State loses at Clemson in OT, 72-69

11-12 Basketball117

State put its very slim NCAAT hopes on ice today with a lackluster, often listless showing at Clemson, dropping its fourth straight. Now its only shot is to run the table in Atlanta in two weeks.

The real losers today were the fans, who were forced to watch five extra minutes of “ACC Excitement” (10 if you count the Duke-VPI game before it). State’s immediate goal should be to finish .500, which itself seems like a longshot at this point.

Box Score (ESPN)

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11-12 Basketball

117 Responses to State loses at Clemson in OT, 72-69

  1. Ashman87 02/26/2012 at 12:14 AM #

    Sorry, I should have said late Febuary.

  2. jbpackfan 02/26/2012 at 12:21 AM #

    BJD is right on. Look at this team. We have a good, but still developing PG, a SF at shooting guard, one shooter who happens to be in a slump, a 6’6 center, a talented yet just now coming out as a star PF and an incredibly thin bench. In addition, State is trying to shake a 20 year culture of losing and folding when things get tough. This team has really been an NIT team since day 1 and the Vandy, Indiana and Stanford losses showed it. We still have an outside shot at the NCAA, but damn this team hasn’t done better than 10th in forever. Hell, to be on the bubble is an accomplishment. I, like many other State fans, certainly over-estimated what we had from a talent standpoint and ignored obvious flaws. This program is a year or two away from being ready to accomplish big things.

  3. gotncstate 02/26/2012 at 7:49 AM #

    I’m sick & tired of watching sick & tired Wolfpack teams. Improved? Yes. Encouraging? Somewhat.
    Pull for “The Red & White (& sometimes Black) from State!” always, I WILL!

  4. choppack1 02/26/2012 at 8:31 AM #

    If we go 7-9 I’d argue that our improvement has been minimal at best. That’s a 2 game improvement from a team that returned 5 players that had significant experience.

    I’d like to optimistic, but experience won’t allow it right now. Leslie will go pro and next year we won’t be able to rebound or have an inside game…our defense will be just as bad if not worse.

  5. Rick 02/26/2012 at 8:45 AM #

    “Boy, is UVA ever getting jobbed this afternoon. Break out those blue conspiracy hats, ladies and gentlemen.”

    I did not even bother watching it. Predictable as the rain. Have to prop up the blues.

  6. Rick 02/26/2012 at 8:46 AM #

    “If we go 7-9 I’d argue that our improvement has been minimal at best. That’s a 2 game improvement from a team that returned 5 players that had significant experience.”

    Yes and no. That team lost its leading scorer and top two PGs.
    7-9 is worse than I hoped for but not much worse than I expected.

    Duke is looking more and more like our Thornton moment.

  7. mak4dpak 02/26/2012 at 8:48 AM #

    I am still pissed over the Clemson game we gave away, buy Roy Williams only won 19 games his first year at UNX. Gott can still surpass that, and if we show up for the next two games, and FSU helps us out with some wins, there is a slight chance we finish in 4th place. Again slight, but possible. We have the talent, it is the mental thing that is killing us. Hopefully we can overcome that from here on out. As for next year, we still have a season to finish.

  8. tuckerdorm1983 02/26/2012 at 8:54 AM #

    would you stop it with the negativity. The man has not been on the job a year and you guys are poor mouthing. Gott is a proven quantity. He will get the job done. He has the knowledge, the work ethic and the mindset to win and win big. He has the coaching staff that is equal to none. His recruiting class is top 5 for next year. We have 3 (count them 3) McDonalds all americans coming next year and maybe one more. That has never happened in the history of wolfpack basketball. Most importantly I believe he can motivate the players. He has turn the practice facility into a winning facility. I am not going to hang my head after losing to UNC (3 or 4 NBA first rounders). Duke (outstanding guard players). FSU (probably the best team in the ACC). Clemson (well we should have won that one). I am not hanging my head. Leslie can go pro or not and it still does not matter. I hope he stays and I think he could develop more as a player. Stop being so negative. What do you want? Must Gott walk on water, heal the sick and rise from the dead before you are satisfied? Stop it with those negative vibes.

  9. bigbel27 02/26/2012 at 8:54 AM #

    I Still think win the last 2 and get to ACC finals and will get in the NCAAT. Maybe the semi-finals depending on how other teams fare. Soft bubble this year.

  10. graywolf 02/26/2012 at 8:58 AM #

    MENTALLY we are toast after losing at Duke……..

    We may be through winning for the season.

  11. BJD95 02/26/2012 at 9:05 AM #

    Given how bad the ACC is this year…yes, 7-9 would be legitimately disappointing. But I’ve said all along that this season was more about laying a foundation and changing the culture. Wins are gravy – we just got a little too fat and happy on the early helpings.

    Our discipline and effort are much better this year. But, as I liked to say from back in my engineering school days – stupid is a limiting reagent. As is a short bench, when you are instituting an uptempo style (and not just talking about it like MG’s predecessors).

    These are NOT minor flaws. Add in the fragile psyches from years of not accomplishing anything at this level…and it’s great that we’ve shown ANY fight after the Cameron rogering. Aside from the hungover FSU effort, I think we’ve shown enough to be in these last two games down the stretch.

    The question is whether we can finally get over the hump and finish. We shall see.

  12. Dogbreath 02/26/2012 at 9:18 AM #

    Tired team down the stretch, with chickenshit efforts from Wood thrown in for good measure.

  13. gtspack 02/26/2012 at 9:21 AM #

    Coach Gott is the perfect fit for us. We have baisicaly played 7 players all season in an up tempo offense and as a result I think we are starting to see some tired legs. At worst case maybe our guys loose their intensity at times, but one thing that will always fix that is having 3 McDonalds all americans chomping at the bit to take minutes away from you. I know as a Wolfpack fan we are always talking about next year, but this time I think we have realy turned the corner.

  14. TLeo 02/26/2012 at 9:47 AM #

    I agree with othere here that there has been noticeable improvement but that is what makes this late season collapse all the more frustrating. Aside from the Duke effort they have reverted back to the bad habits and stupid fouls from the previous years. I hope next years players can come in and contribute right away. We need a total attitude change.

  15. motorhead 02/26/2012 at 9:49 AM #

    A few tough losses and people throw in the towel. Hopefully the players don’t. The glass is half full. Go Pack!

  16. BJD95 02/26/2012 at 9:53 AM #

    Progress is like that. Two steps forward, one step back.

    I also think we still lose at least 2 of the last 3, even if we win in Cameron. Still, would be nice to have collected that scalp officially.

    There’s a vast middle ground between “we’ve not accomplished anything” and “we have turned the corner/success is virtually inevitable.” I am in that middle ground. Some good foundation has been laid, but there’s a great deal of hard work ahead.

  17. JT 02/26/2012 at 9:54 AM #

    Damn. This is a terribly frustrating and disappointing stretch, but this bitching is ridiculous. Not all of it, but the questioning of the step forward the team has taken and the future outlook. Gott is the man, and to have the same scarred and thin team from last year just a few plays away from being an NCAA lock is fantastic in itself. Take a deep breath, consider where we were, and be psyched for what is to come.

  18. JT 02/26/2012 at 9:54 AM #

    Repeat

  19. motorhead 02/26/2012 at 9:58 AM #

    Bjd, I agree. I don’t post very often but read frequently. I’m shocked at some of the less supportive comments after a few tough games. If that’s the way I felt, I think I would just give up on being a fan. I think the future is bright and MG will continue to make this team better.

  20. choppack1 02/26/2012 at 9:58 AM #

    I guess what frustrates me most is that the talent is here. And I think for the most part the effort has been there. The team just doesn’t do the little things that successful teams do.

    Believe me, I haven’t given up on coach gott. However, I’m not going to act like I didn’t see the past. I’m looking for a moment that proves the regime change has changed the results. In tob’s first year, it was a dominating performance (in spite of close score)…much like amato’s first year.

  21. Wulfpack 02/26/2012 at 10:18 AM #

    I don’t look at it as just a “few tough games”. These were the 4 most important games to date. Gott said as much prior to the stretch – they were giant games as we were by all accounts on the bubble. It seems when the going gets tough, we wilt. That is the NCSU basketball I know.

    Now I agree that the proper foundation is being established. And of course Gott is the guy to lead us back. But there is a long way to go, that much is clear as well.

  22. motorhead 02/26/2012 at 10:21 AM #

    Oh, its frustrating alright. But most of us knew that 3 game stretch was going to be tough. Sure Saturday’s loss adds to that pain, particularly at the foul line. But I like where we are headed. Adding another good recruit to the 3 we have and it gets very interesting. I know you cant put too much in the hands of freshmen, but I think they make everyone better.Cant wait to see Mr. 53 in the red and white.

  23. Ashman87 02/26/2012 at 10:22 AM #

    I will agree with choppack1. I do remember that in HS’s first year, we beat the following teams who were ranked: Duke, Maryland, Wake, and Clemson, as well as playing UNC EXTREMELY CLOSE. I was really excited about having him because it seemed like at the time, he knew what he was doing. Therefore, I do have a lot of faith in MG, but at some point, I’m going to have to see some progress that shows that MG is not LR,HS,and SL and more in the mold of Case, Norm, and Jimmy V.

  24. BJD95 02/26/2012 at 10:25 AM #

    In a sense, I agree with the more skeptical and the more optimistic viewpoints. Definitely think there’s lots of work still to be done, and that ultimate success is not a given.

    I just never thought that wasn’t the case, so I’m not disappointed or upset that we are in such a position.

  25. motorhead 02/26/2012 at 10:27 AM #

    Yes, the lack of a “quality” win is surprising. I also know many of you have suffered more than me. I became a Pack fan when I took my M.ed there in 2002. We had a few good years back then so ive only been feeling pain for about 6 years.

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