N.C. State vs. Cincinnati – 4pm

N.C. State Wolfpack (10-3) vs. Cincinnati Bearcats (8-3) – 4pm @ PNC Arena; TV: EspnU

Cincinnati team page ; GoPack game preview with links to game notes and stats

N.C. State was able to enjoy a nice Christmas break after rallying for an important win against Louisiana Tech last Tuesday. The Wolfpack will look to ring in the New Year in a similar manner, as they face the Cincinnati Bearcats today in the last non-conference game of the regular season. The Pack has an opportunity to close out their OOC schedule with a respectable 11-3 mark and a very workable RPI number (it sits at 56 entering today’s contest). From the N.C. State perspective, it’s a chance to add another Top 100 win (Cincy is currently at #70 and has a good chance to end up in the Top 100 RPI) and bolster its potential at-large resume.

Cincinnati enters today’s contest with a very good win over San Diego St. in tow and respectable losses to Ole Miss (neutral court), at Nebraska in double overtime, and versus VCU. Of course, the majority of Cincinnati’s 8-3 mark was built with head coach Mick Cronin on the sidelines. Unfortunately, the college basketball world was dealt a large dose of perspective with the recent news of Coach Cronin being diagnosed with an unruptured brain aneurysm. Cronin missed the home loss to VCU and home win over Wagner, and will not be able to coach in today’s game versus the Wolfpack.  We of course wish the best for Mick Cronin in his treatment and hopeful recovery. Larry Davis, former head coach at Furman, is filling in during Cronin’s absence.

The Bearcats entered this season off of four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, but lost quite a bit from last season’s squad. Given the roster turnover and unfortunate circumstances surrounding their head coach, this season’s squad is very much in flux. In true Cincinnati style though, they have been competitive by utilizing their trademark very physical defense to create turnovers and scoring opportunities. The Bearcat offense has not been great, but the majority of their games have been relatively low scoring, ‘slug it out’ affairs (ugly for the win) with a focus on generating offense from the paint. It could be a very interesting contrast of styles in today’s game. Hopefully, the Wolfpack can take care of the ball and put pressure on Cincinnati by scoring in transition off of rebounds/turnovers – as opposed to playing Cincy’s game of ‘we will out-grind and turn you over in the halfcourt’. Hitting (good) open shots helps as well … just sayin’ 🙂

As always, please share your thoughts on today’s contest, enjoy the game, and Go Pack!

(I really like the subtle use of the instrumental ‘Get Lucky’ in the background of this video)

 

 

About wufpup76

'99 grad. Abundant reservoir of useless knowledge and even more useless skills. Vehement believer in the individual voice and also that it will indeed all be over by Friday.

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Home Forums N.C. State vs. Cincinnati – 4pm

Viewing 25 posts - 51 through 75 (of 141 total)
  • Author
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  • #67369
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    Cat in back in (Lacey out)…immediate turnover followed by offensive rebound by cincy

    #67370
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Abu has been effective … when we actually run an offensive play and not throw it away

    #67371
    44rules
    Participant

    If you can’t find a feed and want to listen to this misery, I recommend the Tune In Radio app. They also have a website. You can listen to Gary talk about “headband passes” all day.

    Once again, they’re guarding us too pal.

    Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy. Mao Zedong

    #67372
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Well, looks like we broke ESPNU.

    #67373
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    espn experiencing technical difficulting…State experiencing basketball difficulties…Cincy 31-20…foul on Turner

    #67374
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    Dez in the game…need his toughness right now…he bails us out by drawing a foul.

    #67375
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Oh the humanity…we just look clueless vs the press.

    #67376
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Lee has come in and been effective. We look ridiculous against even minimal pressure. FFS.

    #67377
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    Abu is showing some signs, but otherwise our bigs are napping big time.

    #67378
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Goaltending is our friend.

    #67379
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    second goal-tend by Cincy player. Cincy takes a timeout…33-24 bearcats

    #67380
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Lee directly involved with our last six points … probably won’t see the floor in the 2nd half.

    Sorry, this abysmal start got me in a bad mood early.

    #67381
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    we need to get a hold of this and go into halftime down by 5 or less…and need a good half-time speech

    #67382
    1.21 Jigawatts
    Keymaster

    Seriously do we even practice or do we just use the force?

    #67383
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Good D – offenisve rebound and score by Cincy

    That kind of half

    #67384
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    Cincy 35-26 at the under 4. Nice drive by Cat

    #67385
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Nice drive and reverse layup by Cat. Need more of that from him.
    35-26, 3:15 to go, timeout on the floor.

    #67386
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Actually playing some solid D the last few minutes, but offensive boards now killing us. If not turnovers, offensive boards.

    We’re fortunate to be within 10

    35-26 Cincinnati at the under 4:00

    #67387
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    pup…that’s the problem, our guys stop playing once the shot goes up. They are killing us on the offensive boards.

    We need to crash the boards (without fouling, I know, easier said than done). They are certainly out efforting us on the boards.

    #67388
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    Dino the idiot makes a good point “…it’s not the first shot that kills you, it’s the second and third. You goota box them Cats out.”

    #67389
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Loooove Turner, but Lee needs to see the floor more in the 2nd half … he is more effective vs. this type of team, and a better defender

    #67390
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Fergus, yes

    Missed call on that out of bounds call … wth?

    #67391
    1.21 Jigawatts
    Keymaster

    State players wouldn’t know what a box out is if it fell out of the sky, fell on their face, and started to wiggle.

    #67392
    FergusWolf
    Participant

    missed the 3rd goaltend call…

    #67393
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Missed goaltending call – technical on Gottfried

    Don’t blame him at all … two missed calls in a row takes a 9 point game to 13 and Cincy w/ the ball

Viewing 25 posts - 51 through 75 (of 141 total)
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