State beats Clemson – now with 2 game ACC win streak

10-11 Basketball General NC State NCS Basketball109

In a season that has not gone anywhere that was planned or expected, there have been many more downs than ups. However, tonight the Wolfpack men beat Clemson 69-61 to record their 4th ACC win of the year and have now won two straight conference games. CJ Leslie, Richard Howell, Tracy Smith, and Javier Gonzalez lead the Pack to a come from behind win. Leslie recorded 18 points and 10 rebounds, while Smith added 14 points. Richard Howell almost had a double-double in addition with 9 points and 10 boards. Gonzalez added 11 points and 3 assists and played probably his best game of the year.

Smith afterwards discussed the thoughts of the team about the memories from the disappointment at Little John last month.

“I think the guys remembered that game,” Smith said. “They thought about it and they knew it wasn’t going to happen this game. So they went out and fought hard for 40 minutes. We took care of the ball, we rebounded and I thought our defense was pretty good.”

It was a good performance by the team, which played better defense and rebounded much better. The Pack tries for a three game win streak on Sunday when they travel to College Park, which has been a house of horrors lately for NCSU.

About ruffles31

1996 NC State graduate who is still waiting on his first ACC conference championship in any of the four main revenue sports (football, men's basketball, women's basketball, and baseball) since enrolling. All I want is a ACC Champions t-shirt.

10-11 Basketball General NC State NCS Basketball

109 Responses to State beats Clemson – now with 2 game ACC win streak

  1. wufpup76 02/19/2011 at 2:00 PM #

    “Don’t get the idea a W in each of those next two games would even START to sway me to support keeping Lowe. Lots of love here for Him but I vote no when it comes to him being a head coach.”

    ^Exactly. Even if we/State wins out in the regular season the team would still need to reach Sunday in the Acc Tournament to have any realistic shot of an at large berth. It’s not going to happen.

    Would love to be proven wrong … But even if the unthinkable does happen and State runs off 8 or 9 straight victories or wins the Acc tourny it is STILL a case of ‘too little, too late’. All of the empirical evidence and data gathered over FIVE seasons points to needing to go in a new direction. It would be wonderful to celebrate something positive with this team and Sidney, but a flash in the pan does not equate to ‘turning the corner’.

    Case in point: Dennis Felton at Georgia. He is all but fired in ’08, but UGa remarkably wins the SEC tourny with 4 wins in 4 days. Felton is retained for the ’09 campaign … and is promptly fired after it. The only reason Felton was not let go after the ’08 SEC title run had to have been avoiding bad press for firing a coach after an improbable run. If you’re gonna do it anyway and you know you need to, then do it. The press is gonna do what the press is gonna do regardless … as we State fans know all too well.

  2. swamppack 02/19/2011 at 3:13 PM #

    ^wufpup76, you pretty much just exposed the problems that go along with an end-of-year run in the situation we have right now. This is no longer year one.

  3. rawolf 02/19/2011 at 3:57 PM #

    I dont see why one more year is the problem. One I dont see any big name coachs jumping at a chance to be at State. Two its only one more year in a contract and then Sid knows its do or die. Three I would be mad as hell we bring in someone who cannot bring in top recuits and have less talent and get blown out every night. Thats just my thoughts. I dont hate Lowes coaching or do I love his coaching. I love the men he has put on the floor. I will pull for them to win every night no matter who is coaching them GO PACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  4. Wolfy__79 02/19/2011 at 4:15 PM #

    ..only if i knew what’s said behind closed doors in the athletic dept!! that would ease my mind, instead all i can do is speculate about this particular subject and also root for the team.

    to me, the problem with one more year is that it would be like the rest of them. if he’s to remain through his contract he’s gotta win, inside of the wins he also has to have the details to back it up. who would of thought with the caliber of pg’s he and towe were..that they couldn’t even teach one how to be an acc caliber pg?? not me. instead javi retreats from his role.. as do all our upper classmen.. save cjw but he’s coming off the bench!

  5. Wolfy__79 02/19/2011 at 4:24 PM #

    just read.. they are retiring grevious vasquez’s jersey at halftime.. how fitting that they do this against us!! there should be tons of motivation for our guys to go out and compete!!!

    BEAT MARYLAND

  6. swamppack 02/19/2011 at 4:40 PM #

    Wanting to hold on to Sid bacause he has shown an ability to bring in good recruits yet lose all meaningful games with those players is like a man holding on to a beautiful girlfriend but she just won’t stop seeing other men. Pure misery.

    I feel that so much of the N.C. State culture feels like such a loser after 20 yrs. of lowliness that they have no faith that we can bring back a coach who recruits well and wins championships.

    That’s a crock of crap for losers. We have been losing in b-ball for a long time now but the Pack and the Pack faithful are not losers.

    A perfect fit is waiting in the wings for State b-ball. Pray and hope the AD will have the wisdom to find him.

  7. choppack1 02/19/2011 at 5:07 PM #

    “Clearly TWO wins in a row do not a season make. BUT, if Coach Lowe and the Team continue to progress, then this may be a turnaround season.”

    I’d encourage to look at last year – where, w/ another “young team” – we seemed to turn it around in the last few games of the regular season….Or in his first year, where we seemed to turn it around in the last few weeks of the season.

    There’s a patter here – and I see no evidence of the underlying pattern changing. I’d love to see us win the tournament and finish strong, but as usual, I think we’ve dug a whole too deep to dig out of.

  8. rawolf 02/19/2011 at 5:17 PM #

    Boy I will put the name of losers on any of my Pack brothers and sisters. All I am am saying is if the school want to be a honorable school do what you said give the man his last year and tell him right off its win or out. Make it public so other coachs see that if Lowe doesn’t do the job its open . Then we as a fan base know whats up. Take care all my Pack brothers and sisters see you at the games. GO PACK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  9. whitefang 02/19/2011 at 6:53 PM #

    Rawolf, any coach who does not know the NC State job is going to be open in less than a month is too stupid to be an ACC head coach. I feel sure DY has had feelers out since the season started – likely before. If we had not had the most incompetent AD in the nation prior to this year, SL would already be working somewhere else.

  10. Wulfpack 02/19/2011 at 7:28 PM #

    Sid has dug his own grave. He’s toast – there is no two ways about it. I am not judging him on this season alone, but rather his entire sorry tenure at State. Debbie Yow is doing the same. He finally recruited a good class this year. Too bad we’re still stuck at the bottom of the conference, this in a year when everyone agrees the ACC stinks. THIS was the year. We were ALL saying this coming in. It was do or die this year, and he got off to another horrible start. The only way in is to win the ACC Tournamnent. If you’re pinning your hopes on that, good luck.

  11. tuckerdorm1983 02/19/2011 at 7:46 PM #

    If we make the NIT and get to New York, then for better or worse Sid is going to be with us awhile.

  12. Wolfy__79 02/19/2011 at 7:57 PM #

    yes, this time last year alot of people including myself were looking to see what he could do with his new players.. and we’ve done just that. i think the fan base majority saw it as ncaa’s or he’s out. that is very fair in a very unfair environment!

    if you can, revisit the unx game. he was lost on the sideline. i give him alot of credit for keeping things together and there remain a few possibilities for this season alone. he could have very well given up already.. but he’s sticking it out.

    the truth is, and there are many naysayers out there, that once successful programs can get back into the game. some of the variables have changed and the media has all but taken over.. look at 1st year lavin or where u of a is under miller… two ancient programs. there is alot of bias against nc state but it is foolish for us to believe that we aren’t capable of returning to the top of the ACC.

    i’m pulling like hell for the team and really enjoy being able to get on here and discuss the STATE of STATE. these two wins are GREAT. my question is, why not earlier in the season??

  13. Wolfy__79 02/19/2011 at 8:03 PM #

    i’m not sold on that but i can see it as a possibility.. i prefer the ncaa’s or bust personally.

    i don’t know how credible my source is but an older alumnus heard of DY calling all coaches in for a meeting that did not finish in the top 25??!! this corresponds with her meeting with coach lowe after the season. for whatever it’s worth, he hasn’t had any benchmarks to hit in prior years. the timing is good for a change imo!!

    if we think attendance is bad this year???? WTNY on that one.. the business side of things is bad too.. no bodies in the seats cannot be overlooked. there are just too many areas that need improvement in regards to the bball team!!

  14. gtspack 02/19/2011 at 9:07 PM #

    I was trying to think who we could get for a coach. Everyone should remember the embarrassment of big name coaches turning us down before we got Sid, so that rout is still not an option. So our path would have to be a young up and coming coach (who we could also get cheap). Then you have to worry about a coach with no ties to the school or the state will have some success and take off for more money. I think the perfect fit for us would be Archie Miller. He is an Alum (his wife is too) and comes from a family of coaches. His brother has had success everywhere he has been and he is being talked about for coach of the year. I know everyone will freak out about his lack of experience, but he has assisted under his brother Sean and Thad Matta. I say give him a chance before someone else does.

  15. JSRy2k 02/19/2011 at 9:20 PM #

    What if we beat Maryland? Nobody here seems to think we have a chance, so wouldn’t it say something of this team’s progress to knock off the Twerps on the road?

    While we all (myself included) have pointed to Sid’s entire 5 years – not just this year – as reason he’s likely on his way out, didn’t we all look the other way regarding his first 4 years prior to the start of this campaign? Considering 6 of his top 9 players, all averaging over 15 min / game, are Frosh & Sophs, shouldn’t we, by our own standard, give him more leeway if he pulls the unthinkable and beats Maryland, either UNC or FSU, plus GA Tech and UVA? That would put us at 8-8 in the ACC and most likely no worse than 6th place.

    What I just said makes even me a little squeamish, but the talent in the Frosh & Soph classes will be hard to beat when they start growing up – and winning will accelerate their growth.

  16. whitefang 02/19/2011 at 9:47 PM #

    “I think the perfect fit for us would be Archie Miller. He is an Alum”
    No thanks. The best coaches we have had were not alumni. Whether he went to NC State is as meaningless as whether he likes his steak rare. Probably better he didn’t go to school here. Then we wouldn’t be hand wringing like we are now over a guy who, while a great player, is likely the worst coach that we have ever had.

  17. wolfpacktexx 02/19/2011 at 10:35 PM #

    Archie Miller??? Please tell me you are not serious GTS. Keep the faith, you are showing signs of desperation

  18. ADVENTUROO 02/19/2011 at 10:55 PM #

    I have a lot of respect for Debbie Yow. She has a lot of good credentials. I have heard about the infamous meeting of the Coaches and you are TOAST if you are NOT to 25. If we wanted to be a TOP 25 school in all the major sports, then we have hired the WRONG AD. If you go back through the Director’s Cup stats on their site, then Maryland was ONLY a top 25 school ONCE. They were in the low 40’s several times and averaged in the mid 30’s. Interesting, when MD had the best records in the AD Cup, guess who was carrying them. That’s RIGHT, Gary and the Men’s BB program.

    Now fast forward…..Debbie Yow launches a campaign to oust Gary Williams. Note, the records show that GW is the FIFTH most winningest coaches of the Active NCAA coaches. He is also THIRD in the ACC….behind Coach K and Coach Smith….he is ahead of Coach Williams.

    We all know the results of that strategy…..WE were approached by her….not the other way around.

    If she is out checking the pulse beat of potential coaches, I wonder HOW MANY of them would say, “NOPE, I’ll pass…..” because of their relationship or friendship with Coach Gary or because they don’t want to work for a person that tried to oust a successful BB Coach.

    Personally, I think we will do FAR WORSE with whoever she hires. He will NOT be a big time star or a known commodity. He will be an unproven, but up and coming person. It will take a few years for the recruiting program to settle down.

    The OTHER ACC and conference coaches will fill the recruits heads full of stories about how the NEW coach will not even last 4 years…..

    Our stellar Fab Freshmen MIGHT also walk.

    I guess that I am just a poor old realist who is trying to noodle out what is going to happen…..and you CAN NOT.

    If Coach Lowe has a good run, then if Chancellor Woodson and AD Yow are logical, they will let his contract stand. But if the team starts to waver….then it is bleak.

    I have been copying all the 1983 games and specials to DVD and am passing them along to Coach Lowe. If you listen to what Jimmy V said, you get a real insight into HOW the 1983 team made it’s run.

    We did not lose Tracy like we did Whit, but we did NOT have the depth that that team had. This young squad is maturing. They will have some rough stretches ahead. But if they continue to play like they have, then this is the BEST shot at the FORMER NCSU BB program that we have had in 28 years.

    GO PACK…..STOP the speculation. If demoralizes the squad. It does the team NO GOOD.

    Go to the games. Cheer for the pack. Go to the ACC Tourney….tickets are already avaialable at slightly over face for the entire 11 games.

    Support the Team and Coach Lowe….then let the season’s results speak for itself.

  19. VaWolf82 02/19/2011 at 11:00 PM #

    then let the season’s results speak for itself.

    That’s what most people have been doing…and the story isn’t pretty.

  20. mak4dpak 02/19/2011 at 11:18 PM #

    Archie Miller? Please don’t hire anymore alums to coach at State, as the record for them speaks for itself, and we aren’t talking championships.

  21. JSRy2k 02/19/2011 at 11:58 PM #

    Like it or not, alums aren’t such a great option for us because, unlike Carolina, we don’t have the coaches out there with the pedigree that they do.

    With the exception of a few schools, “Keeping it in the family” has always been laughable to me when it comes to coaching searches.

  22. whitefang 02/20/2011 at 7:23 AM #

    “Personally, I think we will do FAR WORSE with whoever she hires.”
    That my friend, would be tough. It would be very unlikely we could do worse since we are the worst coached team in the league already and headed for our 5th straight year in the ACC cellar. Perhaps we do as badly, but worse isn’t really possible.

    “But if the team starts to waver….then it is bleak.” Did you just come out of hibernation? Starts to waver? My god man, we are tied for 8th with an ACC winning percentage of .364. We have a 2 game win streak against a 1-11 team and CLEMSON. We haven’t had a decent OOC win all season.

    “STOP the speculation. If demoralizes the squad.” It is interesting that blog posts can demoralize a squad. I guess playing like crap and getting your butt handed to you by your closest rivals doesn’t do it but internet posts do?

    One more year of Sidney Lowe and students will be paid to go door to door and beg people to take free tickets like the Bobcats did last season.

  23. rawolf 02/20/2011 at 9:06 AM #

    ADVENTUROO, I agree with all that you are saying. As much as I love my school and the time I spent there. I bet we get worse then what we are now after Lowe is gone. We dont get a great hire mark it down now. If we do I will be the frist one to say I am sorry, but it want happen.

  24. Rick 02/20/2011 at 9:20 AM #

    “I bet we get worse then what we are now after Lowe is gone”

    We have the worst record in the ACC for the five years Lowe has been here.
    He has finished in the bottom quarter of the ACC every year he has been here.
    His ACC record is nearly identical to Les Robinson, the worst coach we have ever had (until now).
    How much worse can we get?

    rawolf, I want you to explain your statement. How can we get worse? Every coach we have EVER had in our history has performed at least as well as SL has. So why would you expect another coach to perform worse?
    How can we be worse than absolute last in the ACC? Did you really think through this statement before you made it?

    I honestly weep for what our fanbase has become.

  25. rawolf 02/20/2011 at 10:06 AM #

    Rick, real simple we will not get a great coach to come here we already tried that. You see Wake this year, next year with a new coach I see us the same way. I dont weep for our fanbase. I remember the glory days I was at State during the 83 run.

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