It’s Time For “The Greatest Show On Earth” For NC State Hoops

The roller coaster also known as Wolfpack Basketball takes to the court against LSU tonight in what head coach Mark Gottfried has called “the greatest show on Earth.” Games tip-off in the early afternoon, with the Pack playing at 9:20 EDT. The game will be broadcast on TBS (Time Warner 1302 in Raleigh, DirecTV 247, Dish 139.) In what’s essentially a pick-em game, State enters as a -1.5 or -2.5 favorite against the Tigers.

In his press conference leading up to the game, Mark Gottfried was asked about LSU, and he said “they’re going to be a handful for our guys. They’ve been pretty impressive as we’ve gotten to watch them a lot more.”

Gottfried was also asked about teams making long NCAA tournament runs under his leadership, and if this year’s edition of the Wolfpack has the same qualities that those previous squads had. “there’s no magic dust we can sprinkle over our guys as they take the floor,” Gottfried replied. “But I think once you’re in the tournament, it’s the greatest show on earth, and everybody has a chance.”

State indeed “has a chance” tonight, but it will take the sort of effort that led to wins at Louisville and UNC on the road, as well as victories over Duke and Syracuse at home. One of the keys to the game is emergent Wolfpack Cat Barber. As Barber goes, so go the Wolfpack of late. “Cat Barber took his game to a whole ‘nother level,” Gottfried said. “That was big for our team. We needed that. There was a point early in our season when we relied so much on Trevor Lacey and Ralston Turner and our inside guys weren’t scoring as much. Cat wasn’t scoring as much. We just had a hard time. So our guys have developed and gotten better.”

Trevor Lacey had this to say about Barber: “It means a lot to us. When he’s playing that way, it makes everybody’s job easier. When he’s attacking and making shots, teams have to guard him.”

Raulston Turner was also positive about the Wolfpack’s starting point guard, saying “Cat Barber’s confidence has grown. Down the stretch, we all know he’s been capable of that. Here lately, he’s really taken his game to another level. When he plays like that, it makes it easy on the rest of us.”

Gottfried also pointed out the defensive effort that sophomore Lennard Freeman has given. “We went to Louisville a couple, three weeks ago and we changed our lineup, put Lennard Freeman in the lineup. I thought that was a big difference for us, made us a little better defensively, seemed to execute our offense better and score a little better.”

If State plays to its ability, and maximizes its opportunities with the basketball tonight while playing the ferocious defense that’s led recent success, everyone should be happy and looking forward to a spring weekend with more NC State basketball.

Be sure to check back here often during the day, and during the game for a lively discussion not only about tonight’s game but also all the other goings-on in the Tournament’s first day. Also, if you’re reading this, be sure to enter the Statefans Nation Bracket Challenge.

Lastly, we’d love your honest view of the Pack’s chances in the 2015 NCAA Tournament with a vote in our poll below!

How far will NC State advance in the NCAA Tournament? (C'mon,now. Be honest.)

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Home Forums It’s Time For “The Greatest Show On Earth” For NC State Hoops

Viewing 25 posts - 76 through 100 (of 154 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #80446
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    Unbelievable collapse by SMU

    #80447
    Mike
    Participant

    WOW UCLA with the upset too. Goaltending on a 3 point shot – how often do you see that?

    #80448
    Fastback68
    Participant

    That’s insane. UCLA wins.

    #80449
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    #80450
    Mike
    Participant

    I did not think UCLA should have been invited but I always liked Alford so glad to see them advance, especially since SMU is coached by Larry Brown. Alford’s kid was 9-11 on 3’s in this game.

    #80451
    MrPlywood
    Participant

    Grrrr, client called me in today, I’m missing all the good stuff!

    #80452
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    I am empathetic to SMU’s fans though … after not getting in last season and that ending today man that’s a rough last two season endings.

    #80453
    ncsu1987
    Participant

    In a lengthy meeting now, bored out of my mind. Those of you who saw the goal tending call, was it legit?

    #80454
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    ncsu1987, yes, it was a good call.

    See below…it was a poor call.

    The worst part of it for SMU was that the shot was going to miss, and then their best shooter bricked two winners.

    #80455
    wufpup76
    Keymaster

    In a lengthy meeting now, bored out of my mind. Those of you who saw the goal tending call, was it legit?

    Tough call, imo … ball was on the way down, but was a clear miss – may not have even hit the rim if the guy didn’t touch it. Just really unfortunate – it’s one of those balls that may be an airball and I can understand the defender not waiting to go up and secure it rather than leave it up for grabs.

    #80456
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    On another note, sorry to see the Toffees get knocked out, BJD. Hopefully there will be happier news late tonight.

    #80457
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    @SportsCenter 8m8 minutes ago
    0.1 percent of the 11.6 million brackets filled out in ESPN’s Tournament Challenge are still perfect.

    And those were probably filled out by non-sports fans who picked based on coin-flips or mascots.

    #80458
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Completely disagree with the goaltending call. Bigtime miss.

    None of ya know Larry like I know Larry. If ya did, you’d never wish to see him go away. Straight up, peeps.

    #80459
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    On second thought, I now think it was a bad call.

    #80460
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    And those were probably filled out by non-sports fans who picked based on coin-flips or mascots.

    My insane ex picked one year, don’t remember which, based only on uni colors. For the first 2 days she wiped the floor with me and my so-called knowledgeable picks and thought she was the shit. The law of avgs caught up to her, but for two days she was insufferable…well, more than usual that is.

    #80461
    Alpha Wolf
    Keymaster

    Vine of the shot…

    #80462
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    Toffees completely shat themselves. If’n State keeps it within 30, it will be an improvement.

    My brackets are all dead, too. Fucking Big 12.

    Remember in the 30 for 30, that’s why Olajuwon said he backed off from Whit’s “pass” – he was scared of the goal-tending call.

    #80463
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    And those were probably filled out by non-sports fans who picked based on coin-flips or mascots.

    My insane ex picked one year, don’t remember which, based only on uni colors. For the first 2 days she wiped the floor with me and my so-called knowledgeable picks and thought she was the shit. The law of avgs caught up to her, but for two days she was insufferable…well, more than usual that is.

    From Cheers, the “Diane Chambers” NFL pool method. She did mascots one week, then quality of symphony.

    #80464
    bill-1956
    Participant

    Congrats to Andre Ware and Ryan Harrow (hamstring injury – hope he gets to play next game).

    I’ll be pulling for Georgia Southern to beat UCLA and make it to the Sweet 16.

    Their head coach is one happy camper – I’d like to see more of them.

    As for tonight – I’d like to see both State and LSU bring their “A” games. It would make for one heck of a game. With a State win by 5 or so.

    On the other hand – I’d be pretty darn happy if we just blow LSU out early – easier on me, the dog, the TV, the furniture . . .

    #80465
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    Let’s go Lafayette!

    #80466
    Texpack
    Participant

    I let the Wall Street Journal simulator pick one of my brackets and it had ISU to the Final Four. Even screwed on the random bracket.

    #80467
    MrPlywood
    Participant

    From that angle it looks like SMU dude is getting shoved in the back too.

    SMU’s Yanick Moreira explains crushing goaltending call: “My hand hit the net first, that’s why he called it goaltending”

    #80468
    Wufpacker
    Participant

    Ha, TB Lafayette was awesome.

    Looks like my feeling re: Ole Miss > Xavier was just gas pains….like a fart in the wind.

    #80469
    BJD95
    Keymaster

    Ha, TB Lafayette was awesome.

    Looks like my feeling re: Ole Miss > Xavier was just gas pains….like a fart in the wind.

    Yeah, their 50-year old dude they picked up at the local Y was unstoppable.

    And if Lafayette goes on a run, I would kill for Vern Lundquist to yell “Rang, rang hookah!” as the timeout music plays.

    #80470
    TheCOWDOG
    Moderator

    Stand up kid,that Moreira.
    I never bothered to look for the net brush.

    ….A goaltending call that is never called anymore, BTW. Until today.

Viewing 25 posts - 76 through 100 (of 154 total)
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