State loses (ugly) at Virginia

12-13 Basketball NCS Basketball97

Box Score (ESPN)

Zo Brown — the ACC’s best point guard and leader in assists — missed the final 30 mins with an ankle injury, and State lost another ugly, poorly-officiated weeknight road game, 58-55.

State managed only five points in transition. Despite Brown’s absence, State led 47-42 with 8:15 remaining, but then managed only two field goals and a total of seven points over the final 7:23.

State falls to 5-3 and fourth place in the ACC, with undefeated Miami looming Saturday (4pm, CBS).

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12-13 Basketball NCS Basketball

97 Responses to State loses (ugly) at Virginia

  1. Ed89 01/29/2013 at 8:54 PM #

    When did Lewis leave the game? Rodney is not a PG, and Lewis should have played more down the stretch. I know playing Rodney puts your best 5 on the court, but our offense had NO flow when Lewis was out, and very LITTLE when he was in, but better than nothing.

  2. wolfpack_83 01/29/2013 at 8:55 PM #

    The wind is knocked out of me on this one. I had hoped to see someone step-up in Lo Brown’s absence, and quite a few gave good effort, but we need to stop “playing down” to teams that simply aren’t as talented. Not a killer here (especially with Brown out), but we let another win slip away tonight. Hopefully all are well and healthy come this weekend. They’ll need it against Miami.

  3. PackAmy 01/29/2013 at 8:56 PM #

    I keep thinking that this one shouldn’t hurt so bad with Lo out and CJ looking like death with the flu. But it does – probably because its behind the Wake and MD losses too.

  4. Wulfpack 01/29/2013 at 8:59 PM #

    Only a State team could face the prospect of falling to 5-4 with a loss to Miami, with convincing wins over Duke and UNC. Go figure.

    While there are certainly valid reasons why we lost this game, it appears that this team cannot deal with success. Not good.

  5. Wolfpack93 01/29/2013 at 9:00 PM #

    We should just forfeit games following a big win. We could get a few extra days rest and avoid injuries to key players. Result would be the same.

  6. Ed89 01/29/2013 at 9:04 PM #

    I’m of the thought now that the regular season is nice, but like Gott has said, we need to be playing our best in March. Still a long way to go. We are clearly a better team than UVa. They were at home, we were without Lo, and CJL looked under the weather. Just not a good combination. I actually thought we looked okay before Brown left.

  7. Master 01/29/2013 at 9:10 PM #

    Well, this sure is disappointing. However, I’m not going to crap on the team or coaches. Losing Zo is a situation we are just not prepared for – not this game or any game. I’m not into excuse making, but Zo is arguably our best player and floor leader. We need Tyler Lewis to step up if Zo is out for any appreciable time. NO team is the same when losing a starting point guard.

  8. backnine 01/29/2013 at 9:10 PM #

    no doubt in my mind we would have won had Brown not gotten injured. We were playing well and clearly in control of the game when he went down. Very dissappointing indeed! Also, I’m not one to point at the refs during losses. But cant deny I’m seeing some trends with regard to teams being allowed to bang our guys with no whistle. Even Jay Williams made mention of it tonight. Our bigs were hacked on ALL night with no calls.

  9. Clarksa 01/29/2013 at 9:11 PM #

    I think we should sink or swim with Lewis…that’s why he was brought in…I don’t think RP is the answer if Zo is out for some time.

  10. budfox88 01/29/2013 at 9:13 PM #

    We’re not playn down when we can’t make baskets under the goal. 3 games lost by a basket and so many wasted opps at easy baskets and FTs. We just aren’t that good…good teams play with some consistency. We’re only consistent at being out of control. At some pt must start using backboard around the goal and stop with the spastic uncontrolled offense!

  11. tractor57 01/29/2013 at 9:17 PM #

    It was a road game in a place we have traditionally had no success. Then add coming after a draining win last game, CJ being sick and Zo going down.

    With all that I’m not so upset at coming up 3 points short. I am disappointed but not suicidal. The team comes away with some positives – some playing time for others at PG – I thought both Lewis and Purvis looked the best they have this year when running the point. Nothing like Zo but then he is primed to be an NBA 1st round pick. I thought Vandy had some flashes but still a bit short on footwork. CJ battled through his illness but obviously was not prime.

    Would I have preferred a win? Of course I would but this is life in the ACC – road wins are tough to find as this team has proved in the last couple weeks.

  12. Wolfiegirl 01/29/2013 at 9:20 PM #

    Me thinks we have more than just illness and injury issues…what the heck is going on with Big Rich and TJ..that little dust up did not need to happen…much less on TV…just my humble observation and proverbial 2 cents.

  13. budfox88 01/29/2013 at 9:21 PM #

    By the way, refs and losing Zo had little to do with this loss. 5 unanswered trips down the court with 0 points at the end does.

  14. Wulfpack 01/29/2013 at 9:24 PM #

    I wish we played Virginia level defense, that is for sure.

  15. tractor57 01/29/2013 at 9:25 PM #

    Those unproductive trips DID relate to not having Zo available but yes I agree that was the critical time.

    I’m not so sure the thing with Rich and TJ was anything more than TJ being frustrated with the flow of the game. Until there is evidence to the contrary I will keep that opinion.

    In each case better to work through those issues now as opposed to late Feb into Mar.

  16. wolffpride 01/29/2013 at 9:26 PM #

    Refs killed us again. We have the worst luck on the road this year in regards to the reffing crews we have been getting. Anderson was fouling Calvin everytime we had the ball in the final 3 minutes, you can’t hold and shove guys trying to get position. Everyone will meltdown, that is what this idiot fanbase does. I wish we were as realistic as we were passionate. Though I have my problems with the Maryland game, I will say it was what it was, we lost on a buzzer beater. The Wake game our starters played with foul trouble in the second half and everyone wonders why we gave up 50, if the refs dont let you defend, what can you do? This game, we get hacked underneath on 75% of the shots we took down there, and only manage a handful of fouls. Lorenzo Brown plays 10 minutes…I guess we are a little snake bit. But make no mistake, we were ready to play in everyone of these losses. We prepared and we hustled, sometimes things dont go your way. Our team is good, and we are consistent at being good, you are foolish to believe otherwise.

  17. redcanine 01/29/2013 at 9:27 PM #

    Where’s Waldo Warren? You know, that elusive scorer donned in red and white. I thought he was hiding out on the defensive end, but obviously I was mistaken. So puzzling…

  18. Smasher 01/29/2013 at 9:29 PM #

    “At some pt must start using backboard around the goal and stop with the spastic uncontrolled offense!”

    This

  19. WeAreCured 01/29/2013 at 9:30 PM #

    Tough loss. I hope Zo is back on Saturday and able to run. I’m pretty deflated, but winning the ACC regular season isn’t a top goal, and is still doable with some help. I just hope the team doesn’t implode from the frustration, and I also hope they don’t let the refs mess with their head and play into an engrained negative attitude. Hopefully, TJ and Rich will hug it out, Zo can heal, and this team can keep their heads up.

  20. mak4dpak 01/29/2013 at 9:30 PM #

    We could easily be atop the conference undefeated. But bone headed play in close games on the road have doomed us, with or without Brown, and officiating.

  21. Wolfiegirl 01/29/2013 at 9:31 PM #

    I hope they do work it out…now rather than later. Im sure they were frustrated..snakebit is what we are to be sure

  22. Ed89 01/29/2013 at 9:35 PM #

    You are correct, wolffpride. We can still be very good. As far as Howell and Warren. Warren needs to know the pecking order. Howell is a Senior (a VERY good one). Warren is a FRESHMAN. He needs to sit down and shut up…especially after his “retweet”. He doesn’t play great D, doesn’t rebound, and if his shot is off, he’s not an asset. That’s SIR Rich, TJ. Remember that!

  23. wolfpack4ever 01/29/2013 at 9:35 PM #

    I agree with Clarksa. Lewis was brought in as a point guard recruit. He has some talent or he would not have been a McD AA. Give him some PT earlier in the season and perhaps he is a better player by now. We looked better when he was on the court.

  24. LifeLongWolf 01/29/2013 at 9:38 PM #

    I’m actually calm about this one. We’ll be ok.

  25. tractor57 01/29/2013 at 9:38 PM #

    I will say TJ has shown improvement on defense but yes he still has some things to learn. TV is always looking for a story thus the “lose after winning a big game” and the “argument”. There is some substance there but probably not as much as the experts want us to think.

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