CJL: What folks are saying

12-13 Basketball Mark Gottfried55

Today was a huge day for State fans. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. We’re excited, and rightfully so. For the first time in two decades we have competent leadership, a coaching staff that embraces the lofty expectations of this passionate fan base and an experienced team committed to winning championships. And now today, with Calvin making official his decision to return, we turned the tables on NCStateSh** (even though it’s impossible to define exactly what it is, we all know it when we see it). We’re not safe yet, but today was like our D-Day, and Calvin’s decision is our beachhead.

We haven’t hung the banner(s) yet, but it should be fun to watch Gottfried’s second team work towards it.

Here’s what folks are saying.

C.J. Leslie (WRAL):

“I still haven’t reached the goals I wanted to reach,” Leslie said Wednesday. “That’s why I came back for another year. We started a good thing last year, I thought we might as well finish it.”

…

“I think I can improve on everything, what I did good and what I didn’t do so well,” Leslie said. “I have to step up and take on that role (as a leader). I think I am ready to take the team on my back.”

Brett Friedlander (Wilmington StarNews Online):

“After talking this over with my family, we have decided it would best for me to return for my junior year,” Leslie said in the statement. “I’m on track to graduate, which is important to me and my family and I’m excited about building on what the team accomplished last season. There are parts of my game I want to continue to work on and take more of a leadership role with the team.”

Leslie’s return immediately establishes the 6-foot-9 junior as a frontrunner for ACC Player of the Year honors next season. It also strengthens his team’s status as the team to beat in the league in 2012-13.

Dick Vitale (@DickieV):

NC ST Super 7 with CJ Leslie returning. #MarkGottfried

Coach Lee Folwer (@Lee_Folwer):

well, i guess cj leslie would rather live with a cougar than die with the bobcats.

Jim Young (ACC Sports Journal):

The widely held assumption was that Leslie was a guy itching to go pro and would do so even if his draft prospects weren’t that great. Instead, Leslie took his time, gathered information and concluded that he could do better for himself and his family if he went the patient route and came back for another season of college basketball.

If Leslie takes that sort of level-headed approach to his on-court performances next season, expect big results – both for him and for the Wolfpack.

Speaking of the team outlook …

…

It’s a scenario that has to quicken the pulse of every N.C. State fan: Leslie dominating on the boards alongside Richard Howell; Leslie out-quicking bigger defenders while jumping over and shooting over smaller opponents. Leslie attracting so much attention from defenses that Scott Wood gets plenty of open looks, Howell gets plenty of weakside offensive rebounds and freshman Rodney Purvis has plenty of open lanes that he can use to attack the basket.

If something like that comes to fruition then yes, N.C. State would be the best team in the Triangle and, by extension, the best team in the ACC and one of the best in the nation.

Luke DeCock (N&O):

A little more than a year ago, it was possible Leslie might not even come back for his sophomore year, let alone his junior year. So much has changed since then, and not just N.C. State’s run in the NCAA tournament. Leslie has embraced the program’s new direction; as much credit as the coaching staff has gotten for Leslie’s maturation, the 20-year-old deserves as much for making the most of it.

And now, his decision to return changed the entire landscape of the ACC. N.C. State is not a prohibitive favorite to win the league, but with four starters returning and three superstar freshmen arriving, the Wolfpack is as talented and experienced as anyone.

Ryan Greene (Yahoo!):

Wake Forest won the ACC regular season title back in 2003, marking the last time that Duke or North Carolina didn’t at least grab a share of the crown.

N.C. State appears to have a legitimate chance to end that run in 2012-13. The Tar Heels lost a wealth of talent to the NBA Draft, and next season will be playing with a mix of role players from the 2011-12 campaign, guards coming back from season-ending knee injuries and unproven freshmen. Meanwhile, Duke has plenty to prove after a season in which its defense leaked profusely and it was ultimately victim of a monumental upset in its NCAA tournament opener at the hands of 15-seed Lehigh.

A couple of programs — such as Miami and Maryland — could make a push toward the league’s upper crust, but there will once again likely be a visible divide between the handful of real contenders and the rest of the pack in 2012-13.

With Leslie’s return, it solidifies N.C. State as a member of that exclusive club, if not the odds-on preseason favorite.

Eamonn Brennan (ESPN):

Which is why this is such a thrilling time to be a Wolfpack fan. NC State fans are among the nation’s most dedicated and hungry for success. They’ve never accepted the role of third fiddle willingly, but for much of the past decade, as Herb Sendek decamped for Arizona State and Lowe fell astoundingly flat as his replacement, they’ve had to swallow an utter lack of success on a year-in, year-out basis. Now, with Gottfried reloading and Leslie returning, they may just be the favorite to win the ACC.

It’s been a long time since we could say that. Relish it, Wolfpack fans. It appears, after so much misery, your time has finally come.

SFN member codebrown (via text message):

“[LRM] if we win the acc title, you’re going to see me cry like a woman”

I think we all hope I get to see that, buddy.

Now go on over to the SFN Forums and talk about this or a variety of other relevant or irrelevant topics.

About LRM

Charter member of the Lunatic Fringe and a fan, loyal to a fault.

12-13 Basketball Mark Gottfried

55 Responses to CJL: What folks are saying

  1. wolfpackbball 04/19/2012 at 8:53 AM #

    It will be nice to come into a season without so many question marks. 4 of our starting 5 are upper-classmen and known commodities. Howell, Calvin, Wood, Zo form the leadership to bring in Rodney, Lewis, and Warren without hiccups (hopefully).
    I think Rodney will absolutely be able to shine in the situation with very little pressure on him to be a ‘savior’ type of player. He should really be able to play loosely on the offensive end (expectation-wise).
    I have to believe that our staff (S&C as well) will get big strides out of TDT, Vandy, and Harris. I’m really looking for Harris to respond well after a year of learning. Still thinking he will get 4-7 mins per game and wind up being a big contributor during his Jr/Sr campaigns. I hope the light switch clicks for him this year in a big way.

    ETA:
    “What is this garbage? It’s a pet peeve of mine when people just make sh!t up. This isn’t even close to being true. Where is the accountabililty?”

    Honestly, after Calvin’s freshman year, I had that opinion of him (unjustly and unfounded on my part). I’m not sure why I did, but I did.

  2. graywolf 04/19/2012 at 9:10 AM #

    Interesting question for those who want to respond : How does all the media attention and improved talent effect the officiating next season?

    I really don’t know what will happen but their attitude will greatly effect what happens to NC State basketball.

  3. TruthBKnown Returns 04/19/2012 at 9:27 AM #

    IMO, there is definitely a problem with officiating. But I’m not sure if they help the blues because they are the ACC’s best, or if it is because the ACC only cares about the blues. (Or does the ACC only care about the blues BECAUSE they are the ACC’s best?)

    If it is because the conference wants to protect the blues because they are the blues, then nothing will change. If they protect the blues because they are good teams, then maybe we can expect the same. Because we will have one of the best teams in the conference next year.

    Time will tell.

  4. Six Pack 04/19/2012 at 10:03 AM #

    I think Tyler Harris will be the first person off the bench for the 4 spot after Leslie. TDT and Vandy will share the duties of resting Howell and Warren will come in for Wood and Leslie some but mostly Wood. The three guards will rotate with Brown getting about 35-40 minutes a game.

    If you get an opportunity (most won’t) you should go back and watch HArris in the game against Kansas. He boxed out well and held his own with Robinson and the 7’0″er. Harris will come into next season with something to prove and I think with another year maturation he could have Painter-like production this coming year.

    Leslie will get 32-36 minutes a game. Howell will get 28-36 minutes a game. Lewis will get 5-15 minutes. Purvis will get 20-30. TJ Warren will get 10-15. Vandy and TDT will get about 5 apiece. Harris will get about 10 minutes. Wood will get about 30-35. I may be totally off, but its just my thought.

    This, of course, all changes if and when Amile decides to run with the Pack.

  5. Six Pack 04/19/2012 at 10:03 AM #

    BTW, I’m as excited about Pack basketball as i was when I was a kid in the 80s. Thanks, Calvin!

  6. Pack78 04/19/2012 at 10:05 AM #

    Swofty IS consistent: as unx AD he wanted to nail Clemson because it would help unx football. As ACC Commish, he wants to help unx and Dook because it ‘helps’ the league image nationally (in his opinion) and will not nail the unx cheaters additionally because it would ‘hurt’ the league as well as his baby blues (‘He is a Tar Heel’). Will State’s rise as a BB power (helping the ACC) possibly at the expense of the blues to some degree result in more even reffing as greywolf wonders? I will bet that it will take a few years of power rebalancing before THAT happens, but I would love to be wrong. We have Woodson, Yow, and Gott as new sheriffs-time will tell.

  7. ryebread 04/19/2012 at 10:16 AM #

    Great news re. CJL. Selfishly, I’m admittedly extremely happy because I think we’ll have the best team we’ve had since JimmyV. I think we’re top three for sure in the ACC and probably a 3-4 seed in the NCAA tournament now that he’s back. Finish in the top 3 in the ACC and we’ve got a legit shot for a tournament title. Get a good seed in the NCAAs, and the sky could be the limit.

    For CJL, I think that this is a very wise decision. With all the talent that stayed out of last year jumping into this year’s draft, it is probably the deepest one in years. With a year to show his skills, improve the jumper and free throw shooting, and show his leadership abilities, I think he will probably be a lottery pick.

    It’s a case of win/win that I’m happy to see. Sadly, we rarely see that with big time athletes at NC State. I hope that tide is turning.

    With respect to line ups, I think we’ll go 8 deep next year. Most good programs play 8. Yes, there are some exceptions who either play a really fast pace or just have ridiculous depth that play 10, but most teams that are Final Four teams seem to play 8. I think that we played 7 this year out of necessity, not necessarily out of staff desire.

    I wouldn’t focus so much on the “starting” role either as I suspect the players that do play are all going to see 10-15+ minutes a game. A strength for us will be quality depth, and I think we’ll want to use that. If we know that we have capable back ups, then our players can play hard and loose (much like they did in the tournament).

    I think that our rotation will look like this:
    Guards: Brown and Purvis starting, Lewis backing up (with either other guards moving to SG when he comes in)
    PF/C: Leslie and Howell starting, TDT, Harris or Vandy fighting for minutes at that third slot
    SF/Swing players: Wood/Warren. I call them swings because they can also play other positions. Wood can play SG and Warren can play PF. This could allow them to be on the court at the same time as well.

  8. packalum44 04/19/2012 at 10:19 AM #

    Painter leaving sucks. However it gives AJ the opportunity to come in and log significant minutes as a freshman. If he wants tons of playing time his freshman year, go to Villanova or Temple but expect playing in the NIT.

    If he wants to be a backup who will log “Painter” minutes on a nationally relevant team, come here.

    IMO we easily have the best starting 5 in the ACC with:

    Starters:

    Brown, Purvis, Wood, Calvin, Howell

    Bench:

    Lewis, Warren, Vandy/Harris/AJ

  9. packalum44 04/19/2012 at 10:22 AM #

    Vandy will play more significant minutes against taller teams. He will be a garbage guy, passer, shot blocker and Windex man. Harris will get more minutes against smaller teams b/c he’s more athletic and talented offensively and his size won’t be an issue if he’s guarding a non-McAddoo/Plumlee.

  10. walton 04/19/2012 at 10:27 AM #

    I’m thrilled that Leslie is coming back. I also believe it is a good decision for him. His stock will almost certainly go up in the NBA after next year and I believe it will give him a better chance of having a good career in the NBA. Looking at Pack in the Pros in the media guide seems to show that going early doesn’t usually yield a long career in the pros.

    It is also very good for him if he can get his degree to have in the future. Go Leslie!

  11. wolfy85 04/19/2012 at 10:32 AM #

    If you’re a Pack fan and you aren’t excited about hoops next year, check your pulse and make sure you’re still alive. I was born shortly after our last championship and have been waiting for this for a long time.

    As far as our starting five next year, Purvis is undoubtedly the most ready to play and should start immediately. I’d also argue that Warren will by the conference season be starting over Scott, it’s no offense to Wooo but Warren can absolutely do it all and has a huge body to help rebound.

    Starting 5 @ ACC season:
    Brown (PG) 6-5
    Purvis (SG) 6-4
    Warren (SF) 6-8
    Leslie (PF) 6-8
    Howell (C) 6-8

    That’s a hell of a lineup, can’t wait to see it on the floor.

  12. JEOH2 04/19/2012 at 10:36 AM #

    I am assuming we don’t get AJ…in a thread on the forums I stated I believe that he’ll choose Duke (and Duke may actually be his best bet to emerge as a star in year 1)

    As people have stated: Brown, Purvis, Wood, CJL, Howell
    Bench (in order of minutes): Warren, Lewis, and Harris/TDT/Vandy will be fighting for that 8th spot in the rotation…

    Our bench is just not talented enough to warrant anything greater than an 8 man rotation…we aren’t Syracuse…it’s clear we have to have a back-up PG (Lewis), Warren is too talented offensively to sit for less than 8-10 minutes, and we HAVE to have someone who can aleviate Howell’s foul problem and provide CJL with some rest…thus begins the battle for 8th…

    Harris: most talented of the 3, shortest, must put on weight and muscle to reliably fill in for Howell as the 8th man, plays tough already, should look less lost on the court, work on that 10-15 foot jumper…

    TDT: most likely to take that 8th spot for size & height alone on the defensive end, must learn his on-court limitations and improve his jumper, hopefully garners and understanding of the college game, must be more aggressive in the post and on the boards

    Vandy: least likely for the 8th spot as his game does not fit into this offense, should develop an offensive go-to move when in game, increase aggressivenes on the court, must get stronger/tone up to be better defensively one-on-one

  13. Greywolf 04/19/2012 at 11:02 AM #

    These comments are about CJ and his qualities that have emerged. I’m elated that CJ is coming back for another year. What I’m really happy about is Coach Gottfried and the future of State basketball. What he has done with this team is just short of miraculous. Roy Williams couldn’t carry his clipboard and that foul-mouthed arsehole at Duke… Don’t get me started.

    We may lose a player or 3 early in the future but I pray that our coaching staff stays together for the long haul. They seem to like one another and are old enough to know a good thing when they see it.

    Go State!!

  14. MISTA WOLF 04/19/2012 at 12:07 PM #

    I disagree about Harris. He hurt us in the game against Kansas. He gave up two easy layups where he didnt move his feet, threw the ball away once and I’m pretty sure he missed not one but two shots for easy put backs. I know he was thrown to the wolves in that game but he must improve his court awareness to get playing time. I’m hoping that happens and he becomes one of our glue guys in the future.

  15. Pack85EE 04/19/2012 at 12:53 PM #

    Interesting notes on next years team. I agree with six pack and rye bread so I don’t have much new to add. I think if Wood does not make his game more multidimensional, he’s going to lose a lot of minutes. Those minutes mainly going to Warren or perhaps Harris if he develops. I did notice that TDT was playing less and Harris more at the end of the season. With the biggest jump in improvement between Freshman and sophomore year (I think that still holds true) look for Harris and TDT to show marked improvement. I agree also that Vandy, Harris and TDT will back up Howle and Leslie and how used will depend not just on who’s best but the circumstances. Vandy gives us a big presence that we often need, and 5 good fouls in the paint. CWTNY!!!!!

  16. Pack85EE 04/19/2012 at 1:04 PM #

    So that’s 9 deep and I think a Final 4 team needs that over 7 if just for the additional options it gives. Things may not pan out as we think but it does seem that Lewis will take AJ’s role, playing point and Brown taking a break or playing a little SG to spell Purvis. Wood could see a little 2. And if Jefferson comes, we go 10 deep and Wood, Harris and TDT better improve to keep meaningful minutes.

  17. mikeak01 04/19/2012 at 1:09 PM #

    “NC State fans are among the nation’s most dedicated and hungry for success. They’ve never accepted the role of third fiddle willingly”

    And for this we were ridiculed and made fun of by the national media. We were blamed for the failure of the program because we had not accepted mediocracy. We were blamed for demanding excellence from players, coaches and the AD the same way State demands it of the normal students walking across the brickyard every day.

    Now suddenly when the right AD combined with the right Coach has the same mindset and are succeeding the mindset of the NC State fans is an “asset”?

    I don’t care about the 180 degree turnaround by these national writers. The goal to compete with the best should always be there for our program and regardless of last years success and this year’s incoming recruiting class we were right as fans to demand at least the pursuit of excellence. We would have been demanding it even if NC State would have lost to UVA in the ACC tourney and our season would have ended there / in the NIT.

  18. Hungwolf 04/19/2012 at 2:50 PM #

    I am thrilled Leslie is returning, what a great young man! If Jefferson comes on board, who knows how high we could be ranked going into next year. Maybe Jefferson should think about that! Why would he want to waste his talent at Duke chasing down missed three pointers.

    As far as playing time, if Warren and Purvis can knock down the three then I would like to see Wood’s minutes drop to about 15 minutes a game. Wood has proven himself to only be a specialty player that can’t create his own shot, I think Wood has the most improvement to make offseason to hold onto to playing time.

  19. wolfmanmat 04/19/2012 at 3:10 PM #

    ^Wood ain’t playing 15 minutes per game. That is complete crazy talk. Did Coach K sit JJ redick at Duke? Hell no. He won a title with him. Wood is the best shooter in the ACC by a country mile and IMO the best shooter in the ACC since JJ. He is serviceable on D…particularly when we will have 2 premier defenders in Leslie and Zo to help with doubles. You don’t sit the best shooter in the league. who do you think got CJL and Richard Howell away from double teams this year and really let them shine? How many times in the 2 tourney games and ACC tourney did the announcers say, “That is the one guy you can’t double off of.” Scott Wood is a big reason this team next year has a chance to be great.

  20. old13 04/19/2012 at 4:33 PM #

    Re: Scott Wood – He should start, of course, but I hope there are now good, EFFECTIVE options for him to reduce his minutes to below 30, maybe 25, minutes per game because I think fatigue, i. e. tired legs, has hurt his 3-point shot late in games. In close games, I’d like to see him in during the last 5- minutes, well rested and with his legs under him. If he can hit the three late in the game, he could be the difference for 2-6 wins next season IMO.

  21. WolftownVA81 04/19/2012 at 5:42 PM #

    With all the improvement the coaching staff showed with player development last year, I’m confident they will do the same this year with every player include SW. He is a smart guy and I’m sure will make the adjustments to help more on D and create more open looks for himself. I’m optimistic on all fronts – we are loaded for bear this year.

  22. gtspack 04/19/2012 at 8:57 PM #

    With R. Purvis and the improvement of C.J. and Zo. on offense. Scott will have a LOT more open looks this year. Coach Bobby Lutz will have us one of the best Deffensive teams in the country. THANK YOU D. YOW and our AWESOME COACHING STAFF!!!!!!!!!!!

  23. Hungwolf 04/19/2012 at 9:10 PM #

    Top Player returning!
    Top Assitants Lutz and Early returning!
    Top 10 recruiting class coming in!
    No starters transferred!

    Folks that is the mark of a top program!
    Great job Gott and Yow!

  24. JEOH2 04/19/2012 at 11:16 PM #

    Two issues I have:

    1) without Jefferson there is no reason to have a 9 man rotation…our bench is not talented enough for that…8 man is perfect back-up point guard, wing fwd, fwd/center

    2) Wood will get his minutes…Gottfried loves Wood and his shooting ability and it’d be ridiculous with all those offensive options garnering attention from the D to sit the best 3-point shooter in the conference. He won;t play the 36-38 minutes he’s played in the past and if he does hit a slump, at least we (FINALLY) have a back up SF to come in and score…but no, no way an MG coached team sits a senior shooter like Wood for less than 32-34 minutes a game…

  25. BJD95 04/20/2012 at 7:36 AM #

    In my ideal world, nobody other than Zo or Calvin would play more than 25-30 mpg. At least not most nights. But without Pringles or Young…we won’t have that luxury.

    Interested to see how the rotation works out. I’m guessing we go small more often than go to the Vandy/DeThaey/Harris grab bag, whenever Calvin or Howell hit the bench. We will go with a strict 7-man rotation less frequently, but not by much.

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