I can’t commit to a full one, because I am sick, and also sick of being sick. So grumpier and more brain-dead than usual, which are two very sad things. So keep things going strong in the comments.
Simply put…tonight is a must win. We absolutely cannot lose tonight after the embarrassing loss to a pitiful Wake Forest team. Not at home, not when the Holes are mediocre and unranked, not when we host ESPN Gameday, not when the Holes have a 13-game win streak against us.
Let’s hope we not only win this one, but also win it with style. I could use a relaxing Saturday night. I bet MG feels the same way.
6:55 – Lots of ink has been spilled – and rightly so – about this Hole squad not measuring up to their usual standard of performance. But as the tunnel camera showed…fruity dance routines are in peak form.
7:01 – I learned a neat tip during last week’s Butler/Gonzaga tilt – if you set the volume level JUST right…you can just make out Shulman’s commentary but not that of the high-pitched Vitale. You’re welcome, America.
7:06 – CJL is aggressive early. Good.
7:09 – Haha. McAdoo sucks.
7:14 – Only some really good defense (yeah, who expected THAT?) is keeping the Holes from being run out of the gym completely. State has energy on both ends of the court, and Howell is a beast (even by his own beastly standards) on the glass. JUST SUSTAIN, damn it. And no matter how sick, I still adore the DirecTV Genie. She’s way to good to be banging Derek Jeter. Life is so unfair.
7:18 – Great officiating as well. Just perfect.
7:21 – Vandy sighting! 22-10. And it really would be 30+ if the Holes weren’t playing pretty solid interior defense.
7:23 – Nobody watching basketball gives half a shit about the X games.
7:25 – You could see that 3 second call coming a mile away.
7:27 – Love Zo’s intensity, but he may need to rein it in just a little. Will there be a Wee Baby Seamus sighting?
7:29 – Grudging credit where it’s due – they have showed poise weathering the initial flurry and staying in the game. Lead down to 6, offensive flow is ebbing.
7:31 – Shitty call #1, charge against CJL.
7:35 – Leslie’s revenge. A posterizing dunk. And one!!
7:38 – Wanna see a demoralizing run? How does 12-2 sound? 34-20 Pack at the last media break, and Zo will be on the line for two. Very important to keep the momentum going into the half.
7:43 – See Pack run. See Pack run. /endless loop (run up to 20-2).
7:46 – Such a heartbreaking week for Vitale. First he calls the Miami bombardment of Duke, now this. LMFAO
Halftime – NC State 45, Holes 26. Love it.
8:09 – That could be a HUGE turned ankle. Sluggish start, too.
8:11 – Neither team has scored…but I wish MG would call timeout.
8:13 – You simply can’t build a team around a player who is both lazy and stupid (McAdoo). Roy putting in some blue teamers.
8:15 – Really sloppy 4 minutes for the Pack, even though the lead is up to 20. MG is right to be annoyed.
8:21 – It’s remarkable how fluid our big men are. Just poetry to watch.
8:23 – Bullock has really embarrassed himself tonight. And it takes something to stand out like that when your team’s down 24.
8:25 – Good to get RP back out there – but the question is if/how badly he will favor the ankle in the next few days.
8:26 – WBS in in!!
8:29 – Smart time to get Zo a breather.
8:33 – VERY sloppy, if not for Buckets the Holes would really be back in this game. Still can cut it to 15 with these FTs. Me no likey.
8:38 – Down to ELEVEN. From 28. Every Hole shot is wide f-cking open.
8:40 – I am ready to murder someone. This is beyond irritating.
8:42 – Single digits.
8:43 – Finally, we get a couple of baskets. But the Holes are still wide open, every possession. Pathetic.
8:44 – Four point play from Woo should put this one to bed. But wow, what a lousy interval of basketball. Just can’t let up like that. Ever.
8:46 – If you want a silver lining for this second half malaise, this does provide a “teachable moment” and hopefully will keep us from being overconfident for our next game.
8:51 – Better on offense now…but broken record on D. Every Hole shot is virtually uncontested. Anybody can score if you don’t guard them. Even Wake (as we learned Tuesday).
8:54 – Just like that, it’s back down to 11. Ol’ Roy will make these guys finish the game, and there’s time for things to get annoyingly close again. Perhaps this is the worst part of having a short bench – can’t mass substitute to send a message.
8:56 – We simply can’t maintain the slightest bit of focus, since about the 11-minute mark. 85-75 with 1:11 left.
8:57 – Horrid, unforced turnover.
8:58 – Open three, and it’s down to SEVEN.
9:00 – Lots of one-and-ones to come.
9:01 – Warren bricks the first, and a follow-up dunk makes it FIVE.
9:02 – Here comes Woo. Makes two.
9:04 – Another wide open three, but the Holes miss. We will hang on, despite two long periods of brain dead, intensity free ball. Certainly takes some of the shine off the first 29 minutes of excellence.
Finally, your final score – NC State 91, Holes 83.
