Pack Pride Basketball Preview Improves

10-11 Basketball19

A few years ago the folks at Pack Pride put a picture of Julius Hodge on the cover of their basketball preview issue.  I hated it.  I love(d) Julius…but, I really hated the magazine cover that featured Hodge wearing a white version of David Thompson’s #44 jersey with a spotlight on Thompson’s red #44 in the background.  The title of the magazine was “Heir Apparent.” 

I am not kidding or exaggerating when I tell you that I literally had a sick feeling in my stomach and experienced physical reactions the first dozen or so times that I saw the picture. I am totally serious — it was nothing short of repulsing to me. I will fully accept that this may appear a little crazy…but, it was that far out of line to me as a basketball purist and someone who feels as though I have a solid grasp on the order of magnitude of ACC and NCAA historical basketball landscape.

I wasn’t alone in my distaste for the picture.  Threads on message boards discussed the ploy and the appropriateness/blasphemy of a younger, less educated generation, trying to position any player – let alone Hodge who would have to be debated to to rank amongst the Top 5 Wolfpackers of all time – on a level even close to the greatest player to ever wear a uniform in the ACC. 

So, after a few years of festering about this, I thought it was time to highlight this year’s Pack Pride Basketball Preview Picture that I think is very well done.  The picture includes the Wolfpack’s three freshmen looking sharp and ready for action!  Maybe I am just overly excited about the coming basketball season.  Nonetheless, I thought it looked tastefully done and wanted to provide some compliments on the work.

The following is a list of recent links related to basketball that we encourage you to surf and take part in some of the discussions.  The only way we are ‘successful’ is for our readers to view as many pages as you can during your visits.  Thanks so much!

Recently Basketball Related:

  • Red Rally Review (Link)
  • The Future Starts Tonight (Link)
  • Video of Sidney Lowe speech at Raleigh Sports Club (Link)
  • Blue Ribbon Yearbook Basketball Preview (Link)
  • 2010-2011 NC State Basketball Schedule & Discussion (Link)
  • New Basketball Uniforms Debut (Link)
  • Rivals: Lowe has Talent Needed to Succeed (Link)
  • 50 Best Collegiate Dunks of All-Time [Damon Thornton #4] (Link)
  • SFN’s Basketball Message Forums (Link)

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10-11 Basketball

19 Responses to Pack Pride Basketball Preview Improves

  1. Gowolves 10/22/2010 at 12:00 PM #

    I am sorry I do not think the freshamn should be on there yet. I know it is a preview of one year but they haven’t done anything yet to warrent this. What about Smith, Howell and Javi? I keep hoping that Sid will send the right message that these freshamn have to fit into this team not the other way around. I get a similar feeling to the Hickson experience. I hope I am wrong. For this team to go far it will be on the backs of Smith, Howell and a improved Painter and Wood. The freshman need to just fill in the gaps. At least at the beginning of the year. By halfway of the conference schedule their roles will have changed dramatically.

  2. Lunatic Fringe 10/22/2010 at 12:08 PM #

    It’s amazing the difference a well-fitting jersey makes. Look the part, talk the part, and play the part…I have been pretty happy with first two thus far.

  3. NCStatePride 10/22/2010 at 12:09 PM #

    I don’t think its about lauding them for their accomplishments, I think it’s about showcasing the Top 5 recruiting class we just brought in. Like it or not, the fact that we just brought in this group of young kids is the most important thing facing NC State basketball at the moment so it seems appropriate to post it on the cover of the 2010-2011 preview.

  4. 61Packer 10/22/2010 at 12:15 PM #

    Per Mr. Webster, take your pick of the following when the word “buzz” is referenced:
    * to make a sound like that of a prolonged z (zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz?)
    * to be filled with noisy activity
    * a confused sound………

    Let’s hope this “buzz” doesn’t become “buzz off”:
    * to hurry away

    I’m afraid that the assessment above of Gowolves is spot on about who should go on the cover.

  5. VaWolf82 10/22/2010 at 12:17 PM #

    I am sorry I do not think the freshamn should be on there yet

    What else is there to talk about? They are the only reason that State is projected to exceed it’s four-year average of 5 ACC wins/year.

  6. Gowolves 10/22/2010 at 12:19 PM #

    It is important I agree with that. At the same time these guys that have been here are the ones who are going to give us the season we hope for. What if all three of the freshman go pro after this year? The top five recruiting class could turn out to a blip on the radar and Sid fails to follow up with more good classes. I just want to see this sustained. We all know from the past years kids go pro for all kind of reasons(Powell, etc) They wanted out for various reasons. Nevermind the fact they were being told not to go. What if this cover causes resentment with the older players and creates a riff. These freshman will say who gives a crap I am gonna get mine. Listening to Sid sound bites that he is lauding these freshman too much or he is not boosting the returning players enough. Either way we say this before with one player. Is it gonna happen again with three? I swear I hope I am completely wrong and I am as jacked as I have been in a LONG time for WPBB!

  7. NCStatePride 10/22/2010 at 12:44 PM #

    “At the same time these guys that have been here are the ones who are going to give us the season we hope for.”

    The entire premise of your disagreement is false. If the guys who have always been there are going to cause use to make the NCAA and finish top half of the ACC, we wouldn’t have tied for 9th last season. The only thing “new” this season is the maginal experience from last year to this year and our Top 5 in the nation recruiting class. I’m not saying that the experienced veterans will not be vital parts of the Wolfpack, simply that the impact on our team due to these highly talented freshmen is the bigger story. Gaining experience is something that happens almost every year to almost every team. Landing a Top 5 recruiting class isn’t.

  8. Sw0rdf1sh 10/22/2010 at 12:50 PM #

    I was hoping for a picture of T. Smith’s beard but feel the 3 Freshies make a good substitute.

    I know I will be reading up my copy when it gets here.

  9. Daily Update 10/22/2010 at 1:01 PM #

    vawolf: They are far from the only reason. They are part of the equation, but the expectations wouldn’t be that high without the returning players(led by 1st team all-ACC pre-season T. Smith).

  10. AveryPage 10/22/2010 at 1:19 PM #

    anyone have a link to the old Hodge picture?

  11. wufpup76 10/22/2010 at 1:37 PM #

    Gowolves has a point … Sid and his staff haven’t exactly proven that they are masters of team cohesion, nor have they proven that they can keep team morale up the entire season.

    You’ve got to send the right message and hit all the right notes with everyone. If just one doesn’t buy in then there goes the apple cart.

  12. AveryPage 10/22/2010 at 1:54 PM #

    Nevermind, I found it!
    http://media.scout.com/media/image/17/173943.jpg

  13. NCSUPackfan 10/22/2010 at 3:44 PM #

    If these kids hadn’t been playing pick-up games with them for the past year I can see there being issues. The vets are excited just as much as the freshmen being here. The vets know what level of talent they bring to the team. If they truely want to win, it won’t be an issue.

    The problem you are overlooking with the Hickson situation was Costner! Anyone can see his ego was in his way. Last years team had a completely different personality and everyone on SFN agreed.

  14. bradleyb123 10/22/2010 at 3:49 PM #

    Yeah, this doesn’t feel at all the same as the Hickson situation. That team clearly had chemistry/morale issues from day one. They won some games early, but it never quite seemed to click.

    I heard someone slept with someone else’s girlfriend that year. It involved either Costner or Hickson, or both. I have no idea if that was true or not, but it would explain a lot.

    This team seems to already have unity, and the veterans talk up the new guys like they can’t wait for them to contribute. The only place I could see it becoming a problem is MAYBE with Javi if and when he is demoted from starter to backup PG. As a senior, he may not be too happy about that.

  15. Gowolves 10/22/2010 at 4:02 PM #

    They do seem to say all the right things so far. As far as we know everybody is in happy land. I suspect it will stay that way most of the season. The fact of the matter these three freshman is that we are giving them the keys to the car from day one. They do not “know” how to drive a car in the ACC. They need to rely in the Javi, Howell, Smith, etc to get used to the long season. We all know that freshman usually hit the wall sometime at the end of Jan. or Feb. At that point one will begin to shine because he gets it. This doesn’t mean that the other two will not contribute but rolls will have been hopefully defined by then. This is where the older guys will help these guys define there rolls. I just hope these three listen more than opening their mouth. They have to earn the respect and leadership. I know this sounds all touchy feely but the reality is you have to have roll players and stars to have a successful season. Will Javi be able to accept a back up roll if Harrow is the one who begins to shine. We have all seen his attitude on the court. You can’t just bench Javi as the answer to that. He will be needed at times that can only a senior guard can bring. Just sayin.

  16. NCcoastalwolf 10/22/2010 at 9:15 PM #

    Gowolves, with all due respect yavi has ran the team for the last 2 full years, the fact that we were still lousy is a testiment to his on on court leadership and abilty. Sir Sid had to whistle everytime either of our 3 guards last year brought the ball past half court. Why you guys are so afraid to turn these wolves loose is crazy to me. You folks complain about our record, our inability of the guards to score and create shots for other people, coaching, everything. Now that we have 5 star talent you don’t want them on the floor until they learn. They are 5 star for a reason. I have watched all 3 guys play in person, I hate to break it to you, with the exception of tracy, those 3 freshman are the best players on the team. Any why not bench Yavi. The only reason he has started the past 2 seasons is because he had mays and degand trying to take his spot. He should have to earn his time like everyone else. He is NOT entitled to start because he has been here 3 years.

  17. PapaJohn 10/23/2010 at 6:11 AM #

    So our skinny little Ryan is going to wear a T. Wonder if that will change next year after a year in the program and lots of hours on the weights?

    Cover – I get your point, the freshmen don’t get anything done without the rest of the team. But they are the cause for excitement. Were it up to me, I’d have featured TS. Hopefully this will be a great senior season for him – he has been a great player for us and deserves all the success he gets. (and lets not forget, he helped schmooze the recruits)

  18. bleedingred08 10/23/2010 at 11:08 AM #

    The quality level of information and analysis within this blog has already been established. There is no need to insult our student athletes by intentionally misspelling their names.

  19. GoPack83 10/23/2010 at 8:35 PM #

    As a freshmen student I say Do Not move the event to the RBC Center, you will get even less students and the vast amount of empty seats will be embarassing. Im actually for playing more regular season games at Reynolds. Not many, if any, schools can boast a stadium with the tradition of Reynolds and I would love to see us take advantage of that with more than a small meaningless non-conference game in November every year.

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