won nine of the last 13 meetings dating back
to the 2002-03 season.
Georgia Tech holds a 20-14 advantage in games in Atlanta. However, the Pack has won
three of the last five games at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, including last year, 86-65.
Pack and Jackets Play it Close: Although the Wolfpack has won nine of the last 12 games
against Georgia Tech, the scores of those games have been relatively close. NC State’s larg-
est win in those seven games was last season’s 21 point win in Atlanta, and only two of those
last nine wins were in double figures.
Three of the last seven games between the teams have been decided by no more than
three points. Georgia Tech won in 2008 and in 2006 by three points each time, and the Wolf-

NC State Travels to Georgia Tech

NC State hits the road for the second time this week, as the Pack travels to Atlanta to face No. 21 Georgia Tech on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. NC State started its week with a 59-47 loss at Virginia on Wednesday, and will be looking for its third straight win over Georgia Tech this weekend. The Yellow Jackets are the fourth ranked opponent the Pack will face this season. NC State previously won at No. 25 Florida State and won at home against No. 7 Duke, and fell at home to No. 24 Clemson. The game will be broad casted on Raycom with Tim Brandt and Eddie Fogler.

The Series Versus Georgia Tech

Saturday’s matchup will mark the 85th meeting between NC State and Georgia Tech. The Wolfpack leads the overall series 50-34. NC State has won the last two matchups, and the Pack has also won nine of the last 13 meetings dating back to the 2002-03 season. Georgia Tech holds a 20-14 advantage in games in Atlanta. However, the Pack has won three of the last five games at Alexander Memorial Coliseum, including last year, 86-65.

Pack and Jackets Play it Close

Although the Wolfpack has won nine of the last 12 games against Georgia Tech, the scores of those games have been relatively close. NC State’s largest win in those seven games was last season’s 21 point win in Atlanta, and only two of those last nine wins were in double figures. Three of the last seven games between the teams have been decided by no more than three points. Georgia Tech won in 2008 and in 2006 by three points each time, and the Wolf-pack came away with a two point win at Georgia Tech in 2005. Last season’s game in Raleigh had the Pack winning 76-71 in overtime.

Last Season Versus Georgia Tech

NC State won both games during the regular season. NC State used a late surge to overcome a 10-point second half defecit, and downed Georgia Tech in overtime at the RBC Center, 76-71, on January 17. The Yellow Jackets held a 64-54 lead with 4:40 remaining, but the Pack would close the game on a 13-3 run to force overtime thanks to a three-point play by Farnold Degand with 30 seconds left. NC State would outscore Georgia Tech in the extra period 9-4, with Dennis Horner scoring five of the Pack’s final six points. Brandon Costner paced the Pack withh 22 points, while Ben McCauley added 18 points and 10 rebounds. NC State used its top shooting performance of the season, 61.4 percent (27-44) from the field, and picked up its largest ACC road win since 1989 in defeating Georgia Tech, 86-65, on February 14. Six Wolfpack players scored in double figures. Tracy Smith recorded his second straight double-double, finishing with game-highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds. The Yellow Jackets took a 11-5 lead to start the game, but NC State used a 35-13 run to go into the half up 44-33. In the second half, NC State hit 12-of-18 shots, and was 16-of-19 from the free throw line.

Oh yea. Remember this.

09-10 Basketball

34 Responses to Preview: NC State vs Georgia Tech

  1. inhoc... 02/06/2010 at 1:45 PM #

    i`ve done good this week. only checked the UVA game score just after half time, then once again after the deed was done. i seriously dont want to relapse……
    i never thought i would ever turn down a free ticket to the game….

  2. rbwolf 02/06/2010 at 2:07 PM #

    Mark this down we lose by more then 20 points and less then 50

  3. JeremyH 02/06/2010 at 2:34 PM #

    This is a tough game at a tough time. It has been difficult for them to establish offensive rhythm, it snowballs, and they lose all faith in their abilities, or something like that. Even though this game may end in a loss, it will be interesting to see if Sid has learned how to end a drought early enough, before it ends the game. Alas, I don’t think this will be a problem with Harrow and Brown at the guard positions next year.

  4. choppack1 02/06/2010 at 2:35 PM #

    Obviously Dino didn’t realize he was leading by 3 in those last seconds. I mean, why wouldn’t he want Ish Smith shooting foul shots w/ a 1 point lead instead of just trying to d up the 3???

  5. orionpack 02/06/2010 at 2:43 PM #

    I’m just hoping that Sid doens’t take Smith out of the game and lose the momentum if he gets 3 fouls as he did against UVA and UNC

  6. PoppaJohn 02/06/2010 at 2:47 PM #

    ^ “when” he gets 3 fouls … (not IF)

  7. orionpack 02/06/2010 at 3:02 PM #

    ^ True, and he has only fouled out of 1 game, against WF. Even stronger point for leaving him in

  8. JeremyH 02/06/2010 at 3:29 PM #

    the score is tied, but not for long!

  9. JeremyH 02/06/2010 at 4:02 PM #

    I love Scott Wood’s Adam Harrington impression.

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